This paper reports on initial speculative research from a project working towards a dance inspired ‘smart’ costume that can be active and responsive in a pervasive computing environment. The
current research aims to explore the ‘performative’ potential of smart materials to create aesthetic colour change qualities for textile surfaces. The research is supported under the ‘Creativity,
Design and Innovation’ (CDI) theme at Heriot-Watt University, which is allowing the research team to address gaps in knowledge in the area of smart textiles research through a multidisciplinary approach. The combination of disciplines with design at the centre is pushing new design practice, which sits at the design/technology interface and promotes the use of emerging and enabling technologies, alongside unusual combinations of materials, and computer science. Presented here is current on-going research focused on engineering the surface properties of textiles through utilisation of emerging technologies and craft techniques, to generate different responsive modes. The use of a desktop 3D printer is being explored to apply polymers directly to a textile surface to facilitate the development of active and responsive threedimensional surfaces. Ultimately, the aim is that these surfaces will be programmable and will respond within a pervasive computing environment.