REFLECTION: EXTENSION PROJECT
17/10/19
Structure and Surface extension
I made digital models and a short video of my final piece, more can be found on my Digital Outcomes page.
I would describe my design as a little disturbing and obtrusive to the public eye. Throughout the Structure and Surface project I researched heavily into Trypophobia and the fear of holes/irregular patterns. This was something I aimed to make the focal point of my design throughout both pieces (from extension and structure and surface). I wanted to create a piece of architecture that would instantly capture the eye of an audience member, either for its disturbing nature or the strange beauty behind it. Within the development process, I often compared the architectural style of my designs as being similar to like Brutalism. This is because its a controversial architectural genre which receives both positive and negative comments. To some, Brutalism sparks imagery of the dark, depression and harsh concrete material which doesn't appeal to many, eyesores of the city. On the other hand, some people believe it to be a beautiful style, so unique in its appearance that it should be praised. Likewise, I would assume my 'Trypo-Building" would receive a mixed reaction from the every day audience walking through London, which I aim to do. I want to provoke discussion and curiosity and ultimately, to create something never seen before. In terms of materials, the building's exterior (protruding cylinders) would be made of steel (a strong and durable material) which would achieve a nice polished and shiny look, especially around the circular rims. I feel I have successfully achieved the disruptive pattern I aimed for as when I look at the "Trypo-Building" I feel a little uncomfortable after a while, though mesmerised at the same time. I feel the variation between indented and protruding cylinder and circular shapes was crucial in creating this effect. This building could be an office block of some sort, situated in a city centre/business district where hundreds of people can view it per day. This is for maximum exposure, again, exposure therapy is a way for Trypophobics to overcome their fear.
CONTEXTUAL PRACTICE : EXTENSION PROJECT
16/10/19
Critical Writing is Creative Writing
Today's contextual studies lesson was helpful in determining starting points for my contextual review essay. We began the lesson by creating a couple of mind maps. The first was more of a reflection about our previous projects, the processes used, materials, key points from each project etc. This was an effective way of analysing which project(s) to write about in my essay. I will most definitely be writing about my Structure and Surface, Illuminate and my Extension project as I feel these designs would have the most impact on society (and I aim to base my essay on the social impact of design).
The second mind map was more focused on the structure of my critical review. I decided to create four categories/headings which will essentially turn into four paragraphs. I created links between points which again was useful in analysing how to organise my points.
I believe I have created my essay title although, this may eventually change: 'Architectural Psychology & The Environment' or 'The Psychology of Architecture'.
REFLECTION: EXTENSION PROJECT
15/10/19
Structure and Surface Extension
Below are my initial ideas for my extension.
After some thought, I decided to progress with my "Trypo-Building" idea (I feel this is a step further from my previous, Trypavilion design). I aim to design a building/skyscraper concept which I personally, find more interesting than a pavilion as they are much more permanent structures and are seen more frequently on a day to day basis. The more public see the structure, the more of a social impact and possibly uproar and speculation it would receive. I would locate my building in a city centre for maximum publicity.
REFLECTION: EXTENSION PROJECT
14/10/19
Extension Project Reflection Exercise
Structure and Surface extension
This worksheet was useful in helping me decipher how I should extend my Structure and Surface project.
REFLECTION: PROGRESS TUTORIAL
08/10/19
I found my first progress tutorial extremely helpful as my tutor gave me some great feedback on my work and how I could improve. I understood the main point to focus on is the presentation of my work, which I completely agreed with. My tutor gave me some crucial tips and advice on how to present my work in the future in order to achieve an element of consistency. After this meeting I genuinely felt more confident in my work as I had more of an idea how to present my work in an orderly and cohesive fashion whilst still expressing my personal style. Below I have attached the list of notes I made from the progress tutorial:
- Mind maps/writing before sketches and outcomes
- Some of my pages were a little muddled, ensure to spread out my work among several pages as opposed to overcrowding. Do presentations over two pages.
- Do more free hand / relaxed sketching (loose and spontaneous)
- If I am more comfortable model making/digital model making, do more of it.
- Leave a border throughout the pages.
