Storytelling the Project¶
The Story :¶
“This project began with a very ordinary object: a support belt. I use one regularly, but over time I began to question not just how it functions, but how it is designed, worn, and perceived.”
“Most support garments are designed to stay hidden under clothing. They are medical, functional, and often visually minimized.”
"I wear one almost every day."
"I was born with a condition that left my abdominal muscles significantly weaker. The condition is rare enough that no specific support belts exist, so I use the closest available belt that helps support my abdomen.”
“These belts solve a real need, but they also have limitations. They are uncomfortable, unattractive, usually hidden, and not designed with much nuance for appearance or customization.”
“That led to the main question of this project: what if a support belt did not need to be hidden? What if it could become a garment in its own right?”
“During Fabricademy, the project branched into three exploration paths: materials, fabrication systems, and geometry. Each one offered a different way of rethinking the belt.”
“One path focused on biomaterial experiments, especially gelatin, cellulose, and paper-based mixtures. I explored how they could be cast, deposited, layered, or combined into supportive structures.”
“Another path focused on geometry: auxetics, origami-like thinking, and pleated structures. The interest here was how pattern and form could create different balances of stiffness and flexibility.”
“At first I was exploring geometry, auxetics, origami, and material possibilities quite openly. But I realized that exploration could continue forever. The project needed to move from exploring patterns in isolation to actually designing the garment.”
“To support that move, I began building a generator that takes body and design inputs such as waist circumference, height, and pleat parameters, and produces an SVG pattern for the belt.”
“The design strategy is not to rely on one material alone, but to combine soft textile, biomaterial reinforcement, and thinner structural elements. This creates a more controlled mix of flexibility and support.”
“The result is a wearable prototype belt or cummerbund that begins to test these ideas: support, visibility, structure, and aesthetic presence. It does not solve everything yet, but it clearly begins the shift.”
“Future work includes a more resolved biomaterial extrusion system, further trials in hard-soft combinations, more geometric explorations, and eventually a larger family of customizable supportive garments.”
“Support garments do not have to be hidden. They can be designed as garments, with intention, dignity, and expression.”
Treatment :¶
Woody and organic, solar punk, green-brown-light
The Slide show¶
| Slide No. | Title (reference) | Visual Content List | Content Text | Spoken Script | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Title | Current support belt, or silhouette of belt on dark background | Reimagining the Support Belt Computational design and biomaterial fabrication for supportive garments |
“This project began with a very ordinary object: a support belt. I use one regularly, but over time I began to question not just how it functions, but how it is designed, worn, and perceived.” | Open the talk and establish project scope |
| 2 | Dramatic Context | Pregnancy belt, lumbar brace, compression/support garment, preferably clean isolated product images or silhouettes | Support garments are designed to disappear. | “Most support garments are designed to stay hidden under clothing. They are medical, functional, and often visually minimized.” | Establish broader context beyond your own case |
| 3 | Personal Story | Your own belt, worn or laid flat; detail image is fine | I wear one almost every day. | “I wear one almost every day. I was born with a condition that left my abdominal muscles significantly weaker, so this kind of belt helps support my abdomen and lower back.” | Bring in the personal reason and emotional anchor |
| 4 | Problem | Existing belt photos, closeups of velcro, ribs, elastic, awkward form | Functional but invisible uncomfortable unattractive hidden under clothing limited customization |
“These belts solve a real need, but they also have limitations. They are uncomfortable, unattractive, usually hidden, and not designed with much nuance for appearance or customization.” | Define the design problem clearly |
| 5 | Design Question | Large text slide, maybe over faded image of belt/cummerbund silhouette | What if a support belt didn’t need to be hidden? Could it become a garment instead? |
“That led to the main question of this project: what if a support belt did not need to be hidden? What if it could become a garment in its own right?” | State the core design question |
| 6 | Exploration Overview | 3-image grid: biomaterial tests, extrusion tool/biogun, geometry pattern studies | Exploration paths materials fabrication geometry |
“During Fabricademy, the project branched into three exploration paths: materials, fabrication systems, and geometry. Each one offered a different way of rethinking the belt.” | Show the breadth of the process |
| 7 | Biomaterial Experiments | Gelatin paste, cellulose/paper biomaterial samples, molds, sample swatches, printed or cast tests | Biomaterial fabrication gelatin cellulose paper biomaterials |
