Hold the kicks - Exploring visual and tactual qualities of composite material in footwear design

Abstract

Innovative materials and ways of production have opened new opportunities in pushing the boundaries of footwear products. Significance of materials is not only due to their functional features, but their sensorial and expressive qualities, which can inspire designers in exploring new solutions and forms for the products. A consumer focused process tends to address the needs of the user more accurately, therefore the knowledge of materials and their effects on the final products would contribute to a more satisfying experience which serves the consumer's physical and sensual demands for a longer duration of time.

This thesis includes a literature review and a case study, which utilizes interviews, material sampling and prototyping as data gathering methods. Main goals of the thesis are to 1) explore the material-led process as an initiative ideation tool and 2) investigate the sensory qualities of textile materials and their effect on building character for footwear products.

The theoretical part is grounded on the concept of sensory design. The concept of characteristics of materials and their dependence on different sensory modalities, specially touch and vision in textile materials are studied. Materials’ sensorial properties contribute to the overall product experience, which has been utilized to create a more desirable user experience.

The practical part of this practice-led research presents an explorative case study, which investigates the sensorial variables based on reaction diffusion systems and their application with composite materials in form of knitted textiles. Transformation which is the ground idea of reaction diffusion patterns, also as an effective element in creating dynamic surfaces is studied in the textile development process. Tactile and visual properties of knitted materials as variables in shaping material character have been studied in the form of textile samples. Although the focus of the study is on sensorial qualities, a close connection between sensorial variables and functional features of materials has been recognized among the material analysis which also affect the character of the final products. The materials developed in the first phase of the practical study, has shaped ideas in forms of prototypes and sketches and being visualized, utilizing three dimensional software in the final step of the practical part.

This work establishes a design practice that investigates how changes in the sensorial properties influence the feel and function of textile samples. The finding of this study shows how facts behind the scientific natural phenomenon could be a leading inspiration in designing materials in an artistic process. In this project, sensorial exploration in textile materials has been combined with a creative experimentation in product development. Benefits of getting inspiration from materials and collecting information among the material development in a practice-led method in design, shows how materials can direct the forming process of final products and affect their character.