September 12, 2013
LDF: A Trans-Disciplinary Approach to Materials Innovation, Tuesday 17 Sept
Hochhauser Room, V&A, London, Tuesday Sept 17th, 10.30am, FREE
As part of the V&A London Design Festival Series of Seminars, the Arts Foundation will be exploring a trans-disciplinary approach to materials innovation.
From exploring cellular properties of non-wovens and shape memory textiles, fungi applications for future material design scenarios and tailored approaches to plastic surgery, four pioneering designers discuss their latest work with a panel of experts from architecture to anthropology and beyond.
In celebration of a brand new £10,000 award in Materials Innovation the Arts Foundation will be offering a platform from which to peer into this Aladdin’s cave of innovation where the worlds of Science and the Arts converge. The talk will showcase the research of four intrepid innovators whose approach to material innovation using textiles is radically different.
Liz Ciokajlo and Rhian Solomon use the site of the body as the context for material development research. They work on the transfer of knowledge across the disciplines of medical science, craft and design. Ninela Ivanova explores the microbiology of moulds (image above) and how the properties of fungi can be translated onto textile design and fabrication. Patrick Dyer’s research is centered on the dynamic control of woven structures by integrating shape memory alloys – so called ‘smart materials’.
Against the backdrop of the presentations the talk will incorporate a stellar panel of professionals from different disciplines including award-winning architect Amanda Levete, Professor of Anthropology at UCL Susanne Kuechler and Peter Oakley, Research Leader at RCA’s School of Material. Discussing the ever-increasing phenomenon of the cross-over between the disciplines of art, design, engineering, textiles, science and craft and its ability to produce shared outcomes and real innovation the panel will lend their extensive expertise to the discussion of material innovation into the future.
