Deliverables¶
This project investigates the relationship between the moving body and water as an active spatial condition, exploring how aquatic movement can be translated into material behavior and textile form. Rather than designing a finished commercial garment, the project focuses on developing a material system that responds to specific body movements performed in water.
The development process prioritizes:
Embodied research through swimming movement
Material experimentation with flexible biomaterials
Translation of movement data into physical and parametric patterns
Iterative prototyping and testing in water
The project is structured to allow gradual refinement, starting from conceptual definition and material testing, progressing toward a single functional prototype that demonstrates the system’s logic and performance.
GANTT¶
Next you can see in a formal way my entire process for the final proyecto. You can see it in a more specific way the plans. Read more here
| Week | Dates | Activity | Details | Objectives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Jan 13 – Jan 19 | Project Definition & Planning | Define project scope and focus, select one swimming movement, establish functionality criteria, draft Gantt chart and Bill of Materials | Project scope and planning approved |
| Week 2 | Jan 20 – Jan 26 | Biomaterial Research | Produce initial biomaterial samples, test flexibility and initial water response, document material behavior | At least 3 biomaterial variations tested |
| Week 3 | Jan 27 – Feb 2 | Material Refinement | Refine selected biomaterial formulation, conduct extended water exposure tests, analyze durability and deformation | Final biomaterial recipe selected |
| Week 4 | Feb 3 – Feb 9 | Movement Analysis | Record swimming movement, analyze motion patterns, create diagrams, define movement-to-design parameters | Clear movement translation logic defined |
| Week 5 | Feb 10 – Feb 16 | Digital Translation | Develop pattern or parametric system, translate movement into geometry, design molds or scaffolds | Digital design files ready for fabrication |
| Week 6 | Feb 17 – Feb 23 | Digital Fabrication | Fabricate molds using 3D printing or laser cutting, test fabrication workflow, adjust if needed | Functional custom molds completed |
| Week 7 | Feb 24 – Mar 2 | Prototype Fabrication | Cast biomaterial using final molds, integrate with textile base, assemble first prototype | First integrated prototype completed |
| Week 8 | Mar 3 – Mar 9 | Water Testing & Iteration | Test prototype in water, document material performance, identify failures, refine design | Prototype behavior validated through testing |
| Week 9 | Mar 10 – Mar 16 | Documentation & Presentation | Final prototype documentation, diagrams, photos and videos, write final narrative, prepare presentation | Final project ready for submission |
Materials¶
| Qty | Description | Purpose | Link | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agar powder or gelatin | Biomaterial base | Link | 10.98 USD |
| 1 | Glycerin | Plasticizer | Link | 9.21 USD |
| 1 | Distilled water | Biomaterial preparation | Link | 12.73 USD USD |
| 1 | Natural pigments | Visual differentiation | Link | ? |
| 1 | Textile base (mesh or knit) | Support layer | Link | 5.50 USD |
| 1 | TPU or PETG filament | Mold fabrication | Link | 15.86 USD |
Equipment¶
- Hot plate or stove
- Scale and measuring tools
- 3D printer
- Laser cutter (optional, for patterns)
- Camera or smartphone (documentation)
- Water tank / pool access
Technical Support¶
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Parametric design support (Grasshopper or similar) to translate movement patterns into repeatable geometries
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Material science guidance for biomaterial formulation and durability in water
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Digital fabrication support for mold design and optimization
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Conceptual Support
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Feedback on defining and evaluating “functionality” in an experimental textile system
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Critique on clarity of narrative and documentation
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External Collaboration (if needed)
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Occasional consultation with:
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A swimming coach or athlete (movement accuracy)
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A textile or material expert (behavior analysis)
Useful links¶
Slide show¶
Embed your presentation
STORY TELLING NARRATIVE¶
WHAT CAN THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE BODY AND WATER REVEAL FOR THE FUTURE OF PERSONALIZED DESIGN?
NARRATIVE¶
Underwater, the body moves differently.
