Adam Davies No.1.
Acknowledgements. I would like to express my gratitude to all family and friends who have supported me throughout my degree, without this support I wouldn't have achieved what I set out to create for my final projects. I would also like to thank the following people for the guidance, discussions and advice given throughout this final project. Dr Stephen Thompson, Caroline Taylor, Matt Thompson and Chrisoula Konstantakos.
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My approach to design has always been a very experimental and abstract exploration into materials and the design process. This non-linear approach has allowed my creativity to flourish and to create an aesthetic towards design that is unpredictable on each project I do. Throughout this whole project I have documented and noted my experimentation and influences that's shaped this project, through to a final product and this documentation is important for myself as a designer, I want to show my thought process and how my Ideas evolve over time. With this in mind, my final project sets out to explore a diverse range of natural forms and structures that can inform our development of products within design. I have managed the process of experimentation and resolved this exploration into an outcome that reflects my ideologies on using nature as a basis for design. The beauty of nature is that it takes away everything that's not needed, what you see is pure function and this purity has a sense of beauty that we should try and mimic.
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Cellular Form-Finding. Inspired by my research into forms and structures found throughout nature, particularly how bone structures are created, the initial 3Dimensional research explores physical form-finding and attempts to embody this research. Physical experiments were carried out to reveal basic patterns, cellular bodies (water filled balloons) were left to self-organise and the patterns created were documented further by casting the negative space between each balloon, creating a solid form.
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Cocoon Exploration.
Developing on from 'cellular form-finding', I started to look at other forms and structures found throughout nature, in particular the Urodid moth. Known as 'nature's 3D printer' the moth creates an 'open network' structure around itself for protection. The form created is incredibly beautiful and shows the pure function of the structure. This was something I wanted to explore further and translate into 2Dimensional and 3Dimensional forms.
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maybe sketch the cocoon instead of using original, then discuss the inspiration for these next bit
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Combining this 2D and 3D experimentation, I refined these forms into an initial prototype. This gave me a direction for the project, using a simple natural structure to create a product. I think its apparent that the first prototypes have a direct relationship with cocoons, however I felt that it was lacking a holistic form that worked well together and further development was needed.
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Paper Manipulation.
For quick form experimentation the use of paper can prove to be very efficient. It allowed me to create a number of unpredictable yet structured forms in a very short amount of time. The aim of this process was to develop a number of holistic forms that still has the essence of the original research.
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Porcelain Experimentation.
It is apparent throughout this book that material and form experimentation plays a big role in the design process and development of a final outcome. This material experimentation means that the forms created are not what's expected from that material. From the outset of every project I undertake, I always want to push the material to its limit for the best possible outcome. I wanted to translate this material experimentation and paper manipulation into a form that could hold its shape. I have always been intrigued by the forms and structures you can create with porcelain and this is something I wanted to explore for the final outcomes of this project.
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Final Outcomes.
I started to refine this process of experimentation with porcelain forms into a fully working audio speaker. Further refinement was needed as it felt that the porcelain form was forced into that outcome and it needed to be a more natural process of achieving an organic form. Material relationships have always influenced the way in which projects develop. From the outset of this project I wanted the final outcome to be of very high quality and I wanted this to reflect in the sound quality produced, so material choice was crucial in the development of these speakers. Combining the purity of porcelain with the functionality of wood and see how this relationship works together.
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Adam Davies Product Designer 07852 950 035 atdaviesdesign@gmail.com Twitter: @adamddavies behance.net/adamdaviesdesign 46