Exploring a material conversation in the knitting of Strong Wool for acoustic design
Strong Wool is a highly technical, durable, biodegradable, and renewable natural fibre but its story is not being heard. This project proposes that listening to and responding to the fibre and its materiality allows for new conversations with Strong Wool and subsequently, the stories it can tell. The research adopts a material-centric approach alongside a digital knitting practice to explore acoustic textile outcomes.
In collaboration with Autex Acoustics, a proof-of-concept acoustic panel demonstrates how digital knitting augments Strong Wool properties. As a broader outcome, the research demonstrates how designing across scales with Strong Wool offers us tools to better design with the fibre. Specifically, it presents a sustainable design approach where we embrace the full breadth of the material through deeper conversations with it, with a focus on what Strong Wool is, and what stories it can tell.
