Background. Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software can be used for full digital creation of apparel patterns, digitization and modification of existing patterns, as well as innovation in manufacture. Digitizing is the process of transferring paper patterns into a digital computerized format via scanning procedures (Harlock, 1989;Stott, 2012). Low-technology based procedures can be used for digitizing patterns utilizing traditional scanners and manual tracing of patterns within a computer program, such as Adobe Illustrator (Plummer, 2015(Plummer, & 2016. However, specialized software developed by industry leaders in CAD, such as Optitex, Lectra, and Gerber, provides enhanced efficiency and accuracy in the digitization of patterns. Such advanced software requires installation of specific programs for digitizing as well as an interactive digitizing table and mouse. Digitizing technology has been used for the development of innovative designs within both academia and industry. The digitizing process allows designers to thoughtfully engineer design placement and construction with precision and accuracy (Hwang & Zhang, 2015;Saeidi & Korani, 2017). This technology has risen in popularity within the apparel and textile industries due to the demand for precision, speed, and enhanced design capabilities for the shift to technologybased design.Sustainable Design in Higher Education. Environmental effects of manufacture and the concept of sustainability are a growing field of concern in the apparel and textiles industry. To better prepare the design students, universities must implement course curricula that discusses environmental issues while providing tools for the incorporation of sustainable design to the future industry members. Students must adopt the mentality that it is the responsibility of the designer to consider sustainable design principles and practices when creating the concept for a new ensemble; accordingly, educators need to reinforce the concept with tools and teaching strategies. Instead of simply addressing sustainable issues in design courses as a mere suggestion for students to consider in their projects, it is pertinent that educators stress the necessity of eco-friendly practices and have students understand sustainability as a mandatory aspect of design. According to Gwilt (2014), there are seven strategies designers can utilize to reduce the environmental impact in the design or production stages: (1) minimizing the consumption of resources, (2) choosing lowimpact processes and resources, (3) improving production techniques, (4) improving distribution systems, (5) reducing impacts created during use of materials, (6) improving a garment's lifetime, and (7) improving the use of end-of-life systems. To promote students' minimal consumption of resources, educators can inform students of methods such as the reconditioning of already made materials or upcycling of used materials and garments.
