Research
Experts and References
Dr. Zane Berzina
Artist, designer and researcher Zane Berzina works on interdisciplinary projects across the fields of science, technology and the arts. Her practice and research evolves around responsive and interactive textiles, new textile materials, processes and technologies as well as biomimetic practices. Zane Berzina is co-founder and Artistic Director of the 'E-Text and Textiles' project in Riga (Latvia), Research Fellow at the Constance Howard Resource and Research Centre in Textiles (CHRRCT) and an Associate Member of Goldsmiths Digital Studios, University of London. Recently she took up a Professorship at the Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weissensee, Germany.
She co-created the project E-Static Shadows which explores the speculative and poetic potential of static electricity found in our everyday environments, surrounding our everyday interactions. The aim of the project is to investigate how electrostatic energy could either be effectively utilised or play a part in the development of active, responsive and interactive textile systems which would be capable of detecting, translating and displaying this energy into dynamic audio-visual patterns. This design pilot project studies the possible translations of electrostatic energy into other types of energy such as light, sound and motion using specially engineered intelligent textile systems as mediators and displays for these processes.
She co-created the project E-Static Shadows which explores the speculative and poetic potential of static electricity found in our everyday environments, surrounding our everyday interactions. The aim of the project is to investigate how electrostatic energy could either be effectively utilised or play a part in the development of active, responsive and interactive textile systems which would be capable of detecting, translating and displaying this energy into dynamic audio-visual patterns. This design pilot project studies the possible translations of electrostatic energy into other types of energy such as light, sound and motion using specially engineered intelligent textile systems as mediators and displays for these processes.
Mika Satomi and Hannah Perner-Wilson
These two designers and artists, founders of the Kobakant website, have worked on the project Involving the Machine. The objective of this project is to explore the combination of semi-automated machinery and handcraft processes for the production of electronic textiles. Electronic textiles (E-Textiles) are textiles that have electronic components embedded in them, or are constructed from fibers with electronic properties. They are interested in creating E-Textiles that have the ability to sense various stimuli such as pressure, bend and stretch. Whereas industry often looks to automate processes and eliminate human involvement, they are interested in developing production processes that rely heavily on human intervention and skill, while taking advantage of automation. They believe that such hybrid creative processes will allow them to produce more unique and diverse results.
Sarah Robertson and Lynsey Calder
They have both worked on a fabric with thermochromic pigments that reacts to heat. They are both lecturers at the DJCAD, the Duncan of Jordanstone College of art and design in Scotland. Their textile do not have an woven circuit, they are using copper tape to connect the reverse side if the textile to a circuit. They both studied at the Smart Textiles and Wearable Technology in Pervasive Computing Environments of Heriot Watt University.
Suzanne Tick
Suzanne Tick is one of the best textile designer in the United States. She is the founder of Suzanne Tick Inc., specializing in materials brand strategy, product design, development, and direction for commercial interiors.
Suzanne currently holds two design positions with leading industry manufacturers – Teknion and Tandus Flooring– in addition to maintaining a distinguished career as a textile designer and studio Principal in New York City. At Teknion, Suzanne was appointed the Creative Director for Textiles, and is responsible for the development and direction of textiles for seating and vertical applications. She is developing a new textile business model for Teknion, offering textiles suited for both the Teknion and B&B Italia offerings as well as the industry at large. At Tandus, Suzanne is the Design Director responsible for design management and product design, a position she has held since 2005. Her designs for Tandus in broadloom carpet, modular tile, and Powerbond have won numerous design awards and continue to break new ground in the industry.
Suzanne is known for her intelligent and enthusiastic approach to design in evolving markets, along with conviction to provide innovative solutions. In addition to her work in commercial Interiors, Suzanne maintains a hand weaving practice and creates woven sculptures from repurposed materials. Her work is exhibited worldwide, including MOMA and Art Basel, as well as collected by private and corporate clients.
She has created textiles using fiber optics. Merging industrial technology with fiber art in collaboration with industrial designer Harry Allen they created a series of lamps constructed of handwoven fiber optic yarns. The Fiber Optic Double Weave is a vertical hanging wall lamp with a spray of yarn ends.
Her studio is near NYU. I hope to meet her in person.
Suzanne currently holds two design positions with leading industry manufacturers – Teknion and Tandus Flooring– in addition to maintaining a distinguished career as a textile designer and studio Principal in New York City. At Teknion, Suzanne was appointed the Creative Director for Textiles, and is responsible for the development and direction of textiles for seating and vertical applications. She is developing a new textile business model for Teknion, offering textiles suited for both the Teknion and B&B Italia offerings as well as the industry at large. At Tandus, Suzanne is the Design Director responsible for design management and product design, a position she has held since 2005. Her designs for Tandus in broadloom carpet, modular tile, and Powerbond have won numerous design awards and continue to break new ground in the industry.
Suzanne is known for her intelligent and enthusiastic approach to design in evolving markets, along with conviction to provide innovative solutions. In addition to her work in commercial Interiors, Suzanne maintains a hand weaving practice and creates woven sculptures from repurposed materials. Her work is exhibited worldwide, including MOMA and Art Basel, as well as collected by private and corporate clients.
She has created textiles using fiber optics. Merging industrial technology with fiber art in collaboration with industrial designer Harry Allen they created a series of lamps constructed of handwoven fiber optic yarns. The Fiber Optic Double Weave is a vertical hanging wall lamp with a spray of yarn ends.
Her studio is near NYU. I hope to meet her in person.
Articles
Here are some links to important reports on wearables and etextiles.
A study on wearables by Endavour Partners.
An article in The Guardian on why consumers abandon use of wearables.
An article on the development of the etextile industry.
A study on the wearable industry trends and priorities for 2014-2024.
"An Uncommon Thread" - An article that explains why I am into my thesis.
Conductive threads and yarns
- An article about soft circuits and heat . In German I need a translator.
- Kobakant
NICHROME
What it is.
Suppliers
Soft circuitry and Weaving Resources
Conferences and Events
- E-Textile Summer Camp
- http://www.theweaveshed.org/category/conferences/
- http://designnewfutures.wordpress.com/our-research/collective-research/
Thermochromic Pigments
How it works
- Here is a great summary of what thermochromic pigments are and how they work by Xslabs.
- From Pop up workshop
- A great article about thermochromic applied to wearables.
- How to dye with the pigments. If I need help, I could ask this company to help.
- A short article about an experiment in India. Might help help.
- An article I should read too.
- Comparison between Chiral Nematic and Cholesteric Thermochromic Liquid Crystals
- Colorchange for USA and Colourchange for Europe. The website to buy sample iswww.thermometersite.com
- QCR. Contact: (772) 237-5354. Mike. They cell an ink that can be screen printed on textile. Their products cannot be diluted and used to dye fabric.
- CTI. Contact 719-623-2006. Kevin.
- LCR
- A kit to track heat on circuits components
- What are liquid crystals? How do they work?
- http://www.matsui-color.com/
- Fabcel by Wakita Lab from Japan. A textile that changes colors depending on voltage, so may color possibilities. Here is a paper I should also read.
- Kristi Kuusk makes dances costumes. The color change is activated by the body heat.