Dina Elsabahi

Stroke-me

Biography

Dina Elsabahi is a textile designer specializing in woven textiles. She is currently developing a collection of interactive cushions that are influenced by the behavioral characteristics of cats.

In 2005 Dina graduated from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design with a BA (HONS) in Textile Design where she developed a portfolio of woven textiles influenced aesthetically and functionally by nature. Dina is very much interested in using principles of biomimicry to produce textiles that comfort and protect.

Final Project

Dina is using organic behaviour and texture as a muse to transform the common sofa cushion into a moving object possessing pet like qualities, giving the consumer aesthetic and emotive reward based on the attention given.

Keywords

Interactive cushion, silk cushion, interactive interiors, cat cushion, biomimetics, animatronics, smart, pet.

Research Question

Can woven textiles exploit principles found within biomimicry to produce living animated objects for the home?

Rationale & Context

Organic and natural looking textures within the home are nothing new within interior design but there is scope enough to push the influence into behavior as well as aesthetic. The stress relief benefits of owning a pet have been boasted for years, there are even cases where the stroking of pets are used as a way of relaxing cancer patients. Unfortunately there are many people out there unable to have pets due to a busy lifestyle or for health reasons, that doesn't mean they don't need the stress release just as much. Building on an existent interaction between objects found within interiors this project aims to create an experience that emulates that of stroking a pet.

Material/ Technology

Touch sensor technology, shape memory alloys, motors.

Images

Contact

• email: amarantha_dina@hotmail.com
• mobile: +44 (0)7947352418