[gallery]Mey and Boaz Kahn of Studio Kahn love the gesture of braking objects to create new meaning and reveal new functions with their most recent sculptural objects titled Fragile. Made out of white ceramic, Kahn's gorgeous jewelry is actually intended to be broken before it can be worn. "When you first get this enchanting necklace it is a small sculpture that looks like a row of spheres. Only by snapping it in two and pulling out the hidden chain, you turn it into a wearable piece of jewelry." It's a simple analog interaction that provides new meaning to the objects we wear. Continue reading on Studio Kahn. Images from Studio Kahn.
Electricfoxy exhibits at ISWC 2011!
[gallery]Well, we made it to ISWC 2011 this week and had a great show! Thanks to Clint Zeagler for the design exhibit coordination, it went very smoothly. Jesse Graupmann, the brains and talented developer behind the custom Ping software, joined me in San Francisco for a few days of sunny city exploration, wearable technology demos and discussions about the field and where it's heading. During the design exhibit, Jesse and I demonstrated the Ping and Zip projects. For Ping, we did a live demo of the custom Ping application, which allows the garment to communicate with Facebook by performing natural gestures. Elizabeth Bales who presented a paper on how "Sensors meet Social" during the conference focuses her research on connecting people effectively through low maintenence mobile technologies. We had a great discussion on how we can communicate in subtle and expressive ways through wearable devices and interfaces such as Ping. She had some terrific feedback and ideas. Thanks Elizabeth!
One of the design exhibit show-stoppers was Sheridan Martin Small and Asta Roseway's project titled "The Printing Dress", which earned them the "Best Concept" award. Built out of paper, the dress enables the wearer to Tweet “thoughts” on to its fabric and wear them as public art. A gorgeous and thought-provoking project.
In general, taking the interface off the device and putting it onto the user through wearable technologies opens up a world of new types of experiences. I can't wait to see where our collective work takes us...
Photos taken by Jesse Graupmann. For more projects that were exhibited, GirlieMac has a nice collection of photos on flickr here.
Paint with your feet using Nike+ GPS
[gallery]YesYesNo created Software that converts Nike+ GPS running patterns into works of art for the launch of the Nike Free Run+ 2 City Pack series called Nike + Paint With Your Feet. It's a great example of how connecting sensor data to software that visualizes the data in new ways can provide a truly magical experience. This project visualizes speed, consistency and ultimately the runner's unique running style that is printed as works of art on large poster-sized paper and the packaging itself.
Using the software the participants were able to play with the mapping and adjust the composition of their run which was then outputted as a high resolution print for them to take home. We also worked with the Innovation Lab at Nike to laser etch the runner's name, the distance they ran and their run path onto a custom fabricated shoe box, which contained a pair of the 'City Pack' shoes from their city of origin
On-demand fabricated swimwear
[gallery]Here's another product being developed using 3d printing techniques. Unlike Continuum Fashion's N12 that prints custom made bikinis made of 3d print-able nylon beads, this bikini is laser cut from a single piece of fabric and constructed without using any thread or needle. Lemonbrow's downloadable, personalizable swimwear is being developed by Ellis Droog and Romy van den Broek in collaboration with Medialab Waag Society.
Digital fabrication techniques, such as 3d printing and laser cutting, are irrevocably changing the design, distribution and production processes as we know them. We can download designs, alter them and produce personalized products at the push of a button.
Continue reading at Lemonbow Swimwear. Images from Lemonbow Swimwear.
Introducing the first 3D printed bikini
[gallery]Continuum Fashion has launched a new project called N12, which is the first 100% 3D printed and ready-to-wear garment in the shape of a cute little bikini. To get it ready for printing, Rhino 3D CAD software and a specially written algorithmic script are used to create the structure of the 3D printed fabric. The material used to print (N12, which is where the name derives from) is a waterproof Nylon that can be printed on 3D printing machine. Due to the properties of the material, Continuum says that it's the first bikini that actually gets more comfortable when wet.
The bikini's design fundamentally reflects the beautiful intricacy possible with 3D printing, as well as the technical challenges of creating a flexible surface out of the solid nylon. Thousands of circular plates are connected by thin springs, creating a wholly new material that holds its form as well as being flexible. The layout of the circle pattern was achieved through custom written code that lays out the circles according to the curvature of the surface. In this way, the aesthetic design is completely derived from the structural design.” Mary Haung, Continuum Fashion
Sign me up, I would certainly love to try it out!
Bracelet helps patients rehabilitate
[gallery]Health and body monitoring is a hot topic these days, which is what designer Petr Fiala is exploring with his Rehabilitation Bracelet. The bracelet monitors patient health and keeps doctors continuously informed. I would love to see the product in action and I'm curious what the software experience is. Nonetheless, this is an intriguing start.
"Designed for PRINCIP to aid disabled people, the bracelet comes built in with a USB connector and memory card to update the progress or condition of the patient. The device, as indicated by its name, can be worn around the wrist like a bracelet, which other than keeping check on the practice honesty of the user also becomes a fashionable accessory for the trendy." Continue on Design Buzz.
Images from Design Buzz.