Effectiveness of an educational Guidebook for Learning Digital Skills in Drawing Flat Patterns

Integrating computer-aided pattern drawing into fashion design curricula has become an educational necessity amid the digital transformation of the fashion industry, as digital tools support both technical proficiency and self-directed learning. However, implementation faces challenges, chief among them the need to systematically train students in specialized software. This study addressed that need by designing a guidebook to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and skill of pattern drawing using Adobe Illustrator, then evaluating its effectiveness. The research aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, particularly its Human Capability Development Program, by supporting digital design education and modernizing e-learning methods. The study employed a single-group, pre-test/post-test design, applying Lesson 5 of the guidebook with 60 female students enrolled in the Computer-Aided Pattern Drawing course (DAFD 323). Results showed highly positive specialist evaluations of the guidebook's suitability, statistically significant gains in students' cognitive achievement and skill performance from pre-test to post-test, and effectiveness ratios confirming the guidebook met established benchmarks for instructional impact. Students also reported strongly positive attitudes toward the guidebook. The researchers recommend adopting the guidebook within the course, developing similar guidebooks for other courses, and testing the guidebook against a comparison group in future research to isolate its specific contribution to these gains.