A 3D-printed dress designed by recent graduate Ayushi Bhattacharjee ME’26 was showcased at the 2026 Bridges Conference’s Math + Fashion exhibition. The project was developed under the guidance of Mili Shah, Professor and Chair of Mathematics, and Jennifer Weiser, Professor of Chemical Engineering. The annual conference brings together mathematicians, scientists, artists, and educators to explore the connections between mathematics and the arts.

The custom 3D-printed dress is derived from a Voronoi tessellation, a geometric partition of space defined by a discrete set of seed points. Each region consists of all points closer to its generating seed than to any other. Using MeshMixer and 3D printing, the team mapped this tessellation onto the body, creating a nature-inspired mathematical form.

Made from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), the Voronoi tessellation is paired with a flexible laced closure at the back, where ribbon connections introduce adjustability to an otherwise rigid structure. This hybrid system combines structural geometry and fit, allowing the printed structure to preserve its mathematical form while the tensioned ribbons accommodate variation in body shape and movement.

On the runway, the piece translates computational geometry into wearable form, where mathematical rigor meets aesthetic design.

Learn more about the interdisciplinary project here.