Future thinking - Smart Materials

Smart materials or responsive materials are materials that respond to its environment. In this new series of future thinking blog posts I will be talking about many different subjects and my own developments in this field. Firstly, Its all about smart materials. 

Hydrochromic Dyes

Hydrochromic dyes are responsive as they are responsive to water. They are white when dry and when wet they can turn into colour or transparent. There are some useful and amusing uses for this. Such as umbrella's and children's drawing mats. A good company that sell hydrochromic pigments for screen printing as well as other smart material pigments are SFXC, You can go to their website by clicking here. As a print design student I did not even know that this company existed and through research I have found them, they do amazing student starter packs with a range of different smart pigments in different colours and uses. I will most defiantly be using this company and its products in the future.

You can find the hydrochromic pigments from SFXC by clicking HERE!

Thermochromic Dyes

Thermochromic dyes are smart material dyes that react with temperature change, When in contact with a certain temperature it changes colour. This is not brand new technology as it is used in mood rings, thermometers and even tiles for your bathroom. However I still personally think that there is a gap for them in the market as a surface designer. Again, the company SFXC sell these dyes and also do a student pack with a mix of them in. I think as students these types of pigments should be experimented with to evolve into new ideas and concepts for the future. You can find the pigments by clicking HERE!

I also found an interesting website that explains thermochromic dyes and liquid crystals in detail CLICK HERE TO FIND IT!

Elaine Ng Yan Ling

'Elaine Yan Ling Ng, also known as the ‘techno fairy’ by Elle Deco, founder of THE FABRICK LAB, brings together textiles, electronics, biomimicry, interiors and installations. Elaine is a British Chinese visionary multi-media artist and a graduate of Central Saint Martins in London where she earned her MA Design in Textile Futures with distinction. She is a TED fellow and is globally recognized, having worked with international design companies such as Nissan Design Europe and Nokia Design Beijing with multi design awards. Her magical approached with material has been described by Wired UK as ‘The Chinese designer creates materials that move and grow like trees – but faster.’

Her work has been exhibited at V&A and Science Museum in London, and Textil Museum, Tilburg, Harbour Front Centre in Toronto, Espace EDF Art Foundation in Paris and Wuhao, Beijing, and Moleskine global galleries. Her art and design research has been widely featured internationally including Wired UK, Elle Decoration China, Surface Asia, AD Italia, AD China, China Daily, Yazter and Core 77 and many more. Her material research has also been invited to present at some of the world most prestige conferences includ- ing TED, DOIT ( Delivering Innovation for Tomorrow) Taiwan, Shape Shifting in New Zealand. Her distinc- tive design approach is continuously being documented in various books including Digital Jacquard Design, Material exploration and Fashion Processes.

Her latest challenge includes create an on going textile experimentation is a synergy between traditional craft and modern understanding of material. Through visiting Guizhou in South China, working with local weavers, Elaine is designing an efficient work model with the Guizhou villagers in order to achieve the final goal of skill exchange and can help the villagers to create a sustainable way of living through making exqui- site craft for the urban consumers. ' 

http://www.elaineyanlingng.com/#!bibliography/c1lxd

A range of body extension jewellery by Elaine Yan Ling Ng for Autumn 2013, DANCING WOODEN SKIN combines elements of nature with cutting-edge materials. Choreographed by fluctuations in light, temperature and humidity, no two pieces of this unique body adornment will look alike. Over time the pieces will adjust to the environment, reflecting the invisible energy of nature.

Through years of experimentation and adaptation, Elaine Yan Ling Ng has created Smart Veneer. The layers of hardwood, textile and thermoplastic means these sculptural pieces shift shape and colour in accordance with their surroundings.

DANCING WOODEN SKIN encapsulates the fragility and impermanence of nature, creating a characterful and colourful
expression of Autumn.

Material:

Smart Veneer

Light Reflective Veneer

Conclusion

Looking through my notes from my first future thinking lecture. I written so many amazing company, designers, artists all who put smart materials to their practice. However not all of them relate to myself therefore I have chosen the top three I enjoy researching the most and that link to my own practice with the most relevance. Researching smart materials makes me realise as a surface designer I have to push the boundaries into concepts that I have to find are possible myself. As we move forward so is technology. Throughout this research I have defiantly found myself excited to use the SFXC products they look amazing and will really make my work stand out. Keep an eye out for the next future thinking series which will be based on biomimicry design. 

Be creative and stay messy!