J.3D.1 (jedi) — Alice Gielen

Alice Gielen is among the most innovative Japanese-European textile designers working today — developing original materials, tools, and fabrication technologies that go far beyond the limits of conventional textiles.

J.3D.1 (jedi)

Dutch Design Week 2023
ACM DIS 2026 Pictorial

Concept

J.3D.1 introduces a low-cost, computationally-driven 3D jacquard weaving loom. Developed with expert weavers through a participatory process, it merges traditional craft knowledge with accessible digital fabrication, offering a flexible, modular platform for experimentation and innovation.

Process

Co-design with weavers

Novice and expert weavers were engaged through participatory sessions (co-constructing stories and semi-structured interviews) to surface real needs and generate imaginaries for loom modifications.

Iterative engineering

Built and rebuilt using low-cost, modifiable materials; V-slot aluminum, 3D-printed components, Arduino. Each session fed directly into the next prototype, turning feedback into physical change in real time.

Emerge new possibilities

Unexpected outcomes such as the bubble weave technique were embraced as findings, not detours. Both realized and speculative modifications were documented as a catalogue others can continue to build on.

Key qualities

Low cost

Accessible to makers without industrial budgets

Modular

Custom add-ons and configurations supported by design

Computational

3D jacquard patterns driven by code, not mechanical punch cards

Skills

Digital fabrication Computational weaving Human-machine interaction Tool development Adobe Creative Suite Co-creation with industry experts System design

J.3D.1 weaving sample (bubble weaving).JPG