ILLUSTRIOUS LAB is a research activity using a Design Driven Innovation approach. It builds as well on a dedicated approach around the potential of using co-creation to generate innovative and sustainable solutions with and through design and illustration. This activity is organized as a Lab, a virtual laboratory that invites collaborators from different fields. Follow us…
They support and/or present our work
Featured projects
PER GEOGRAPHICAL AREA
NORTH+ ILLUSTRIOUS NORTH is a Lab concept that makes use of illustrators and designers work to rethink the relation between young people and their environments. It is developed based on concrete needs to foster cross-sector collaboration, associating CCIs with very diverse sectors through innovative processes such as design driven innovation and co-creation.. More…
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ASIA+ ASIAN DESIGN FUTURES. Illustrious Lab is now opening a new chapter in Asia as well as strengthening the conversation between Europe and Asia.. More
INTERNATIONAL – IN2FROCC Research network. The focus on children’s education and well-being has never been so essential, and their voices are emphasised in the design of an inclusive future. Thus the investigation of their clothing behaviour resonates as a way to better understand children’s agency. As the number of projects on children’s heritage and material culture has recently increased, the need to better understand their interactions with clothes is crucial.. More…
D4CR FRENCH LOCAL CHAPTER is a collaborative platform to rethink design for children. The chapter focuses on the material and immaterial culture of children. Through inclusive and participatory reflections, the chapter invites actors to act and interact within the ethical framework of D4CR. More…
PER ACTIVITY
RESEARCH/PUBLICATIONS (>See all)
D4CR podcast new episode “Children and fashion: learning through clothes”
IN2FROCC and Illustrious Lab have been invited to participate to a fascinating discussion around the major challenges around clothing and questions of Sustainable development… More…
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Wear-Abouts/Care Wear. The project questions how clothing could convey new types of connections through shapes/attributes/accessories and become a vector/intermediary within physical/virtual global communities. More…
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STIMULI project is presented in the new study ‘Talking Points: Arts and Health in Communities‘
This guide is produced by the Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture (NDPC) in collaboration with… More…
EXHIBITIONS
The virtual tour of the “Dressed for school” exhibition at the National Museum of Education MUNAE is now accessible online!
https://my.octopus3d.com/tour/shabiller-pour-lecole
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“S’habiller pour l’école” (Dressed for School) exhibition – France
The results of the IN2FROCC – Tell Me 1 and 2 project and workshops are exhibited as part of the upcoming exhibition “S’habiller pour l’école” (Dressed for School) at the National Museum of Education MUNAE, Rouen, France. More..
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IN2FROCC – Tell Me 2 online exhibition
After the online exhibition Tell Me 1, we will soon inaugurate the online exhibition of the continuation of the project: Tell Me 2, presenting the results of the project and the workshops that took place between France and China in 2022. More Soon..
WORKSHOPS/RESIDENCIES
Textile artwork creation – Hisse et Oh! programme, Paris/Pantin
Creation of an outdoor/indoor textile artwork as part of the art and design residency Hisse et Oh! -‘Tissus d’émotions et d’imagination‘- Paris/Pantin, France. More soon..
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Hisse et Oh! ‘Tissus d’émotions et d’imagination‘ Art – Design residency/workshops with Studio Abi – France/Paris area-Pantin.
