Cost Assessment User Interface for Garment Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designers in the apparel and home goods industries face challenges in assessing production costs during the design stage due to the lack of tools that can generate necessary cost information and the impracticality of gathering required data.
Innovation Solution
A cost assessment tool that uses a 3D digital model of a garment to parse properties and calculate production costs, including fabric, labor, shipping, and other costs, while providing an interactive interface for designers to edit designs and see cost implications in real-time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If designers use traditional cost assessment methods (cost experts or manufacturer quotes), then cost assessment can be performed, but the process becomes manual, time-consuming, expensive, and slows down the design iteration process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a 3D digital model (a copy or representation) of the garment to extract design parameters automatically, eliminating the need for manual cost assessment by experts or time-consuming manufacturer quotes. The 3D model contains all necessary geometric and material information that can be processed computationally to generate cost estimates instantly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of cost assessment (cost experts manually calculating costs or designers obtaining quotes from manufacturers) with an automated computational system that uses algorithms to process 3D model data and generate cost assessments automatically, significantly reducing time and cost.
2Loss of information
If designers gather required cost data manually, then cost information can be obtained, but the process becomes impractical and time-consuming due to data being in different formats and locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal cost assessment tool that can handle multiple data types and formats through a single integrated system. The tool can process various garment properties (fabric type, measurements, design features) from the 3D model and automatically retrieve corresponding cost data, eliminating the need for designers to manually gather and reconcile data from multiple sources in different formats.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cost assessment tool as an intermediary system that bridges the gap between design information (3D model) and cost information. This intermediary automatically extracts parameters from the 3D model, retrieves relevant cost data, and presents integrated cost assessments to designers, simplifying the complex data gathering process.
3Reliability
If cost assessment is performed at later stages (manufacturing or distribution), then cost viability can be determined, but money may already be spent on non-viable products and opportunities for cost reduction are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables cost assessment to be performed preliminarily during the design stage itself, before any manufacturing or distribution activities begin. By using the 3D digital model, the system can evaluate cost viability early, allowing designers to make cost-conscious decisions and avoid proceeding with non-viable designs, thus preventing waste of manufacturing resources.
4Adaptability or versatility
If designers iterate on product design to improve design while minimizing cost, then design quality improves, but repeatedly employing cost experts slows the design process and adds complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the 3D digital model as a reusable copy that can be rapidly modified during design iterations. Each iteration involves updating the 3D model with design changes, and the cost assessment tool automatically re-evaluates costs based on the updated model, enabling rapid iteration without repeatedly engaging cost experts and thus reducing process complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A cost assessment tool, method and system are disclosed. The cost assessment tool can parse a three-dimensional model to derive properties of a garment. The cost assessment tool can use the properties of the garment to assess the garment cost. The cost assessment tool can generate a user interface comprising the garment cost. In one example, the cost assessment tool can also use data related to garment production. In another example, the cost assessment tool can determine a fabric cost by using a representative size of a garment to determine a required fabric amount for a size range.