Online/ Talk / Textile Technology
As robots increasingly enter public spaces, workplaces, and homes, their appearance matters. What should robots wear? How can textiles help robots communicate intent, emotion, safety, or social roles? And what can fashion designers contribute to the future of robotics?
In this interactive workshop, researcher and designer Natalie Friedman will introduce participants to the emerging field of fashion for robots. Drawing from her PhD research at Cornell Tech and her work in human-robot interaction, Natalie will present examples of how clothing and soft materials can shape people's perceptions of robotic systems and influence human-robot interactions.
Following the talk, participants will engage in a hands-on design activity where they will imagine and prototype wearable concepts for robots. Working individually or in small groups, participants will explore how garments, accessories, textiles, and material interventions might help robots communicate, build trust, express identity, or support specific tasks and environments.
No prior experience with robotics is required. The workshop is designed for artists, designers, technologists, students, and anyone curious about the intersection of fashion, textiles, and emerging technologies. Participants will leave with new perspectives on how fashion can shape our relationships with intelligent machines and contribute to more human-centered technological futures.
Natalie Friedman is a researcher, maker, and educator exploring the intersection of fashion, robotics, and human-computer interaction. She received her PhD in Information Science from Cornell Tech, where her dissertation investigated how clothing can shape people's perceptions of robots and improve human–robot interaction.
Natalie's work combines research, design, and hands-on fabrication methods including laser cutting, textiles, electronics, and wearable technology. Her projects have been exhibited and presented internationally through academic conferences, workshops, and residencies. She is particularly interested in how materials communicate meaning, how objects express identity, and what designers can learn from applying principles of fashion to emerging technologies.
For New York Textile Month, Natalie proposes a hands-on workshop exploring "Fashion for Robots"—inviting participants to imagine, design, and prototype garments and textile interventions for robotic systems. Through creative making and discussion, participants will examine how textiles can influence trust, personality, safety, and communication between humans and machines.