SmithsonianX: Designing for Textiles

The Designing for Textiles workshop provides those who work in traditional crafts-based media with an introduction, or refresher, to design education through the lens of Armenian textiles. Based on an in-person training program that took place in 2018 through the My Armenia program, this workshop is a series of lessons and extension activities that build upon one another and encourage you to innovate in your own textiles-based design work.

I will introduce the design process, each step to effectively take an idea into a finished product. You will explore the elements and principles of design by identifying how they are used in traditional Armenian textiles. Color theory will be introduced along with an activity that has you testing numerous color relationships.

For more inspiration, I will highlight several artists and organizations who are transforming traditional art forms into new textile-based products. Additional activities will include an overview of construction techniques on the sewing machine as well as an introduction to natural dyes.

Each element of this workshop is designed to provide an introduction to ideas and techniques that you can integrate into your own practice and strengthen your work as a designer.