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Exploring Elasticity as a Medium for Emotional Expression in Silver Design

Brief Description

IJD is an international peer reviewed open access design research journal with an acceptance rate of 16%. The research presented in this article explored how elastic movement can be used as a medium for expressing emotions in silver design, using Argentium® Sterling silver and laser welding. The research was funded by the AHRC (2008-9, £16,336, http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/project/2EACE9D9-F209-4807-BC1A-672AE97E16E6 , http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/News-and-Events/Events/Pages/Argentium-Project-New-Avenues-for-Silver-Design.aspx ). The creative output of the research was exhibited in the Silver Gallery, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, September 2009-May 2010. Two objects (Anemone 1&2) were selected for the 16th Silver Triennial, a juried European touring exhibition, including International Trade Fairs Frankfurt/Main and Inhorgenta München, Germany. (http://www.gfg-hanau.de/unterseiten/16_Silbertriennale_eng.htm , http://www.arnoldsche.com/en/Design/SILVER-TRIENNIAL-INTERNATIONAL-artikel.html )

Research Rationale

Traditionally, silver tends to be rigid and therefore uses semiotic language to create emotional expression rather than movement. This research investigated how different structures based on the flexibility of Argentium can be used to communicate emotional expression and behaviour to enable an enhanced understanding of how complex emotions can be embodied in design objects. The originality and significance of this work is firstly in the introduction of emotional expression into silver design, secondly in developing a soma-semiotic framework as an aid for creating and interpreting complex emotions in design, and thirdly in its function as a methodological case study for the integration of craft practice within research.

Strategies Undertaken

Using conceptual analysis combined with creative exploration, the research develops a soma-semiotic framework to serve both as a design tool and as an aid for the interpretation of artefacts. Technical aspects of advancing silversmithing through the use of laser welding, as an integration of new technologies with traditional craft are described in an earlier paper (Niedderer 2009, http://makingfutures.plymouthart.ac.uk/journalvol1/papers/kristina-niedderer.pdf )