Y-Walls? TM

What is your vision of textile futures?
Textiles that can challenge the perception of a space. Future offers possibilities of blurring the boundaries between textiles and architecture where textile creates and defines space. Textiles that can stimulate the senses and display emotions.To make interiors which are both functional and asthetically sustainable.

What is your project about?
This project aims to question the space of a wall. Are walls boundaries or to they mark personal space? Imagine an interactive wall, which is flexible and changes shape by virtue of hundreds of tiny magnets attached to it. These are fun walls where the colours lift your mood; the scale will surprise you and the sound will amuse you. I have made a set of playful textile walls, which changes the space of a room.

What inspires you?
Architecture, colours and energy of the space around me.

Why are you doing this project? What does it mean to you?
I have always been fascinated by the idea of investigating how human senses work, what the energy of a space is and how it can be altered. For a designer it is vital to understand how future can be made more interactive and beautiful. This projects aims to explore the interface and innovations that the axis between architecture and textiles can yield. I like the idea of redefining elementary concepts like walls. Walls are often perceived as boundaries but, ironically, these boundaries also connect people.

What is ‘future’ about it?
Future is about making people engage with their surrounding space. In envisage walls which are visually and aurally interactive. Textile Architecture, which is emotional, sustainable and interactive.

Which materials and technologies have you used?
Polyester, silkorganza, papersilk, magnets, steel, plastic, glass, resin, yarns, reflective papers, mirrors, heat tranfer printing, digital printing, screen printing and pleating.

Preksha Baid
Prior to embarking on the MA Textiles Futures course at Central Saint Martins College, Preksha received a degree in commerce and a postgraduate diploma in Textile Design and Development at NIFT, New Delhi, India. During her studies, she travelled in the Kutch region of West India, and worked with artissans from various communities. In 2004 Preksha received an award for the most creative textile collection at NIFT. She has also worked as an Assistant Art Director in Crayons Advertising Ltd. in Kathmandu. There she realised the need to explore design with a global perspective.

Acknowledgements:
I would like to thank my family for their support and love. Many thanks to James and Juergen for always motivating me to believe in my work.