Water reshapes every gesture. It adds resistance, slows down movement, and makes the body more aware of itself.
When the body enters the water, movement becomes conscious and repetitive. Each gesture leaves a trace.
Even when performing the same swimming stroke, no two bodies move in the same way. Each trajectory is personal, shaped by the body, the rhythm, and the relationship with water.
These traces become lines. Lines become patterns.
The patterns are not only decorative but they are visual translations of our own movement in the space that makes us feel calm amd US.
By repeating, layering, and transforming these gestures, different expressions emerge: flows, densities, and rotations that echo the body’s behavior underwater.
When movement becomes material, it gains weight, texture, and presence. The gesture is no longer invisible.
Through material experiments, the patterns are tested in volume, flexibility, and scale, allowing the body to interact with them again.
As the body leaves the water, it changes state. But it carries the memory of movement with it.
Liquid Gestures explores this transition — from body to water, from movement to material, from gesture to wearable artifact.
PHASES¶
1. OPENING Have you ever noticed how every swimmer moves differently in the water? The way the water flows around our bodies creates invisible gestures — movements that exist for a moment and then disappear.
2. THE PROBLEM (WHY) Today most performance wear and sports garments are mass produced. They are designed for efficiency and scale, but they rarely reflect the individuality of the athlete who wears them.
But what if garments could capture something personal? What if a garment could represent the unique interaction between a person and the element they move in?
3. CUSTOMIZATION IS CHANGING
The customization of clothing has changed in recent years.
Old reality: Today we design garments based on measurements and trends.
New reality: But movement is personal.Every swimmer leaves a unique trace in the water.
4. THE IDEA (THE THROUGHLINE)
Liquid Gestures transforms the invisible movements of water into personalized wearable structures through digital fabrication.
5. THE SOLUTION (WHY IT MATTERS)
This approach allows garments to become deeply personal objects. Instead of fast fashion, we create pieces that are connected to the user's own movement and identity. When objects carry personal meaning, people value them more and keep them longer.
6. NEAR FUTURE (VISION)
In the near future, movement data could allow athletes to generate their own personalized garments directly from their performance.
This opens possibilities for personalized sportswear, interactive fashion, and new forms of human environment design.
Movement could become a new blueprint for personalized design.
7. CALL TO ACTION (STRONG ENDING)
Water movements disappear in seconds.
Liquid Gestures captures them and transforms them into something that can be worn, remembered, and experienced.
Because the future of design is not mass production it is personal expression shaped by our own movement.
Liquid gestures de Monse Islas
My sketches for the story telling session tell a story about my concept and lead to the final outcome in..
- scene 1 the scene opens with a room full of flowers
- scene 2 we zoom into the lady wearing a plant based dress
- scene 3 she comes out from behind the plants
- scene 4 ... whats next?
A good exaple of story telling sketches are from ...Florencia Moyano https://class.textile-academy.org/2022/florencia-moyano/finalproject/prefinal03/
FABRICATION FILES¶
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."
This model 1 was obtained by.. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. The laser cut nesting 2 was created using..
footnote fabrication files
Fabrication files are a necessary element for evaluation. You can add the fabrication files at the bottom of the page and simply link them as a footnote. This was your work stays organised and files will be all together at the bottom of the page. Footnotes are created using [ ^ 1 ] (without spaces, and referenced as you see at the last chapter of this page) You can reference the fabrication files to multiple places on your page as you see for footnote nr. 2 also present in the Gallery.
Code Example¶
Use the three backticks to separate code.
// the setup function runs once when you press reset or power the board
void setup() {
// initialize digital pin LED_BUILTIN as an output.
pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);
}
// the loop function runs over and over again forever
void loop() {
digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH); // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
delay(1000); // wait for a second
digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW); // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
delay(1000); // wait for a second
}
How-Tos & Tutorials¶
Upload templates or tutorials you created for your personal project, it can also be links to instructables when the project is educational, protocols when working with growing materials and so on..