How do distinct design approaches influence development of smart materials and how, in turn, do new technologies influence textile design processes?

The CraftTech book and exhibition are part of a body of work (comprising publications, exhibitions, sketchbooks and videos) that explores how interdisciplinary design processes affect the creation of smart materials that are used as alternative communication platforms. Utilising photonic textiles and polymeric optical fibres (POFs) as mediums, this research explores hybrid design frameworks that utilise interdisciplinary approaches. The process of 'making' is critical to this practice based research. It involves explicitly studying the practitioner's perspective when synergising design and technology.

The showcased research is based on studies conducted in two international collaborative workshops that brought together practitioners across many disciplines (textiles, fashion, millinery, electronic engineering and textile technology) to experiment, develop and create. The research investigates how hybrid design processes adapt, refine and improve new technology and vice versa. It furthermore demonstrates how craft integrated practice allows flexible problem solving via first-hand experience. The research documents and studies this balance of interdisciplinary methods and processes via design practice, conducted in two workshops at the Institute of Textiles and Clothing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Royal College of Art in London on 11-15 September 2017 and 24-27 November 2017, respectively.