Portfolio¶

Textiles Under Pressure concept¶

This project develops an open, hands-on toolkit for exploring inflatable textiles in FabLabs. Through systematic experiments with materials and sealing methods, it transforms scattered knowledge into a clear, interactive booklet, where users can not only read about inflatable structures, but also activate and test them, making complex fabrication processes accessible and reproducible.

The What?¶

The project is an open, research-driven toolkit that investigates the fabrication of inflatable textiles using accessible digital fabrication tools. Rather than focusing on a single product, it documents materials, sealing techniques, and fabrication parameters through a structured process of experimentation.

The outcome is a replicable booklet and material sample library that enables others to understand, test, and produce inflatable textile systems across different contexts.

The Who?¶

This project is intended for individuals and communities engaged in hands-on learning and material experimentation, particularly within FabLabs, makerspaces, and educational environments. It benefits students, educators, designers, engineers, and researchers who seek to explore inflatable textile systems without access to specialized industrial processes.

By providing clear documentation, tested parameters, and replicable workflows, the project supports those who value open-source knowledge, interdisciplinary collaboration, and practical experimentation, enabling them to build upon existing research rather than starting from scratch.

The Why?¶

This project exists to address the lack of accessible, well-documented knowledge around inflatable textile fabrication. While these systems are widely used across multiple industries, the processes behind them are often fragmented, undocumented, or difficult to reproduce in educational contexts.

By systematically gathering, testing, and organizing information, the project transforms dispersed knowledge into a coherent, shareable resource. Its purpose is not only to document results, but to enable others to learn, replicate, and expand the work, fostering a culture of distributed experimentation and collective knowledge-building.

The Where?¶

The project is developed within a FabLab environment equipped with accessible digital fabrication tools such as laser cutters and desktop 3D printers.

At the same time, it is conceived as a distributed system, designed to be replicated in other FabLabs, educational institutions, and maker spaces worldwide through open documentation and shared resources.

The for whom?¶

The project is intended for:

FabLabs and makerspaces seeking to expand their material experimentation capabilities.
Students and educators in design, engineering, and interdisciplinary programs.
Researchers and practitioners exploring soft systems, wearables, and material innovation.

It is particularly aimed at users who value hands-on learning, open-source knowledge, and collaborative experimentation.

Development¶

The project initially emerged from an exploration of inflatable garments developed during the Soft robotics assignment. The goal was to create wearable systems that could inflate, respond, and adapt. However, early experimentation revealed a key challenge: while inflatable textiles are widely used, there is a lack of consolidated, accessible information on how to fabricate them using FabLab tools.

This limitation shifted the focus of the project. Instead of pursuing a single garment, the work evolved into the development of a systematic sampler: a structured way to test materials, sealing methods, and fabrication strategies. The objective became not only to make, but to understand and document.

During a tutoring session, this approach was further refined through the idea of a pop-up book format, transforming the sampler into an interactive and tactile object. This format allowed the research to be experienced physically: inflatable samples embedded within the pages could be activated, making the booklet both a documentation tool and a hands-on learning device.

A significant part of the process involved identifying the correct fabrication parameters for different materials and machines. This required iterative testing to find optimal combinations of temperature, speed, pressure, and repetition when using tools such as laser cutters and modified 3D printers. Small variations in these parameters had a direct impact on the quality of the seals: too much heat would damage the material, while insufficient heat would result in weak or non-airtight seams.

Through systematic experimentation; adjusting one variable at a time and carefully documenting the results, the project established a set of reliable parameter ranges for different material combinations. These findings became a core component of the booklet, enabling others to replicate the processes with greater confidence.

Ultimately, the project evolved from designing objects to designing knowledge infrastructure: a tool that gathers, organizes, and shares practical insights, making inflatable textile fabrication more accessible, understandable, and reproducible.