Soft Interface Sculpture: Participatory Social Crafting Through Project Kaláka

Project Kaláka workshops with female crafters to create soft volumetric interactive textile sculptures where minimalistic ORSO toolkits are integrated into the fabric. This small custom designed circuit provides playful interactions to enable a more (cyber)feminist approach to this discipline. Kaláka is an old Hungarian tradition, when the women gathered in the community place called the Fonó, they created yarn and textiles together. This practice has two equally important aspects - the process and the outcome. The outcome - textiles - were needed at that time, but the process of creating an intimate circle for women was also essential. It served as a safe space to exchange trusted knowledge horizontally. The tactile process of crafting also provided a healing effect as they exerted control over this small part of their lives making their lives more meaningful to them. The tangible HCI discipline can benefit from this craft expertise.