Introduction to Functional Textile Design and Sustainable Manufacturing

Computer Numeric Control (CNC) knitted products have become increasingly prevalent in everyday life over the past few years, manifesting in domains that are both design-oriented (sweaters and shoe uppers) and engineering-oriented (seat covers and vehicle chassis preforms etc.). Using design inputs, the machine's loop-by-loop formation enables users to create shaped geometries with different localised properties in a single manufacturing step. Thus, this broadens the design freedom to create a variety of technical textiles with functional properties that can be used for different industries. Moreover, this additive manufacturing technique presents a sustainable method of creating textiles without depending on conventional cut-and-sew processes.

This course introduces participants to digital textile design, with CNC knitting of technical textiles as the main focus. It shares how different properties (i.e. mechanical, shape-change, electrical etc.) can be imparted to the knit and the various basic Computer Numeric Control (CNC) knitting principles of how to achieve them.  It will also include sharing sessions from industry specialists to give insights of how they are incorporating sustainability in their business operations.

The latter half is a design workshop to let users have a hands-on experience of how to design a functional knitted textile with variable localised properties. It allows participants to explore using the Kniterate system to design and manufacture these textiles.

Course Details

Course Dates:
Currently unavailable.

 

Duration
3 days, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

 

 

Who Should Attend

  • Personnel, working or studying in a textile or textile-related field, who are interested to know more about CNC-knitting and how to design for functional textiles using this manufacturing system. 
  • Personnel who want to have a first-hand experience in designing and manufacturing using the Kniterate system.

Programme Outline

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants should be able to / can expect to:                                                                                

  • Identify the main textile production methods and what type of textiles they can produce
  • Recognise the different functions and properties that can be imparted via CNC-knitting and the relevant knitting design principles
  • Gain an understanding how sustainability in incorporated in the fashion industry
  • Able to design a simple knitted technical textile with localised properties using the Kniterate system
  • Understand the different design-to-fabrication workflows in creating a functional technical textile
Day 1
  • Introduction to the Course and Syllabus
  • Overview of Technical Textiles and Automated Textile Production Methods
  • Basic mechanism of CNC Knitting and Designing for Function
  • Sharing Session: Insights into Sustainable Textile Design in the Fashion Industry #1
  • Sharing Session: Insights into Sustainable Textile Design in the Fashion Industry #2
  • Tour to see knitting lab and works
  • Wrap up and Introduction to Design Workshop
Day 2
  • Introduction to Kniterate System
  • Translating Designs to Kniterate via images
  • Hands on working with Kniterate
  • Workflows for designing functional knitted textiles (in research)
  • Designing development and Knitting prototypes using Kniterate
Day 3
  • Knitting prototypes using Kniterate
  • Presentation and Exhibition of Works
  • Course Wrap Up and Feedback
Assessment
Group Discussion, Class Participation, Final Presentation and Showcase

Course Fees and Funding

Full course fee inclusive of prevailing GST

You pay
S$3,270

SkillsFuture Course Fee subsidy (70%)

  • For Singapore Citizens < 40 years old 
  • For Permanent Residents

You pay
S$981

Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy (90%)

  • For Singapore Citizens ≥ 40 years old

You pay
S$381

Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (90%)

  • For SME - Sponsored employees

You pay
S$381

The above module fee payable is inclusive of GST of 9%. 

Instructor

 

Low Hong Yee
Senior Fellow, SUTD Academy
Head of Pillar (EPD), Professor (EPD) & Director of the Digital Manufacturing and Design Centre (DManD),
Singapore University of Technology and Design

Hong Yee Low received her PhD from Case Western Reserve University in 1998, in the area of polymer science and engineering. She spent about 2 years in Motorola Semiconductor Sector in Malaysia. To pursue her interest in materials research, she joined the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) in 2000.

During her career in IMRE, she has held a few key appointments including the department head for the Patterning and Fabrication Capability group for 5 years, principle investigator /program director for nanoimprinting research since 2003, as well as the director of research for 2 years. In terms of research, she has been working on nanoimprinting of biomimetic surfaces. Her team has developed a variety of biomimetic surface functionalities onto engineering polymers, which she believes has a good potential to be a more sustainable technology to impart and improve product performance without relying on chemicals.

Read more.

Policies and Financing Options

SSG Funding Terms and Conditions

Use of Personal Details

In consideration of the subsidy provided by SkillsFuture Singapore Agency (“SSG”) through the SUTD Academy for the Course,
 

I consent to:

The collection, use and disclosure to relevant third parties of my personal data by the SUTD Academy including but not limited to personal particulars, attendance records, assessment/performance records, for the following purposes:

  1. Reporting of national statistics and conducting of holistic continuing education training research and analysis;

  2. Facilitate the conduct of the relevant surveys and audits in relation to the Course;

  3. General administration of the Course including but not limited to processing of the subsidy provided by SSG;

  4. Publicity and marketing of the Course or other Courses to be provided by SSG or SUTD Academy; and

  5. SSG or its Appointed Auditors or Nominated Representatives to directly contact Course Participant to obtain information deemed necessary for the purposes of conducting effectiveness survey or audits in relation to the Course.
     

