2. Digital bodies

Research & Ideation

In this section, I explored the creation of digital human bodies as the foundation for textile and material experimentation. The research focused on how digital tools can generate accurate 3D human models for fabrication processes. Sources of inspiration include MakeHuman for initial 3D body creation, Skanect for 3D scanning, and MeshLab for model repair and optimization.

The goal was to understand how digital bodies can serve as a platform for design interventions, pattern making, and material exploration. This process allows for iterative experimentation without the constraints of physical mannequins.

References & Inspiration

For my Digital Bodies assignment, I chose to create a digital body inspired by a traditional dress form. A dress form is an essential tool in fashion design because it represents the human body in a simplified and structured way. It helps designers visualize proportions, test garment fit, and experiment with shapes. Using this object as inspiration allowed me to combine the physical logic of garment construction with the creative possibilities of digital fabrication.

My goal was to transform the dress form from a static physical object into a dynamic digital model. Instead of treating the dress form as something only used for fitting clothes, I redesigned it as a living digital body that carries identity, movement, and expression. I used its curves, measurements, and structure as the foundation, but I added new digital elements that show growth, flexibility, and transformation. This approach helped me explore how the human body can be represented in virtual space, not only for fashion but also for storytelling and future technologies.

The work of past alumni provided valuable insights into documenting and experimenting with digital bodies:

Head Portion: Betiana Pavon - FabLab Bcn

Artistic Slicing: Stephanie Vilayphiou - GreenLab

Artistic Intervention: Kae Nagano - FabLab Kamakura

Process & Workflow

1. Sketching & Ideation:

Initial ideasto plan the body forms, poses, and fabrication approach.

Manufacturing settings: / Edit / enter the dimensions of the material (height, width, thickness) unit of measure= mm Construction Technique: in my case I used= Interlocked slices. At that time you can play with the amount of horizontal and vertical layers that you want to apply, as well as the angle and disposition of them Modify form: My idea from the beginning was to generate a decreasing gradient from the head to the lower part of the body; with this command I could move and add manually. Get plans: It shows the different segments of the 2D model, located in the work plane. The figures that appear in red, is because they have some problem for the correct assembly. Assembly steps: It shows a tutorial in 3d of how to successively assemble the layers previously numbered by the program. (according to the horizontal Z axis and vertical Y axis).

2. 3D Body Modeling:

The first 3D body model was created using MakeHuman. Adjustments were made to match the scale and proportions needed for textile experiments.

Using MakeHuman, a customized 3D model is created based on specific measurements. This ensures accurate scaling for textile experiments, allowing for precise pattern development.

Detailed measurements in centimeters of my body (necessary to customize the model to scale):

. Head contour: 55 cm

. Circumference Neck: 30 cm

. Shoulders: 40 cm

. Torso (bust): 85 cm

. Arm circumference: 24 cm

. Waist: 60 cm

. Hip: 92 cm

. Uper Leg circumference: 39 cm

. Ankle: 20 cm

3.Laser Cut Nesting:

Laser-cut sheets were prepared based on the 3D body slices for assembling physical prototypes.Laser-cut nesting is used to prepare sheets based on the 3D model slices, and scanning with Skanect, followed by optimization in MeshLab, ensures that the physical prototypes are accurate and ready for testing.

4. Physical Production

g.

## Fnal product

This methodology breaks down into a few key steps:

3D Scanning: A physical object is scanned using software like Skanect, which creates a digital 3D mesh.

Mesh Optimization: The raw scanned data is cleaned up, simplified, and prepared for production using tools such as MeshLab.

Slicing and Nesting: The optimized 3D model is digitally "sliced" into layers. The resulting 2D shapes are efficiently arranged (nested) onto flat sheets of material to minimize waste during the laser-cutting process.

Physical Production: The nested files are sent to a laser cutter to produce accurate physical components ready for assembly and testing.

This process ensures accuracy by bridging the gap between a phys