Engage

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Year

2020

Location

Ann Arbor, MI, USA

Instructor

Sean Ahlquist

Status

Built

Material

Nylastic

Affiliation

Taubman College University of Michigan

Course

ARCH 509 Engage

Role

Prototype / programming using springFORM 2 the textile , final assembly

Students

Interactive design: Gowri Saini Balasubramaniam Allison Booth Patrick Mark Brautigan Antonia Deller Marco Nieto Structure design: Carl Uwe Eppinger Malcolm Brom Textile design: Amlin Iqbal Eshita Natalie Leonard Haley Mayes Karan Nashine Jiayue Qin Rachel Skof Adithi Vellimana Ryan Wang Ruxin Xie Le Yang Renqing Yang Yaxin Zheng

Tool Box

SpringFORM1 Sewing Machine

Reference

1 Textile programming: springFORM developed by Prof. Sean Ahlquist

This group project focuses on designing tactile interfaces and environments, incorporating multisensory elements like visual, auditory, resistive, and haptic feedback to address movement and social challenges for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). For individuals with ASD, sensory experiences are often heightened, making environmental factors either significant barriers or valuable supports. Our design and testing process explored how sensorially-responsive, textile-based prototypes could act as physical "interventions" to help children navigate and mitigate sensory sensitivities. In collaboration with Ann Arbor Haisley Elementary School and Science Central, we tested these prototypes in events tailored for children with ASD. Our initial design aimed to create a "journey-through" space, encouraging exploration. We built an "inside" environment, utilizing a large projection surface as an interaction hub. Two cylindrical structures were introduced for children to explore, connected to a mesh frame that defined the enclosed "inner world." After the first model, we added additional anchor points to reinforce the textile, preventing tearing. The mesh structure also enabled secure anchor points on the ground, enhancing stability and durability.