Tangible Impressions
physical presence in the digital world
One thing is clear; the uneasy balance between physical and digital will be one of the greatest struggles of the next generation. Tom Vavik
‘Tactile’ is becoming a buzzword for designers, journalists, technologists, and futurists alike. In today’s hyper-digitalised world we appear fascinated with the ‘real’: fetishizing the touching of physical materials and surfaces. Tactile is very much in fashion.
Tangible Impressions is a research project exploring this emerging trend; focusing on how, why and what we touch. Through photography, mark making and weaving Stephanie explores these issues and questioned:Â Whether textiles can record and represent physical presence in our digital world?
Like a hand print in concrete, a dropped programmatic tracking cookie on your browser or in imprint in a memory foam mattress; can textiles be part of a permanent or transient conversation between humans and physical surfaces?
Stephanie Rolph’s practise focuses on material research through practical experimentation, innovation and adaptation of traditional processes. Through weave she has created a collection of textiles that change and evolve through human interaction. Pulling, twisting, brushing, scrapping and stroking captured in highly tactile, conceptual pieces complimented by the quieter, graceful and intriguing pieces.
This project, through material research and textile development, aims to address the position of textiles within this often virtual, digital world. Challenging both the role of textiles and its representation in a society dominated by screens and digital interfaces.
Stephanie graduated from The Royal College of Art 2015 with and MA and her BA (Hons) Textile Design was at Central Saint Martins
Stephanie will be exhibiting alongside the other Texprint winners  at Première Vision Designs in Paris. 15th – 17th September 2015
Text and images: Stephanie Rolph
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