Research Direction Focused on Material Properties and Agency, and the Development of Traditional Techniques and Technologies
This research direction centers on developing empirical methods applicable to education while reconstructing, adapting, and enhancing material-based technological approaches.
Completed Projects:
Muse: synthesis and development of material research
The project aims to develop a methodology for material-driven creative research using co-creative methods. Throughout the project, various models are tested and synthesized while exploring the following questions: How can the study of the composition and properties of materials be addressed in creative practice? How can materials be applied as a method to guide the process? How can materials serve as a muse to inspire creative goals and interpretative solutions? The focus is on mapping, modeling, publishing the various stages of the methodology, and establishing new terminology.
Material research through artistic practice involves meaning-making, sensory approaches, and discovering and integrating the functional properties of materials in potential outcomes. Creative work and material development, supported by a systematic approach to materials, will be published in the format of an article and an exhibition.
Research Lead: Kärt Ojavee
Research Team Member: Juss Heinsalu
Duration: 01.09.2023–31.12.2024
Funding: Estonian Ministry of Culture
ETIS: link
Low-tech Footwear Making Techniques Inspired by Heritage Crafts
By integrating heritage crafts with contemporary design, the third IC aims to create footwear that is not only aesthetically appealing but also functionally superior and environmentally conscious. Students will gain hands-on experience in traditional techniques, understand the principles of sustainable design, and apply these skills to create innovative footwear. The workshop serves as a bridge between the past and the future, marrying age-old techniques with modern technology and design thinking. The project’s success demonstrates the potential for traditional crafts to adapt to modern demands, offering a viable alternative to mass-produced, environmentally damaging products. It underscores the importance of sustainability in design education and the role of higher education in fostering innovation and environmental stewardship.
Research Lead: Kristiina Nurk
Duration:01.10.2023-01.09.2024
Funding: Nordplus
Reconstruction and artistic development of the historical relief print technique
This creative research project was based on an unknown relief printing technique invented in 1924 in the workshop of leather artist and bookbinder Eduard Taska. The technique differs from cliché and linoleum printing by its two-level result and lack of fine graphic lines. Two leather handbags decorated with this technique (AM 15737/1 and AM 15737/2) from the textile collection of the Estonian History Museum provided the basis for closer examination.
The aim of the research was to reconstruct the relief printing process as authentically as possible and to develop printing solutions suitable for contemporary materials and techniques, enabling reproduction using the restored historical method.
Research Lead: Jaana Päeva
Duration: 01.09.2022–31.12.2023
Funding: Estonian Ministry of Culture
ETIS: link