The Future of Design: 3D Technology in Student Projects at HAMK

At HAMK, students are blending traditional design skills with emerging 3D technologies to create, prototype, and innovate across disciplines. From fashion to ceramics, digital tools are reshaping how the next generation of designers bring their ideas to life.

The design world is ever-changing, especially today with new techniques, materials and problems rising. At HAMK we want to stay on top of that, adapting to the new innovations in the design world. Fortunately, many new technologies and machines are available for us here at HAMK. We utilize different 3D technologies to make designing a smoother experience, with products coming out exactly as intended.

Fashion: Building Collections Digitally

Prototyping is a crucial part of any design process. Designers sometimes create dozens of prototypes before perfecting the final design. This phase can consume a lot of time, energy, and materials. At HAMK, students can explore digital prototyping using various 3D programs. In fashion studies, they learn to use tools like VStitcher to create prototypes of individual products or even entire collections. 

Roosa Lundström, a 3rd-year fashion design student, designed an entire collection using 3D software. She created her collection with Browzwear’s VStitcher and Grafis programs. Roosa shared her experience of designing entirely in a digital environment: 

“After I had decided on the outlines of the collection, I started making the outfits in 3D. Most outfits were created using Browzwear’s VStitcher from beginning to end, but one blazer pattern was first edited in Grafis and then imported to VStitcher for further editing. I also scanned some handmade crochet lace and hand-dyed silk fabric with a fabric scanner on campus and made 3D fabrics of them. All in all, the process was quite fascinating.”

Even though learning to use these programs can be a little time consuming, Roosa felt that it was not any more difficult than traditionally designing a collection. Once you know how to use the tools, editing patterns and experimenting with materials, colors and prints is a lot faster in a 3D environment. While Roosa feels there is still a lot to learn about using 3D programs, it has already changed the way she works. She now uses 3D as a sketching, visualization, and pattern-making tool. 

“Once you know how to use the tools, editing patterns and experimenting with materials, colors and prints is a lot faster in a 3D environment.” 

Footwear: Sculpting in 3D With Blender

In footwear studies, 3D technology is used in various phases of the design and development process. Third-year footwear design student Dorota Kaňuchová shares her experience using 3D modeling to design soles for her shoes. She explains that 3D technology has changed her workflow quite a lot. Designing and visualizing products has become much more efficient with 3D. Although learning to use programs like Blender was challenging at first, with practice, the process became easier and faster. 

“It really took my work to another level. Being able to create the exact shapes and forms I imagined, and at a much higher quality.” 

Ceramics & Glass: Bridging Tradition and Tech

Even in glass and ceramics studies, 3D technologies can be used in multiple ways. 3D modeling can help students visualize the product before making it from the raw material. Also, molds can be 3D printed in unique shapes and later used to bring products to life. HAMK also has a 3D printer for clay, so even whole products can be 3D printed out! 

Tamami Okada has worked with 3D on making molds for glass blowing as part of her thesis. She shared her experiences using 3D technology, noting that, like Dorota, the main challenge was learning to use the software. After mastering it, the process became smooth and straightforward. Tamami feels that 3D technology has made certain tasks—especially during the prototyping phase—faster and more efficient, streamlining her design process. 

“The process started with creating a 2D design in Illustrator. I then brought that into 3D modeling software to build the 3D form. After finalizing the model, I used the same software to design the mold. This workflow allowed for a smooth transition from concept to production and gave me a lot of control over the final shape.”

Viola Laurila has also incorporated 3D technologies into several projects during her ceramics studies. She shared insights into her process of making molds using 3D: 

 “In a nutshell, the process works like this: I design a model, for example, a mug, and then 3D print it. The surface of the printed prototype is usually slightly textured, so it needs to be sanded before mold-making to ensure it comes out smoothly. A plaster mold is then built around the prototype in the same way as a traditional clay or plaster model. Once the mold has dried, the prototype is removed, and the mold is ready for casting.” 

Viola finds that even though 3D modeling can be a bit time consuming, depending on the complexity of the product being designed, it doesn't significantly increase the workload compared to traditional methods. She feels that utilizing these tools can help achieve more consistent results. Since 3D is so precise, the possibilities are endless when using it for design.

“Designing with a 3D software definitely requires patience and self-initiative, but once you learn it, it opens up entirely new possibilities.”  

Shaping the Future

The students agree: 3D technology isn’t just a trend—it’s becoming a cornerstone of contemporary design. 

Tamami feels that 3D technologies will open new possibilities in glass design: “It allows for more innovation in form and structure, and as it becomes more accessible, it could help bridge traditional techniques with modern design approaches.”

Viola also recognizes these technologies affecting the work of ceramicists: “Many ceramicists are incorporating it into their work and creative process. It allows for faster small-scale production and makes it possible to create highly intricate artistic pieces.” Although 3D technology is influencing the ceramics field, she believes it will never fully replace traditional methods, as the visible touch of the maker is what makes each piece unique. 

In fashion, 3D technologies can help save resources, especially in the prototyping phase. Roosa hopes 3D will have many positive impacts in the future: “I hope it will make the industry more sustainable. It can also help fashion industry to become more size-inclusive, as it becomes more effortless to design clothing for different body types.

As 3D tools become more accessible, they are changing how young designers create, think, and problem-solve. At HAMK, students are proving that embracing technology doesn’t mean letting go of creativity—it means expanding it. While these technologies may not replace traditional methods, they’re becoming a powerful addition to the designer’s toolkit.