ELLA MAI DOWNES

My Final Major Project was a study into the sense of touch and an exploration of materials in relation to this.

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In an environment of increasing technological developments forming new worlds that exclude the sense of touch, physical, tangible surfaces become almost a necessity. Surface designs were produced to engage the viewer through tactility, inspired by the skin - the body’s organ to feel.

 

The work focuses on the contact of human touch and textiles, manipulating engaging materials such as foam and leather with embossing, flocking and puff printing to form raised, velvety and rubbery surfaces which heighten our tactile sense.

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Producing so many material samples provided the opportunity to play with material styling and photography.