Textile Future

Year: 2020
Account: Trevira

Team: Werner Aisslinger, Monika Losos, Jan Patrick Bastian, Julius Iversen, Leon Döring
Producer: trevira

Description:
Our age, the beginning of the 21st century, is a time of change. Digitalisation affects all areas of life and it changes our daily routines. This represents new and exciting opportunities for designers. At the same time, the increasing virtualisation of interpersonal relationships and the success of Twitter and Instagram are also a sign of a dramatic marginalisation of the analogue world. With the success of social media determining our perception, our sensory reaction to the wonders of the real world are becoming diminished. Against this backdrop, studio aisslinger aims to connect digital technologies with the haptic and visual qualities of the analogue reality. Instead of rejecting digitalisation entirely or affirming it uncritically, this shows a technology-minded and, at the same time, truly humane vision of the future.

One of the biggest changes of this future life will take place in the areas of mobility and, in particular, private transport. In the coming decades, combustion engines will no longer be considered advanced technology but a relic from the past. However, it is not solely a matter of modifying the drive mechanism. Instead of using the car only to get from A to B, we will actually use self-driving cars as mobile space for all kind of activities. Their interior will change and the analogue space in these motion modules on four wheels, equipped with the most recent technology, will be rediscovered as an opportunity for a unique sensory experience.

Private transport, however, is not the only thing that will change. We will have to rethink mobility as a whole. In order to cope with the growing amount of cars especially in cities, one must not only rethink urban planning. Public transport must become an appealing and ultimately better alternative for getting around in urban areas. It is important to extend existing networks to improve travel times and the frequency of services. However, this is not sufficient. The driving experience must change. Instead of sitting close together on benches that are practical but insignificant in their uniformity, we must reconceptualise the space of the underground or suburban railway and the bus interior to create a space where we spend a portion of our lifetime.

Smart watches, fitness trackers, healthcare apps — the digitalisation has led to a new body awareness, and the comprehensive quantification of our physical activity results in a more holistic look at our existence and in a more ecological lifestyle. Our own health is no longer only a matter of optimised medication. Instead, we think about it more and more extensively, also in relation to atmospheric aspects. This change in attitude will represent a challenge for hospitals and pharmacies. Their atmospheric design must rediscover the special experience of these places: The experience of feeling understood, of trust and of the combination of tradition with the latest technology and science.

These changes also affect the area of hospitality and public spaces. Hotels become small universes in which the appeal of the place merges with impressions from all over the world, creating a vibrant and inspiring atmosphere. Like almost no other, studio aisslinger expresses this concept with its spatial design — a design that counts on collage, storytelling, and a sensory experience. Visiting public spaces of all kind must become an unforgettable experience again. The sensory unique quality of each respective place must pull people away from their digital devices and bring them back into the real life. The colour and tactility of special fabrics and textiles help to create atmospheres that enable us to rediscover the abundance and beauty of the analogue world.