3. Circular Open Source Design¶
Research & Inspiration¶
For this new week, “Open Source Circular Fashion,” I first want to say how much I loved Zoe Romano’s lecture. Her vision was so interesting, and I feel very close to this mindset. However, fashion is not really my cup of tea, I prefer to imagine objects, materials, or spaces rather than clothes. So, I decided to rename my week “Open Source Circular Design” to broaden my field of exploration.
This week, my starting point is nature, which has always been a major source of inspiration for me. In particular, sand and water have been integral to my creative landscape since childhood. I love how these two elements can take on ever-changing forms in space, playing with light to create refraction or “clair-obscure” effects.
I was also inspired by the work of Laura Antolin, a former Fabricademy student. She developed a biomaterial and then laser-cut it, her final piece was so light and sensitive.
References¶
My practice explores how we can reintroduce textiles into our homes, to protect us from different climates, much like the historical examples of balcony beds, curtains, or ”paravent”.
I selected works that use modular elements in the interior to generate new spaces. I planned to continue working with wool because of its natural properties: it is sound- and heat-insulating, non-flammable, water-repellent, and odor-absorbing. All of these qualities make it the best material to respond to the constraints of interior design.
- "Les algues", les frères Bouroullec
- "Clouds", les frères Bouroullec
- “Crawling algues”, Tanja Møgelgaard
- Unknown on Pinterest
- Unknown on Pinterest
I like to imagine that, thanks to its modularity, textile can one day be a wall, the next day a carpet, and finally a curtain. Like sand and water, it can shift its facets and opacity, adapting to different needs and spaces while remaining timeless.
Tools¶
- TinyPNG
- 2D/3D modelling Rhino3D
- 2D modelling Illustrator
- Fusion 360
- Illustrator
- Laser Cutter
- Tea, Water and a pot
Process and workflow¶
Fusion and Research¶
After Claudia’s tutorial and after having fun sketching shapes in Fusion, I also made a few drawings based on my formal inspirations from scales. I started working on rounded diamond shapes where I added some male and female connection systems. I realized that my male connector needed to be more pronounced to create a stronger lock between the modules.
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After several formal tests, I arrived at a new, rounder shape that reminded me even more of a scale. I decided to test it on paper. As I did last week, I set up my laser cutting parameters, ran some tests, and then cut my shape several times while trying to minimize waste. This process gave me a second module, but one that still felt limited in how it could connect. So, I decided to redesign the shape with four male and four female connectors, allowing it to expand in all directions while keeping a clear structure. Once done, I printed and cut the new shape at home, and everything worked much better.
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The next day, I went to cut my shapes from the same material as last week, white wool felt, since its natural properties (as mentioned before) made it perfect for a result that could last in both space and time.
Dyeing¶
Once cut, I wanted to give the surface a more natural and random effect, so I decided to dye my modules. I first tested two samples: one dyed with black tea, the other with rooibos, which gave a softer, peach-like tone that I really loved. I chose that one for the rest of the dyeing. I let it simmer gently for an hour and then dry overnight, which gave the modules a final color with beautiful reflections and texture, breaking the uniformity of the repeated forms.
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Result¶
I’m quite happy with the final result. I think I could continue cutting more modules to create a larger piece, something that could be used as a partition in a space. By playing with the two module types, it’s possible to create gradients of density. A pattern is defined by repetition, yet the final surface retains a sense of randomness and organic forms inspired by nature.
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