Category: Uncategorized
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Timeless Design: The Craft of Research and Resisting Trends
Timeless Design: The Craft of Research and Resisting Trends I believe in making the best products we can.Through research—both physical and digital.Consistency in design creates timeless classic icons. Flight jackets are a perfect example of function transformed into style:-1950s: The MA-1 sets the standard.-1973: The CWU-17/P refines pockets and collars.-1977: The CWU-36/45 elevates the design with Nomex…
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The 26-Degree Angle: How Cut Lines Shape Design Stories.
Lines shape everything. In 1979, Nike’s windbreaker nailed it with vigor A 26-degree angle made all the difference. It showcases an icon’s simplicity, never gone out of style. More than seasonal lines. The key is consistency. Are your cut lines telling the right story? I’m Hugh Clarke, owner of The Structure of Magic. We help…
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From Calm to Dynamic: How Cut Lines Shape Emotion in Your Product
From Calm to Dynamic: How Cut Lines Shape Emotion in Your Product Even the simplest line can evoke emotion. – Horizontal lines bring calm.– Vertical lines convey power.– Angled lines add energy and dynamism. Rapha uses cut lines to distinguish its brand identities. Road cycling collection: horizontal lines for a smooth, performance cadence Their MTB…
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Energy Over Noise: Power in Simplicity
Bold craft comes from balancing energy with simplicity. -Style and elegance win over being loud.-Simplicity and fun draw people in.-Minimalist, design sets you apart. Transformation comes when energy meets elegant simplicity. The M51 parka’s lasting design is inspiring. It showcases simplicity and usefulness, which never goes out of style. You can find the pattern through…
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A PDF portfolio is practical.
A PDF portfolio is practical. No endless links or tabs for design managers to navigate.
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The Most Overlooked Design Mistake: Spelling
Been there—too focused on the visuals, missed a typo. Someone always calls it out. You’re caught with your pants around your ankles. • It distracts from your creative story.• It raises doubts—what else have you missed?• It could’ve been avoided. Mistakes happen. Measure twice, cut once. A quick double-check would’ve saved me.
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Portfolio vs. Post
A post? Disappeared in seconds. A portfolio? Serious, solid, and lasting. Your portfolio is a long-term reference. It holds your work, shows your skills, and tells your story. Start an online portfolio today. Like a time stamp, it shows how long you’ve been in the business. Make it well-designed, clean, and easy to navigate. And…
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Adidas Ruled Years Before Nike Even Entered the Game
Adidas had the bigger budget.Nike dominated.Then Nike wobbled. There’s a story—and a triangle structure—behind every brand, company, or product’s magic. Dan Wieden stepped in early and found Nike’s narrative, direct to the heart. It’s all about finding that narrative and telling it in a compelling way: – Irreverence justified [start edgy, but with purpose]– Can-do [make…
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A highlight for me was crafting a whitewater kayaking cag.
A highlight for me was crafting a whitewater kayaking cag. We created an innovative three-way pre-shaped sleeve. Paddlers could sit comfortably while enjoying full freedom of movement. The feedback? Awesome, dude. It gave me the confidence to keep pushing forward. If you find this helpful, let’s connect and push things forward.
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Taste levels are cultivated over time.
It’s not just learned; it’s earned through experience. It’s the gut instinct that shapes every creative choice. Taste isn’t just about aesthetics. Taste turns good design into great design. Work on it and let it guide your creativity. Don’t fall into the hipster trap. If you find this useful, let’s connect and push things forward.
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Study all designs.
the good the bad the ugly Why does a design captivate you? -It mirrors your values.-It fits your style.-It speaks to your taste. The goal? To create products that resonate emotionally and function beautifully. Good design is clear, focused, and engaging. It opens new ideas. Explore design to tell stories that connect. If you find…
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Design Balance: Subjective vs. Objective
Creative work is tricky. I just finished a project. Technically solid, but opinions on aesthetics varied. I even packaged a solid emotional and visual case to pre-empt a discussion. Functionality is black and white. Aesthetics? Subjective feedback, less.It often boils down to taste levels. Subjective feedback can get deeply personal. It can be distracting. The key? Professional Balance. …
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My Digi-Physical fashion design tools:
The aim is to keep it as simple as possible. CLO3D [Apparel Prototyping]Adobe Illustrator [Vector Artworks]Plasticity [Hard surface modelling: Trims and accessories]Adobe Substance Sampler [Materials Creation]Adobe Substance Asset [ Pre-made Materials and Hard surface models]Blender 3D [Render and Animation] Photoshop [Image Composting] These work for me; I’m curious about what tools enhance your design workflow. I’m the…
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Knowing When to Leave a Project
Mastering the art of knowing when to exit from a project is a crucial skill for any creative. Despite pouring energy and best efforts into a recent project, I realized we had drifted and were not aligned on the project’s outcome. This awareness weighed on my mind, and the result was clear: our visions weren’t…
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Seeing the unseen
Beware of the trap of the echo chamber. Step out of your world. Recently, while chatting with my photographer mate, he mentioned the cold blue colour cast in a 3D render. Hmm Consider switching to a studio with sunlight HDRI, around 5600k. It could offer a warmer and more natural colour palette for fashion images. Hmm The…
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Mastering the Art of Tapering before Presentations.
