Abstract:

In design education, many students study human anatomy with printed books and free online 3D viewers such as Sketchfab or Anatomy Learning. These resources help them understand form and proportion, but they are mostly created for medical training, not for visual design. Because of that, design students often struggle to translate anatomical knowledge into creative modeling or character design work.

In my project, I am developing a modular 3D anatomy figure made specifically for art and design students. The current prototype focuses on the head and neck region and aims to combine anatomical accuracy with visual clarity. Each component can be detached and reassembled so that students can explore structure and relationships in a hands-on and intuitive way. The design process also considers how to simplify complexity without losing the underlying anatomical truth, creating a tool that is both educational and aesthetically functional.

This paper describes how the figure was designed, how it fits within my teaching framework, and how it will be tested in my Spring 2026 anatomy class. In the future, I plan to extend the model to full-body anatomy and make it accessible through an interactive web viewer or, if collaboration allows, a virtual-reality environment. My goal is to build a practical, creative tool that helps design students see anatomy as an engaging and interactive learning experience.

Keywords:

3D Anatomy Education, Interactive Learning, Modular Model, Modular figure, Pedagogical Design, Digital Design Curriculum.