Introduction to Functional Textile Design and Sustainable Manufacturing

Computer Numerical 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 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.

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 is 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)
Design, develop, and knit 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
Head of Pillar (EPD), Professor (EPD)
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.

Tan Ying Yi
Research Fellow, Digital Manufacturing and Design Centre (DManD)
Singapore University of Technology and Design

Ying Yi is a Research Fellow from Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). Ever since his initial PhD advisor procured a knitting machine in 2017, he has been involved in the various SUTD knitting research that span across architecture, engineering, computational, art and healthcare domains. Ying Yi's PhD work reconciles his architecture roots and on-the-job skillset in machine-knitting through the digital design and manufacturing of bespoke textiles for architectural applications. As a researcher, he is currently working on comparatively smaller-scale smart knitwear while guiding students on knitting-related projects.

Charlotte Lim Pei Xuan
Research Assistant, Digital Manufacturing and Design Centre (DManD)
Singapore University of Technology and Design

Charlotte Lim is a researcher in the Digital Manufacturing and Design Center (DManD) and the Engineering Product Design (EPD) Pillar at SUTD. With a background in fashion and textiles design, she has over 10 years of experience in print, apparel design and manufacturing. Her interest is in product development and her research centers around innovation and applications using CNC knitting.

Christyasto Priyonggo Pambudi
Research Assistant, Digital Manufacturing and Design Centre (DManD)
Singapore University of Technology and Design

Christyasto received his bachelor's degree in architecture from Singapore University of Technology and Design. With several years of experience as a Researcher in SUTD, he has been exposed to many different disciplines; knitted fabric being one of the most recent topics. Some of his projects include Knitted Tensegrity Pavilion as well as Knitted Mycelium Composite. Besides knitting, he has also developed much interest in parametric design, digital modeling, and fabrication in application to many of his work over the years.

Benjamin Lim En How
Research Assistant, Digital Manufacturing and Design Centre (DManD)
Singapore University of Technology and Design

With a training in Architecture and Visual Arts, Benjamin has a keen interest in a myriad of design fields. Currently a researcher in the Knitting and Textiles Lab, Benjamin has worked with developing textiles for use in biological, architectural and engineering research, while expanding his expertise in fashion and consumer apparel design. A firm believer in both modern technological tools and traditional art forms, Benjamin is also experienced in parametric design and digital fabrication, while practicing woodworking and painting in his leisure time.

Chia Pei Zhi
Research Assistant, Digital Manufacturing and Design Centre (DManD)
Singapore University of Technology and Design

Pei Zhi is an experienced CNC knitting researcher, soft goods prototyper, and bag sewing instructor. The diverse range of products that she has developed includes architectural pavilion membranes and formworks, e-textiles and healthcare wearables, prosthetic liners, and plus-sized juggling chooks. She also used to manage and teach sewing classes in a local sewing studio. Somewhat incongruently, but with no regrets, she studied geography in the National University of Singapore.

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Types of Funding

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

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.
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")

ETSS is an enhanced funding to enable SMEs to send their employees for training.
SMEs will enjoy subsidies of up to 90% of the course fees when they sponsor their employees for SSG-funded certifiable courses.
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.
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/.

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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.

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E-mail to MOE at contact@moe.edu.sg

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Textile Design & Sustainable Manufacturing