5X’s School of Fashion is one of the highest-ranked fashion schools in the country, known for its innovative and creative teaching styles and, of course, forward-looking fashion.
Lauren Copeland, Ph.D., associate professor in Kent State’s School of Fashion, exemplifies the inventive approach to educating the next generation of fashion leaders within the school. First-year students who were part of Copeland’s Fashion Fundamentals class were recently tasked with creating their own shoe design using an AI platform.
Copeland spoke with Kent State Today about the importance of becoming familiar with artificial intelligence – and balancing technology with human thought and creativity – to train students to be confident in their skills and what they can provide to the industry.
“I think it’s very important that the students understand how to use AI for their benefit in future careers,” Copeland said. “In our industry, it’s going to be life- and industry-changing, so they need to be well versed in that.”
Copeland says she had her students read “The Selling of One’s Sole,” a story about Donald J Pliner, one of America’s most-worn shoe designers, written by R. Scott French, advisory board member, who received a master’s degree in public relations from Kent State in 2014.
Copeland wanted students to take inspiration from both the book and the past by having students infuse their own perspectives and inspiration into a future that will be significant in their careers.
“I thought it was a great way to match history and the future with the perspective of a student in the middle of their experience as a freshmen student in their first semester,” Copeland said.
The project required students to choose their own AI platform and design a shoe based on their interpretation of the book. Copeland said the design should speak to each student, tapping into their past journeys and where they intend to go.
Copeland also said that she hopes the project challenges students to use their creativity and their voices in their designs as new technology becomes more integrated into design processes.
“It really is a lesson of back and forth. ‘How do I get familiar with the technology?’ But then ‘How do I find a way to harness the technology to my benefit?’” she said.
Copeland hopes the assignment will encourage students to embrace AI and all the exciting things that it can bring.
“One of the great things about fashion is that there is always going to need to be that creative sense of a person putting themselves out there through fashion,” Copeland said.
Through recent research with her colleagues, Copeland has also worked to implement AI in other classes within the school. For example, her capstone students in the Seminar in Fashion Merchandising course have been tasked with using AI where they deem appropriate to research, forecast, develop, market and buy an innovative fashion product line.
During Kent State School of Fashion week in April 2025, Pliner will be inducted into the School of Fashion Hall of Fame, where students will have the opportunity to view some of his archives up close. French will also be in attendance to meet students and sign books. Some of the Fashion Week activities will also include a 3D virtual fashion show on April 22, and a 2025 Fashion Hall of Fame Gala on April 26.
“I think it will be a really great experience for the students to really see a piece of history,” Copeland said. “And how Kent State brings history to them and then lets them explore their future opportunities through that lens.”