IT + Textiles

'IT+Textiles' was a three-year design research program (2002-2005) led by Interactive Institute and Newmad Technologies in Sweden, where traditional textile design meets and, at least to some extent, falls in love with computational technology. It is the ambition of the IT+Textile research program to investigate this new design space and the need for aesthetics of, and design methods for, the use of new textiles and computational technology as design materials.

The research combines perspectives from fashion, textile and interaction design to find new approaches to the design of computational things. Experimental design methods are used as a starting point to broaden our understanding of textiles and information technology as design material. This approach lead to the creation of a repertoire of design examples that illustrate what can be done within this area. 'The Interactive Pillows' - a pair of pillows that transmit glowing emotions to each other, no matter the distance, and 'Tic-Tac-Textiles' - a pair of furniture that involves you in a subtle game with a mysterious, unknown opponent are two of the results that have attracted lots of attention on international exhibitions and conferences.

The IT + Textiles program mixed researchers from textile and interaction design, textile and electrical engineering, philosophy and the behavioural sciences to find new approaches to issues of use and context and form and aesthetics, as well as reflecting on people's relations to everyday objects and technology. The research is not about merely creating 'smart textiles' or exploring new technical possibilities, but about how to re-think the use of textiles and computational technology as design materials considering the different traditions, perspectives and methods that are part of their creation.

External homepage:
http://www.tii.se/reform/projects/itextile/index.html