“One path focused on biomaterial experiments, especially gelatin, cellulose, and paper-based mixtures. I explored how they could be cast, deposited, layered, or combined into supportive structures.” | Explain the material direction |
| 8 | Geometry Experiments | Auxetic studies, origami/fold studies, pleat diagrams, pattern sketches, structural tests | Geometry for structural behaviour | “Another path focused on geometry: auxetics, origami-like thinking, and pleated structures. The interest here was how pattern and form could create different balances of stiffness and flexibility.” | Explain the geometry direction |
| 9 | Pivot | Minimal text slide; maybe one strong image of sketch + sample + belt outline | The pivot From exploring patterns → to designing the garment |
“At first I was exploring geometry, auxetics, origami, and material possibilities quite openly. But I realized that exploration could continue forever. The project needed to move from exploring patterns in isolation to actually designing the garment.” | Mark the turning point and focus shift |
| 10 | Computational Generator | Screenshot of interface, generated SVG, maybe overlaid dimensions | Computational generator inputs: waist, height, pleat parameters output: SVG pattern |
“To support that move, I began building a generator that takes body and design inputs such as waist circumference, height, and pleat parameters, and produces an SVG pattern for the belt.” | Show the design system/tool |
| 11 | Material Strategy | Diagram showing soft textile + biomaterial reinforcement + thin structural ribs; maybe swatch layout | Hard–soft modulation soft textile + biomaterial reinforcement + thin structural ribs |
“The design strategy is not to rely on one material alone, but to combine soft textile, biomaterial reinforcement, and thinner structural elements. This creates a more controlled mix of flexibility and support.” | Explain how performance is being designed |
| 12 | Prototype Belt | Large hero image of prototype, worn or flat; detail inset if needed | Prototype belt | “The result is a wearable prototype belt or cummerbund that begins to test these ideas: support, visibility, structure, and aesthetic presence. It does not solve everything yet, but it clearly begins the shift.” | Present the outcome honestly |
| 13 | Future Work | Printer concept / biogun, auxetic samples, future garments, library boards | Future work biomaterial extrusion printer auxetic geometry material libraries customizable garments |
“Future work includes a more resolved biomaterial extrusion system, further trials in hard-soft combinations, more geometric explorations, and eventually a larger family of customizable supportive garments.” | Show vision and continuation |
| 14 | Closing | Strong worn image of final belt or clean text on dark background | Support garments do not have to be hidden. They can be designed. |
“Support garments do not have to be hidden. They can be designed as garments, with intention, dignity, and expression.” | End with a memorable takeaway |
The video¶
| Thumbnail No. | Visuals | Voiceover | Notes on Music | Suggested Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waist-level shot of shirt being pulled down over hidden support belt; belt only partly visible | “Support garments are designed to disappear.” | Very soft ambient opening, restrained and intimate | 10–12 sec |
| 2 | Hands holding the belt, laying it on a table, slight pause on object | “I wear one almost every day.” | Keep sparse; maybe almost no music for a moment, let object sounds breathe | 8–10 sec |
| 3 | Macro closeups of velcro, plastic ribs, stiff elastic, awkward edges; maybe 3–4 quick cuts | “They provide support — but they are uncomfortable, unattractive, and meant to stay hidden.” | Slightly darker texture enters; low, minimal pulse | 10–12 sec |
| 4 | Black screen with text: “What if a support belt became a garment?” | “What if a support belt didn’t have to be hidden?” | Music opens up slightly here; sense of transition | 5–6 sec |
| 5 | Hands mixing biomaterials in bowl, gelatin paste, cellulose/paper pulp, pouring/spreading samples | “This project began by exploring biomaterials as part of a new way of thinking about support.” | Warm, tactile, experimental craft mood | 14–16 sec |
| 6 | Pattern studies on paper/screen: auxetics, folded paper, pleat sketches, geometry closeups | “At the same time, I was exploring geometry — patterns that could shape stiffness, flexibility, and behaviour.” | Add light rhythmic motion, still subtle | 12–14 sec |
| 7 | Paste application, molds, fabric scaffold, trimming or handling material pieces | “Materials, geometry, and fabrication started to come together through making.” | Slight build; more movement but still calm | 12–14 sec |
| 8 | Screen capture of generator interface: entering measurements, SVG appearing, pattern updating | “Computational design became a way to translate measurements into a wearable pattern.” | Cleaner, slightly brighter electronic layer can enter | 10–12 sec |
| 9 | Assembly of belt: joining parts, attaching reinforcements, adjusting structure, stitching/bonding | “The focus shifted from open exploration to designing the garment itself.” | Build toward reveal; gentle rise in intensity | 12–14 sec |
| 10 | Final reveal: person wearing the belt outside clothing, preferably outdoors in sunlight; slow turn or still pose | “Support garments do not have to be hidden.” | Music resolves here; open, hopeful, solarpunk feeling | 12–15 sec |