COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN (CAD) USAGE IN TEXTILES DESIGN IN THREE SELECTEDTERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN SOUTH WESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

Computer technology has revolutionized human activities so much that it has eased man of so many burdens in life such that almost every aspect of human professions to a great extent now depends on it. However computer technology is not so often put to use in textile design as it is often used in other areas of human activity e.g engineering sector. This study researches into the level of Computer Aided Design Software (CADS) proficiency and use among textile design students and members of staff (academic and non-academic) in three selected Tertiary Institutions in South Western Nigeria. Questionnaires were administered to elicit responses from respondents in textile sections of the respective departments of the three tertiary institutions. Oral interviews and personal observations were also employed as 225 questionnaires were administered out of which 182(81.0%) were retrieved. From the analysis of the questionnaires retrieved using statistical package for social sciences software (SPSS), it was discovered that there was a level of general computer knowledge literacy among staff as indicated by the mean value of 4.3. But concerning the knowledge of Computer Aided Design Software (CADS) usage which happens to be the main focus of this study the knowledge level was discovered to be 31.6% and 33.1% with mean value of 3.7 for staff and 3.3 for the students respectively. The study further revealed that the low level of CADS proficiency was due to the fact that there were not enough capable tutors to teach the students. Also, there were not enough facilities in the schools to cater for the students’ needs as indicated by mean value of 3.4 for the staff and 3.1 for the students. In addition to this is lack of enough awareness of CADS indicated by a mean value of 3.5 among staff and 3.1 among students. Considering the multitude of advantages computer technology is capable of giving textile designers, the study concludes and recommends that measures be taken towards adequate awareness of CADS by both students and members of staff in the textile design sections. Also CADS facilities should be improved and members of staff of textile design departments should upgrade their CADS usage knowledge so as to impart better knowledge on students with a view to optimizing technological know-how, minimizing production stress and producing high quality products that will compete favourably in the market.