Computer Integrated Textile Design Association To Sponsor CAD/CAM Technology Symposium

Research Triangle Park, NC — The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) is sponsoring its first CAD/CAM technology symposium since its acquisition of the Computer Integrated Textile Design Association (CITDA) membership and selected assets in July 2005. CITDA was the premier association committed to the use, management, and development of computer-integrated design (CID) and computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) systems with the textile industry. CITDA's membership consisted of individuals from apparel, home furnishings, textile manufacturing, automotive and transportation interiors, wall coverings, toys, accessories, and related industries. CITDA is now part of AATCC's Concept 2 Consumer Interest Group.

The program titled "Global Design Initiative," is chaired by Dee Dee Davis with Springs Industries, and will be held June 22 and 23 at the QVC headquarters in West Chester , Pa. The symposium will address the interests and day-to-day concerns of CITDA members, targeting CAD designers, CAM managers, textile and apparel designers, stylists, colorists, merchandisers, retailers, design technology providers, educators, and fashion and home furnishings management.

The program will focus on design trends, color management and color matching systems, global sourcing challenges, innovative fabrics and technologies, design collaboration and image management, design using calibrated printing, virtual design, protecting your designs in a global market, and more. Tabletop displays by service bureaus and leading CAD/CAM hardware and software providers will provide designers with the latest technology information.

Confirmed presentations include:

• New Technologies, Craig Crawford, Consultant
• Ready-to-Wear: Fashion Design for a Virtual World, Catherine Smith, Linden Lab
• The Freedom and Creativity of the Digital Design, Tristan Goodfellow, Diane Harrison Designs
• Protecting Your Intellectual Property, Jackie Lesser, QVC
• How Technology Has Changed the Information We Use to Design a Product, and How We Exchange that Information, Larry Nipon, WGSN
• The World of Seamless Garments, Speaker TBD
• Color Management Systems, Speaker from Pantone
• Weaving your Way to CAD Simulations - How CAD Design Saves Time and Money, Steve Greenberg, Pointcarre
• The Evolution of PLM, Darioush Nikpour, Yunique Solutions
• Industry Update on Digital Fabric Printing, Sandra N. Brown, B3 Design Solutions LLC
• Global Design Collaboration Using New Technology, Simon Poulton, Visuality
• Color in ® Color Out, What Happened in the Middle?, Dan Randall, Datacolor
• Utilizing Spectral Data in Design, Matthew Forman, Lectra USA Inc.
• Global Sourcing Challenges, Eric Christopher, QVC

A panel of educators and industry representatives will address industry needs vs. educational curriculum in a panel discussion titled "Curriculum Collaboration: Design Industry Leaders and Leading Educators Share Insights." Moderated by fashion industry consultant, stylist and writer Craig Crawford, the discussion will address the questions: Are today's graduates really ready for today's design careers? How are curricula created and kept up to date? What can industry do to help? How can on-going dialogues between educators and industry be facilitated and maintained?

Panelists include: Diane Sheehan, University of Wisconsin; Jen Goan, QVC; John Jones, MR Magazine, Shelia Portela, International Textile Group, Inc.; and Dee Dee Davis, Springs Industries.

SOURCE: AATCC