The Knitted Radio is an installation piece that manifests how to knit a sweater that is also a FM radio transmitter. The tactile centerpiece is a functional electronic object knitted out of ordinary wool and commonly available conductive materials. The accompanying knitting instructions, to be published in a knitting magazine, allows the reproduction of the electronic object by an alternative maker group.
The piece is part of a larger investigation into using traditional textile crafting techniques to create electronic components and devices from scratch. The critical question is whether ‘what’ one makes is really more important than ‘how’ one makes things. Industrial technology research is mostly driven by the desire to invent the next killer application, whereas artistic research holds the chance to question implications. By exploring alternative production procedures, we might be able to reveal skills, techniques and materials that have been uncharted, undervalued, or decisively left out of popular demand.
To do a thing, "what to do" and "how to do", both are indispensable, there is no absolute which is more important.
"What" is your choice, "how" is your method; The choice is your goal, and the method is the way in which your course of action will lead to that goal; Without the goal, there will be no corresponding behavior. Without the right way of behavior, the effect of behavior will not have a good effect. The goal is just a dream.
The choice of target needs opportunities, but also needs keen insight, which is the premise of doing one thing. If there is no accurate positioning of the target, then everything we do next will not reach our expectation even if it is perfect, so the importance of the target is obvious.
Method is the choice of behavior, there is also choice and wisdom. Sometimes there are ready-made methods, sometimes there are no good methods, we need to use our brains, independent thinking, create a way of doing things that we are satisfied with.
A goal is a state to be achieved, and a process is a prerequisite for achieving this state. If there is no action to follow through and effective ways of doing things, the process will not achieve the desired results, even if the goals are set accurately.
I prefer a design approach that does not have an explicit 'problem solving' aspect. My designs can serve no purpose and solve no problem at the moment. But I want to be able to move people's emotions. Any emotion in response to my work can be reflective, puzzling, questioning, moving, angry. In short I want people to be thinking, because thinking and reflection often leads to progress. That's why I keep writing BLOGs.
Comments