Made in Future

The Considerate Design project was asked to exhibit its products at the ‘Made In Future’ exhibition in Milan, organised by the UK Government’s Foreign and Commonwealth office and the Materials KTN. A vision of things to come, showcasing fashion & clothing incorporating UK based smart materials technology.

All products from the 'Considerate Design for Personalised Fashion' Project were displayed: Seamless knitted sweaters from 'Knit for Fit' (Sandy Black and Penelope Watkins); bespoke bags (Steven Harkin and Frances Geesin); 'Evolving Textiles', gloves made by rapid prototyping (Philip Delamore).

As a follow on from the ‘Made In Future’ event in Milan the Materials KTN arranged a showcase event at the House of Lords in June 2010. Showcasing fashion & clothing incorporating UK based smart materials and technology, the Considerate Design project was invited to showcase the project's work.

Sandy Black

Research Interests

Knitwear, fashion and textiles design with particular emphasis on 3 dimensional aspects of design and realisation, incorporating mathematical principles. Inter-disciplinary design in social and cultural context; Innovation in knitwear particularly 3D and seamless construction; Intersection of arts and science with design; Sustainability issues in fashion and textiles.

Current Research

My current research interests seek to Interrogate Fashion - its practice and design processes. I am developing projects that integrate old and new technologies and seek new ways to approach the design and creation of fashion-related products through the relationship between craft practices and advanced technology. A key concept underpinning this research is the notion developed with the Interrogating Fashion Research Cluster during 2005 of more responsible design that takes into account the wider environmental, ethical, social and individual needs of products and their users.
My personal research continues in knitwear utilising the potential of advanced technology for three-dimensional structures, and in particular the application of mathematical concepts to knitted artefacts and knitwear.

Drawing on my background in both knitwear design and mathematics, I am involved in personal research which is exploring new forms in the realisation of knitwear, using advanced technologies and based on mathematical concepts of topology.

As principal investigator of the EPSRC/AHRC funded Research Cluster 'Interrogating Fashion' I am bringing together academics, fashion and textile designers, computer and material scientists, artists, musicians and researchers to discuss future ideas and changing paradigms for fashion and accessories in the 21st century. With a focus on practice, process and presentation , the research cluster will explore, through workshops and events during the current year, three overlapping themes:

• Digital Fashion? from craft to mass customisation

• The Fashion Paradox: transcience and sustainability

• Fashion in Context: presentation and display, audience and engagement

• Organisation