High Tech Craftiness at SXSWi 2008

They blinded me with crafty geeky science!  A group of lady crafter fanatics chatted online technology and the role it plays in the ever-growing DIY community at SXSWi 2008.

I've heard various review on the panel, but it's funky and inquisitive nature really hit home with me.  Panelists brought in objects they've been working and a lots of super how-to resources for DIY/crafty typs everywhere.

Natalie Zee Drieu  Senior Editor,  CRAFT Magazine
Syuzi Pakhchyan SparkLab
Alison Lewis  Producer,  IHeartSwitch
Mouna Andraos Electronic Crafts
Diana Eng  Fashion Designer,  Diana Eng

Read on for cool projects the panelists brought to share and other awesome goodness.  Photo thanks to Natalie Zee's Flickr stream

Each panelist brought a couple of goodies to share (read it all after the jump):

Diana:
Heartbeat hoodie - implanted camera in hood keeps track of wearers heart beat.  When it starts to race, begins taking photos to capture moments (or people).

Uses mathematics sequence in ruffle of wrap - Fibonacci Sequence creates natural spiral and when attached to fabric creates a ruffle.

Syuzi:
Interactive toys, wearables and objects for home -- has book.

Birdie broach - custom circuit board, solar-powered makes bird sing.  Can customize functionality of technology and design aesthetics of actual circuit board as part of functionality of actual end-product.

Electronic finger puppets - teaches people to sew and work with technology - as well as animating objects.

Allison Lewis:
Teaches at Parsons at Fashion technology - Switchcraft book
How to make your purse light it up when you open it.

Mouna:
ThingADay.com - daily projects everyday (20-30 minutes) and online sharing
Mp3 player out of sock

Important to pay homage to traditional crafts, while embracing new technology. 

Allison:
Grandmother crafted / sewed / painted / crochet / corn shuckery /   -- until she was almost 100 YO.  Grew up on farm with no indoor plumbing or electricity, so she was extremely resourceful and driven.  By keeping her hands busy, she kept her mind busy.  Great attidude on sharing and learning her passions and craft.  It was more than just a craft - took it beyond that.

Diana:
Grandmother was mathmetician who hosted events talking about latest technology.  Diana grew up

On inspiration:

Souzy:
Loves playing around with materials - industrial felt is latest.  These materials provide inspiration.

WIth degree in literature, she loves writing story

Mouna:
Storytelling aspect of project is inspiring. Spends a lot of time trying to decipher a language not easily understood by typical DIY -- one of engineering and high tech.  Like to re-invent that language into something her kind of people can understand.

If that doesn't work, she takes something off the shelf and hack it.  Reverse engineer it and make it do what she wants it to do.  Don't be afraid of breaking things up and learning how things can be useful to you.  Playing with material brings about the final form - a little bit of hacking and a little bit of stitching.

Where is fashion and technology going and who is doing it best?

Diana:
Fashion houses gaining upper hand by opening R&D lab to incorporate technology in their designs and lines. These can't be knocked off - like

Mouna:
Thermachromic inks in the works - burgeoning designers incorporating color-changing fabrics into clothing.  When you move to different environments your clothing changes with you.

Interesting updates in military and hunting design - heated clothing, ability to transmit health and hydration info to remote command centers.  Importance of sharing and teaching each other - everyone has own take and unique perspective.

Tips:

• Fashion hack - buy cheap toy and tear apart and put in on pre-existing clothing (worry about aesthetics the second time - wrap your brain
• Google specific videos for help files - lots of great stuff
• CraftZine

Love the idea of integrating technologies that tap into social aspects of our lives -- hug jackets, hug your arms and your friend feels it thousands of miles away.  We need to take the power of the word 'craft' back - design and craft can one day come together.