In addition to being exhibited within Stories In Form, Bernabei and Freeman were heavily involved as researchers stimulating the ideas behind Stories In Form. This research inspired the exploration of why some products hold so much meaning to us personally, individually, whereas others are eminently disposable, despite the fact that many (such as your smartphone) act as collectors and aggregators of very specific and personal data.

This led to an exploration of designers who are creating for the long term — who are responding to the current imperative of designing sustainably, not just for now but also for tomorrow. In turn, this led to designers who are embedding ‘triggers’ into their objects — who are designing items that respond to narratives of time and resonate with the end-user not simply as beautiful pieces, but as memories in the making. (You can read an introduction from curator Jacqueline Power by clicking here.)

Inspired by craft practice of the past (such as the pictured colourful folk embroidery carrying an essence of heritage, tradition and home), digital manufacturing technology and the complexity of textures and decoration, bernabeifreeman’s Stitch Light (2011) brings together these elements with the finishing touch of the end user. Reflecting their design philosophy of ‘using precision manufacture to embed the quality of craft in contemporary products’, these lights are constructed from spun and perforated aluminium and nylon thread — with the twist being that you, the final owner, get to apply the thread yourself, how you deem appropriate.

The Stitch Light draws upon the framework elements (detailed by Power in her introduction) of narrative, manufacture and interaction. Traditional feminine craft practices of embroidery create an historical narrative context, which, when combined with the end-user’s interaction, moves through a manufacturing process to arrive at a singular and unique object that will fulfill a utilitarian role within a space, but will contain and maintain a personal story that will continue over time. Rather than being just another light, this item will forever be the result of the owner’s efforts.

To find out more about bernabeifreeman, head over to their website. Stories In Form is at Object Gallery from 28 January — 24 March, 2012.