Elena Corchero, who combines pioneering technology and fashion design - Londoner #36

Elena, is a Hackney based award winning Tech/Smart designer, who specialises in technology and smart materials. She is a former MIT Media Lab Researcher and an MA Alumni at Central Saint Martins. She has created everything from a toy that children can create that uses electronics and smart materials to a scarf made from reflective fabric.
Elena is unique and charismatic; her work speaks about the need for design to construct meaning beyond aesthetic and function. Her projects bring science closer to people through every day products while promoting local manufacture, environmental awareness and ensuring gender equality when it comes to understanding technology.

This film is one of 5 that have been selected for our ‘Design in London’ open submission competition, launched back in May 2014. http://www.londondesignfestival.com/events/1000-londoners-design-london

1000 LONDONERS
This film is part of 1000 Londoners, a five-year digital project which aims to create a digital portrait of a city through 1000 of the people who identify themselves with it. The profile contains a 3 minute film that gives an insight into the life of the Londoner, as well as their personal photos of London and some answers to crucial questions about their views on London life. Over the course of the project we aim to reveal as many facets of the capital as possible, seeing city life from 1000 points of view.

1000londoners.com
youtube.com/1000londoners
facebook.com/1000londoners
Twitter: @1000_londoners

1000 Londoners is produced by South London based film production company and social enterprise, Chocolate Films. The filmmakers from Chocolate Films will be both producing the films and providing opportunities to young people and community groups to make their own short documentaries, which will contribute to the 1000 films. Visit chocolatefilms.com

Transcript:

I always felt that I wanted my work to connect
emotionally with people.

Being a designer or even more a designer maker,
has to be part of my life, since I can remember.
My Mother is a taylor herself, so I always
grew up with the knowledge that if you want something you can just make it yourself.
So I'm constantly looking into innovation and what scientists are discovering
and I find great inspiration, in imagining how this new discovery can be part of every day life.

I chose London for it's vibrant energy, everybody is very open minded and they are very curious.London has highly influenced my work, in a way that I take a risk.
People have the desire to discover new things. When I was a researcher at the MIT Media Lab Europe I had the opportunity to learn electronics
for the first time.

I could not believe there was not enough toys on the market that could provide girls with this knowledge.
So my first product was to develop a toy,that is textile and fluffy and fun. It teaches electronics while you build it.

I believe the designer's role is to ensure that the product is needed, as well as desired.
And only really meaningful products stay and endure the course of time.

I use a lot of craft in my work, as well as very innovative technology and manufacturing
processes.For example I'm growing crystals here at the lab, with a special formula I have developed,that reacts to UV light.

So making 3D printed jewellery, so that when you wear it and you go outside, you are fully aware of the exposure to the sun.
What differentiates me from other designers is the way that I mix innovation with heritage. I have developed this scarf, which are highly
reflective, so they could save your life,but at the same time you can remain stylish and you are wearing a local product, that has been locally sourced, with Scottish wools.

I never take no as an answer and I make sure that if there's something I make, I will learn my own way to do it.

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