Concept | strange little bits i call home (also known as a monday)¶
(Digital) Prototype¶
who, what, when, where, why¶
what¶
I'm creating an open, modular system for translating datasets into playable textile structures in the form of an analog synthesizer.
I take text and numerical datasets, convert them into binary, and weave that data into small textile samples using conductive and non-conductive threads. Each woven sample functions as a logic modules in an analog synthesizer - an oscillator, filter, or envelope—built with CMOS electronics.
The textile itself becomes both a physical archive of language and an active electronic system. When powered, the woven data produces sound. In this way, stories are read and performed by the fabric.
when¶
I'd like to think most of the projects within Fabricademy have a life outside Fabricademy. I hope to continue this work in grad school again, in my career, and as a hobby. But to me this exploration of "home" is inquiry widely posed amongst people around the world, particularly here in the states where many of our liveliehoods, data, history, and truth is currently under attack. Hopefully this project can put tools and creativity back in people's hands to design what is meaningful to us rather than what we're told to be meaningful.
who¶
When I was thinking about what I wanted to design and build, my first thought was gratitude - giving us people a sense of peace. I was going more the route of interior design almost but it seemed a tad impersonal. I decided to explore a sense of home through data-pattern sonification and synthesizers. This project is for me, makers, tinkerers, and anyone who seeks what "home" means to them.
where¶
Anywhere! This project is meant to be portable.
why¶
Home means different things to different people and I want to create a project wherein people can explore that meaning in a personal and empowering way. Especially in a society that's increasingly hell-bent on taking away our connections to the truth, each other, and ourselves.
how¶
The "how" is in progress as the project develops but as to how it relates to Fabricademy, the topics I'm focused on to build my project are E-Textiles, Computational Couture, Biofabricating Materials (and maybe Biochrome since I may be doing some natural dyeing).
References projects, research papers, expos, performances etc¶
- Wifi Tapestry by Richard Vijgen
- The Embroidered Computer by Irene Posch
- Everyday Materials for Physical Interactive Systems by Prof. Clement Zhang
- Bakermee by Tsujio Ippei
- Sustainable Interactive Surface by Adriana Cabrera
- MorphingCircuit: An Integrated Design, Simulation, and Fabrication Workflow for Self-morphing Electronics by Morphing Matter Lab
- Light Object by Lachlan Turczan
- Playtron by Playtronica
Recent cool ass research papers¶
- Growing Tessellations: Negotiation and Wayfinding in Interdisciplinary Design Practice
- OriStitch: A Machine Embroidery Workflow to Turn Existing Fabrics into Self-Folding 3D Textiles
- Smart Textiles: a Guide to Designing With Their Complexity
- Memoirs for the Future, Imaginations of the Past: CrafingSamplers for Intent and Commitment
NOTE: I'm also including a list of books listed and in a way recommended by Jessica Stanley, Fabricademy alumna, in her final project documentation in making a soft analog synth. I wanted to pay homage to her work and interests since they very much overlap with mine and what I'm doing.
- Zeros and Ones by Sadie Plant
- The Art of Electronics by Horowitz and Hill
- Handmade Electronic Music by Nicolas Collins
- Textile Messages edited by Leah Buechley
- Getting Started in Electronics by Forrest M Mims III
(Changing) Moodboard¶
Planning¶
Gantt Chart¶
