How can the sensorial qualities of materials create a more emotional design response?
We were invited to teach a week long workshop to first year Product Design students at the Iceland Academy of the Arts during November 2017.
Material Identities: we asked the students to collect a series of materials that were locally available. They then explored them through sight, smell, sound, taste and touch. A holistic, multi-sensory approach enabled each student to evaluate the materials beyond aesthetic. This encourages an emotionally engaged method to develop.
This exploration informed an individual brief for each student. One of the aims of which was to create materials that were initially familiar to be transformed into an unfamiliar context, understanding them beyond their everyday capabilities. Processes of pushing the potentials of their chosen materials allowed students to recognise the value in each material.
Old and New: Silvia, one of the students, worked with newspaper, apple skins and moss. From a familiar array she worked to expand the materials potential, creating a variety of material sketches as outputs.
Material narratives: the final day of the workshop series we set students the task of creating a series of images that responded to their chosen brief. By doing so they developed a narrative through materials and understand how to apply this holistic approach in further material studies.
Credits: Rúna Thors, Theodóra Alfreðsdóttir, Tinna Gunnarsdóttir, Agnes, Asdis, Dora, Elisa, Katrin, Rebekka, Silvia, Snorri and Sylvia.