Last week, I prepared for a significant presentation. I gathered top-notch information and visuals rehearsed over and over. Despite immersing myself in the project, I experienced a drop in energy before showtime, a phenomenon athletes call “bonking”. In the weight room, I follow a 12-week intense training cycle culminating in a lighter final week. This…
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Stick or Twist Decision-Making
Caught in a traffic jam yesterday..What to do? – Stick it out and wait– Twist turn around to find another way– Clock ticking I chose to twist. I turned around in the traffic jam. Quicker? Unsure. I moved forward and was comforted by that action.
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As a creator, I figured out comparing my work is counterproductive.
If I find myself comparing aimlessly. I stop. Concentrate on my work. Goodbye.
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How to Consistently Get High-Quality Renders in CLO3D in Just a Few Seconds?
Before I start the rendering process, I give the render property editor settings a once over. Image:– Image Size: 1080 x 1080 Pixels– Resolution (ppi): 300– Background Color: Choose a solid colour that complements your scene– Texture: None– Image Format: PNG Lighting:– Preset: Swimming Pool Render:– Engine: GPU– Finish Conditions: Noise Threshold 0.001– Quality: Set…
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How to Become a Better Clothing 3D Designer
-Choose a sector you are passionate about -Pick a software tool -Create every day Keep doing number 3. That’s it
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Good Design, Great Legacy: Crafting an Icon
The M-65 jacket tells a tale of gradual evolution through decades: – 60s– 70s– 80s– 90s– 2000s Milan, 2023. M-65s seamlessly morphed from a military staple to a mainstream style icon. Veterans like John Kerry wore it in protests, transforming it into a symbol of peace. Picture Sylvester Stallone in “First Blood.” Imagine Kurtwood Smith as…
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Crafting Functional Gear: Concept to Reality
From 3D Visualization into the wild: – Artistry in design – Precision Engineering – Innovation in Functional Clothing Gear Emotion Combined with Technical Precision to Craft a Shield. Protects and inspires Discover the Structure of Magic Let’s Connect and Push Things Forward. image: Midjourney
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The journey to better is always:
– rough– untidy– slow. Then, I witness the transformation: – from slow– to smooth– to fast Then, I notice the improvement: – accuracy– consistency– controlled pace Then, I receive positive feedback. Rinse and repeat. Let’s connect and push things forward.
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A common frustration persists: the lack of access to high-quality patterns, hindering my creative endeavors.
Building it. A design achieve of: -Functional clothing patterns -Military Pattern’s -Foundation for menswear Ensuring utilization of creation and digital immortality. The digital patterns are freely available for digital or physical design on the open pattern platform, openpattern.io Let’s connect and push things forward.
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Ideas vanish if not captured and thrive when visualized.
– Bring depth with 3D visualization. – Refine with design sketches. – Convince with physical prototypes. Make it quick. Make it real. Engage others. See it, feel it, get on board. PowerPoint falls short, often fading into the digital void. Taking ideas into the real world fosters drive. Let’s connect and push things forward.
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Attention economy. Professional attention. Creator economy.
-Sell what you want. -On your time. -At your price. Ye’s [Kanye West] Approach: Grabbing attention, he just happens to have an album out with some merch. Leveraging the Creator Economy using easy-to-access technologies owns the narrative, platform, and products, asserting control in the digital space. Disrupting the established industry norms.
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MARKING 50 YEARS OF OSTI MASTERY
“Only by thinking about clothing in terms of years rather than seasons one can guarantee a quality which will win over the crisis of overdose which provoked the refusal of the consumer.” – Massimo Osti Memoirs of a Fan Cemented in the roots of modern-day casual culture, C.P. Company is a widely recognised Italian sportswear…
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My digi-physical design Process:
My digi-physical design Process. Visualize the outcome Understanding – End Consumer – Technologies – Market Define – Function – Style – Emotion Make – 3D Concept Sketching – 3D Prototyping – Physical Prototyping – Design Details and Aesthetics Release What’s yours?
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The Process:
The Process: Love your work. Do the best you can. That’s it.
