Ddf landscape m4 journal mengli pi 743074

DIGITAL DESIGN + FABRICATION SM1, 2016 M4 Journal Reflection Mengli Pi

743074 Josh Group 7

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Sleeping

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Protected in an

Armour

Photograph: Mengli Pi, 2016. Moedel:Yan Jiao.

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Photograph: Mengli Pi, 2016.

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1.0 Ideation

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Study object: Lantern

Material system: Panel and Fold

Study outcome: reconfiguration of the object, three sketch designs.

The object in the ideation process is a paper lantern, a panel and fold system object. In the study of this particular object , we were to explore features of the panel and fold system, which could potentially could be used in the later design process, by producing drawings and analyzing the structure.

By studying panel and fold system, which was expressed by the lantern, I explored the rigidity and flexibility property that was created by the fold and the movements of the folding stretching out and compressing together.

Reflection The first module Ideation is about sourcing design from a particular starting point. In this case the study about the object, which has a specific material system, The exploration of the material system is conducted by reproducing or re-express the object in many other medias, which gave me different perspectives to learn about the object from whichever I usually perceive the object. The drawings, 3D model, and the deconstruction process, not only enabled me to see this material system differently, but also gave me the opportunity to experiment various ways that the material system could be modified in. For instance, I was particularly interested in the rigidity and flexibility that the material system brings to the material itself and how it changed the property of the material. For this reason, I exploited this single idea of rigidity and flexibility while I reconfigured the object. Many of the material system involves movements of its own, which has some potential of flexibility matching with the personal space in the latter sketch designs.

Photograph: Mengli Pi, 2016.

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Drawing and digital Modeling vThe lantern is half-open and put down on a A2 sheet facing down to be traced.

The dimensions of the lantern are measured on the tracing sheet.

The dimensions needed were acquired, the lantern is deconstructed in to component parts.

To create a component sheet. Single parts are laid on an A2 sheet and traced around dimensions are also measured based on the tracing.

The lantern consists of

The half-open elevations was drawn first, and the other drawing are based on some of the dimensions measured in the Half-open elevation.

1 x Curved Card Bone.

2 x Curved Metal bone.

2 x Paper Tape.

4 x Folded(25 folds each) Paper Sheet

Rhino Model Perspective

( 480 mm x 370 mm)

Rhino Model Top View

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Analysis Each folded sheet is divided into 26 strips.

The 2 ends of the sheet are compressed tightly together and bend vertically into a quarter-sphere, as a quarter of the main body of the lantern.

These four reshaped sheets are glued together , with paper tapes fixing its two ends and card bone, metal bone stiffening its shape.

The material system of the lantern is actually panel and fold instead of skin and bone, although it does have “skin’ and “bone”.

Each strip is created by simply folding the paper sheet and it is actually panels in terms of the material system.

The structure is created by folding and unfolding these panels.

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The lantern operates within the scale of half open.

Assemble Diagram

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Reconfiguration: Flexibility and Rigidity In this reconfiguration, I imitated the way the paper was folded in the lantern. However, the way the lantern was folded gave me the idea of experimenting with the folding patterns and the flexibility of the connections.

The paper was firstly folded and sliced at the edge to create flexible connections, which also helps to distort the naturally straight-lined form of the paper, therefore creating certain volumes.

Moreover, the folds provide chance for movements like shrinking and expanding as well.

The tracing papers are folded to add stiffness

Testing the boundaries of the stiffness of the folded and the flexibility of the connections.

Photograph: Mengli Pi, 2016.

The ends are sliced apart along the folds to provide flexibility

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Sketch Designs 1- Contrast, safety , flexible, personalised.

In the three Sketch Designs, I considered the variable definition of personal space with manipulable structure that could be articulated by using panel and fold. I also considered to used the discovery of rigidity and flexibility to address to the variable personal space.

2- Rotation, Separate, parallel, personalised.

The folded panel on the two sides of the pod have a sharp, edgy texture, which makes the users feel that their personal space is well protected without losing control of communicating with external environment.

3- Sliding, extension, re-oriented.

Personal space is a personal thing, individuals may have different standards for personal space. This sleeping pod is formed by many rings with a gap on each of them, which could be arranged in desired positions by simply rotating them.

