Our broad-based skillset focuses on creative technologies, textile fabrication, and novel materials explored through historical and cultural contexts. Embracing collaboration, we intentionally engage in experimental techniques in both the physical and digital realms, frequently intertwined.
Specialities
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We are experts in electronic textiles or eTextiles. By embedding electronics and electrical circuits into textiles using conductive fabrics, yarns, threads, and other materials through craft, fabrication, or industrial techniques, we design and create functional eTextiles through the blending of soft goods and electronics.
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Specializing in both temporary and permanent installations, we blend materials, technology, and space to create visually captivating environments for a wide range of educational and cultural institutions and public spaces.
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We specialize in customized technology systems by developing bespoke software and hardware, including web development, visualizations, physical computing, VR/AR, and more.
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We design, fabricate, manipulate, and embellish with a variety of craft techniques, such as weaving, knitting, crocheting, sewing, and natural and synthetic dyes. We create material utilizing traditional and industrial-scale tools alike. We regularly employ digital design strategies.
Our core specialties are blended into our work.
Let’s work together!
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At Craftwork, we collaborate with companies and clients to create bespoke installations. Our expertise guarantees the creation and design of unique installations for any setting, all while maintaining our dedication to quality.
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We specialize in the concept, design, and fabrication of a wide range of ideas, from interactive installations to wearable technology to soft interfaces, bringing new modes of computational experiences to tangible reality through a lens of storytelling.
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We approach every project as an opportunity to research concepts and ideas through a material driven approach. Our studio is constantly experimenting and prototyping to create diverse and expressive forms.
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We offer the versatility to showcase our creations in any location imaginable, from restaurants to parks to events to galleries —no venue is too unconventional. Please get in touch to explore how our existing work would complement your space.
Their backgrounds span art, architecture, academia, design, engineering, museums, research, technology and science. Combining historical fascination with forward-looking materiality, their skills in traditional textile crafts with emerging technologies bring together large-scale, dynamic projects with a variety of partners and contributors.
With a combined more than 20 years of experience, Victoria and Nicole founded Craftwork in 2022.
Nicole Yi Messier
Nicole Yi Messier is a creative technologist, designer, and artist with a focus on storytelling, community, and installations. She creates expressive, soft, and tangible technological interfaces through digital mediums and experimental craft techniques. With an unconventional creative technology practice that spans commercial and cultural sectors, Messier is a creative with a passion for constructing beautifully orchestrated objects and designs at the core of her experiences. She has worked in the interactive experiential space helping create large-scale, multi-year installations for both commercial and cultural clients. Her work has been shown and exhibited internationally. Messier also teaches at Parsons School of Design and co-organizes electronic textile camp.
Victoria Manganiello
Victoria Manganiello is an artist, designer, organizer, and educator. Victoria has received multiple international, recognized grants, awards, commissions, and residency appointments. She is also a part-time associate professor at NYU and the New School and co-organizes electronic textile camp, an annual artist residency for e-textile practitioners. Exploring the intersections between materiality, technology, geography, and storytelling, Victoria’s multi-disciplinary and installation work, abstract paintings, and kinetic sculptures are made meticulously with hand-woven textiles using hand-spun yarn and hand-mixed natural and synthetic color dyes alongside mechanical alternatives and modern technologies. She is well-known in the textile community as an accomplished artist and innovative storyteller and facilitates many socially engaged projects in collaboration with other artists, designers and educators.