- Key research points in sketchbook, but majority on workflow.
- No ink drawings
- Could try pop ups and stitching for other interesting ways of presenting my work
- Be consistent in my titles- make them clear and neat as opposed to large and distracting project titles.
In the future, I aim to draw out my page layouts before sticking photos/sketching in my sketchbook. This was an useful tip I gained from a friend in class. I find its important to gain peer feedback and to hear other peoples' work methods. I could also include quotes in my projects and relate my work back to this quote. My research can be filmmakers, musicians, anyone who inspires you, they don't necessarily have to be architects or designers.
REFLECTION: STRUCTURE & SURFACE
Warning if you have Trypophobia (fear of holes/certain patterns)
03/10/19
As I was slightly behind on project(s) due to illness I was not able to complete the entire project this week and will therefore be continuing this into next week. Today, I made digital models of my design using elements from the photo of my physical model as seen in the previous post. Firstly, I used Photoshop to build on my original photo, I then progressed to Google Sketchup to get a grasp of how my pavilion would look from different angles. In addition, I decided on the 'Trypavilion' as a name for my project- a merge of Trypophobia and pavilion, a sort of play on words.
Overall, I felt I could've explored further with the shape of the structure. I realised it was a little similar in terms of triangular structure to the Illuminate project. Therefore, I would like to develop this project further in my Extension project. I was proud of the outcome of my digital models.
More digital models can be found on the digital outcomes page.
Alternative design:
I decided to make my physical model again seeing as I didn't have time to properly finish the first one. This time, I paid strong attention to the pattern itself. I felt that outlining the black dots with white as well as the high frequency of circles triggered my Trypophobia which was the aim of the design. The next stage would be to see how my peers react to the pattern.
CONTEXTUAL PRACTICE: STRUCTURE & SURFACE
02/10/19
The Exhibitionary Complex
Project outcome analysis
Project title: The project title was ‘Illuminate’.
Project description: The brief for the project was to explore the use of light through either product design, architecture, spatial design, jewellery design or fashion accessories.
What is the discipline? Architecture
What is your design Concept (idea)? A multi-functional architectural space built for the community.
What is the site/space/location for this design? I would locate my structure in a green space in an urban environment (in the city).
Is there a specific User/ Audience for this project? My project aims to attract all ages, genders, types of people. It should be seen as a diverse space for people to interact.
How does the User/ Audience interact with your design? There will be multiple activities throughout the year which people will be able to interact with. My structure is very much focused on community.
Which Materials have you used? I made my models out of paper and cardboard although, if the structure were to be built in reality, it would likely be wood.
Why have you selected this project outcome to analyse? I feel this is my strongest project so far and am most intrigued by this outcome.
What is successful about this outcome? I believe I was successful in displaying my project in various ways. I used sketching, digital models and physical models to help visualise my design.
What would you change? I would make my models on a larger scale, perhaps with wood for a slightly more professional finish.
How would you complete/ develop this project? I would progress to creating floorplans and perhaps adding more aspects of light into the project.
Project Brief
Which new skills did you learn/ refine? Which of your strengths did you use to respond to the class activities and brief? I used a mixture of my theoretical and practical skills to apply my knowledge to my model making.
Relevant Research
What role did Research play in your project realisation? Research played a large role throughout the development process. It was helpful for me to understand the different ways in which light behaves in different situations.
Which artists/designers influenced your outcomes and in what way? Artists Kagan Taylor and Justin Rice influenced my outcome through their futuristic, geometric studio design. I like its modern, minimalist look which I aimed to incorporate into my own work.
Which sources did you identify to research? I used DesignMilk, Dezeen and ArchDaily throughout my research.
Design as Art
Piet Mondrian - Abstract artist- innovator in his field. One of the most inspirational artists of the 20th century.
Theo Van Doesburg - taking Mondrian's work of abstract painting and creating structure with it. Doesburg created an alternative method of architectural drawing.
Bauhaus
An educational institution which established its own cultural context through the complete break from past educational practices and focus on technological advancement and aesthetic simplicity/purity. Bauhaus inspired the ways in which design schools were structured. Originated from Germany around 1919-33.
