Wool Story
Design question:
How can augmented reality (AR) enhance physical clothing with a digital layer that preserves and reveals the cultural heritage and design stories embedded within garments?
Introduction
The Team:
Coco Huberts
Youwen Zhang
Jinyu Zhou
Haili Wu
Clothing not only keeps us warm but also significantly shapes our cultures and society, and vice versa. Each design element can be linked to diverse histories and cultural backgrounds. However, this information often gets lost once garments leave the design studio and their original cultural contexts. Therefore, this project investigates whether AR technology can enhance physical clothing with a digital surface—one that reveals the cultural heritage and design stories concealed within the garments we wear.
Design Process
Following our project manifesto, the team collaborated in brainstorming to generate as many ideas as possible, aiming to push our creativity and storytelling skills within the brief. With limited time, I also began learning more about AR technology alongside idea development. This approach helped us balance a creative concept with a convincing prototype and a realistic final deliverable. The chosen concept involves creating a user experience activated by physical garments, revealing their story and helping the audience understand the designer’s intentions in an immersive setting.
Process of making
We digitally recreated the sample garment and collaborated with its original designer to understand its narratives and cultural background. Using Unity software, we assembled a virtual exhibition that showcases the story of the garment once the software detects a specific mark on it.
