FAQs

Electronic Textiles
Dynamic Color Change Textiles
Interactive Textile Touch Sensor and Light Artworks
Commissions

Electronic Textiles

What can you do with Maggie Orth's electronic textiles?
Maggie Orth's pieces can be used in homes, lobbies, office spaces and/or museums. She will create an original design for you, or work with designers and/or architects to create a piece right for you and your spaces.

Is it hard to install Maggie Orth's electronic textile artworks?
No. Our electronic textiles install like most paintings, wall hangings or wall panels. They have a power supply and electronics built right in. We do everything we can to make installation fast and simple. Just hang them up, and plug them in.

Installed Electronic Textile Press Button to Start

Do I need a computer?
No. Unlike many interactive art and creative products, Maggie Orth's electronic textile pieces do not need a computer to work. Integrating all processing and interaction technology on-board is a strongly considered element in the design process.

What are the physical limitations of Electronic Textiles?
Many two-dimensional shapes and sizes are possible. Wrapping in three-dimensions is also possible with a custom made object/installation. However, it is important to keep in mind that every IFM fabric is an electrical circuit, so there are some limitations.

The central textile component is very flexible. The wires used to drive the fabric and the connection to the wires are less flexible. For this reason, we prefer to flex or wrap the fabric in one dimension only (either the x or y axis). The completed textile is highly flexible along the width, and slightly less so along the length.

The power supply is typically 2" x 4" x 6" and can be located a short distance from the piece or built into the support structure. The drive electronics can also be placed out of the way or integrated into the piece.

Interactive textile touch sensor & light artworks combine IFM's patented textile touch sensors with incandescent light to allow viewers to touch the textile surface and control light on a dynamic surface. Viewers use touch to create unique patterns and light effects. Because these works explore the transmissive properties of textiles, they are best displayed in low light environments and can be used as light sources as well as artworks.

How can I obtain a sample?
We are currently unable to provide samples of color change textile artworks, however pieces are often on view in galleries, showrooms and museums around the world. Please contact for more information on where color change textiles are currently on view.

IFM has a sample loan program for designers, architects and educators. A sample POM POM Wall Dimmer or ESSENTIAL Wall Dimmer can be borrowed for 30 days. The borrower is required to pay for shipping and handling and is responsible for the cost of the sample if it is not returned in 30 business days.

Dynamic Color Change Textiles

What are dynamic color change textiles?
Dynamic color change textiles are an entirely new art form. Imagine a painting that changes color under computer control. Because dynamic color change textiles are reflective (do not light up), they should be displayed like any other textile, in an artificially well lit space, protected from UV light. Pieces can be hand or Jacquard woven and are available in a number of styles, colors and sizes. In general pieces are mounted on the wall, like a painting, however, custom works can be created to wrap or hang over surfaces.

Dynamic color change textiles combine woven electrodes with conductive yarn, thermochromic ink, drive electronics, and expressive software. Textile electrodes are woven with highly conductive yarns in the warp (on the selvedges), and resistive yarns in the weft. Plain weave connects these yarns together electrically. Selvedges are cut to create individual color-change areas, and connected to drive electronics. The weaving is printed with our thermochromic ink formula, which changes color when heated. Drive electronics send current to the individual pixels, heating the resistive yarns and changing the color of the ink. Expressive software controls the patterns and sequences of the color-change events.

What styles of dynamic color change textiles are available?
We have two styles of electronic textiles available at this time: machine Jacquard woven and hand woven.

Jacquard woven electronic textiles combine the rich textural feeling of woven textiles with contemporary shapes and imagery. Electronic yarns are woven into the fabric, and the fabric is hand printed with color-change inks. Maggie Orth works with contemporary organic shapes and large repeat elements in her jacquard woven fabrics. Hand-woven artworks are woven at the IFM design studio. They combine traditional weave structures with 2-3 layers of color change inks.

Large hand woven pieces are completely unique. Each design is woven on a unique warp, which includes conductive yarns, and each section of the design, or repeat element, is slightly varied in color and weave structure. The pieces are hand printed with up to three layers of color change ink.

How do dynamic color change textiles evolve over time?
Maggie Orth's dynamic color change textiles are evolving paintings. Over time, the beautiful color change effect of the color change textiles eventually becomes permanent. Thus, the final composition and color effect of the artwork is created by software, weave structure and the artist's design. Interaction, software design and limited active on time, can extend the period that the color change effect in fabric remains active. Like all textiles, IFM electronic textiles are sensitive to UV light and should be installed away from sunny walls and windows.

Interactive Textile Touch Sensor and Light Artworks

What are interactive textile touch sensor and light artworks?
Interactive textile touch sensor and light artworks combine IFM's patented textile touch sensors with incandescent and LED light. These works allow viewers to touch the textile surface and control light and pattern. Software-generated dynamic patterns emerge and evolve over time. These works explore the light-transmissive properties of textiles, such as color and saturation. They are best displayed in low light environments and can be used as light sources as well as artworks.

Maggie Orth's textile touch sensors are made from conductive yarn that is charged with a small, harmless amount of electricity. Because your body is a big bag of electrically conductive salt water, touching the conductive yarn allows the electrical charge to flow from the yarn, through your body, to ground. Sensors detect this change in charge and send an electrical signal to brighten and dim the lights.

These sensors can be created with a variety of textile processes, on a variety of textile substrates. Maggie Orth can create woven, tufted or embroidery sensors on felt, cotton of other materials. A variety of sizes and styles are available. Pieces can be any scale.

Commissions

What are the basic steps to commissioning from Maggie Orth?
1) We get to know your space and intended application.
2) You look at our design and material samples.
3) Together, we select a process and design direction for your piece.
4) Maggie Orth provides you with concept sketches.
5) You select a design sketch.
6) Maggie Orth refines this sketch.
7) You approve the design.
8) Maggie Orth makes your piece.

How long does a commissioned piece take to complete?
Factors such as size, intended application and intricacy of design affect the time it takes to complete each piece. Most dynamic color change textiles require at least 12-18 weeks turnaround time.

Where can custom commissions be installed?
All of Maggie Orth's electronic textiles are designed for interior applications. Like all textiles, they are sensitive to UV light. All pieces require a standard outlet and, depending on the size of the piece, a dedicated circuit may be required.

I want to commission a custom artwork. Who do I contact?
Contact Maggie via e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 206-860-5166.