Design and Marketing Innovation

Trends in global textile and clothing strategies are briefly reviewed to introduce the Portuguese context, and the development of Design & Marketing education and research at The University of Minho. The development of textile-oriented multimedia technologies is discussed with reference to the SME multimedia corporate and product presentation model and the interactive fabric library. New innovative design tools such as the use of fractal geometry in computer-aided textile printing design, the application of chromotropic pigments by a spraying technique, and the development of a CAD system for fancy yarn design are also discussed. The work conducted in developing novel weft-knitted structures for technical applications is reviewed with reference to 3-D structures, sandwich fabrics and a multiaxial technique.