Open design call: Healing through braiding part 1. crossing

At Soft Connection Lab, we believe in fostering a conjunctive design attitude that connects people, objects, and their surrounding material and social world. Through our research, we’ve developed four Soft Tools – Crossing, Twining, Winding, and Pulling Through – which each embody specific gestures and braiding techniques. Overall, they aim to cultivate a renewed design attitude.

The launch of each Soft Tool on our website is celebrated with a specific Healing through braiding-open call. The first one focusses on Crossing, which refers to the action of one strand passing over or under another strand in a systematic and organised manner. Crossing brings together insights from kumihimo, maypole braiding, basket plaiting and hand braiding free ends. Crossing is a versatile, timeless technique, which allows both flat, three-dimensional or even round hollow applications.

The transformative power of healing

The objective of Healing through braiding is to explore the transformative power of repair and restoration. We believe that healing a broken object or healing in a social context by using braiding forges emotional bonds between individuals and their objects as well as their surrounding social world. The direct act of healing or repairing an object or relationship symbolizes care, respect, and sustainability, thus a commitment to a better world.

Through healing, we not only extend the lifespan of objects but also cultivate a deeper connection with them, fostering a more mindful approach towards the object, consumption and waste reduction. Actively repairing something creates a direct and tactile connection. The hands-on approach fosters a deeper understanding of the object`s construction, materials and details. Besides healing can also be understood in a wider context, such as healing interhuman connections.

Open invitation to join our community

Participants are encouraged to select an object in need of repair – such as clothing, furniture, a household item, or any object of personal significance – or a societal or interhuman challenge – such as communication. Using one of our Soft Tools – in this first case Crossing – to heal the object or interhuman wound. By exploring our Soft Tools, participants are invited to transform an object or context, giving it new life or even load it with renewed meaning and significance.

By participating in the Healing through braiding-project, you become part of a community dedicated to fostering meaningful connections between people, objects and our surrounding world. Your objects or images can become part of our research and can be selected for our next events or final presentation. Let’s make a difference together, one cross, twist, twine or loop at a time.

How to participate

• 1 – Select an object or social context in need of repair.

 

• 2 – Document each step of the repair process: from identifying the damage to applying the Soft Tool Crossing for restoration. Take a picture of the object before, while and after the healing.

 

• 3 – Submit your entry through posting maximum five pictures/videos (before/while/after) of your healing journey on Instagram, tagging our account @softconnectionlab and highlighting the transformation brought about by the help of the Soft Tool.

 

• 4 – Email your other pictures, videos or text to softconnectionlab@gmail.com .

 

• 5 – Deadline: 31st of October 2024