4D Textiles for Emotional Comfort - Master Graduation Project

Huggle is a collection of soft 4D-printed textile pieces designed to bring comfort through touch. By printing shape-changing structures on pre-stretched fabrics, the pieces offer satisfying sensory interactions (pressing, bouncing, squeezing) reframing fidgeting as a grounding, everyday ritual.

The project evolved over two years of hands-on exploration, starting with a material library of 60+ samples and refined through user research, interviews, and prototype testing. Insights into fidgeting behavior and tactile preferences shaped the final outcome: a modular collection of six “blanket charms” that subtly integrate stress relief into daily life.

Designed to be both functional and elegant, Huggle pieces attach to blankets or cushions or can be carried as soft companions. Exhibited at Dutch Design Week, the collection invites a conversation on how material innovation and sensory design can support mental well-being.