Wall-Couture

Abstract: Wall-Couture is a project within the textile design field, which aims to explore methods for surface design in digitally printed wallpaper. Through a practice based working method, textile after-treatment techniques have been used to manipulate digitally printed wallpaper with hand-painted motives. Practices borrowed from haute couture have influenced the working method. The result is a range of design examples displaying various expressions of the techniques. The project shows that several surface materials could be applied in ways that enhance tactility and visual depth to digitally printed wallpaper, and also that methods from craftsmanship could be use to design contemporary wallpaper. The combination of techniques increases the designer’s opportunities to design wallpaper by using alternative approaches to material and surfaces. The work also strives to higher the value of handicraft, decoration and ornamentation in the design field. Another value is to strengthen the position of digital printing in the textile industry; the work encourages technical progress for creating digital print in combination with surface treatments.