I agree to:

  1. Attend and complete all lectures, class exercises, workshops and assessments;

  2. Complete the Course feedback at the end of the Course;

  3. Complete the post Course survey sent about 3 to 6 months after class attendance; and

  4. Sign up for a personal email account.

SUTD Privacy Statement

For more information on SUTD's privacy statement, please visit https://sutd.edu.sg/Privacy-Statement.

SUTD Terms and Conditions

Methods of Payment

Learn more about the available payment modes.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

  1. If a written notification is sent to sutd_academy@sutd.edu.sg within 24 hours after course registration deadline there will be no cancellation charges. A full refund will be made. 

  2. No refund is provided if written notification is more than 24 hours after course registration deadline. SUTD Academy reserves the rights to collect the full fee amount from the participant.

Replacement Policy

Companies may replace participants who have signed up for the course by giving a 3-working day notice before the course commencement date to sutd_academy@sutd.edu.sg. Terms and conditions apply.

Registration Policy

  1. Course may be cancelled due to insufficient participants. SUTD Academy will not be responsible or liable in any way for any claims, damages, losses, expenses, costs or liabilities whatsoever (including, without limitation, any direct or indirect damages for loss of profits, business interruption or loss of information) resulting or arising directly or indirectly from any course cancellation.

  2. Course enrolment is based on a first-come, first-served basis.

  3. SUTD Academy reserves the right to change or cancel any course or instructor due to unforeseen circumstances. 

Types of Funding

Funding under Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy ("MCES")

  1. MCES is an enhanced Subsidy to encourage mid-career individuals to upskill and reskill, thereby helping them to remain competitive and resilient in the job market. With this, all Singaporeans aged 40 and above will receive higher subsidies of up to 90% course fee subsidy for SSG-funded certifiable courses.

  2. Individuals/employers are not required to submit an application for the MCES. Those pursuing SSG-funded programmes will be charged the appropriate subsidised fees by SUTD Academy if they are eligible MCES. Individuals/employers will only need to pay the nett fee (full course fee after SSG's grant).

    For more info, please visit SkillsFuture website at https://www.skillsfuture.gov.sg/enhancedsubsidy

Funding under Enhanced Training Support for SMEs ("ETSS")

  1. ETSS is an enhanced funding to enable SMEs to send their employees for training.

  2. SMEs will enjoy subsidies of up to 90% of the course fees when they sponsor their employees for SSG-funded certifiable courses.

  3. In addition to higher course fee funding, SMEs can also claim absentee payroll funding of 80% of basic hourly salary at a higher cap of $7.50 per hour. SMEs may apply for the absentee payroll via the SkillsConnect system.

  4. To qualify, SMEs must meet all of the following criteria:
    - Organisation must be registered or incorporated in Singapore
    - Employment size of not more than 200 or with annual sales turnover of not more than $100 million
    - Trainees must be hired in accordance with the Employment Act and fully sponsored by their employers for the course
    - Trainees must be Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents

    For more info, please visit SSG website at https://www.ssg.gov.sg/programmes-and-initiatives/funding/enhanced-training-support-for-smes1.html


Funding under Union Training Assistance Programme ("UTAP")

UTAP is a training benefit for NTUC members to defray their cost of training. This benefit is to encourage more union members to go for skills upgrading.

NTUC members enjoy 50% unfunded course fee support for up to $250 each year when you sign up for courses supported under UTAP (Union Training Assistance Programme).

For more info, please visit https://e2i.com.sg/individuals/ntuc-education-and-training-fund/.
 


Funding under Post-Secondary Education Account ("PSEA")

The Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) is part of the Post-Secondary Education Scheme to help pay for the post-secondary education of Singaporeans.

This is part of the Government’s efforts to encourage every Singaporean to complete their post-secondary education. It also underscores the Government’s commitment to support families in investing in the future education of their children and to prepare them for the economy of the future. PSEA is not a bank account.

It is administered by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and is opened automatically for all eligible Singaporeans.

Account holders can use their PSEA funds to pay for their own or their siblings’ approved fees and charges for approved programs conducted by approved institutions.

However, you will have to check your eligibility and balance by contacting MOE first.

Contact MOE at (65) 6260 0777

E-mail to MOE at contact@moe.edu.sg

Click here for MOE website.