The T-probe: Advancing engagement with material concepts and sensory experiences

This design case presents the synopsis of a practice-led PhD Design Research. The project was born within a contemporaryfield of design inquiry where designers are exploring novel materialsand sensory concepts in response to advances in science and technology. Despite the human, societal, environmental, andpotential commercial benefits, which underpin many of these designpropositions, applying such ideas across science, industry and the market, proposes distinct challenges linked to human perception. This calls for intelligent and appropriate methods of introducing novel material concepts and related experience at the early stages of their development, which in turn, may inform and ensure the desirability and market viability of such concepts.

The aim of the research was to determine the value of using the T-shirt as a wearable probe – i.e. the T-probe – to advance engagement with, and understanding of, novel and challenging material concepts and sensory experiences.