Lilian Marie Furrer

What We Felt investigates the potential of locally sourced Austrian sheep’s wool and examines how digital fabrication can contribute to the enhancement of regional material resources. The focus is on wool as a raw material that is produced locally in large quantities but, due to its low market value, is often processed only to a limited extent or discarded. Using CNC and robot-assisted needle-felting processes, computational design is integrated with traditional textile manufacturing methods. Through the precise control of tool movements, the raw material can be selectively compressed and spatially shaped, allowing it to be transformed directly into objects. Across three case studies with local designers, the project explores how these manufacturing processes can be applied to different functions, at varying scales and within diverse aesthetic contexts. The resulting prototypes demonstrate applications in the fields of fashion, furniture, and packaging, while suggesting potential across a wider range of disciplines.