Lab Liftoff: E-Textiles

You’re invited to…Lab Liftoff: E-Textiles

Join us for our Lab Liftoff activity camp in the Easter holidays – a three-day immersive workshop for children. At this Lab Liftoff, we’ll be exploring electro-fashion and wearables, combining technology and fabrics to create interactive textiles that children can take home. Plus, children can experiment with smart textiles (textiles which react to external stimuli like heat, force or electricity to change colour, shape or properties) – all inspired by science and nature.

What can I expect at Lab Liftoff: E-Textiles?

With a range of smart materials available to explore, children will spend three days creating science and nature inspired art and wearables using combination of MircoBit, sensors, eTextiles, electronics, LEDs and solar energy combined with buttons, sewing, patterns, yarn and wire.

Activities highlights:

• Create interactive felt flowers and an iron man atomic heart
• Make a sound-activated badge
• Find out what a ‘smart hat’ is…and make one!
• Hack your school bag with secret tech powers to make it light up
• Imagine, design and make a solar charger pouch

Day one: Exploring technology, smart materials and electronics

Day one will be an introduction to the world of smart materials and wearable technology. Children will experiment with materials to learn about their properties and be introduced to basic skills like weaving, carding and conductivity exercises.

Day two and three: Choose and design projects, develop your designs and make and explore with materials

Across day two and three, children will respond to design questions like; what’s the meaning and the use of fashion? How can fashion and wearables to improve peoples lives? How can you combine different techniques to make your own creation? What features in nature could inspire your design?

Thinking about these principles, children will be guided through the design and making process to create E-textile projects that they can bring home at the end of the camp.

What will children learn at Lab Liftoff: E-Textiles?

• Confidence in using imagination and creating an idea
• Translating ideas into creative expressions
• Understanding different elements the design process
• Collaborating and working in groups
• Confidence in setting up a showing of work to peers/ parents
• Use of technology such as MircoBit, sensors, eTextiles, electronics, LEDs and solar energy
• How to combine technology with traditional textiles

When is Lab Liftoff: E-Textiles?

This is a three-day activity camp at the Imagination Lab between 10-12 April. The days are 10am – 4pm. Children are required to attend all three days of the camp.

Who is Lab Liftoff: E-Textiles for and how much does it cost?

This activity camp is suitable for children aged 6-12 years old and is £180 for the three days. Children do not need to be accompanied at the sessions, but must be dropped off and picked up by an adult or carer at the beginning and the end of each day. All participants must bring a packed lunch.

If you have further questions about the camp, please email: imaginationlab@ioi.london