Deepen creativity with textile art, revealing the almost infinite narrative potential of fabrics, immersing oneself in patterns and using them as a support for expression and a material for creation , to realize with the team and the families an installation which will become a new playground and stories for the children… More
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France – China / IN2FROCC ‘Tell Me‘ new series of workshops France/Pantin – China/Wuxi, with more than fifty children. More
GLOBAL SCENE
Wear-Abouts/Care Wear. The project questions how clothing could convey new types of connections through shapes/attributes/accessories and become a vector/intermediary within physical/virtual global communities. More…
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France – China / IN2FROCC ‘Tell Me‘ new series of workshops France/Pantin – China/Wuxi, with more than fifty children. More
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Nordic countries – France / Creation of the Designing for Children’s Rights (D4CR) French local chapter. More…
East Asia / Asian Design Futures Blog
Sharing interesting news, thoughts and innovative approaches coming from East Asia in the field of art, illustration, animation, music, fashion… More…
Nordic Countries / Cirkel Kids – Nordic design futures for youth Blog
Cirkel is a valuable resource for new parents and parents-to-be sharing information and research about sustainability aspects for Nordic children products. More
International / Active member of the facilitation group of the ACORSO – IN2FROCC research project
International and interdisciplinary network for research on children and clothing. More…
Nordic countries / Illustrious North project
ILLUSTRIOUS NORTH is a Lab concept that makes use of illustrators’ work to rethink the relation between young people and their environments. It is developed based on concrete needs to foster cross-sector collaboration… More…
Germany – Denmark – Finland / STIMULI – Designs stimulating children and care givers (Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture)
Series of prototypes aiming to stimulate physical and mental activity for children and adults. More…
EVENTS, BLOG POSTS AND PUBLICATIONS
| EVENTS |
| STIMULI project presented at #CultureforHealth Report Launch |
| Irene Fernández Arcas and Laetitia Barbu will present the STIMULI project at the #CultureforHealth Report Launch on the 24th of November 2022. The event will be a meeting point for policymakers, arts and cultural practitioners, and health and wellness experts to discuss the reports findings and current policies. https://www.cultureforhealth.eu/events/24-november-launch-of-the-cultureforhealth-report/ |
| Tell Me – An online exhibition based on children’s way of telling about their clothes |
| This is the first project with children, developed under the umbrella of D4CR Scottish and French local chapters as part of the IN2FROCC programme. Based on the visual analysis of what children wear and how they define themselves in fashion, the “Amis-habits” (frocks-friends) of schools around the world share their daily interactions with clothing. |
| PUBLICATIONS |
| D4CR x IN2FROCC |
| D4CR podcast new episode “Children and fashion: learning through clothes” IN2FROCC and Illustrious Lab have been invited to participate to a fascinating discussion around the major challenges around clothing and questions of Sustainable development. https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/d4cr-podcast/episodes/Children-and-fashion-learning-through-clothes-e2eblg5/a-aar93pu |
| IN2FROCC network |
| Illustrious Lab co-authored “Towards an Informed, Participative and Sustainable Approach of Children’s Fashion and Clothing: IN2FROCC in Action” academic paper, in connection with our activities within IN2FROCC network and published in the academic journal “Emerald Studies in Child Centred Practice / Establishing Child Centred Practice in a Changing World, Part A” https://www.emerald.com/…/978-1-80117-406…/full/html |
| Illustrious North project |
| “Designing for Longevity and Neutrality: Investigating How the Swedish Children’s Clothing Industry Implements Circular Economy Principles” with Dr Taylor Brydges, Dr Claudia E Henninger, Laetitia Barbu and Dr Ruxandra Lupu, in connection with Illustrious Lab – Illustrious North project supported by #NordiskKulturfond (#NordicCouncil). Published in the academic journal “Fashion Practice”. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17569370.2022.2118968 |
| Innovation/Collaboration NDPC |
| Illustrious North is mentioned in the new study ‘Collaboration and Innovation in the Northern Dimension Countries’ |
| Creative Networks |
| Joining the Dots – Understanding the value generation of Creative Networks |
| Biocolour – Exploring Sustainable Colour exhibition |
| Our work with children and families (Illustrious North/North at home) will be presented on the BioColour website in connection with the Biocolour -Exploring Sustainable Colour exhibition (in collaboration with the University of Lapland Faculty of Arts) at the Arktikum Science Centre and Museum in Rovaniemi, Finland from the 14.10-5.12.2021. |
KEY TOPICS
Helsinki Children’s Design Week 2019. Secret garden workshops.
BY TOPIC
See also Menu/Projects/Sub-projects
SUSTAINABLE FASHION DESIGN – Create more sustainable and circular approaches to children’s fashion and pattern design – Sweden/Finland/Denmark/Norway/Australia/Canada
HEALTH/WELLBEING DESIGN – Illustration as an interface between children and their development. – Germany/Finland/Denmark
More…
DESIGN AS STORYTELLING – Opportunities for illustration to drive the development of interactive storytelling – Norway/Finland/Scotland
DESIGN FOR EDUCATION – New illustration practices based on innovative educational principles – Finland/Sweden/Scotland/Germany
More…
SOON
I-Care – Modular spaces of empathy
Co-designing modular spaces of empathy for/with children, as architectures of care. Modular/hollow/interactive structures as spaces of encounter and empathy-building for children aged 3-7. (Module illustration – Laetitia Barbu, interior illustration – Elina Savolainen). More soon…
“Drawing is a powerful way to learn, even better than writing, viewing or listening. Information drawn are remembered nearly twice as much as written one. And it is not about beautiful drawings, it is about the process”.
About Us
Learn more here
Projects supported and/or presented by
Member of
D4CR – Designing for Children’s Rights association
IN2FROCC – International and interdisciplinary network for research on Childhood and clothing
ILLUSTRIOUS LAB 