Digital prototyper

Description

Digital prototyper transform paper pattern into digital form using special computer software. They operate and monitor machines which make different products related to clothing.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to digital prototyper:

pattern making machine operator
digital pattern maker
digital prototype technician
digital patternmaker
digital prototype operator

Minimum qualifications

A high school diploma is generally required to work as a digital prototyper. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Digital prototyper is a Skill level 2 occupation.

Digital prototyper career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to digital prototyper.

clothing CAD patternmaker
clothing product grader
wearing apparel patternmaker
clothing quality inspector
clothing cutter

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of digital prototyper. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of digital prototyper with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

clothing CAD technician
clothing process control technician
textile chemical quality technician
textile sourcing merchandiser
textile quality technician

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of digital prototyper.

  • Prototyping in the wearing apparel industry: The main principles of prototyping for the manufacturing of wearing apparel and made-up textiles: sizes, body measurements, specification, and behaviour of fabrics after cutting.
  • Marker making: Marker diagram of a precise arrangement of pattern pieces for a specific style and the sizes to be cut from a single spread. Markers can be made by manually tracing master patterns onto the fabric or paper or by manipulating and plotting computerised pattern images.ย Process of determining the most efficient layout of pattern pieces for a specified style, fabric and distribution of sizes.
  • 3D body scanning technologies: The principles and usage of technologies for 3D body scanning used to capture the size and shape of the human body.
  • CAD for garment manufacturing: Softwares of computer aided design for garment manufacturing which allow create 2 or 3 dimensional drawings.
  • Standard sizing systems for clothing: Standard sizing systems for clothing developed by different countries. Differences among the systems and standards of different countries, the development of the systems according to the evolution of the shape of the human body and their usage in the clothing industry.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of digital prototyper.

  • Coordinate manufacturing production activities: Coordinate manufacturing activities based on production strategies, policies and plans. Study details of the planning such as expected quality of the products, quantities, cost, and labour required to foresee any action needed. Adjust processes and resources to minimise costs.
  • Create patterns for garments: Create patterns for garments using pattern making softwares or by hand from sketches provided by fashion designers or product requirements. Create patterns for different sizes, styles, and components of the garments.
  • Analyse scanned data of the body: Analyse 3D scanned data for the development of prototypes, of avatars, for the creation of size charts, the garment pattern modification, alteration and manipulation, and for testing fit.
  • Use 3D scanners for clothing: Use different 3D body scanners and softwares to capture the shape and size of the human body in order to produce 3D body model for the creation of avatars and mannequins.
  • Grade patterns for wearing apparel: Grading patterns by performing processes of resizing initial patterns in order to create nest of patterns to fit various body types and sizes.
  • Operate garment manufacturing machines: Operate and monitor machines which make miscellaneous wearing apparel articles. Operate and monitor machines that fold cloth into measured length, and measure size of pieces.
  • Draw sketches to develop textile articles using softwares: Draw sketches to develop textiles or wearing apparel using softwares. They create visualisations of the motives, patterns or products in order to be manufactured.
  • Prepare production prototypes: Prepare early models or prototypes in order to test concepts and replicability possibilities. Create prototypes to assess for pre-production tests.
  • Use pattern-cutting softwares: Use pattern-cutting softwares in order to create templates for the manufacturing of wearing apparel, made-up textile articles, and textile products. Set adequate patterns in softwares for replicability of products taking into account sizes and shapes.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of digital prototyper. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Apparel manufacturing technology: Traditional and advanced apparel manufacturing technologies. Technologies including processes, machinery, etc. in order to compile and design pattern requirements, contribute to product costing and finalise assembly sequence and quality assurance criteria.
  • Properties of fabrics: The influence of chemical composition and molecular arrangement of yarn and fibre properties and fabric structure on the physical properties of textile fabrics; the different fibre types, their physical and chemical characteristics and different material characteristics; the materials used in different processes and the effect on materials as they are processed.ย 

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of digital prototyper. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

ISCO group and title

7532 – Garment and related pattern-makers and cutters


References
  1. Digital prototyper – ESCO
Last updated on October 20, 2022

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