Material Connections in Craft Making: Bilge Aktas, Maarit Mäkelä & Tarja-Kaarina Laamanen — Proceedings of Design Research Society 2020 Conference
Aktas, B., Mäkelä, M., & Laamanen, T-K. (2020). . In Proceedings of DRS2020 (Vol. 5, pp. 2326-2343). (Proceedings of DRS). Design Research Society.
This study examined a creative practice, namely felting, to explore the daily practices and encounters of felt makers. The study aimed at understanding the material connections of felt-making that are not limited to the making process. To examine how practices of felt makers emerge in connection to materials, we employed the material engagement theory as our perspective. The data was collected through interviews with eight felt makers and participant observation at two studios in Turkey. The analysis revealed how felt makers think between things, people, space and time and develop their practices accordingly. These findings illuminated a holistic and insightful understanding of the material’s role in shaping the practice and field. A more holistic and insightful approach can also propose being open to constantly renewing creative practices and recognising how its material connections affect other things and people.
Read more news
The film Fjord wins the Palme d'Or at Cannes – featuring a number of Finnish creators
The film was co-produced by Jussi Rantamäki of the film company Aamu, and it also features a Finnish costume and sound designer.
Näytös/Näyttely26 transforms Helsinki’s Lasipalatsi Quarter into a hub for fashion and textile expertise
The event showcases Aalto’s comprehensive expertise in textiles, clothing, and fashion, as students graduating from both the Bachelor's Major in Fashion as well as the Master's Major in Fashion and Textile Design will present their thesis work.