Innovation in Action: College for Creative Studies Senior Brings Designs to Life with ISAIC’s Advanced Technology

What do you do when you have an idea for your senior design showcase that requires advanced technology, but don’t know where to find it? You ask the staff and professors at your school, and in the case of Maxwell Honeycutt, that led him to one place: ISAIC. 

Maxwell always knew he wanted to be a fashion designer. Ever since he was little, he loved dressing up and wearing costumes, fascinated by how clothing can shape the way someone feels and is perceived. His grandmother would make him costumes until eventually, she taught him how to make them himself. That’s where his journey in design really began. 

Fast forward to 2026, and Maxwell is now a senior in the Fashion Design for Apparel program at the College for Creative Studies. For his senior thesis, he wanted to blend his Maltese and Greek heritage by incorporating three sacred crafts—mosaic, lace making, and macramé—through his own lens in a more technically innovative way. His collection name, Sabiħ Máti, translates to “beautiful” in Maltese and “eye” in Greek, together meaning “Beautiful Eye.” 

Maxwell Honeycutt’s original design sketches

But where does one begin? 

“When I started my research, I pretty quickly realized that I needed to learn a lot,” said Maxwell. “Originally, I reached out to a manufacturer in LA, where I spent my summer internship, but because of logistics and location, that fell through. Then I reached out to Shannon McPartlon at CCS, and she connected me with ISAIC and another local organization. ISAIC was the one that got back to us.” 

ISAIC is the only organization in the nation that iteratively tests, validates, and trains people on advanced technologies under one roof, accelerating widespread adoption and industry transformation. We offer community members unprecedented access to manufacturing expertise and equipment to deepen their knowledge and support career pathways for job seekers, entrepreneurs, artists, and in this case, local students. 

“When I originally started this journey, it was all a learning curve,” said Maxwell. “I started on a smaller laser cutter in our department to see what happens when you make different cuts on different fabrics. Then I realized I needed to use something bigger.” 

That “something bigger” was ISAIC’s Tukatech single-ply laser cutter. This high-speed laser cutting machine is engineered for sampling, product development, and on-demand manufacturing. It cuts four times faster than a single laser, requires only one operator, and can cut almost any material. 

Creating the designs using ISAIC’s Tukatech Single Ply Laser Cutter

“I originally wanted to cut ice-dyed silk organza because it’s a big part of the collection, but I realized quickly that you can’t laser cut that material because it’s so thin and delicate that it burns and frays,” Maxwell explained. “I then had to experiment with polyester organza, which can’t be dyed, so I realized I could fuse the two materials together.” 

The result of the laser-cutting technology is a final product that resembles the lace making rooted in Maxwell’s family heritage. 

Final designs featured in Sabiħ Máti created using the Tukatech Single Ply Laser Cutter

Photo credit: Lewis Parenti

“Maxwell’s designs were the most complex cuts I have made using the laser,” said Alex Stchekine, Research & Innovation Manager at ISAIC, who helped bring Maxwell’s designs to life. “The delicate fabrics also required careful handling, so we completed several test cuts before processing the final iterations. I had to learn new pathways within our CAD software to manage the complex cutting files. My favorite part of the process, beyond seeing the designs come to life on the runway, was successfully cutting such delicate fabric—we didn’t have much margin for error!” 

“My experience working with ISAIC was amazing,” said Maxwell. “Alex just really cared and it made the biggest difference. He was genuinely interested and excited about the project and was generous with his time. I am so grateful everyone took the time to help.” 

ISAIC’s relocation to an expanded space within the College for Creative Studies’ A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education in spring 2026 opens the door for even more community members and CCS students to access and utilize advanced apparel manufacturing equipment and technology, empowering job seekers, entrepreneurs, artists, and students alike. 

Rendering of ISAIC’s new Innovation Lab in the College for Creative Studies’ A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education

Rendering by Miracle Hubbard Wray

“ISAIC is important for students because there’s so much experimenting that you can do, and I think that’s the future of fashion, technology, and creation,” said Maxwell. “It’s so important to collaborate with other industries to do things that you otherwise couldn’t do alone. Access is valuable, and my project wouldn’t have been possible without the help of ISAIC.” 

So what’s next for Maxwell? After officially graduating from CCS this spring, he hopes to work in Europe, specifically in couture. 

“I don’t have any concrete plans at the moment, but I would love to work for Iris van Herpen in Amsterdam. She's my favorite designer, so that’s my ultimate goal.” 

We wish Maxwell the best of luck in his future endeavors and thank him for allowing ISAIC to be a part of his story. 

Want to learn more about our move to CCS? Read the official press release here.

Or to learn more about ISAIC’s approach to innovation, visit our website here.