Le Corbusier
Iconic architect, innovator with concrete who produced a lot of brutalist architecture. He thought about shared living and spacing in cities. Focus on technological advancement. Industry was pushed forward- the concrete was super advanced. He was also a painter and a sculptor. Artist as well as a designer.
REFLECTION: STRUCTURE & SURFACE
01/10/19
I designed a model of my structure today using cardboard and aluminium foil. I found a convenient way of deciding how I would approach my model making. This was by separating the process- focusing on the surface/pattern of my design and secondly, building the structure and ensuring it is stable and resembles my original sketch.
I used the foil to create circular shapes of varying sizes. I then arranged these on the table as to how I will place them on my design to extenuate that 'Trypophobic' aesthetic. I believe the outcome of this was successful as it looked like bacteria, I didn't appreciate the look, which was my aim.
Nevertheless, I did not have enough time to finish my model in terms of sticking the structure together and therefore, had a friend hold pieces together whilst I took a photograph. If I were to do this again, I would leave more time to start and finish my model. In hindsight, I don't think I needed so many tiny circles/details on the first triangular face.
REFLECTION: STRUCTURE & SURFACE
30/09/19
Today, I decided on my final design. I am both fascinated and disgusted by the strange phenomenon that is Trypophobia (the fear of holes or disliking certain patterns) - this is further explained on my research page. Trypophobia is something that affects me personally, and I thought it would be interesting to somehow work this into my design. An abnormal approach to exploring 'surface'. Trypophobia affects some people more than others, if not at all. In my opinion, seeing patterns that resemble bacteria or disease of some kind (often in the form of circles varying in size) cause me to feel nauseous and uncomfortable. I aim to use my piece, not as a torture method but rather for people to conquer their fear/disgust by becoming more familiar with patterns like these- SEE EXPOSURE THERAPY BELOW.
I aim to design a pavilion using a hyperbolic paraboloid structure as its erratic, curves create a sense of mystery, which compliments the unusual pattern on its surface. This pavilion will be placed in a highly populated, business district in London , such as Canary Wharf. The public will have to pass through the pavilion in order to get to work, those with Trypophobia may not be able to avoid the large structure.
CONTEXTUAL PRACTICE: STRUCTURE & SURFACE
25/09/19
Breakdown or Built in Obsolescence? Deconstruct, Question, innovate
Although, I wasn't here for this contextual studies lesson, I wrote some notes on the lecture at home.
What is Built-in Obsolescence?
"Planned obsolescence is a business strategy in which the obsolescence (the process of becoming obsolete- that is, unfashionable or no longer usable) of a product is planned and built into it from its conception. This is done so that in the future the consumer feels a need to purchase new products and and services that the manufacturer brings out as replacements for the old ones". - The Economist
I find this concept quite interesting and clearly very tactical. I would assume this is a strategy companies like Apple and Samsung use in order for their products and brand name to stay relevant within this fast-paced, modern, ever-changing world. Their designs become 'outdated' after a year, in which a new product is made to replace the last.
Is it ethical for designers to plan obsolescence?
Although, it may not be ethical, I do believe it is a great profit-making technique, keeping brands relevant. Nevertheless, I do think that if sequels to a model are being made (i.e iPhones), there needs to be some kind of alteration that differs it from the previous version. As a consumer, I need to be convinced there will be an added advantage to buying an updated model of a phone, whether that be a significant change in design, software etc.
What kind of projects and products can we design that maximise use and minimise waste?
Environmental projects
Recycling materials- becoming more popular as people are becoming more aware.
Reusing - scrap metal, plastics etc. Reusing objects and building on them- improving their quality once again.
Thomas Thwaites - Toaster Project
Thomas Thwaites is a Royal College of Art graduate who built a fully functional toaster from scratch. He extracted raw materials himself and processed them in attempt to replicate a mass- produced toaster he bought in a shop. He smelted iron ore in a microwave. The project was a statement indicating how cheap, everyday items are dependent on sophisticated global supply chains that are invisible to consumers. We, as consumers often overlook the process in which products are made and are instead obsessed with the final outcome as opposed to the development.