Individuals are sensitive about different parts of their bodies, which means that people need more or less personal space for different parts of their body. This sleeping pod allows users to define which parts of their body need better protection.

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3.0 FABRICATION

2.0 Design Yan Jiao & Mengli Pi

Photograph: Mengli Pi, 2016.

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Design Agenda

Develope Process

The agenda is to design a sleeping pod that consists of layers with different characteristics to re-define the personal space in terms of its variable sensibility.

-Further exploration on personal space.

Reflection

-Proposed design addressing to personal space.

-Experiment with possibilities of the variable characteristic of the layers.

-Precedent study about varying layers.

The second module is to develop the design further based on the exploration of the material system and the proposed initial ideas in the first module. During the process of design, I felt that understanding the brief is the most important part before designing. In this case, understanding the nature of personal space is the fundamental step that could make the design much more refined, as if it’s further developed. However, when I researched on personal space in the first space, the intention to deal with the issue seemed to be prioritized, blindly. In the first 2 proposals, I solely addressed the issue of personal space, and I totally ignored other important issue that I should’ve taken into consideration earlier, such as the material system. Afterwards, when I tried to work with the material system a bit more, the effect I intended for defining the personal space did not work very well. In this design process I realized that I could not deal with multiple issue at the same time vert efficiently, and when I finally combined these solutions to the issues to the prototype, It seemed over-ambitious, which did not work well as a coherent design outcome that could deal with all the problems.

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-Application of precedent study on developed design.

-Combining ideas to prototype -Material consideration -Prototype Testing.

Personal Space Exploration We were exploring the personal space. We drew 2 diagrams each to communicate how our personal space is laid out around our body, as we potentially expressing different definitions of personal space from male and female.

After we compared the diagrams together, we tended to find common areas that we both thought need more protection which would be head and the chest area.

The reason why we thought that chest needs more protection is that when people make that defensive gesture, they feel more secure and that’s the effect we wanted to accomplish.

The defensive body language suggests that adding protection to the upper body makes people feel more secure. Source: http://www.customerexperienceinsight.

The diagram about personal space. By Yan Jiao& Mengli Pi

com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/155493030.jpg

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2nd Skin proposed design V.1- Alien Suit

Rhino Model by Mengli Pi

The advantage of that it considers the body parts that might need extra protection, like face and chest, and the back is supported.

It responded to the exploration of personal space.

On the other hand, the form of the strips seems disorganised and the overall form lacks consistency.

Isometric

Right Elevation

Front Elevation

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Top View

2nd Skin proposed design V.2- Flying Ribbons

Rhino Model by Yan Jiao, Sketch By Yan Jiao

The advantage is that it uses 2 layers to define inner and outer personal space, which we adopted to our latter design.

And it also uses mesh close to the body so it gives comfortable support.

However, it is randomly shaped and loosely formed, also, it lacks of specific considerations for each part of the body.

Front Elevation

Right Elevation

Isometric

Top View

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Sketch Model Refinement- Rigidity and Flexibility We decided to refine our sketch models from the reconfiguration of the lantern. Keep going with the idea of balancing flexibility and rigidity within the system of panel and fold.

Sketches by Mengli Pi, Models by Mengli Pi, Photographs by Mengli Pi

Flexibility helps to bring the structure to contour the body, especially when close to the body, which could be employed while designing the more intimate layers.

To that end, I tried 2 solution to create flexibility in the system of panel and fold, as follow.

Reconfiguration model.

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Precedent Research- Density Manipulation

Analysis by Yan Jiao

Fluidity, Variable, Density, Interference.

Moire Body By Lola Giuffre, Jenna Leong, Loren Robinson

This precedent shows the variety of density and fluidity of personal space.

The precedent “Moire Body�, explored the variable sensitivity of different body parts, using section and profile system.

Responding to that, it employes different densities of the sections and various depths of the profile, to provide extra protection to more sensitive or vulnerable body parts.

The denser the sections are, or the deeper the profiles are, more protection the design gives to the personal space, by creating an interference effect.

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Precedent study application Manipulation of density and depth Inserting panels perpendicular to the strips could control the density of the strips.

Varying widths of the strips could also change the density.

