During the course Interactive Materiality we were requested to investigate interactions through one of a pre-selected set of materials from which spacer fabric was chosen. This fabric was explored through a materials-oriented design approach as a guideline for iterations and design goals. The interaction was constructed and evaluated at the hand of interaction design contextualised around the framework of expressivity to distinguish and design for an aesthetic interaction.

This approach to design in combination with the focus on expressivity intends to result in a coherent aesthetic experience based around a thoughtful interaction. This was eventually formulated as the transition of consensual physical interaction which materialised in the final artefact, aasenhi.

Aasenhi’s design stimulates empathy with non-human entities by reciprocating exploratory behaviour whilst evoking an holistic experience designed around haptic ambiguity and subtly.

These chosen qualities were inherent to the spacer fabric and guided the iterative process towards the final design. aasenhi illustrates the value of this approach by providing a rich intuitive interaction with a multitude of potential applications to be researched and developed.