Jules Prowns
Prowns' methodology is an important resource for analysing objects, structures and art works:
"The evidence we study is the product of a particular cultural environment. We, the interpreters, are products of a different cultural environment. We are pervaded by the beliefs of our own social groups- nation, locality, class, religion, politics, occupation, gender, age, race, ethnicity beliefs in the form of assumptions that we make unconsciously".
Prown Analysis - (I used an object from home)
Image of my object below:
Description
What type of product is it? Container
What is it made of? Metal
What are the formal qualities? Cuboid shape with rounded edges, shiny, reflective, silver
What are the surface qualities? Smooth
What are the structural qualities? Sits on its largest face (rectangular).
Deduction
How is it made? (by hand or machine or a combination?) Combination
Is this sustainable? Yes, it is a durable product, rather strong and able to carry a lot of my stationery in without them being crushed due to its hard shell.
What is its intended use? Pencil case
Who is the intended user? Student, office worker, wide audience.
What is the expected lifespan? Good couple of years (until its thin hinges become damaged).
Speculation
Why did you choose this product? It's interesting to look at due to its reflective surface which follows on all faces. It stands out which pencil cases do not usually. It has quite a strong appearance or presence, quite harsh looking.
What else could you use it for? To keep jewellery in, notes, a very small lunch box.
In what way could it be relevant for the surface and structure project? The object is the same silver tone as seen in my Structure and Surface model. I could use a similar material to the one my pencil case is made out of.
Is it ethical? Yes
“Substantial analysis is a descriptive physical inventory of the object.” - Prown
REFLECTION: STRUCTURE & SURFACE
23/09/19 - 26/09/19
Although, I wasn't here throughout this week, I attempted to carry on the work at home. I created initial ideas for the Structure and Surface project in my sketchbook which revolved around the theme of bacteria and cell structures, which are predominantly science-based. I thought it would be interesting to create a body of work revolving around this idea, merging science with design. I also conducted a body of research where I gathered a selection of items considered rubbish and placed them in my sketchbook to be used as inspiration in terms of different surfaces and textures I could explore within my design. The next stage will be to create my actual design piece and define its purpose within the real world.
Initial ideas:
REFLECTION: ILLUMINATE
19/09/19
Today, I created another model of my geometric structure. I described my piece as a 'multi-functional' space, which I repeat throughout the project. I wanted to make this clear as I would assume this would be the design's USP. Every season, the purpose of the structure changes. Spring- the space is used for art installations and exhibitions. Autumn- The space is offered to the general public for charity events, community-lead projects etc. Winter- an ice rink occupies the outdoor area whilst festive market stalls operate indoors. Summer- The first floor transforms into an observatory/viewing platform. I recognise the likelihood of this being built in reality is highly unlikely, though I still wanted to experiment with the idea. The fact the space can be adapted to have various purposes keeps the structure exciting. I would locate the design in a field or park in an urban environment.
View more in Digital Outcomes:
Superimposing a photograph of my structure into a real environment.
After:
Before:
CONTEXTUAL PRACTICE: ILLUMINATE
18/09/19
Fact, Fiction or Fake News
In today's class we were shown the importance of research within a design process. We were shown a diagram which I found particularly interesting which displayed how theory/context remains relevant to your design and is always referred back to throughout the entire process. Both knowledge (which is sometimes overlooked) and practice are needed to create a strong design, it follows a cycle.
Primary research: Direct, initial research. Collecting data. Communicating your personal study. This could include: diagrams, photographs, interviews, focus groups, public votes, usability study (prototypes)- noting comments. As the projects continue, I would like to carry out my own primary research. I feel it is a great way of understanding initial concerns or public interests which could help inspire the ways in which a design is made. I am interested in videography and using interviews as methods of research.
Secondary research: Concerned with other peoples' data, analysis. This can include: mood boards, research images, collecting and cross- referencing different practices, quoting text, websites or magazines. Secondary research is the type of research I am most familiar with as this includes researching designers, creating collages of work that is not my own etc. I would like to experiment with different ways in which I can display my secondary research in order to make it visually more interesting as opposed to just text.