Strips could be deepened due to fluidity of personal space.

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Fluidity, Variable, Density, Interference.

Design Development V1 & V2 Version 1

Version 2

The sketch model for the first design development experimented on the model. Basic idea is to use these strips to circulate the head and expand to create visual barrier over the sensitive areas.

Densely arranged cuts create a blurry sight and loosely arranged cuts create less distortion visual effect.

We also varied the widths of the strips to create more space more certain areas

Deep cuts make the strips feel softer and gentler with less protective characteristic, on the other hand shallow cuts look more rigid and protective, Which we applied further in our prototype.

Photograph Mengli Pi, Model (by)Mengli Pi

Photograph Mengli Pi, Model Yan Jiao

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Prototype Design Initial Idea

Designated Site

Ideation Process

The form consists of 3 layers total, from closest to body to farthest to body, defining different layers of personal space.

The design is meant to be attached under a wall in library so the backboard is just for the purpose of anchoring and portability.

Flexibility explored before is used to define the characteristics of the 3 layers ,which is corresponding to the function of each layer.

The 3 layers express a graduation from dense to loose, from flexible to rigid. We meant to make it like from a shirt to a cardigan then to a trench coat.

Diagram of latersby Mengli Pi

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Diagram of latersby Mengli Pi

The idea of layers is obtained from the proposed design “Flying Ribbons�, in the role of defining hierarchy of personal space.

Sketch for backboard by Mengli Pi

Prototype-Layers The outer layer Sharp and rigid and painted in metallic paint.

No cut made on the outer layer and the width of the strips are wider than those of the other 2 layers.

Simply folding the material makes the form very rigid and the silver paint gives it a metallic texture.

This layered is designed to protect the user as the shield, meanwhile communicating with the environment speaking that language of protection.

The potential material needs to be the hardest in this design.

Prototyple by Yan Jiao & Mengli Pi, Photograph by Yan Jiao and Mengli Pi

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The Intermediate layer Certain flexibility comparing to the outer layer.

It has a smoother form but also has certain protective characteristic as a transient layer between the inner layer and the outer layer.

We made some cuts on this layer to give it a bit flexibility and permeability.

The density of strips also increases by narrowing down the width of strips.

The potential material would be a bit more flexible than the outer layer.

Prototyple by Mengli Pi, Photograph by Mengli Pi

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The Inner layer The smoothest gentlest layer in this composition.

Density of the strips is the largest and cuts are very long between the strips to boost the flexibility to fit users’ body curves.

The integration of narrow strip also create a blurry visual effect.

Prototyple by Mengli Pi, Photograph by Mengli Pi

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Prototype-Digital Modelling

Rhino Model by Yan Jiao

Front Elevation

Isometric

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Right Elevation

Top View

Prototype-Material Consideration

Matte Film- First Layer Polypropylene- Third Layer

The polypropylene is the material of outer layer because the outer layer needs to be very rigid and we need least folds on this layer, which seems attainable. And also silver paint would not affect the form of polypropylene very much.

The matte film is soft and flexible but hard to damage, and the matte texture gives the blurry visual effect we wanted to accomplish.

Card- Second Layer

The card is a bit rigid than matte film but less rigid than polypropylene. We chose card as the material for middle layer is because we still need to make considerable number of fold on this layer and card is ideal material to work with.

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3.0 Fabrication Yan Jiao & Mengli Pi

Assemble process, Photograph by Mengli Pi

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Fabrication Process

Reflection

- Refine the general form from M2 Prototype

Even at this fabrication stage, we were still making some modifications to the design, because we did not do good enough in the design process. After we’ve settled our design, the gap between a virtual design and an actual well fabricated product was so hard to conquer. There were so many problems and setbacks we encountered while fabricating the design. For the reason that we have never worked with so many materials and details that we need to execute quickly and accurately, we were absolutely drowning in the mistakes we kept making. However, during this process of making, we have started to build up our experience and knowledge because we have tried so many things and we learned fro the mistakes that we made. Nevertheless, There are still a few problems that we did not get to refine further, either because of the limited time or the limited means. The final outcome still has a lot to improve on, I am quite happy that we’ve learned so much from it and we can still learn from it.

