Lace wirework

Background: The work contributes to textile design practice. It builds on the ideas of academics within the field of textile design innovation such as Bradley Quinn and Marie O'Mahony. Developments and innovations occurring with materials and textile technology are changing the way designers look at the relationship between surface and structure for the construction of form. Responding to this shift, the work explores the convergence of surface and form, ornament and structure with new materials. It builds on previous research by Underwood, within the context of her doctorate and trans-disciplinary research to position weft knitting as a 3D additive fabrication process. Contribution: These artefacts act as prototypes to demonstrate the potential of surface pattern to be a structural form building device through the geometry and curvilinear properties of the lace matrix formed by 3d seamless knitting. By using materials such as wire, and the textile surface technique of lace within a seamless knitted form, the resultant artefacts are both structural and ornamental. What appears rigid and able to hold its shape and be self-supporting, is simultaneously soft and flexible, allowing for the form to be malleable and re-mouldable. These prototypes position knitted textiles for use outside of traditional fashion industry. Significance: The Women In Design is a Melbourne Now Satellite Event of the National Gallery of Victoria, held at 45 Downstairs Gallery in Flinders Lane from 11-22 February 2014. The exhibition curated by Daniella Casamento for the Design Institute of Australia profiled fourteen creative designers from across architecture and design disciplines. The contributing designers included Celina Clarke, Debbie Ryan, Helen Kontouris, Helen Watts, Kerstin Thompson, Kirsten Bauer, Leah Heiss, Leanne Zilka, Michaela Webb, Penelope Lee, Simone LeAmon, Sue Carr and Susan Hewitt. In addition a floor talk was delivered as part of the DIAlogue PM.