CraftTech: hybrid frameworks for textile-based practice

The fast-evolving nature of contemporary lifestyles means an increasing demand for smart materials that can adapt to the changing needs of consumers. While the market for smart materials is forecast to be worth USD $80 billion by 2020,1 to date there has been little research on fundamental design processes for smart materials. Studies focus on technical application and functionality but neglect the integral development process. The tendency to skew research and development towards a technology focus might have resulted in unsuitable products that are not readily adopted by the mass market. As noted by Dunne,2 many existing smart wearables show little regard for aesthetics and are inconvenient to maintain, so consumers are unlikely to utilise them in their everyday lives.