Summary

The design research described in this report was conducted as part of the Catwalk: Forces of Nature exhibition that is part of Textiel Festival Twente, an outdoor art exhibition centered around textiles. This specific project was based on the concept of connecting in a disconnected world and providing a sense of comfort. In order to achieve this, literature research was conducted. This lead to a summary of soothing/comforting materials and visuals. It is important to note that these emotional responses strongly depend on context. Blue is generally considered calming, especially when combined with visuals related to air and water. Warm, subdued tones such as pink, soft yellow/orange and beige are thought to be relaxing due to their associations with the sun and warmth – the same goes for warm lighting. Round and organic shapes are considered more inviting. It was also found that recognizable elements in art make the pieces easier to relate to for general audiences.
These elements were combined into a final concept; one central piece, a hand-shaped structure featuring warm lighting and three supporting (but crucial) interactive textile “paintings”. These artworks are interconnected. A pressure sensor on the interactive artworks activates lights in part of the hand. To fully illuminate the hand, visitors must work together, contributing to the connection aspect of the display. Materials for the pieces must be resistant to weather conditions. Coated materials were therefore chosen for the sensor areas of the interactive artworks. Existing waterproof LED strips are used as a base for the circuit to increase reliability and safety. All textile materials used are of natural origin so to reduce the environmental impact of the display.