Tactile storytelling using a transmedia approach

Summary: This project aims to gain an understanding of storytelling using a transmedia approach. Throughout the research, I explored how knowledge is generated using a multi-stage process that moves from poetry writing to tapestry weaving, and then to audio recording. My primary objective has been to use a transmedia approach, considering how different media formats interact, to open up and explore how my personal story is interpreted between myself and the audience. By using a transmedia approach, this research project allows me to create an immersive sensory experience for the audience in a way that provides an example for future design research. By designing, encoding, and studying of artifacts created using the TC-2 Digital Jacquard Loom, this research aims to investigate how woven tapestry can help people visualize and experience emotion. As a result of this research, I have created the media formats of tapestry, poetry and audio using a creative transmedia storytelling process, as well as “Hands-on weaving” workshops to provide opportunities for everyone from non-designers to experienced weavers to conduct personal material exploration. What I have found is that it is possible for emotions to be elicited through weaving by employing a transmedia approach causing a synergistic understanding between the storyteller and audience.