Bachelor's or master's thesis: 3D models from pattern files for a product configurator (m/f/d)

What it’s about

Anyone designing a cycling jacket online wants to see what it really looks like – not just front and back, but from every angle, with their own name on the chest and the club logo on the sleeve. That is what an existing online product designer should be able to do. Today it shows a design in 2D, front and back. In your thesis, you take it into the third dimension.

The starting point is the product’s pattern files: vector data in SVG format from which the actual garment is later sewn. Your tool turns them into a clean 3D model on which the design sits correctly – across seams, without distortion in the wrong places. The model has to run in the browser and on phones and tablets without anyone installing a plugin or an app.

There is a second extension: customers should be able to place, move and scale their own text and logos on the product. Whatever they set in the 2D view must appear in exactly the same spot on the 3D model – and end up in the pattern files, so production is right.

vona is an AI & software agency from Leipzig that works remote-first for clients across the German-speaking countries. Software and web development, apps, AI integration and design all sit within one team. A possible research question for you: how can a 3D model be generated automatically from 2D pattern pieces so that it runs smoothly even on an older phone and shows designs true to size? Your own ideas and focus areas are explicitly welcome.

Your tasks

• Together with us, you develop a research question and an approach that fits your university.
• You read SVG pattern files, map the pattern pieces to their positions on the product and generate a 3D model with a suitable UV layout.
• You render the model in the browser, for example with WebGL and Three.js, and make sure it loads quickly and runs smoothly on mobile devices.
• You extend the existing product designer so customers can place, move and scale text and logos – in sync in 2D and 3D.
• You evaluate the results: how accurately does a motif sit compared with the pattern file, how large is the model, how fast is it on different devices?
• You document your approach so it can be applied to further products, such as jerseys, shorts or vests.

What you bring

• A degree programme in computer science, media informatics, computer graphics, game development or a related field
• Solid knowledge of JavaScript or TypeScript
• Interest in 3D graphics in the browser; first experience with Three.js, Babylon.js or WebGL helps
• A basic understanding of vector graphics, geometry and textures
• Enjoyment in measuring solutions properly and testing them on real devices
• Good German or English for working with the team

Nice to have, not a must: experience with Blender, glTF, shaders, cloth simulation or garment pattern making.

What we offer

• A topic from a real product instead of a textbook exercise – your work may actually be used by customers later
• A dedicated contact person at vona who supports you on the subject matter, plus regular check-ins; academic supervision stays with your university
• Real pattern files and the existing product designer as your starting point
• Flexible hours that follow your semester, and hybrid work – in Leipzig and from home
• If things go well, the chance to keep working with us after the thesis – for example on follow-up projects; we can’t promise that in advance

How to apply

Just use the form at the bottom of the page. A few sentences about who you are, what you study and what excites you about 3D in the browser are enough – plus a link to your CV, GitHub, portfolio or LinkedIn. You don’t need a formal cover letter. We usually reply within a week. Please apply even if you don’t tick every box.