Surface as practice

This chapter complements my investigation on textile culture; it draws together and builds on my research developed over the last five years, into the importance of haptic learning and its disappearance. In 2008 I organised the first two exhibitions of haptic design held in the UK. 'Haptic: awakening the senses' was shown at RIBA London (8.5.2008 - 7.6.2008) with an international conference (8.5.2008), and at the Lighthouse, Glasgow (18.6.2008 - 29.9.2008). The project originated through collaboration with the first designer to recognise the importance of the haptic in design processes: Kenya Hara, Design Director of MUJI and CEO of Hara Design, Tokyo. The exhibition featured an international cohort of designers who had each created work of haptic design for the exhibition. The second exhibition, 'Make-Do it Haptic', featured the Haptic dictionary created by Masayo Ave and was shown at The Gallery, UCA Epsom (3.4.2008 - 7.5.2008) accompanied by workshops with local, visually impaired participants