Sensible Creatures
Researching meditative personality traits in materials, Master Thesis Aalto University, 2019
Phrases such as humming hyper-nature hues and soft sinking curves were initiated from the workshop data. Above industrially woven sample Mohair Marble No 1, mix of hues, merino wool and mohair.
Sketches utilised weaving in diverse manners from marbling and mixing hues with wool and mohair. Above Mohair marble No 2 in soft tones.
Sensible Creatures, my master thesis work from Aalto University consists of a literature review, case study and a series of textile sketches.The thesis investigates meditative personality traits in materials through an original method of mixing traditional artistic approach and contemporary user-involvement in textile design. The motivation for this project was to explore ways to design experiential and nurturing textiles for both the mind and the body.
In the early phase of the textile design process, data was collected from users in material workshops. Workshops researched what kind of material properties, emotions, interaction and context are linked to personality traits (e.g. enchanting, serene, rooted, wise-conscious) that portray meditative experience.
The work was selected as one the finalists in the 2019 Dorothy Waxman International Textile Design Prize and showcased in the Talent! exhibition among other young talents worldwide during the New York Textile Month, September 2019.
Permalink to the thesis publication: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-201909085207
The main focus in the thesis was to find new methods and utilize user inspiration in the textile design process. Above spreads from the thesis book.
Weaving was used to construct architectural, absorbent surfaces, which invite to interact. The sound this fluffy, hand-woven sketch makes when walked over is described as walking on a dry grass.
The findings were analyzed and interlaced into inspirational phrases, which were crafted into raw but poetic textile sketches named as Sensible Creatures. The sketches are a preliminary step towards working with the collected unique data.
The thesis has its basis on the notion that people often use human-like personality traits to describe materials (van Rompay, 2005)1. These expressive traits, also known as meanings of materials, explain how we experience and value materials (Karana et al, 2010)2.
References:
1 Karana, E., Hekkert, P., & Kandachar, P. (2010). A tool for meaning driven materials selection. Materials & Design, 31(6), 2932-2941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2009.12.021.
2 van Rompay, T. J. L. (2005). Expressions: Embodiment in the experience of design. Enschede: Ipskamp Printing.