This project takes a research through design approach to investigate how pressure data can be translated to an experience such that it creates consciousness of and connectedness to garments. Pockets are used as a guiding tool because of the familiarity, the existing literature and the emotional connection with the wearer. Three data experiences were created based on pressure data, collected with pressure sensing fabric from Sefar. The first experience has the input and output at the same location and uses light. The second experience shows the pressure over time with a digital visualisation. The third experience gives haptic feedback through a belt with pockets. The goal is to allow the user of wearables to become more conscious about the garments and their own use of them. This information will function as a foundation for future investigations of how emotional attachment with on-body materials influences longevity.

In this project I wanted to focus on finding my take on research within the design process and keep an open goal for the end result. We got the chance to work together with a company, which made it a good opportunity to bring my PDP goals into a new environment. By doing a lot of brainstorming, discussing, making and exploring a completely unknown area of expertise, I have a great project to look back to.

However, while the project did show me how research can be part of my personal identity and design expertise, I also want to be critical and say that in some points it has been challenging in ways which did take away some of this projects potential. After going through this, I want to highlight two things especially that I want to take with me in future projects.

The first is for me, surprisingly, is about speaking up when necessary within a group. Making and keeping optimism through uncertainty are normally some of my strong points, yet within the group we had some ups and downs in that regards. In earlier groupwork I’ve done, I was really vocal and upfront in a sometimes (too) demanding way. Throughout the last few years, I became aware of this and learned to listen better and find compromises instead, which was a huge part of the groupwork experience for me. With the lovely group I fortunately got for this project, I therefor wanted to for the first time focus less on group managing or my already present competences like technology, and instead take the time to develop more in regards to a rather untouched competence area: User and Society, as mentioned in my PDP goals. Though the girls supported my plans in this regard and I have developed in this area quite a bit, there were some issues that popped up. It became quite clear early on in the process, that optimism was in danger of fading away quickly. Even though we were all enthusiastic and got some good ways to decide upon direction of the project, having no clear heading seemed to be difficult for the group. The problem is that, instead of going through this, it ended up in discussions. A lot of discussions, mostly because the openness of the research goal was difficult to grasp. Trying not to be too directive, I first observed and softly proposed some of my optimistic views. Yet, at some point I knew we had to break the cycle. I wanted to stop doubting and start making. This call to action did work sometimes, but we fell back in the unclarity-unsureness, wanting to create a definite goal, quite some times. We worked through it, yet I found myself on a new side of a problem I already faced quite some time: How much do you need to push the others within your group? We had some great group bonding moments where I also asked the others how they felt in that regards, and this helped a lot to work through this with each other. I gradually feel more confident in finding the balance now. Although I am certain that in each group I will face new dynamics to work around with, experiences like these help to deal with them a lot!

The other learning point for me was that, however nice the agreements you make are, you still have to think about their feasibility. Mainly with task divisions. With all of us trying out new things, it became clear at some point that not every expertise is that easy to pick up. So, when time was running out, I was still the one doing a bunch of the technology. Yet, I have walked through it with some interest of other group members and the other way around, sharing our knowledge and working on it together! In the end however, things that had to be done in short amount of time came in general back to those who could work it out swiftly. While not necessarily being a problem, it did became one when I got quite sick in the week before Demoday. When a poster and video needed to be quite specifically made, as they had discussed within the group, I was the only one with the photoshop and editing experience to create it. The same happened again with the report, with me only having inDesign experience, I had to make the whole paper layout on my own. I am not easily someone that backs down from work and wanted to do my part, so I did what they asked. I tried to discuss some decisions that they made, but them being in a majority and me being sick at home, I mostly started making these things I did not always particularly agree with. This didn't sit well with me, so I did address it. Fortunately, we had a good openness in the group to discuss these kind of things. And, I still learned some new things about creativity and aesthetics, an unexpected development that is am really content with as I believe that, to share ones work with others, this area is one of the most important means to communicate as a designer to the users, customers and others. As it is part of my vision to help make this awareness grow, it proposed for me a meaningful experience to communicate something I found difficulty with. Yet, I think that by discussing feasibility of problems as these and task division beforehand in contrast with the given amount of time, I hope the mentioned contentions can be avoided in the future.

Throughout this course, these important experiences have however taught me new dynamics, resulting in a project and research to be proud of. Not only did we overcome uncertainty, it also was this uncertainty that brought me new insights about my place in a project and how important a good dynamic with a group is. I am thankful for the experience, my lovely group and the raised awareness about the importance of these aspects for me as a designer.