Abstract:

The article approaches the specifics of AutoCAD Design and Engineering software, in connection with students; needs for learning leather goods design.

This application is included in the bachelors curricula from the Footwear and Leather Goods Design and Technology Department, ”Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi, Romania. This software is an important instrument that contributes to students; innovation, creativity, and efficiency in learning and developing leather goods products.

AutoCAD Design and Engineering is a solution for the leather good designer and/or engineer, offering a balanced blend of intuitive technical CAD tools. CAD (Computer Aided Design) systems are very useful, clear, and easy to use by the students and help them to focus on the designs and the technical part of the product.

The system helps to obtain the patterns and enables direct modelling of a bag so that even before it is fabricated, it can be analysed in terms of functional, aesthetic, technological, and economic criteria. When the students start the leather goods design classes, the first lesson is about the structure of a handbag. In the beginning, it is difficult for them to see, understand and learn the patterns; names and positions. The software supports the teacher in obtaining realistic bag models and clear patterns with all the information needed.

This paper outlines the first steps undertaken in the process of designing e-learning tools for product development, in the case of Higher Education students. The main advantages of using it by students, teachers, engineers, and designers: are interaction with the design, reducing the number of physical samples; a fast way to obtain patterns; modifying operation directly on the model, and applying or eliminating new elements/parts.

Keywords:

Leather goods design, CAD software, bag pattern.