Textile Sensors and Soft Switches with Victoria Manganiello

Soft Circuits: eTextile Basics

Victoria Manganiello

January 17 – 24, 2026

$235 for members
$275 for non-members

Back by popular demand! In this introductory workshop we will explore the basics of conductive and resistive soft materials for the purposes of creating soft circuits in textiles. Small components like batteries, lights and switches can be embedded into textile structures creating soft and flexible electronics. Students will learn the basics of electrical circuitry and how to incorporate it into their creative practice. We will engage in discussion about e-textiles and talk about ancient technologies like weaving, knitting, and sewing alongside current/future technologies like electrical engineering. No prior experience in electronics required; a basic understanding of hand-sewing recommended.

All sessions will be held online over Zoom and recorded. Recordings will be emailed to participants within 24 hours of the session. Recordings are available for one year. This workshop features 2 hour instruction sessions on Saturdays and a midweek meetup to troubleshoot, share progress, and gather in community with other participants. We are offering two time options for this workshop.

Session A live sessions are scheduled as follows:

Register for Session A

 

Session B live sessions are scheduled as follows:

Register for Session B

SUPPLIES

Participants in the US and Canada have the option to purchase a workshop material kit curated by Victoria for an additional charge. We cannot mail outside the US and Canada. We are not able to ship material kits after January 7, 2026.

  • $20 material kit + $10 Shipping (US)
  • $20 material kit + $30 Shipping + Customs Fees (Canada)

Participants also have the option to purchase supplies on their own using Victoria’s supply list. All participants outside of the US and Canada must purchase their own supplies.

Supply List

Please contact us at events@surfacedesign.org for questions about supplies.

About Your Instructor

Victoria Manganiello is an artist, designer, organizer, and educator. She is the co-founder of Craftwork, an experimental art and design studio. 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.