We then did a writing/research exercise where we were given articles to read and used them to fill in the worksheet. I received an article headlined, 'UK Facing Blackouts from Obama Energy Environment Policies'. I believe the purpose of this activity was to analyse and evaluate the source, its reliability, contexts, relevance to my work, highlight any issues which could be resolved or relieved through a design (to spark ideas). This was an useful task as I grew to realise that the source was not in fact 100% trustworthy or relevant as it was published in 2010 and facts may have changed since then. I found the questions on the sheet helpful also and will use this as a basis for my secondary research in the future. Below is the worksheet I filled out.
Practical: Using image and text to create a message
We were shown American artist, Barbara Kruger's 'Your Body is a Battleground' which was created in 1989. In the powerful piece, she merges art, politics and the media which aims to imitate a tabloid page. She used text in an effective way to pose questions about problems within society in a search for ethical change. In my opinion, the text was a crucial part of the image as a whole in order to understand the meaning or purpose of the artwork.
"Kruger’s words and images merge the commercial and art worlds" - The Broad
In this part of the lesson we were told to create our own gifs of our initial models made for the Illuminate project. I used the 'burst' on my phone's camera to capture multiple photographs at once as I gradually moved around my model. The moving image circles around the design in order for the audience to understand its appearance from different perspectives (as well as the shadow). This activity was useful as another way of presenting my work with the eye-catching text providing additional meaning to the piece, similar to Kruger's work.
My response:
(please click the link below to see the ILLUMINATE gif)
Illuminate GIF
REFLECTION: ILLUMINATE
17/09/19
Today, we shared our research amongst groups and presented our findings in front of the class. I placed myself in the 'Geometry' group as I felt my research fit most into this category. As a group, we decided to create a mind map of keywords relating to geometry. This helped us to create our group ethos.
I then spent the rest of the afternoon making quick sketches of initial ideas and creating a cardboard model of my idea. The light aspect of my design comes into play through the sharp shadows created by the interlocking triangles as well as, the yellow shadow formed by the plastic film. I took photographs of my model and experimented with the different ways in which it could be positioned to explore the shadows. After speaking with my tutor, I fine-tuned my idea to find a particular purpose for my design. I decided to use the geometric architecture as a community space. Researching into more geometric structures has also been useful throughout my development.
REFLECTION: ILLUMINATE
16/09/19
Today, we went to King's Cross and drew some sketches of light, whether that be artificial light or the ways in which natural light behaves in an environment. I also enjoyed photographing around the area as photography is one of my favourite hobbies and I find it an interesting way to display and express my work. This research was an effective way of gathering initial ideas for my own work. I was particularly intrigued by the types of lighting in the Tom Dixon Interior Design studio. It's a fascinating place with such a vast range of lighting ideas. I enjoyed exploring outside of the classroom as it was a fresh environment to work in.
REFLECTION: WEAR IT
12/09/19
I didn't expect to enjoy today's 'Wear It' project as much as I did due to it revolving around 'Jewellery, Fashion and Footwear' which is not what I plan on specialising in. Nevertheless, I involved myself and engaged with the task and enjoyed designing pieces for the body. I wanted to create a specific, reflective headpiece which would've been made out of mirrored material. After a lot of speculation over this, I decided to go with a slightly less challenging design of mine which didn't involve creating tiny triangles which I knew I would be able to finish in time. I feel the triangles carried crucial detail for the piece and therefore, I would've wanted to display its key elements. In hindsight, it would have taken a long time to create these triangles out of paper straws (I did feel restricted in terms of materials although, I understand it was the basis of the task and we were to work with what we had). I chose to design a mouthpiece instead as it seemed more feasible. I personally enjoyed sketching different design possibilities, some of which included technology and speculative design. My work consisted of wire, paper straws and string which I think was strong enough for this project.
CONTEXTUAL PRACTICE: EXPLORE IT, WEAR IT, BUILD IT
11/09/19
The Connector, The Expert or The Polymath
In today's lesson we discussed the characteristics of a designer, artist and craftsperson. The information was helpful in deciding what kind of designer I want to be in the future.
