High Fashion in Equations November 7, 2007

As part of ThinkSwiss – Brainstorm the future – swissnex San Francisco is proud to welcome Professor Nadia Magnenat-Thalmann of MIRALab, a laboratory of the University of Geneva internationally known for exceptional computer simulations of the moving human body. Prof. Magnenat-Thalmann will treat us to a virtual fashion show by presenting the film "High Fashion in Equations", followed by a talk on “3D Computer Simulation of Textiles and Clothing".

Prof. Magnenat-Thalmann and her team combined mathematics, fashion and computer graphic components to develop a revolutionary computer program called the "Fashionizer" that creates a true-to-reality virtual fashion show out of a simple sketch – without actually having the dress physically made. Clothes of well-known designers like Zara and Mango have already been simulated with the software to show how the design work can be more efficient. "High Fashion in Equations" film was presented this year at Siggraph in San Diego, one of largest International Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques.

Nadia Magnenat-Thalmann has pioneered research into virtual humans over the last 25 years. She obtained several Bachelor's and Master's degrees in various disciplines (Psychology, Biology and Chemistry) and a PhD in Quantum Physics from the University of Geneva in 1977. From 1977 to 1988, she was a Professor at the University of Montreal where she founded the research lab MIRALab. She was elected "Woman of the Year" in 1987 by the Greater Montreal Association for her pioneering work on virtual humans and presented the artistic part of her work at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1988. She moved to the University of Geneva in 1988, where she founded the Swiss MIRALab, an international interdisciplinary lab composed of about 25 researchers. She has received several scientific and artistic awards partly for the simulation of Marilyn and the film "Rendez-Vous in Montreal". Recently, she has been elected to the Swiss Academy of Technical Sciences and is taking part in more than a dozen European and National Swiss reasearch projects including HAPTEX and the Marie Curie European Research training network 3D Anatomical Human.

Program

6:30pm: Registration and aperitif
7:00pm: Welcome by swissnex
7:10pm: Viewing of film "High Fashion in Equations" & talk by Prof. Nadia Magnenat-Thalmann
8:00pm: Q&A
8:15pm: Networking and fingerfood buffet
9:00pm: Doors close

ThinkSwiss is a US-wide program on Education, Research and Innovation. The program is under the auspices of Presence Switzerland (PRS), the Swiss State Secretariat for Education and Research (SER) and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA).

Official Website: http://www.swissnexsanfrancisco.org/activities/events/high_fashion_in_equations