PLEATABLE
If Textiles are stiff, how it would be?
Inspiration
Crafted items are unique and detailed, meanwhile modern technology provides possibility of creativity. I believe in the contradiction of distinctive abilities from the disparity between the speed of creation and the surface of tactility.
Technology is evolving at the fast rate and tactile traits of textiles are potent to support aesthetics. However, the repetition of design applications of textiles which is used for covering and softening creates some conceptions that textile itself is unstable without hard component. According to that concept, I questioned myself how can textiles do free-standing by itself?
This project aims to focus on the essence of crafting techniques and digital tools in order to create three-dimensional forms. The objective is to challenge notions of unstable textiles and provide beauty of crafted textile. The essences of textiles in focus were:
•Flexibility
•Expandability
•Stability
Design background
Having been raised by grandmother, who is an expert in handcrafts, developed my love of creating things. I used to spend my summer break with her in a crafting room. I continued to develop my love of craft with art and decided to study in Product design course for bachelor’s degree.
For the final project, the passion of hand-embroidery was used as an inspiration. The patterns of embroideries were analyzed and developed into furniture’s structure which was produced with mass production processes. The outcomes were unsatisfied for me who wanted to keep and reveal delicate details of hand-embroidery through furniture’s appearance. The desire of creating modern craft became a seed of this MA project.
Even though mass production tools don’t provide a tactility and detailed elements like crafts do, it consumes less time. To bring back the delicate aesthetic of crafts through the designs, this stiff, flexible, and customizable table is a reflection of modern technology and textile crafting.
Ideation
To give the strength and flexibility to flat surface, folding-paper and cutting-paper techniques were researched and tested out in subtle surfaces.
Colors and materials are obtained from artifacts, artists, and designers whose work I resonated on flexible theme.
Prototyping
To develop flexible structures which aimed to provide extra spaces for interior, experimental pieces were selected and translated through pleating processes in order to
Color palettes and nature-inspired graphics were developed with the concept of modern craft.
Moreover, as a desire of emphasizing the beauty of technology, a photochromic was resonated via printing techniques for providing tactility to the surfaces
Final models
