Multimorphic Textiles

Abstract

Textile and textile-based form designers lack relevant design methods for designing with a deeper understanding of the systems and futures thinking required to transform their industries. This chapter’s ambition is to bridge the gulf between holism in theory and holism in design practice. Multimorphism is defined as holism through practice, encompassing multiple scales, forms, times and perspectives, that ranges from nanoscale material behaviours to the social and environmental context surrounding the materials and outcomes. Experiments conducted during the author’s PhD research, and subsequent related experiments, provide tangible examples that illustrate how Multimorphism can be experienced and used. These prototypes embody the contextual, real-world inputs of a field in a tangible way, while highlighting connections and gaps in knowledge and technology. Their multiple formats enable multimorphic, transdisciplinary communication and act as translators and vectors for mutual understanding. Importantly, they visualise possible futures and provide the means to achieve them. This chapter articulates Multimorphic Textile Systems as an emerging research field for circular textile and textile-form design practices and argues for the important role prototyping has in making holistic design theory, practices and outcomes.