Shapeshifting Conference at AUT

Shapeshifting, is a Textile and Fashion design conference at Auckland Univeristy, and is probably the most exciting industry event to be held in this part of the world, with Nick Cave (USA), Gareth Pugh (The Mad Prince of British Fashion), Otto Van Busch (New York's Parsons School of Design), coming over.  Wow!!

Knitting Symposium at AUT

Auckland University's Knitting Symposium was a whole day of presentations on Research in Knitting, held at the new Auckland City Art Gallery. Even for non-knit nerds, it was fascinating!!!: Professor Sandy Black from the London University of Arts spoke on the development of knitting from its origins to present day, and still asserts that "handknitting skills continues to inform the development of new knitting technology."  Ben Schaffer from Nike skype presented from Milan, and told us all about the product development process of the new Nike Flyknit Shoe.  The shoes are on the market now - a pair was passed around to have a look at.  A point was raised that the Nike logo was printed on the shoe, and not knitted in!!  I think they need some knitwear designers on their product development team.  Dr Jenny Underwood from RMIT, spoke about her research project, involving a Copenhagen Bio-Chemistry team for the development of a knitted structure for architecture, and she's certain that one day we will be able to knit a building.  I spoke about the development of the Construction Knitting Pattern product, and the process of creating a product that's designed to reflect our current culture as opposed to nostalgic craft.  A knitting pattern being the object of design ephemera can reposition the notion of knitting and improve it's social value.

 

Auckland University Knitting Symposium

I will be presenting at the AUT Knitting Symposium, 'Stretching the Limits' on 11 April 2012.  My last minute abstract was accepted by AUT, which includes me in the line up of industry and academic speakers; Ben Schaffer of Nike (USA), Sandy Black from University of Arts, (UK), Dr Jenny Underwood from RMIT (Melbourne) and Dr Suzette Worden from Curtin University (Perth), plus research staff and post-graduate students.
This is a 1 day symposium focused on research and development in knitted applications. Nike are presenting their new flyknit shoe, a high performance athlete shoe that feels as light as sock, with some pretty amazing knitting engineering!, and Sandy Black is the author of the book 'The Sustainable Fashion Handbook', amongst many other titles written on Knitting.  Jenny Underwood from RMIT presented at the last AUT knitting symposium and showed fascinating design development using whole-garment technology - smart cookie!!  Can't wait to see what she's got in store this time.  I will be presenting the development of the Construction Knitting concept, in new development phases of a book publishing project, and how the method is being applied as an open-ended design exercise in learning institutions.

Knitting Symposium

Made a presentation at Auckland University Knitting Symposium ; keynote speaker was the eponymous author Sandy Black. Sandy is from the London College of Arts; amazing woman, she has a wealth of knowledge of knitting and was a true inspiration to meet. So at the symposium many issues were discussed, about industry, innovation and education; and how these can be improved for the future. With representatives from all of these, there were some really interesting insights. There were discussions that went round and round the issues of technology advancing beyond the innovation applied to it, which leaves a big gap in creativity meeting industry; and why?!
In my opinion one of the key points that was raised was "why do we not train our knitwear designers to program the machines, and shouldn't it be part of the curriculum?" True; I mean to get a graphic design degree, one has to know the design programs, right!? I hope, truly hope; that whatever changes are implemented over time, that the perception of knitting is changed too, and for it to be considered as a valid design discipline that takes just as much enquiry as any design process.