Artist: Open-minded, creative, ideology, originality, style, emotion-based, feeding audience reaction, individual opinion, rebellious, experimental, more conceptual, studio-based work
Designer: Commercial output, practical, output/purpose, problem solving, functional, methodical, collective work, utilitarian, social impact, improve lives,, studio/office work.
Craftsperson: Specific skill, hands-on, liberated, logical, products operate in house, traditional, work with nature, workshop-based work.
Renaissance architecture - I learned about Filippo Brunelleschi, an Italian architect who began as a goldsmith and became a sculptor. He transformed from craftsman to architect who as a result, built the Florence Cathedral dome (largest masonry building in the world). He was an innovator who combined mathematics and architecture. The dome created some issues as it was not built using traditional methods.
Ettore Sottsass was an Italian architect and designer born in Austria. He worked across architecture, design, product design and graphic arts. He designed furniture which served as a sculpture. Sottsass said "[Functionalism] It’s not enough. Design should also be sensual and exciting." I agree with his statement as thousands of products can be made for the same purpose, it just gets a bit boring viewing the same old structures. New and interesting designs which step outside of traditional comfort zones are essential to be unique or perhaps rememberable/iconic. I prefer unconventional artwork and designs as they're usually pieces I haven't seen before which excites me. My chair design from the previous 'Ideas Factory' project may support Sottsass' statement. The piece was mainly for aesthetic purposes as opposed to the traditional purposes of a chair.
Malcolm Gladwell (Canadian journalist), The Tipping Point:
The Connector- "Sociable people with a special gift for bringing the world together".
The Expert- "Mavens are really information brokers sharing and trading what they know".
The Polymath- Gladwell discusses 'Persuaders', those who are able to charismatically make others show interest.
Towards the end of the lesson I made a mind map of the kind of designer I want to be. This was an exciting self-evaluation in which I wrote all the concepts I want my work to be concerned with.
REFLECTION: BUILD IT
10/09/19
My response to today's brief was a triangular structure made with bamboo rods, cable ties, masking tape and tissue paper. I enjoy group activities as hearing multiple ideas and opinions are so helpful throughout development as well as evaluation. Having restricted materials pushed our creativity even further to create an interesting structure using only the materials we had. I recognise that triangular structures usually create the strongest structures, providing the best support. My group and I settled on the triangular formation, which we thought had the most intriguing form. Our structure was succesfful in being extremely stable which allowed us to add more bamboo in different places as well as attach the entire structure to other group's. Towards the end, we removed the tissue paper as we felt it made the design appear a little amateur (nevertheless, it did resemble a boat sail which we found quite intriguing).
Video of the structures can be found on Digital Outcomes page.
REFLECTION: EXPLORE IT
09/09/19
Today we were told to go to the supermarket and purchase tomatoes, lemons and a watermelon for the project. As I was shopping for the supplies I took photos of the ways in which the fruit/vegetables were stored. This included netting, held in baskets, plastic wrapping, on a shelf etc. This was an essential part of research to analyse storing methods we could use in our own work throughout the day. I created several storage designs in my sketchbook for cherry tomatoes, lemons and watermelons. We were told to incorporate 'suspension' into the creations. Being under a short time limit was a little hectic although, it was successful in evaluating the best and worst designs and which to go forward with. Photos from the supermarket are displayed on my research page.
I created a slide as my tomato design. This product would most likely be aimed for children due to its interactive nature and is seen as a playful design. It contradicts the well-known catchphrase, 'don't play with your food'. As a child, I always hated eating tomatoes and feel this product could add a little more fun into eating the fruit. The children are then able to associate the tomato with the product, become more familiar with the fruit and may be more likely to eat them.
A video of the product in action can be viewed on my Digital Outcomes page.
We then did the same activity with the lemons instead. This required a little more thought in terms of whether the design could actually hold the weight of the lemon(s) as they are heavier than the cherry tomatoes. I used wire to create a lemon holder. I wrapped the wire so it stretched around two lemons and created a hook at the top. The product could then be hung on a bar in a kitchen or on a doorknob etc.
