As part of the A-Gang, students from the departments of Textile and Clothing Technology and Design at the Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR) are presenting their innovative collections for table linen and tableware. The exhibition of the transdisciplinary project "Tabletop & Textile" can be seen on two Sundays, 30 March and 6 April, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the "designkrefeld sichtbar" in the Pförtnerloge studio of the Heeder factory (Virchowstraße 130, Krefeld). Admission is free.
Ten different positions emerged from the project, which took aesthetic, functional, societal or social dimensions into account. The inspiration for the works comes from a variety of sources: from pleated structures to gender diversity and nature. One highlight of the exhibition is the "Blind Spot" collection, which includes table linen and crockery specially designed for blind and visually impaired people. Tactile structures, different lines and colour contrasts are intended to make it easier to use tableware and cutlery and thus promote accessibility at the table. The accompanying advertising materials were developed by communication design students in parallel and in dialogue with the porcelain and textile design.
Whether jacquard weaving machine, ceramic and textile 3D printer or porcelain slip casting: all products were manufactured in the HSNR workshops. The project's work has already attracted a great deal of interest at the renowned consumer goods fair "Ambiente" in Frankfurt and the design fair "Blickfang" in Stuttgart.
"designkrefeld sichtbar" is a co-operation between the HSNR's Design department and the City of Krefeld's cultural office. The Pförtnerloge studio at the Heeder factory becomes a showcase for the creative work of students and teaching staff in the city. Since 2016, the works of the faculty have been shown twice a year, parallel to the large Krefeld studio exhibition A-Gang.
You can find out more about the "Tabletop & Textile" project at www.designkrefeld.de/tabletopandtextile and on Instagram (hsnr_tabletopandtextil).
