Design for emotional well-being: A body-centred interactive textile design approach

This study investigates body-centred interactive textiles as a novel approach to enhancing emotional well-being through four design case studies. By integrating phenomenological and somatic theories, the research examines how movement-based interaction and multisensory feedback mechanisms regulate emotions across diverse contexts. The smart SHAWL suggested its effectiveness in reducing stress through biofeedback and gesture affordance. E-MotionWear indicated the effectiveness of upper-body movements for self-regulation in healthcare workers. GesFabri highlighted the emotional impact of fine gesture interactions facilitated by different textures, while iPillowPal aimed to bridge emotional distance in long-distance relationships via affective gesture interfaces. Key findings emphasise the importance of sensory immediacy, the synergy between gesture and texture, and the design of context-specific movements in promoting emotional well-being. The study contributes a framework of design factors—body movement, feedback modalities, and material affordances—that enhance the potential of interactive textiles in emotion regulation, thereby laying a foundation for future innovations in affective e-textiles.