Soft Interior/Exterior

What is your vision of textile futures?
Textiles are going to have a greater role in shaping the future personal space, especially in private transport.

What is your project about?
Those of us who live in the city travel every day. In the future we won’t have to drive our cars anymore. The car interior is an empty space; we can utilize it much better and make the best of it. For example, a fabric that can wrap around our body as a way of support/seating. Fabric seat made of shape-memory, smart textile is not only flexible, but also reduces the weight of a car (fabric is very light). It is also durable and best of all, it creates a new space for us to personalize. Changing fabric can also communicate and provide security.

What inspires you?
100% Evil (Blechman and Niemann, Princeton, 2005); sweetness & tragedy; everything hopeful yet hapless.

Why are you doing this project? What does it mean to you?
Through this project, I’ve gained an insight into what textile is and what it can do for us in the future.

What is ‘future’ about it?
Textiles in the future will be able to stimulate our experience in a driverless car.

Which materials and technologies have you used?
3D modelling and animation.

Raf Chan
After receiving his BFA in 3D-Media Fibre at California State University of Long Beach, Raf decided to broaden his knowledge of art and design by joining MA Textile Futures at Central Saint Martins College in 2004. Since 2005 Raf has worked for Nissan Design Europe.

Acknowledgements:
Many thanks to Nissan Design Europe, Colour Design Group