Faculty of Design

Material Art & Design

Eli Harris

Metamorphoffice

Conformity is a defining characteristic of corporate spaces, where self-expression is often muted or sanitized in favor of professionalism and uniformity. My work questions and deconstructs the corporate systems that suppress creativity and culture, discouraging individual and collective fluidity. It transforms the attire of an office worker using sculptural forms and bold fabrics, revealing the hidden potential and identity in each worker. The passive actions that corporate systems engage in enforce a scarcity of self-expression and are emblematic of the separation between work and creation in office environments. The transformed suit represents the creative nourishment of the individual. Traditional grey wool blend suiting fabric serves as the foundation, while the silhouette and essence of the garment are transformed through organic forms comprised of the suiting fabric and other fabrics varying in pattern, color, and texture. My process involved manipulating fabric into organic shapes through play and fluidity of thought to construct shapes that transcend the limitations of office wear. My research included gathering articles and surveys of various workers' opinions and views on how they perceive their attire concerning their contentment with the workplace. Through deconstructing and integrating sculptural forms, a spotlight is shone on the rigidity of workplace and fashion standards.