Fabrications is an exploration of five interrelated communication products using ElekSen's ElekTex, a "smart fabric" that combines conductive fabric structures with microchip technology. Among the many enhancements in these products is the increase of tactile feedback during use, their modularity, their resistance to breaking if dropped, and a wealth of other features. ElekTex has the potential to change the aesthetics and functioning of communication tools, adding more variety, tactility, and malleability. The five products form a conceptual product landscape to introduce this technology to a wider audience. Included are a soft computer keyboard, a soft TV remote control, a conference phone, and a phone module that can be placed in a standard-size soft mobile phone body, or into a soft wrist phone worn like a watch.

IDEO's design of these products was led by an understanding of the ElekTex fabrics and electronics, with a view to the past and future of product development. For instance, the TV remote control has until now been a hard piece of equipment with buttons. But the ElekTex remote has its "buttons" made of the same material as the rest of its body, as well as interfaces on both of its sides. Now one tool can be used for the television and for WebTV; its form derives from its function and use. And if it falls to the floor, it makes a physically soft landing. Fabrications suggests new typologies that are possible as a result of the introduction of this new technology. See IDEO's web feature on the ElekSen project.