The final activity was a group activity which involved us creating a design for a watermelon. This was definitely a challenge in terms of the weight of the watermelon. Using the paper straws, we created a sort of wrapping for the watermelon which could be held by the top.
I enjoyed today's product making lesson as it allowed me to explore all sorts of possibilities. It was also interesting to see how our designs would actually operate or look in the real world.
REFLECTION: IDEAS FACTORY
05/09/19
Final Presentation
Summary of proposal:
I designed a chair made out of wood which aims to represent the idea of individualism. Its unique and unconventional style suggests its main purpose is to stand as a specifically designed piece although, the chair is fully functional. My product would be built from oak wood because it is a hardwood, meaning, it is a strong and durable material. The inspiration behind my piece comes from the Japanese art form, Wabi Sabi. The very rustic style refers to the beauty of the imperfect and expressing individuality as opposed to some Western styles concerned with symmetry and perfection. The bolts on the chair indicate the ways in which the chair can be assembled.
Feedback from the group:
To include specific artist research
Could add storage space under wooden cross section
I volunteered to be the first to present to my group. I was a little nervous though felt comforted by my peers who encouraged me. Whilst presenting, I decided to show my mind map, my initial ideas, the idea I chose to develop and then my double page spread of my final product. As I continued speaking, I became more confident and was interested to hear any questions about the project.
CONTEXTUAL PRACTICE: IDEAS FACTORY
04/09/19
Future Facing Designers
Paulo Freire (Pedagogy of the Oppressed) 'Double Diamond' design process model - Discover, Develop, Define, Deliver
The 'Discover' stage is to act as a 'phase of divergent thought', hypothesis, trends, analysing market data, ideas and influences.
Designers I was Intrigued by:
Silvia Weidenbach- 3D Printing/cutting edge jewellery
Cal Earth- using materials found on site/packing the Earth to create structures. Super-adobe bricks. Open source designing, user becomes designer.
Ken Price- The unconventional cup. He takes the archetype of 'the cup' and subverts it through his diverse ideas. Non- functional, purely for display.
Ross Lovegrove- The Supernatural chair. When light is shone through chair it resembles the shape of a leaf. The chair has been plagiarised and redesigned by other people, nevertheless, audiences still prefer to purchase Lovegrove's originals.
Speculative Design:
Throughout the presentation I was particularly interested in the speculative design segment. Here, designers such as Dunne and Raby (fictional design), Ewa Nowak (facial recognition/dystopia/surveillance) as well as the Protofarm and forensic architecture projects were mentioned. I found this intriguing as their designs were almost snippets or glimpses of the future. They are frightening as well as exciting concepts to explore and that's why I would like to investigate speculative design within my own projects.
Architecture and spatial design are usually speculative design as the designs are made for a project built years into the future. Jewellery, fashion and footwear- Highly associative and can shift easily between disciplines.
Key Issues facing designers today:
Climate change, data breaching, space/land constraints, population growth, material scarcity/lack of resources, monetary problems/budgets, sustainability/renewable tech, material ethics, location, copyright, (cultural, political and environmental limitations).
Below is research into a designer who's work aimed to combat the issue of MATERIAL SCARCITY:
Paulo Goldstein's Scarcity is Beautiful
(Questions continued)
How could the project be improved?
The project could be improved by re-designing or improving other items besides chairs and tables to depict to the audience that this process can stretch much further than traditional domestic items. In my opinion, this design approach has no limitations (apart from ensuring the structure is stable enough to be fully functional again). Items such as bookcases, shelves etc could be redesigned just as these tables and chairs were. I would like to have seen a full range of re-imagined items.
In what way is this project relevant to your work?/ How could this project inform your work development?
From this article, I understand that Goldstein's main material to work with is wood which was what I was allocated to use in my recent project. Goldstein's chair designs inspired me to experiment with the design of my own chair. I wanted to create a non-traditional piece. Unlike Goldstein's work, my creation is more likely to be purchased for aesthetic purposes as opposed to how comfortable it is to use or sit in. In this case, Goldstein presented a statement about the increasing lack of resources and aims for the product to act as a solution.
