From Voice to Voltage, 2021
Titanium and niobium are metals which are reactive. When certain voltages of electricity are passed through the material, different thicknesses of oxide layers build up upon the surface of the metal. This process is called anodizing.
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The oxide layer is transparent and becomes thicker as the voltage increases causing the light waves which reflect from the surface to become more interrupted. This interference of light enables us to see certain colours appearing on the surface of the metal. The metal starts to change colour at around 15 volts. It goes from a light bronze and keeps changing through the spectrum until it reaches green and opalescence colours from 110 - 120 volts. The colours which are achieved through anodizing are purely an effect of light.
A digital application was created to remap frequencies of the human voice into electrical voltages. The voltages were then used as a reference to colour the metals titanium and niobium and in turn to visualise unique colourings based on the vocal frequency upon the metals surface. The voice data was also analysed within computer assisted design software and then translated into shape and form. Combining technologies such as water-jet and laser cutting with handcrafted techniques, the voice shapes and colours were synthesised and transcribed into material and final analogue pieces. Voice generated design is explored for the potentiality of a future where fashion and accessories are completely personalised.