Fit for purpose? Pattern cutting and seams in wearables development

Abstract

This paper describes how a group of practitioners and researchers are working across disciplines at Nottingham Trent University in the area of Technical Textiles. It introduces strands of ongoing enquiry centred around the development and application of stretch sensors on the body, focusing on how textile and fashion knowledge are being reflexively revealed in the collaborative development of seamful wearable concepts, and on the tensions between design philosophies as revealed by definitions of purpose. We discuss the current research direction of the Aeolia project, in which we are now seeking to exploit the literal gaps found in pattern cutting for fitted stretch garments towards experiential forms and potential interactions. Normative goals of fitness for purpose and seamlessness are interrogated and the potential for more integrated design processes, which may at first appear ‘upside down’ (Starner 2001), is discussed.

Contributors

Sarah Kettley

Tina Downes

Karen Harrigan

Martha Glazzard

Conference

Publication date: June 2010

Publication date (Print): June 2010

Pages: 1-2

Affiliations

School of Architecture, Design & the Built Environment

Nottingham Trent University

Burton Street,

Nottingham, NG1 4BU

School of Art & Design

Nottingham Trent University

Burton Street,

Nottingham, NG1 4BU

Article

DOI: 10.14236/ewic/CREATE2010.16

Copyright statement: © Sarah Kettley et al. Published by BCS Learning and Development Ltd. Create10 - The interaction design conference, Edinburgh Napier University, UK

License:

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Conference name: Create10 - The interaction design conference

Conference acronym: CREATE

Conference number:

Conference location: Edinburgh Napier University, UK

Conference date: 30 June - 2 July 2010

Conference sponsor: Electronic Workshops in Computing (eWiC)

Conference theme: Create10 - The interaction design conference

Product

Product Information: 1477-9358BCS Learning & Development

Self URI (article page): https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.14236/ewic/CREATE2010.16

Self URI (journal page): https://ewic.bcs.org/

Categories

Series title: Electronic Workshops in Computing