Crafting wearables

Architect and interaction designer Behnaz Farahi has created a 3d printed wearable, ‘that provokes a sort of modern day mating ritual by detecting and then reacting to other people’s gaze with organic, life-like movements’.For Caress of the Gaze, Farahi designed a top of 3d printed spikes and brought along a camera with a facial recognition software.   When the person in front of you looks at different points, the top is set in motion. In the future, men will probably think twice before they start to stare ‘unnoticed’ to someone’s breasts.

”Our skin is constantly in motion. It expands, contracts and changes its shape based on various internal/ external stimuli including not only temperature and moisture but also feelings, such as fear, excitement and anger. What if our clothing could behave as an artificial skin capable of changing its shape and operating as an interface with the world defining social issues such as intimacy, gender and even personal identities? (Fahari, B)”.

This project therefore addresses the emerging field of shape changing structures and interactive systems that bridges the worlds of fashion, art, technology and design.

For me the top has very much alike the skin of a hedgehog. If a hedgehog hears or sees something unexpected, he turns the spines on his head to the top, pulling his shoulder and keep the muzzle down. The spiky ball is a good protection against natural enemies. The 3d spikes protect so to speak, also the body of a woman. You know immediately where the men look at and it restrains them next time.

On Farahi’s website she tells: ‘it engages with a series of issues’. Firstly, it demonstrates how the very latest and most advanced 3D printing technologies might contribute to the realm of fashion. Secondly, it explores the potential of an actuation system and thirdly, it investigates how our clothing could interact with other people as a primary interface using computer vision technologies.

This project has a link with the trend mutable fashion: ‘new manufacturing techniques paired with digital technologies are allowing the styles people wear to make an even more dynamic statement about them, bringing elements of interactivity, adaptivity and movement to the latest fashions’ (PSFK).

You can read more about the issues on her website: http://behnazfarahi.prosite.com/204244/7618948/gallery/caress-of-the-gaze

 

Other sources:
http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/nl/blog/dit-3d-geprinte-topje-weet-precies-wanneer-jij-kijkt

 

 

 

relaxing fabrics

Desiree van der Gracht

Due to the fast pace of the modern life, we are in an active mode most of the time. Many people find it hard to relax when they get home after a busy day. For them Desiree van der Gracht designed this breathable fabric module.

The module consists of three elements: an airbag that mimics breathing, mood lighting and a control unit. These are all integrated into a specially designed textile fabric. The module can be incorporated into various interior products like a cocoon chair, a room divider or even an entire room.

 

‘Clouds, fire and waves are natural, calming phenomena. I tried to mimic this with a soft fabric that imitates a breathing moment and changes color when you touch her’ (vanderGracht).

 

In the future, Desiree sees oppurtunities to apply the concept also in for example, health care, hotels or offices.

Agatha Nowak

Another example is Agatha Nowak’s offline chair. She designed this seed in order to break trough the mobile habits. Nowadays we spend more and more time looking at the screen of our phones. I have to admit that I also do that. We want to know everything and particular not miss anything The chair creates a space which enables you to relax and you won’t get disturbed by your mobile phone. You need to store the phone in a special pocket on the seat. This bag will block mobile signals and also WIFI. In this way, you won’t receive any new messages and you can’t be disturbed.

Agatha Nowak

 

 

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