PORTFOLIO
Textile Design
Junyi Cao
Bedroom Project, 2024
The unique structure of the waffle weave allows the textile to interact dynamically with light, sound, and air, making it an organic, breathing piece that integrates seamlessly into interior spaces.
Process documentation:
Waffle size test and shrinkage test. Perhaps it has the potential to stand?
I conducted a full-length test with a different yarn that has an attractively raw quality. This yarn shrinks and puffs after washing. For my final piece, I chose a slightly thinner yellow acrylic yarn that better aligns with my color scheme and concept. The linear quality of the final piece is more breathable and less substantial when placed in front of the window.
Collaboratively constructed by Keyu Zhu and me, this floor lamp emits a soft glow from within. The textile and wood base shimmer beautifully when bathed in sunlight, casting delicate shadows. Its significant height creates a transitional glow, adding an elegant touch to any space.
Process documentation:
Transparency test
One piece of double-weave waffle weave makes the textile seamless
CNC cut wood base and oil finished
Powder-coated steel frame
Final touch on details, adjusting length of fringe and attaching textile to frame.
The pillowcase is made from a single piece of pocket jacquard fabric, flipped inside out. Its special structure, with spaced warps, makes the surface fabric flowy and soft, mimicking the effect of waffle weave. Hand-felted text on the quilt reads, “I like sleep the most, and you?” This playful and whimsical statement serves as the anchor piece for my entire collection.
Sound - blocking Curtain
for cell spaces, 2023
Context:
This project aligns with my passion for crafting intimate and inviting textiles for interior spaces, aiming to cultivate a soft and serene atmosphere. I have chosen hostel cells as my starting point for exploration. Typically, private cells are divided using rigid panels or inexpensive curtains for cost and maintenance considerations.Whiletextilecurtainsareoftenmorecost-effectiveandvisually appealing than panels, they may fall short in effectively blocking sound and light.
Hence, my goal is to introduce acoustic and blackout textiles as an innovative enhancement to traditional curtains. This will be accompanied by my distinct selection of materials, colors, and structures. The overarching objective of my design is to elevate the experience within con昀椀ned cell spaces, both physically and visually.
Material experiments & sampling:
I choose wool primarily for its inherent porous structure, which proves highly effective in absorbing sound. Employing speci昀椀c weaving techniques, such as triple cloth and de昀氀ective weft, allows me to generate crumples and layers within the textile, enhancing its sound-absorption capabilities. Wool possesses 昀椀re-retardant properties, ensuring safety in interior spaces. The remarkable softness of wool is accentuated as I transform the textiles into more volumetric forms compared to conventional textiles.
Post-washing, wool naturally felts together, causing the textile to crumple and form signi昀椀cant folds that contribute to sound absorption. These samples exude a soft and comforting quality, inviting to the touch.
Collection & Digital Application:
Woven Hinges & Digital Application for Furnitures:
Radiant Splash
54" x 87"
Jacquard fabric, 2023
Dappled Delight
54" x 90"
Jacquard fabric, 2023
The wefts predominantly consist of natural 昀椀bers, speci昀椀cally wool and linen. The fabric is intentionally designed to undergo a shrinking process after washing, resulting in a denser, softer, and more durable texture suitable for upholstery.
The pattern showcases a diverse range of textures, offering an engaging visual and tactile experience.
Vibrant colors are welcoming and interacting harmoniously with the surroundings, particularly when the fabric is intended for use in communal spaces.
Dotty Drizzle Duet
54" x 90"
Jacquard fabric, 2023
Dotty Drizzle Duet originates fromanincrediblystraightforward drawing – a Sharpie on paper, which was then digitally edited in Photoshoptoinfuseitwithvitality and dynamism. The colors serve as the melody, while the dots create the rhythm, harmoniously echoing and bouncing.
Variations in shrinkage caused by different materials result in an unexpected combination of textures.
Rainboots
54"
Jacquard fabric with
Rainboots x 20"
hand embroidery, 2023
Industrial Knits
Stoll M1+, 2023
The objective of this course is to learn programming technical textiles on M1+ and knit samples on the Stoll. We are able to choose from a variety of materials to achieve different structures, textures, and functionality, getting to understand the relationship between textiles, program and designers.
The Swallow
Double - bed knitted, dyed, and sewn, 2022
Swallows,knownfortheirmigratorynature, hold symbolic signi昀椀cance in representing the passage of time. Their remarkable migrations span continents, surpassing the journeys of many other migratory birds.
Everyspring,withoutfail,swallowsreturn to my home. Their arrival brings a sense of hope and liveliness to a place that has been immersed in snow and dryness for months.
Witnessing them build their nests beneath my roof 昀椀lls me with joy. It serves as a reminder that another year has passed, acknowledging that not everyone has had a prosperous year. They might have encountered hardships, losses, and pain. The presence of swallows acts as a gentle reminder of the passage of time and the unpredictability of fortune.
Swallow has distinguishable long tail to maneuver its 昀氀ying. Its dark glossy-blue backs strongly contrast to pale, softer underpart. A splash of orange throat adds vitality to this little agile creature. Swallow anatomies are reference to the textile structures and shapes. My objective is to design and create a costume to dress up people as a swallow.
Color studies
Dye and textile samples
Developing process
Digital sketch on Photoshop
collar skirt
shrug
top
Messenger Box
Pieces woven on 昀氀oor loom with off-loom manipulation, 2022
This box contains messages that the swallow carries along migration from your home. You unbutton the lid, open it, and gently take out the scroll of message. Unroll, read, think, and dream about it. These two projects together personify swallow as a messenger, delivering the love that never loses touch.
Joy on Loess
Dobby fabrics, 2023
Collections of dobby fabrics are designed for the interiors of residential caves on Loess Plateau, with the goal of brightening up the space and enhancing the overall living experience. By alleviating the structural constraints, I hope to inspire the residents to appreciate and enjoy their living environment even more, rather than succumbing to the temptation of moving to new brick houses that are not well-suited for the extreme weather conditions of the region.
warmth drift wonder
Warmth infuses the space with brightness and warmth that is intended to sustain residents over long winter. Drift emphasizes a sense of coolness and a refreshing atmosphere, which is often absent in arid regions.
Wonder integrate exotic aesthetic into the surroundings, creating a captivating journey.
Collapsing Nightmare
Single-bed knitted garment, 2022
Tranquil Narration
weaving samples on 昀氀oor loom, 2022
Xi Xia empire, of昀椀cially the Great Xia, was a Tangut-led imperial dynasty of China that existed from 1038 to 1227. Its capital was Xingqing, located at the modern-day Yinchuan, my hometown.
I notice the scarcity of relics and documentation of Xi Xia because it was not of昀椀cially documented in history. Their culture and records remain obscure due to intentional eradication speci昀椀c to their culture and history.
I wove samples trying to narrate the history tranquilly. Decision-makinginhistorywasirreversibleandrarelylogical. As descendants, we can only appreciate what’s left and chosen to be seen. This collection is in memory of the great culture and people of Xi Xia that were neglected and forgotten.
Ominous Dragon
silkscreen printing, 2022
The paper-cut form of cloud is inspired by Chinese shadow play, aiming to depict clouds encompassing the environment. Dragons swoosh in between that intrigue viewers to trace of heads and ends but they can’t. The mysterious existence of dragon and thick cloud create an ominous atmosphere which is the opposite of the most context of dragon patterns -- fortune, power and brightness.
Iinvestigatewhichcolorschemeworksthebestforsomethingominousimpending.Acombination of cold and low-saturation color can have a mixed effect.
