Understanding fashion and the blockchain

Before starting her PhD studies, Mimi Nguyen studied data science in Warsaw and new media art at the University of Arts Berlin. She went on to work for a number of tech consulting companies including Accenture and the Boston Consulting Group before taking up a place to study MA Innovation Management at Central Saint Martins.

Mimi’s interest in both technology and new media art later brought her to Imperial College London, where she began her PhD research. “For many years I struggled to find a way to bring these two worlds together,” she says, “but eventually I decided to pursue a PhD at Imperial College London in the Faculty of Engineering.”

Now an assistant professor here at UAL, Mimi works with students on a range of projects that utilise design thinking to reimagine services and products. “The aim is to explore creative technologies and challenge traditional notions of technological transformation through the lens of innovation management,” she explains.

Digital currency: where it all began

The rise of the NFT

Students on Mimi’s Fashion and Metaverse Short Course gain an insight into the role of the NFT (non-fungible token). Research suggests that NFT sales are growing rapidly, with many artists and musicians now using the technology to sell their work.

“NFTs are digital assets that are uniquely identified and verified on a blockchain,” says Mimi. “These assets can represent articles, music, artworks, digital designs such as collectibles and cards, game assets, digital fashion items and certificates.”

“NFTs have allowed artists to sell their digital art directly to collectors, bypassing traditional galleries and middlemen,” Mimi tells us. “This has created new opportunities for artists to monetise their work and led to some high-profile sales of digital art for millions of dollars.”

“The use of NFTs is still in its early stages,” says Mimi, “and it remains to be seen what their long-term impact will be. However, they have the potential to significantly disrupt traditional markets and create new opportunities for creators and collectors of digital assets.”

Read more about the future of digital fashion design.

Short courses

Mimi’s Fashion and Metaverse Online Short Course explores the relationship between digital fashion, blockchain and the metaverse. “The course covers the opportunities and challenges presented by the use of virtual and augmented reality in the fashion industry,” she says, “as well as the role of digital fashion in shaping the metaverse”.

The course also addresses the potential for innovation and entrepreneurship in this space, including the development of new business models and the use of blockchain technology. The focus is on developing the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the industry.

On the Blockchain Art and NFTs Short Course, students develop an understanding of the fundamentals of blockchain technology and its applications in the art industry, such as the use of NFTs in the authentication and sale of digital and physical artworks.

“Students engage in lectures, discussions, and hands-on exercises that allow them to dive deep into the key concepts,” says Mimi. These learning experiences help students understand blockchain technology and begin to develop their own project ideas.