Ai DESIGN GALLERY

New approaches to design are being explored as we see techniques such as vacuum forming, 3D printing and lazer cutting being developed for the use in the fashion and footwear industry.

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"efforts have been directed towards developing 3D printing filaments from bioplastics such as Poly (lactic acid) to substitute the common fossil- based conventional plastic filaments such as Acrylonitrile butadiene styren"-Andanje, M. N., et al., (2023). Biocompatible and biodegradable 3D printing from bioplastics: A review. Polymers. 

How can we integrate nature more consciously into our design concepts? In some cities, nature is being integrated more and more, have a significant impact on quality of life, espeically due to improved air quality. A collaboration between TU Delft, Respyre, Gardena, and Heijmans is an example of the intersection between architecture, modern art and ecology: The Living Roadblock takes center stage at Dutch Design Week.  What for clothing? Could we understand materials to the extent that they extend as a function of Nature’s healing and cleansing process?

Understanding the intricate mechanics of personalized footwear begins with a detailed analysis of a person's unique needs. This process starts by various measurements and analysis and followed by a comprehensive assessment of posture and gait, as well as manual pressure tests, and movements such as dorsiflexion and plantar flexion.

Each foot contains 26 bones, and historically, humans walked on uneven surfaces like sand and soil. Today’s flat flooring often leads to adverse pressure on our arches and muscles, as well as providing inadequate sensory information, and this can cause tension, pain and imbalance. To address this, Pressure Mapping technology highlights which areas habitually bear the most weight, helping to identify the perfect arch support.

A Foot-Arch Parameter Measurement machine captures the precise contours of the foot, using small nodes. This subsequent 3D image is analyzed from multiple angles to ensure a comprehensive understanding of structure

The origins of reflexology trace back to ancient Egypt, evidenced by hieroglyphic murals in the pyramid of Saggara. Marking its significance in Egyptian culture since 2330 BC, by the late 14th century, reflexology, known as zone therapy, had spread across Europe. Dr. William Fitzgerald, the father of modern reflexology, discovered its use by Aboriginal Americans. Jenny Wallace, an established North American Cherokee Indian healer from The Bear Clan uses reflexology foot pressure as a healing technique that enhances health.

The global leather industry is dealing with environmental and ethical issues, such as deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and toxic chemical usage. In response, the luxury market is embracing sustainable alternatives like fungal leather. This innovative material provides biodegradability, biocompatibility, renewability, and carbon-neutral growth processes. Its superior mechanical properties, attributed to the interwoven hyphal network of fungal mycelium, are complemented by antimicrobial benefits from bioactive metabolites. Products derived from these organisms are now seen as essential building blocks for a more sustainable future for our planet.

Activated carbon (often referred to as activated charcoal), is a sophisticated form of graphite, characterized by its unique, irregular structure. This intelligent material has an extensive porous structure; visible fractures and molecular dimensions. The presence of these minute, low-volume pores within the material significantly enhances the surface area available for chemical reactions, such as adsorption; this substantial surface area makes it useful for a multitude of applications, including the purification of air and water. 

Hemp fiber composites- combined with thermoset, thermoplastic, and biodegradable matrices- demonstrate exceptional strength with tensile capacities reaching up to 1110 MPa. This luxurious material stands apart from other natural fibers with its aseptic properties, remarkable absorbency, UV protection, and hypoallergenic qualities.

Creating sodium alginate bio-based plastic involves an exciting process where sodium alginate powder is blended with water to form a hydrogel. During this gelification process, glycerin is incorporated as a plasticizer to enhance flexibility. The hydrogel undergoes polymerization when sodium alginate reacts with a calcium chloride solution, resulting in a lightweight seaweed-based solid biomaterial which must be meticulously molded and shaped in order to form to its highest potential. This transformation, known as gelation, produces bioplastics that are not only flexible but also heat-resistant.