Relational Textiles for Space Design: design methods and expressions

The emergence of the Smart Textiles field opens possibilities for designersto combine traditional surface fabrication techniques with advancedtechnology in the design process. When it comes to the field of SmartTextiles as interactive materials for space design, it is essential to understandthe identity of the material through design and also to understand the novelexpressions being mediated for space. Thus, the purpose of this thesisis to develop knowledge by design on Smart Textiles as materials forarchitecture and to do so through design. The thesis formulates a researchprogram to frame the design explorations. Thus, Relational Textiles forSpace Design is defined as a research program in architecture where thefocus lies on developing methods to design interactive textile surfacesusing knitted constructions. The program is illustrated by the designprojects e.g., Knitted Light, Touching Loops, Designing with Heat andTactile Glow. As a result of the research, a new methodological frameworkfor interactive textile design is proposed. The framework defines thenotions of field and frame of reference for the design. These notions form amethod to discuss design variables of relational textile expressions. Basedon the design examples, the emerging expressions are described accordingto the field relations that the interactive textile introduces in space. Thus,expressions of spatialization e.g., reduction, amplification, addition anddisassociation are introduced