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Old vs New Clothing Design Process:
Old 2D Clothing Design Process: – Made basic, flat sketches. – Used simple decoration methods. – Struggled to explain design details. New 3D Clothing Design Process: – Create realistic garments with detailed patterns. – Use 3D models for accurate visualization. – Explain designs clearly to all, regardless of their design background. – Enjoy bringing designs…
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Stop the 3D design overwhelm.
Stop the 3D design overwhelm. I know that too many tools can be confusing. But you only need a clear path to excel: – Learn one software thoroughly. – Study one technique at a time. – Practice on small projects. – Join a 3D design community for tips. …it takes time. .
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Two years ago, I struggled to get my head around 3d design.
Two years ago, I struggled to get my head around 3d design. Now, I am decent at 3d design. 18 Months ago, I completed my first online 3D design course and started practising daily. 12 Months ago, I completed another online 3D design course. 6 Months ago, I finished a further online 3D design course.…
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The worst thing you can do to become a 3D creator is compare your work.
The worst thing you can do to become a 3D creator is compare your work. If you’re making comparisons without purpose, stop. Focus on your work. Goodbye
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5 Tips to Become a 3D Creator Without Expensive Software or Formal Education:
5 Tips to Become a 3D Creator Without Expensive Software or Formal Education: 1. Start with Free Software – Use Blender 3D. – Powerful tool. – Great community. – No cost. 2. Online Learning– Start with a Donut Blender Guru on YouTube– Use Structured courses– Use Udemy tutorials.– Use Blender Bros– Wait for promotions.– Use YouTube tutorials for quick tips.– Join…
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How to achieve realistic fabric textures using Adobe Substance .SBSAR Files:
How to achieve realistic fabric textures using Adobe Substance .SBSAR Files: – Set Resolution to 4096 for enhanced detail.– Set Reflection Parameters to 0 to eliminate glossiness. Ensure you’re using the latest Adobe Substance file for the best results. Expect a natural finish on your fabrics. Feel free to repost and share your creative insights.…
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How do a render in CLO3D
This is how I get a good render in CLO3D every time in just a few minutes. Before I render, I give this the once over. 1. Image – Image Size: 2048 x 2048 Pixels – Resolution (ppi): 300 – Choose a colour that works with your scene – Texture: Diagonal_01…
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Transition into an Independent Digital Tailor
Two years ago, I went all in with becoming a Digital Tailor. I wanted to merge traditional craftsmanship with new digital technologies to advance the narrative in the technical apparel space. Expand beyond apparel. Embracing my entrepreneurial spirit. Fuse my creative and my technical side. Feed my passion for Pattern Cutting. Foster sustainable innovation. Leave…
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16 things that destroy creativity
16 things that destroy creativity: 1. Overthinking 2. Perfectionism 3. Not practicing 4. Over tweaking 5. Lack of inspiration 6. Inconsistent style 7. Poor post-production 8. Fear of Criticism 9. Imposter Syndrome 10. Lack of goals 11. Prioritizing technology over artistry 12. Creating in isolation 13. Not taking breaks 14. Limited exploration 15. Not sharing…
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101
Nobody cares about how long it took They care about their time.
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Real Artist sign their work
Real Artist sign their work. Less ghost creators: Need less of this: – Celebrity creators – Product – Creator commodification – Trend chasing And more of: – Creator transparency – In-house creator collaborations – Respect for the craftsmanship – Time to create – Long-term generational creators – Fairly compensated What are your thoughts?
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Flat Lighting
Worried your renders are flat and uninteresting? Here’s a tip: 3 Point Lighting – Turn off HDRIs. – Use a 3-point lighting to add depth and realism to your scenes. – Experiment with various light sources, intensities, and colours to create mood and atmosphere. This is a great way to make your scenes more visually compelling. Try it for your…
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Becoming
How to Become an Independent Digital 3D Creator Pick a topic you love. Pick a platform. Create every day. Keep doing number 3. That’s it.
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Routine
My daily routine as an Independent 3D Creator 9:50 am: Make an Aeropress coffee level 5 with MTC Oil. 10 am: Outreach Writing – Journaling and Post Creation. 10:30 am: Outreach LinkedIn – Respond to direct messages, connection requests, comments, and likes. 11:00 am: Focus Learning – 3D Software, Branding or Running a Business. Noon: Deep Work …
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Welcome!
Welcome! I’m Hugh Clarke, a seasoned Design Leader and Sportswear Innovator with over two decades of experience in the global design industry. My expertise spans performance clothing, footwear, and accessories, where I effortlessly marry cutting-edge technology with the timeless art of craftsmanship. Born in the vibrant coastal town of Brighton, the Eighties acid house movement…