In3dustry & Reshape.io Wearable Technology Awards Barcelona 2017

When I received an invite to In3dustry from my fellow Makerversity memeber Paul Sohi (me now being an alumni via Architecture for Humanity UK), all my textile-spidey senses said YES PLEASE! Or, claro que si.

Paul works for AutoDesk, the “software company who makes software for people who make things”. He was one of the speakers at the In3Dustry, this year focusing on “Needs to Solutions” and which was showcasing the “top industrial end users and additive & advanced manufacturers” in “the ideal place to explore new solutions and exchange ideas”- Barcelona.

Paul was also on the panel of experts to judge the wearable technology competition created by Reshape.io. 

RESHAPE 17 |Programmable Skins Competition. The proposals (will) focus on wearables as a prosthetic skins providing augmented functions. RESHAPE 17 goes beyond ubiquitous computing, towards integrated and holistic strategies with the objective to move beyond electronics,  in favor of programmable materials.

It was such a pleasure to have the opportunity to visit this event and see such amazing ideas, design & hard work – Well done to all the finalists & winners!  (see the gallery below)

Throughout the afternoon we heard from experts on the main stage such as:    (…and please do click on the links to their website because they are brilliant organisations)

• Grace Jun the Executive Director of Openstylelab  spoke about the brilliant work being done by the students, mentors and fellows of the organisation which is a nonprofit and ” dedicated to making style and clothing accessible to people of all abilities”. Grace spoke about education, increased awareness and distribution in the fashion and tech industry and the widening gap in the market for functional, practical garments which would have previously only been focused on by health care systems. I have to say I have watched all of the video projects and it’s really got me thinking about my future projects.
• Simone Cesano from Adidas spoke about not being a designer, but supporting those designers in his teams, what their development techniques for old and new designs were (the masking tape flat!) as well as where the company could be heading. I found the integration of the bonded straps that mimic the muscle tendons on the foot a fascinating concept.
• Paul Sohi from Autodesk made us chuckle (with his NikeVsAdidas trainer faux pas) before launching into a dream world of projects of 3D printed prosthetics, fabric becoming the sensor in the MX360 jacket and real concept and possibilities of soft goods integrating seamlessly with the hardgoods that they feed back to. I think we all left with the positive mantra of “I can do that, I will do that, I made that”.
• Cecilia Raspanti from Waagsociety enticed us all with her passion for biocultures and crossing the realm from textiles to chemistry and back. She spoke of  tints and dye process which observed the differences in fibres and sharing this knowledge locally and internationally, new focuses on heritage techniques and future heritage as well as the exciting venture of the newly launched Textile Academy.  (Also much credit to her style as she wore some intricately printed trousers  & killer heels!)
• Peter Hanappe spoke from Sony CSL (Computer Science Laboratories) , which “engages in fundamental research in cutting edge areas of science that are relevant for pushing the state of the art in computing”. He spoke about the project of biodegradeable electronics and he too discussed the need to look back on heritage and previous farming techniques, incorporating current research, using new ideas for input for sensors, robotics, robot users. Later in the Q&A,  he answered a query about AI & waiting time flaws in robot programming, which would be lessened and better controlled by the refinement in communication of the natural to technology processes required in
• Franziska Kaut  from Procter&Gamble Service GmbH, is  the Head of Process Development Additive Manufacturing Polymers. Her in depth study of the production processes and problem faced by the consumer good giant, were looked into to develop the used in plastics and manufacturing of the polymer products. I found the idea of spare parts an interesting topic to bring up and common issue with susatainable design being looked at by many companies today.

Also on the panel of experts was

• Areti Markopoulou from  the Instutute of Adavnced Archtecture of Catalunya IAAC
• Anastasia Pistofidou from FABtextile/ FabLabBarcelona / Fabric academy Textile Academy.

Also really great to meet Professors Ashley Newsome Kubley and Heekyoung Jung from the University of Cincinnati … and applaud them for their finalist place in the from Reshape 17 Programmable Skins Competition!

Enjoy the projects and photos of the event below!