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UV dress 2012

The UV dress measures the amount of sunlight to which the wearer is exposed – currently and over time – and visualises the effect by opening or closing the passage that allows sunlight to reach the skin.

Inspired by a camera aperture, which controls the area over which light can pass through the camera lens, the UV dress is equipped with a number of apertures that open or close to adjust the light exposure to the skin.

When the light level is high, the apertures close completely to prevent light from reaching the skin. When the level is low, the apertures open and enable light to reach the skin. In this way, the dress communicates poetically with its wearer and informs her how to respond to the amount of light exposure. The dress is an artistic statement about the influence of UV light on the human skin.

 

Artistic Experiment Project

A statement on sunlight and well being

The UV Dress was designed specifically for an exhibition about health care and the both positive and negative consequences of UV-light. We wanted to create a demonstration of how our behaviour in relationship to the sun could suggest a more creative look. It was meant as a statement rather than a solution, the dress is hand made and was never meant as a product itself.

The apertures (on the surface of the dress) are the same type as you have a in camera only in this case made in textiles added some stiffening material. They can open and close in relation to how much sunshine you are exposed to. We put UV sensors on the shoulder of the dress in oder to detect the level of UV light. There are also some small motors operating a system of strings. In this way it is a very mechanical dress. The small motors let the apertures open and close according to the UV light level.

Credit
Design and concept: Hanne-Louise Johannesen and Michel Guglielmi (Diffus Design)
Programming and engineering: Simon Løvind
Fashion design: Mette Lindberg, 
Internship: Martina Uhlig, Master student in Interaction Design at Malmö University, Sweden. 

Project partner: Alexandra Institute