Isabella “Bella” Rudy, a junior fashion design major with a minor in marketing, transformed nature into wearable art through an ambitious biomimicry project at the Design Innovation Hub.
For her Junior Studio final project, Rudy designed an avant garde garment inspired by the King Bird of Paradise. Using custom textile design, dye sublimation printing, and advanced garment construction, Rudy’s work explored how fashion can capture movement, transformation, and storytelling without relying on real biological materials.
The project began with a single requirement: choose a bird and reinterpret it through fashion using the principles of biomimicry. Rudy was drawn to the King Bird of Paradise, a species renowned for its vivid colors and elaborate courtship dance. Additionally, the dramatic contrast between the male bird’s everyday appearance and its striking transformation during mating displays.
“I really focused on the male because the males and females are different,” Rudy said. “The females are green and plain, but the males are bright red, and when they want to impress, their wings expand, and you see all this color. I really want to mimic that mating process.”
That concept became the foundation for her design: a two-in-one “reveal” dress that shifts from the regular state of the bird into the bold form that is bursting with color.
From Concept to Construction
Rudy’s garment was designed to visually mimic the bird’s courtship ritual. When clipped up, the dress appears predominantly red, with the print only on the bodice. When released, the full interior print is revealed. The design has two big skirts sewn together, and the dress is sewn at the bottom, expanding into a bubble-like dress.
To achieve this effect, Rudy experimented with multiple techniques, including bleeding, rouging, and laser cutting. Ultimately, dye sublimation printing at the DI Hub became central to bringing her vision to life.
“I tested a small swatch first, and I really liked how it looked,” she said. “I wanted my reveal to be that print because it shows all the different wings and feather colors because not all the king of paradise birds are the same.”
The final garment used 24 yards of fabric, with two large skirts sewn together, each composed of eight panels. The structure of the piece is intentional, allowing the dress to expand dramatically like the bird’s wings during its display.
Learning Through the DI Hub
Rudy first became involved with the Design Innovation Hub through her Junior Studio class which encouraged students to explore campus resources. After completing orientation, she became a regular user of the space.
“The DI Hub helped tremendously,” Rudy said. “I was able to get my fabric printed the same day instead of ordering online. It’s also convenient, a bit cheaper, and the staff is really helpful.”
Beyond convenience, the experience gave Rudy hands-on technical skills. She learned how to prepare files for dye sublimation, align fabric correctly on the heat press, and understand the full printing process; this knowledge goes beyond simply outsourcing production.
“It’s very tedious, but it was really cool to see the whole process,” she said.
From Classroom to Runway
Rudy’s project was presented to a professional panel that included designers and museum executives. From more than 150 Junior Studio students, only 40 designs were selected for a runway show at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in October 2026, where the projects will be displayed alongside the birds that inspired them. Rudy was one of the 40 students whose design was selected!
Advice for Future Makers
For students new to the DI Hub, Rudy encourages curiosity and experimentation.
“If you have questions, ask because the staff will definitely be there to help you,” she said. “And even if you have never 3D printed before, just sign up and try it. Not every school offers this amazing equipment, so take advantage of it.”