Working title (max 25 words)
This should give an outline of your research topic. If appropriate use a title and a subtitle. You don’t have to be too specific at first and you don’t have to word it like a question - but you can if you want.
Are technology textiles just a visual and engineering experiment or does it have a place alongside traditional crafts?
Summary (max 250 words)
Here you should indicate what you already know about the topic. You should already have done some reading around it. Summarise this reading with regards to the research topic and describe the research area.
When looking at the topic technology textiles I began looking into the different designers and companies working within these areas. There are two areas in which I want to research. The idea of is technology textiles just prototypes or are they useable, wearable and practical in everyday life. Also is It then the usability/wear ability that defines their role and place in society and in textiles. Another area I am interested in is looking at the idea of technology textiles alongside traditional crafts, and looking at them working together and what are the possibilities of this. From research into different types of technology textiles there are two main areas within technology textiles the functional and the decorative, show pieces. The functional pieces are created to be socially beneficial and created to serve a purpose, where as the show pieces are generally created for effect and are normally shown in a gallery space, these cross the line between fine art and textiles. From my initial research I have found an interesting link between technology and craft and how in some aspects technology could be considered a craft in itself and how through this idea it allows technology to be more accessible. This also brings the tactile elements in craft alongside the technical possibilities of technology therefore creating a link between the contemporary maker and traditional craftsmen.
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Aims: Why are you doing this? (max 100 words)
These are a general statement on the intent or direction for the research – why are you doing this? Refer to theoretical aims and practical ones where relevant. For example: How might this improve your design practice? How does it contribute to the discourses within your discipline? Who else might benefit from your research? Is it aimed at an academic or a wider audience? What do you hope your research will achieve? State your aims concisely.
From this research I aim to look at if technology textiles are just prototypes or are they practical and useable in everyday life. I also aim to look at if the bridge between technology and craft can be achieved and with what effects. From my research I could gain wider knowledge of the different possibilities and alternative ways of working with technology and craft. This could benefit my studio practise through exploring and using new materials to achieve pieces that are exciting and innovative. This research is aimed at designers to create new ways of working, thinking and using materials.
Objectives: What will you produce? (max 100 words)
Objectives are the things you will produce in doing the dissertation, e.g. a review of the relevant literature, a collection and discussion of people’s experiences/opinions, an assessment of a debate or collection of work etc.
Like your aims, these will help your tutor (and you) assess your success. They may change over time but aims and objectives are useful to keep you focussed. Again be concise here – you may want to use bullet points.
For my primary based research;
- I would try to conduct Interviews or email designers working in both technology textiles and crafts and especially designers that are combine both of these. These designers and companies might include cat mazza and loop pH, Hussein Chalayn and Syuzi Pakhchyan etc
- I Could try visiting places specialising in traditional crafts and others that specialise in technology textiles
-Carry out questionnaire to try and establish how people view technology and craft and what roles and place in society do they see technology and craft.
For secondary research;
-Carry out literature reviews and research
Keywords (min 5 and max 10)
This should be a list of key terms that help us see if you are aware of where your research ‘sits’. For example, if you are writing on depictions of women in advertising your list might include ‘gender, feminism, representation, advertising, semiotics’. Keywords will help you when doing electronic searched for research materials.
Technology, crafts, relationships, links, possibilities, usability, innovation, contemporary, accessibility, roles
Annotated Bibliography (min of 12 books, articles, websites)
Place here alphabetically a list of materials which you intent to use for you dissertation. Format these according to the Harvard Method!
Please make sure you have critically assessed these as being appropriate for your topic and write a short paragraph for each one summarising the content and its relevance to your research area.
-Braddock Clarke, S. E.and Mahony, M., 2005. Techno Textiles 2. London: Thames and Hudson Ltd.
This source is useful for researching my topic as it looks at the different types of technology and revolutionary new fabrics and textiles
-Braddock Clarke, S. E.and O’ Mhony, M,1998, Techno Textiles: Revolutionary fabrics for fashion and design. London: Thames and Hudson Ltd.
This is the slightly older version to techno textiles 2, however it contains a different selection of designers and textiles. It also gives me a good insight into the different types of technology textiles available
-Cat Mazza,2010.Art.[online] Available at
This is a website for the designer Cat Mazza, who I found in one of the books and she is a designer who works with both technology and craft, this relates to my topic as she is a designer combining both areas within her work
-Gschwandtner, S.,2007. KnitKnit: Profiles + Projects from knittings new wave.New York: Stewart, Tabori and Chang
-Hussein Chalayan,2010. Hussein Chalayan.[online] Available at
-Mcfadden, D. R.,2007. Radical lace and subversive knitting. New York: Museum of Arts and Design.
-Pakhchyan, S.,2008. Fashioning technology: A DIY intro into smart crafting. Sebastopol, Calif: O’Reilly.
- Quinn, B.,2010.Textile Futures: Fashion, design and technology. New York: Berg
- Ryan Varga,2010. We make things.vimeo,[Blog] 15 November, Available at:
-Seymour, S., 2009. Fashionable Technology the intersection of design, fashion, science and technology. Austria: Springer-Verlag/Wien.
- Syuzi,2010. Fashioning technology: A “Smart” crafting community,[Blog] 10 November ,Available at:
- Threewalls,2010.Cat Mazza: knit for defence.[online] Available at
Hi Lynsey - have you managed to hook up with Jo Hodge? Best Wishes,Hazel
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