Flex-it: Exploring emotional expression through elasticity in digital manufacturing

Date

2016-04-04

Advisors

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

ISSN

2040-4689

Volume Title

Publisher

Intellect

Type

Article

Peer reviewed

Yes

Abstract

This research investigates the potential of structural flexibility as a functional and affective design element as well as its potential applications. Our research bridges the areas of jewellery design, emotion design and structural development in the Additive Manufacture (AM) of metals. The article offers a theoretical review of the nature of flexible structures and of current deformable Additive Manufacturing (AM) geometries and their applications. In relation to this, we have conducted a series of practical experiments, which have explored AM flexible geometries to create emotional expression. Both, existing examples and the outcomes of the experiments are evaluated against the soma-semiotic framework of emotional expression developed by Niedderer. The outcome and contribution of the research is a better understanding of structural geometries of flexibility and their potential uses, as well as of its affective potential.

Description

Keywords

3D Printing, Emotional Expression

Citation

Dean, L. and Neidderer, K. (2016) Flex-it: Exploring emotional expression through elasticity in digital manufacturing. Craft Research Journal 7.1

Rights

Research Institute