- Reading Response - Translate digital model to laser cutting task - Perforation development - Performance detail Refinement -Material Decision -Laser cutting - Assemble process

Photograph by Mengli Pi

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Design development- Layers

Sketches by Mengli Pi

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Design development- Layer form From gentle inner layer to defensive outer layer, the number of vertical folds is changed to show the graduation of rigidity.

Inner layer outline

Intermediate layer outline

Outer layer outline

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Design development- Digital Modelling The three-tier structure in the M2 prototype was modified into this single-pivot form, still with 3 layers from inner personal space to outer personal space.

The Rhino Model was employed to test the form.

Rhino Model by Mengli Pi.

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Translation- Reading Response Week 6 There are various digital Fabrication processes, such as two-dimensional fabrication, subtractive fabrication, additive fabrication and formative fabrication. These process provide a large range of choices to fabricate our design both in two dimensions and three dimensions with specific strategies.

For our design, we used the laser cutting to fabricate the guidelines to the material, and then fold it to a three-dimensional object with manipulating.

There is one strategy mentioned in the reading which is “unfold and develop surface”. It attracts me for that our material system is panel and fold, and I feel the “unfold” will be a useful strategy for the final fabrication. And from it we learned how to digitally fabricate our design out of flat sheet of material without deformation. So later when we used the two-dimensional laser cutting to fabricate a prototype we calculated the angle and length to be cut in two dimension, and fold it to achieve the ideal effect in three dimension.

Week 7 We encountered some problems while we are trying to translate the digital model to the laser cutting task. The digital Model we made could not be unrolled as one continuous surface, instead, it turned into many small surfaces, which was not the intended effect that we started from .

As we considered the constraints which laser cutter and material sizing creates, we wanted do accomplished the CONTINuOUS folding . We found a way around to prioritize the folding then articulate the basic form from the folds.

So we shifted from laser cutting small bits and glue them together to creating folding patterns on a flat sheet, which would also create the intended form.

We used folds to create the deformation and geometries that were wanted on our design rather than joining smalls bits on their edges in a unreliable way. Also, we also used a flat square to create a series of circular folding pieces as cushioning that have spring effects.

As Paul noted in the reading, we considered the constraints of the fabrication material and method. we need to use material that’s as large as possible to our panel size and easy to fold and glue. Polypropylene was not big enough and extremely hard to use adhesive on and fold. Asa result, we chose card as our final choice.

Photograph by Mengli Pi.

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Translation- Laser cutting Sheet

Rhino Laser cutting Sheet by Yan Jiao and Mengli Pi.

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Perforation Development - Various Shapes

1st Layer as inner layer. Dense folds, Dense Perforations. Round-shaped perforation creates gentle feeling closest to face.

2nd Layer as intermediate layer.

Less dense folds, Less dense perforations. Square-shapd perforation has 90 degree angle, giving feeling of rigid.

3rd Layer as outer layer. Least dense folds, least dense but Sharpest perforation, giving itself defensive characteristic.

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Perforation Development - Scales

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Photograph by Yan Jiao and Mengli Pi. Sketch by Mengli Pi

Junction Development - Identical Moving Direction

Photograph by Yan Jiao and Mengli Pi. Sketch by Mengli Pi

M2 Joint

Joint Refinement

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Installation Development- Fishing line suspension Hang the structure with fishing line, because fishing line is very resilient and transparent, which mean highly functional and aesthetically acceptable.

Analyze the sight of people and figure out a appropriate position of hanging.

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Sketch by Mengli Pi

Cushioning Development The folding pattern of the cushioning was discovered while developing the method of translating the developable surface into 3 dimensional structure.

Photograph by Yan Jiao and Mengli Pi.

3 of the cushioning devices are made, one surrounding another, to contour the back of user’s head mas much as possible to provide comfort.

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Material Decision- Card Over Polypropylene

Photograph by Yan Jiao and Mengli Pi.

Polypropylene: It will be easy to be broken during fold process, because it cannot be fold for multiple times.

Card: It is easy to fold but contains less harness. So it could be weak in terms of showing rigidity.

