Breathway

We are increasingly experiencing that mental health in society is under pressure. Stress, anxiety, and depression are rising at an alarming rate, and the systems and resources available to help are struggling to keep up.

In this project and generally in my design practice, I explore the relationship between the object, the touch of the skin, the signals sent to the brain, and the release of positive hormones in the body. I see this as a potential within the design of furniture and objects, that they may have a preventive and calming effect on the nervous system, thereby reducing overstimulation, which can ultimately lead to mental health problems.

In an attempt to find materials that could activate this haptic experience on the body, I have tested in air chambers. These air chambers are connected, and therefore, with the help of the bag's volume, the transition between them and your body weight, air can be transported across the skin at a comfortable pace, which almost feels as if someone is breathing under you.

An air-filled plastic bag does not necessarily provide the most comfortable tactile or aesthetic experience. Therefore, I developed a textile that can expand and contract through the use of a double-layer structure and a double-weave construction.
By exploiting the possibilities of double weaving, I created integrated connecting points that guide and support the loose textile when the cushion is deflated, while also contributing a visual pattern to the fabric's surface. This approach combines functionality and aesthetics, allowing the textile to transform while maintaining an appealing expression in both its inflated and deflated states.