Fashioning space: transforming the use of textiles and their inherent properties by integrating spatial and garment design practices in space design and fabrication

This thesis aims to transform and extend the use of textile as a construction material in spatial design by integrating garment design practice. It builds on current research which explores how—rather than making new materials—material innovation occurs through transforming ways of material handling; by working with materials’ inherent properties rather than in opposition to them. This thesis speculates about the integration of currently separate disciplinary practices as a strategy for transformation and innovation in textile use, and as a way of knowing and producing knowledge. Therefore, it is important to understand how integrating spatial and garment design practices can extend and transform spatial designers’ use and understanding of the potential of textiles’ and their inherent properties. Furthermore, to consider how integration happens, or can happen, in practice. To answer these questions required an interdisciplinary approach in and of itself. Research ‘through’ practice was a crucial mode of inquiry in this design research: it allowed engagement with tacit and practical/experiential knowledge in addition to the imagining and creating of new realities. The dominant research strategy was an interdisciplinary ‘through’ practice strategy implementing concepts of reflective practice, experiential learning and designers’ ways of knowing into Repko’s (2008) interdisciplinary research framework. In a pilot stage, and then in a design project, this strategy encompassed reflexive design, making and learning activities using virtual and physical materials and models. I intended to reflect on that integration happened in my own reflexive design practice by comparing data generated and collected from my own practice with that collected from other designers’ practices. Hence, a case study strategy of the same project, designed by other designers (design students), augmented and reflected upon this research ‘through’ practice. This case was studied through participant observation and follow-up interviews. By reflecting on resulting interdisciplinary design processes, methods, outcomes and insights, this thesis indicates that achieving integration is not automatic when bringing two disciplinary practices together. Also, that the conditions in which it is achieved are those of being situated in context (e.g. in a design project) and experiential learning (of textile handling) involving interaction with members of the community of practice. Furthermore, experiential learning is shown to be the activating mechanism for achieving integration. This thesis develops a ‘Fashioning Space’ way of thinking as an extended and transformed understanding and use of textile and its potential in spatial design practice. This work prepares the ground for further research into the rich territory of integrated garment and spatial design practices. Furthermore, this thesis demonstrates how design, as a way of thinking through material, can be positioned within the design research context; and how design, as continual cycles of experiential learning and reflection-in-action, can be a strategy to achieve integration of practices

Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED11):Book of Abstracts

The ICED series of conferences is the Design Society's "flagship" event. ICED11 took place on August 15-18, 2011, at the campus of the Danish Technical University in Lyngby/Copenhagen, Denmark. The Proceedings of the conference are published in 10 individual volumes, arranged according to topics. All volumes of the Proceedings may be purchased individually through Amazon and other on-line booksellers. For members of the Design Society, all papers are available on this website. The Programme and Abstract Book is publically available for download

UMSL Bulletin 2015-2016

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UMSL Bulletin 2014-2015

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UMSL Bulletin 2013-2014

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