— 724 733 Celebration & Contemplation, 10th International Conference on Design & Emotion 27 — 30 September 2016, Amsterdam Introduction Design probes Probes are used in Science and Design as interventions to incite new ways of perceiving and interpreting reality, and to scope out opportunities for creative collaboration across both domains (Flory an Ivanova, 2015). In this practice-led research project, the idea of a probe emerged as an approach to making novel and conceptual materials tangible, communicable and acceptable to users and consumers, alongside any further development processes in the chain of realisation. The T-probe A specific probe was required that would test response to material and sensory concepts that in some way engaged with the body. The probe had to be usable and wearable, simple and neutral, culturally familiar, yet versatile and customisable, and capable of operating within a range of social situations. The ‘humble’ T-shirt, which is worn universally around the globe and has been successfully implemented as a powerful bridging mechanism for different purposes across a variety of demographics (Talbot, 2013), fulfilled the criteria of wearability and testability. The potential of the T-shirt to engage audiences with novel materials concepts and related experience was tested via three discrete, but methodologically-linked research propositions: Proposition (I) Fungi materials for clothing explored perception of mould as a potential medium for materials design and fabrication; Proposition (II) Fashion for deafblind people studied how a fashion experience may be introduced to people with visual and auditory impairment; Proposition (III) Synthetic ingredients for fine fragrance engaged consumer understanding of synthetic ingredients in perfumery. The three propositions were selected based on common challenges associated with public perception and engagement. Each proposition considered how the design of a T-probe may advance understanding of the proposition. Stimuli such as fungi, textiles, and synthetic fragrance ingredients, were introduced in each case as catalysts in the design and creation of the T-probe. Research Proposition (I): Fungi1 materials for clothing Research Proposition (I) sits comfortably within the field of materials design, where novel bio-based materials and fabrication mechanisms are being proposed and developed by designers in response to sustainability and wellbeing concerns (Antonelli, 2008; Braddock Clarke & Harris, 2012; Harris, 2013; Lee, Abstract This design case presents the synopsis of a practice-led PhD Design Research. The project was born within a contemporary field of design inquiry where designers are exploring novel materials and sensory concepts in response to advances in science and technology. Despite the human, societal, environmental, and potential commercial benefits, which underpin many of these design propositions, applying such ideas across science, industry and the market, proposes distinct challenges linked to human perception. This calls for intelligent and appropriate methods of introducing novel material concepts and related experience at the early stages of their development, which in turn, may inform and ensure the desirability and market viability of such concepts. The aim of the research was to determine the value of using the T-shirt as a wearable probe – i.e. the T-probe – to advance engagement with, and understanding of, novel and challenging material concepts and sensory experiences. Keywords Materials, Perception, Sensory engagement, Probes, Design methods The T-probe: Advancing engagement with material concepts and sensory experiences - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ninela Ivanova1,2 ninelaivanova@gmail.com 1Kingston University London, United Kingdom 2MindRheo, United Kingdom - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 A group of organisms includ