Armor

Armor is a research-driven exploration into the integration of robotic fabrication within the realms of fashion and architecture. Initiated at the SCI-Arc Robot House, the project investigates methods for 3D printing directly onto the human form using industrial robotics. As Michelon and Nanu describe, “We were aiming to find ways and solutions to 3D print directly on the mannequin. Along with our inspirations, these techniques also influenced the figure forms of our project, Armor.”

The project leverages custom coding and robotic tooling to develop wearable structures that respond to both the precision and creative potential of digital fabrication. The robotic arm becomes a design partner—capable of executing intricate geometries, optimizing material behavior, and introducing new possibilities for form-making across disciplines.

Reflecting on the broader impact of digital fabrication, the designers state, “It will allow for more design options and alternatives in both fashion and architecture. The robots can allow for precision and optimization in new materials and discovering geometries. The robots are a supportive tool to approach this exploration.”

Armor operates at the convergence of body, machine, and material—proposing a speculative yet tangible future where robotic processes inform the next generation of wearable architecture.

Armor: 3D Printed Breastplate for Intro to Digital Fabrication by Laure Michelon and Silvia Nanu - Image © Curime Batliner