We have a solution for that later,

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Assemble Drawing

. Sketch by Mengli Pi

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Assemble Process

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Photograph by Yan Jiao and Mengli Pi. Model by Yan Jiao and Mengli Pi

1. Laser cut panels

2. Folding panels along dashed lines

3. Finish folding

4. Connect separately cut large panels

5. Tilt up perforations

6. Attach eyelets to the junction

7. Use ring to attach panels the back board.

10. Thread fishing line through the panels

8. Fold up cushioning

11. Find hanging points on the wall

9. Attach cushioning to the back board

12. Hang the sleeping pod back to the wall.

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Fabrication Outcome

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Photograph by Mengli Pi. Model Yan Jiao and Josh

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4.0 Reflection 46

The most valuable thing that Digital Design and Fabrication has taught me is the distortion between

As I finished the prototype at the end of module 2, when I looked at my prototype, I see nothing precise

played a extremely important role to represent my design as well as to test and improve my design in a

design and fabrication. Although I am full aware that the digital tools are probably the most helpful to aid us transforming our design into a real thing, I also found about so many limitation of digital design to fabrication that I’ve experienced during the process.

and neat in it. It looked like an idea failed to be delivered to reality. Then I thought about the motive I chose this course is that I wanted to learn to used this tool to help me design more elegantly, instead of staying in my comfort zone.

The first limitation I encountered is the techniques I need to digitalize my design. I have never used rhino before this class, and I found that the technical workshop run in the first two weeks are at a extremely fast speed. In the first module when tried to do the very simple object, I actually had no clue how figure out a way through that. The techniques taught in the workshops were very basic, which could not help me much with the modelling, probably due the variety of the objects assigned. I spent considerable time tutoring my self online just to finish the digital model of my object. Rhino is a very powerful tool kit, which provides numerous tools to accomplish the intended outcome.

In module 3, we were still doing quite a bit modification to the design according to our feedback. We were told that Rhino should be a way to quickly test you idea rather than a sole representation of the idea, which was quick right. So I tried to do some testing on my design with rhino. However, thanks to my rusty rhino skills, that was not easy and quick at all. Hereby, I only test some easy ideas on rhino, like the layers, the general form and some folds, while on the other hand, I tried to do some small prototypes to test the ideas.

efficient way. I could make changes to my design anytime I didn’t feel right, go back and forth so easily.

More importantly, I visualize my design in a 3 dimensional manner, from which I could observe my design in any perspective I want, which is extremely helpful to see the strengths and weaknesses and make improvements easily. In addition, the presentation image generated from Rhino is so accurate and readable.

However, the strategy of using these tools seemed very uncertain, especially when I didn’t know much about the tools themselves.

It is so hard to design while learning a extremely complex tool to visualize my design at the same time. In Module 2, when I started designing, I was very passive with Rhino, which I was totally not good at. I tended to use other tools to design, such as physical models, drawings. I subconsciously refused to use Rhino because I get stuck in less than five minutes. My ideas just stuck in my head when I can’t use Rhino to design. I basically took module 2 as a chance to practice my rhino skills. I still used a lot of other tools to help me design.

In Rhino, with this tool, it is easy to turned the process other way around. I reckon that Rhino is to visualize the design instead of design to the software’s capacity. It’s crucial to keep one thing in mind, which is that model to reality since the design needs to be fabricated to an end, because with this wild tool, it is quite handy to model something that couldn’t be fabricated in reality.

This was exactly what I’ve experience while translating the rhino model to the laser cutting template. The way I created the form led to undevelopable surfaces, which could not be laser cut at all. I dealt with this risk by seeking a way to the form from the practical side.

Besides the benefits that digital design tool has given me, the fabrication process also taught me so much about making the design a real thing. The prototype testing is the greatest to learn, which could foresee so much possible mistakes before I make one thing that does not work as a whole at all. Testing prototype helped to spot trouble a bit before it became a disaster. The experience of making millions of mistakes on prototype really provided opportunities to build up my own connoisseurship.

In this course, I think I learned very practical stuff and also helpful approaches to design and making.

After one semester of practicing Rhino, I feel that I could use it as a tool to aid my design from time to time. I used Rhino for my Earth Studio project, which

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Appendix

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Computation

Mengli Pi

Yan Jiao

Model Fabrication Model Assembly

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