Research Symposium

BIO

Lucia Salvato Valiente is a second-year interior architecture and design student. She is particularly interested in how physical environments influence the way people feel and interact, which has led her to explore the influential role of decorative arts in everyday life. Her research focuses on historical quilt patterns as communication devices, illustrating how artistic artifacts can help better understand the world that surrounds us. By opening a window to the past, she hopes to draw connections to the present and help shape a future where design and architecture promote empathy, cultural awareness, and inclusivity.

Quilted History

Abstract

Quilts have historical relevance because, depending on the context, they can function as a secret language, a status symbol, a gesture of gratitude, a creative response to scarcity, or simply a decorative piece. This study explores whether that cultural significance and flexibility remain in contemporary times. For this purpose, fifteen iconic quilt patterns were reinterpreted using modern technology and new materials. First, a literary review was conducted to understand each pattern’s origins and motifs. Then, they were digitally reimagined as line drawings and materialized into wooden blocks. By shifting from soft textile to rigid material, the study suggests that the message embedded in these pieces endures beyond fabric, color, pattern, and time. This finding establishes quilting as an activity and a form of communication, underscoring the influential role of decorative arts in preserving and transmitting culture.

Keywords: Quilting, Culture, Decorative Arts, Design, Materiality, Geometry