My creative scholarship
explores texture & color by blending
traditional and contemporary techniques.

 

3D Printed Weft Knit Dress Prototype

Melissa Dawson & Brad Dunn (MFA ID '16)

The 3D Printed Weft Knit Dress Prototype was designed & developed by Melissa Dawson and Brad Dunn for Dr. Denis Cormier (Earl W. Brinkman Professor and AMPrint Center Director) and the grand opening & dedication ceremony for RIT's AMPrint Center in October 2016.

The prototype is completely 3D printed using the Stratasys j750 flexible filament, so it stretches and behaves like a traditional weft knit fabric, and will unravel if an edge stitch is picked loose. Panels were 3D printed separately to provide proper shaping needed for accurate fit, and then hand stitched together to make the final prototype.

Initial concept through final construction was executed in 2.5 weeks.

Exhibitions

  1. Moukperian, M., Dunn, B., & Cormier, D. (2017). 3D Printed Weft Knitted Dress Prototype. RAPID + TCT 3D Printing Expo & Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA.
    Over 6,000 attendees consisting of new and veteran additive manufacturing technologists from around the globe.

  2. Moukperian, M., Dunn, B., & Cormier, D. (2017). 3D Printed Weft Knitted Dress Prototype. CIAS Faculty Exhibition. Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York USA.

  3. Moukperian, M., Moukperian, M., Dunn, B., & Cormier, D. (2016). 3D Printed Weft Knitted Dress Prototype. Opening Ceremony & Celebration of RIT AMPrint Center, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York USA.

Ceramic Textiles

Dan Gabber (MFA Ceramics ‘17) & Melissa Dawson

These are examples from a series of experiments exploring the combination of ceramics and textiles. By draping crochet fabric, designed & crocheted by Melissa Dawson, into a predefined mold, we were able to control texture and shape to combine the best properties of both materials. The result was fascinating

Exhibitions

  1. Gabber, D. (February – March 2019). Six Porcelain Bowls. Fiberlicious. Loading Dock Gallery, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA.

  2. Gabber, D. (November 2018). Six Fabric Bowls. 18th Annual Memorial Art Gallery Fine Craft Show and Sale. Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, New York, USA.

  3. Gabber, D. (November 2018). Ceramic textile piece. Good things…come in small packages exhibit. Flower City Arts Center, Rochester, New York, USA.

  4. Gabber, D. (May 2018). Soft Studio at NYCxDesign. Co-curated with Josh Owen, a collection of 10 prototypes representing different explorations in ID Soft Studio courses. WantedDesign Brooklyn at NYCxDesign, Brooklyn, New York, USA.

Additional Explorations

These are some examples of exploratory studio work I have done over the last few years, including shibori dyeing, weaving, wet felting, and hand-stitching. I create mainly for my own personal enjoyment, but do occasionally share my work through more public venues.

Exhibitions

  1. Dawson, M. (2022). Frances Marie. Cotton embroidery on linen. CAD Faculty Exhibition, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York USA.

  2. Dawson, M. (2022). Passementerie Play. Woven passementerie samples exploring supplemental weft structures using cotton, wool, & found materials. CAD Faculty Exhibition, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York USA.

  3. Dawson, M. (2019). Explorations in Wet Felting. Three-dimensional wet-felted pieces made from merino, silk chiffon, and silk throwsters waste. CAD Faculty Exhibition, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York USA.

  4. Moukperian, M. (2017). Nuno felted scarf. Hand-dyed silk scarf with nuno felted merino wool. CIAS Faculty Exhibition. Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York USA.