The Glass Electric: Electroforming, Circuits and Sensors

Timeframe: 2018

Artists of all genres have begun exploring the role of interaction design in their work, however, despite the prevalence of compatible techniques like electroforming, little is understood about how glass artists might integrate digital materials, circuits and sensors directly into their craft practice.  Rather than an afterthought, this two-week course investigated the use of different metals and smart pigments (with sensing and output capabilities) into and onto glass, during hot processes like glass blowing and casting.  Attendees were taught and supported in the use of Arduino and Processing, allowing them to combine these novel materials and resulting techniques with physical interactions and screen-based media.  This course is part of ongoing research happening at Northumbria University and Sunderland University exploring the applications for glass as a sensing material in Internet of Things (IoT) applications.