What is it about this project that excites you?
I am particularly interested in speculative design or design which will act as an aid to problems we are likely to face in the near future.
REFLECTION: IDEAS FACTORY
03/09/19
Today revolved around my final design which I continued to develop throughout the day. I was advised to build a 3D model out of plasticine which enabled me to sketch the chair from various angles which is something I initially found challenging due to the positioning of the cross-section. I created a digital 3D model of the chair using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop which emphasised the texture of the wood material. I carried out some research into the type of wood I wanted to use to build the chair, this involved reading into hardwoods and softwoods. I discovered that hardwood such as oak, mahogany and walnut are more durable and therefore, stronger materials compared to softwood (cedar, pine) which are slightly weaker, though less expensive. I wanted the chair to have a naturally dark colour with a sturdy frame and so, I decided to choose oak wood. I enjoyed experimenting with various ways in which I could present my unconventional design.
If I were to do this again, I would have printed my digital model in colour to see a true representation of the colour oak I chose and its matte finish. I aimed to create a modern piece of furniture to perhaps be situated in a 'Wabi Sabi' stylised room or home, this is a Japanese art form I researched into further as seen on my research page. I mentioned to my peers that the product would most likely be bought for its design aspect as opposed to its comfortability though it can be used and is fully functioning. My peers were helpful in suggesting an armrest could be included for the benefit of the consumer as well as a potential storage unit under the cross-section which I found an extremely interesting additional concept. Hearing feedback is always useful and I am working on providing my peers with equally helpful suggestions on their work also. I would also choose to depict the motion in which my chair folds and re-assembles as opposed to using description.
The fast pace of the project created a little pressure to create a strong set of work, nevertheless, I found this exciting as it kept me focused and pushing myself further. It was great to see the other projects around the room, sticking notes to pages of work and collecting notes from others. This was again, a very useful stage in the development of my project.
REFLECTION: IDEAS FACTORY
02/09/19
Response to brief:
I responded to the brief originally by sketching 10 different designs within the space of 10 minutes, one of which I could use for my final piece. My three words for this project were “Individualism”, “Wood” and “To Assemble”. As I was under a time limit, rapid thinking was essential in order to complete all ten within the given time, which I did find a little challenging. Nevertheless, I recognise the reasoning for this activity as I was encouraged to draw anything that came to mind. This allowed me to analyse and then choose the most interesting design out of my results. After selecting my creation, I sketched multiple versions of my chair and further enhanced my drawings by redefining lines to get an idea of perspective.
Selecting an idea:
Initially, I was torn between my extendable roof idea, adaptable bookshelves and the puzzle furniture. I liked these creations as I felt they were rather unique and I wanted to imagine something people maybe haven't seen or heard of before. I aimed to create ideas based on my three words as stated above. I incorporated wood as the main material throughout my designs and the main theme involved the action of being able to construct or adapt the idea to suit the individual desires of the audience/customer. Ultimately, allowing the consumers to become prosumers. After feedback from my tutor and peers I decided to develop my chair design. This I felt made the boldest statement with its rustic and robust exterior.
Working in a group and feedback:
I believe my group and I worked very well together as a team. We effectively listened to each other’s stories throughout the icebreaker activity and asked questions to one another. As a collective, we decided to put my story forward to share in front of the class. Although public speaking is not my strongest point, I feel I delivered the short presentation rather confidently and naturally became more comfortable as I continued to speak. After this activity I felt quite proud of myself and I understand that practice is the best resolution. I felt quite honoured that the group chose my story and am excited to do more team tasks/projects in the future. Throughout the day, I believe my peers gave me helpful feedback posing questions and asking for further clarification of some of my work. This enabled me to properly examine and evaluate my work and understand what I could maybe work on or how i could develop further.
I hope to present my idea visually through a range of different sketches using different perspectives for further understanding of my design and how it would appear in the real world. I aim to create a 3D digital model as well as a physical 3D model. It is important to present a clear idea that does not necessarily require lots of text to be able to understand what it is. Today was a great first day, I interacted with my peers and tutors and felt I contributed to the session. It was useful to hear peer feedback.