For the Ice Breaker assignment, we were to find a small, handheld object which we had some type of emotional connection to. I searched throughout my home for an object that seemed worthy to create in model form. By trying to give myself a simple, basic form to create from, I did not seem to chose so wisely. I have more of an emotional connection than anything with this particular picture frame. Reflecting back, I wish I had chosen something more alive in movement and not so rigid in form.
We then were to construct a model which represented the “bare bones” of the object. Without actually showing the “skin”, the skeleton of the object would come to life. Defining interior versus exterior elements through rhythm and repetition.
Inspiration may be found in many places and ways. We are always searching for inspiration to carry ourselves through life.
Family. A constant throughout my whole life; an inspiration in it’s own right. The initial inspiration comes from the pictures within the frame. A representation of my growth and childhood. Through these “memories” collected, we are able to transform and grow from one moment to the next.
For the first iteration of my model, I was not very confident with the shape and form of my selected object. Not wanting to be too abstract, I built a small rectangle and thus did not know where to go.
There was no movement. No life being represented in the model. By only allowing myself to think about the skeleton of the frame itself, I lost track of my ideas of family, time, transformation and growth. A complete failure, I broke it apart and started again. On my second attempt at a first iteration, I again chose to use thin, small balsa wood. This was configured into a rectilinear form of the skeleton of my picture frame similar to the first but this time I represented the “windows” of the frame. I was not sure how abstract our model should actually be at this point, My design still had the basic rigid shape of the “frame” which created a static expression.
Frustration
Confused
Failed Intentions
With the third iteration, my model fell into a boring state of static expression. Rigid and motionless to the point of non-existence. By trying to conceptualize my ideas through my model, I actually worked backwards in terms of expression and representation of intentions. My model design proved to be identical to my initial object, the picture frame. However, my intentions were not thought out to create an “expression� of the picture frame rather than a replica. I felt locked in a box after making this model. The craftsmanship was much better than previous iterations but free spirit of expression was now lost somewhere within the frame. As my frustration and confusion set it, I took to a black sharpie marker to bring contrast to the stark object which did not help the static expression within my design. This was a problem that I needed to address in my next iterations.
For our next iteration, we were introduced to gesture drawings as a way to help promote our design intentions. By creating an outline of form through basic ideas, we are able to express‌
emotion; personality; spirit; pose: tensions/releases; motion in time & space Large hand movements charged with spontaneity influence an exuberant and dramatic abstract idea without fear of failure or judgment. By not actually looking at the paper, the gesture drawing demands that one rely on their intuition, feel and stimulation of the design. Thus personifying the model in gesture.
Change Time Remembrance
Transformation Deconstruct Movement
The fourth iteration in the “bare bones” icebreaker assignment proved to be a disappointment for myself. The ideas in my head were not coming to life in my work. I found myself struggling with the transformation of my design, specifically the lack of connections between my craftsmanship and the new materials I was introducing into my design – aluminum wire.
Iteration 3 Iteration 1/2
Iteration 4
Repeated Failed Intentions Rigid & Static Movement
There were many ideas that came to life for me during this iteration. I wanted to move away from the static design I had been dealing with as well as somehow bring to life my story of time, remembrance and transformation. We each live our lives based on the memories of our past. Through these memories, we are able to grow, transform and possibly, better ourselves from lessons learned. In my model, I was hoping to bring that feeling to life. By displacing and exploding the coils from “within” the frame to represent the evolution of growth and transformation through memories. There may have been a tiny baby step forward in terms of the “frames” themselves. By displacing the middle frame, an idea of movement or growth outward begins to develop. Still trying to connect my work with the new tectonic vocabulary we were now being introduced to at this point.
I do not believe it was an overall success. The level of craftsmanship was definitely where I would have liked it to be but the ideas were not flowing thru my design as I had envisioned.
Time
Expression Growth Displacement
After reflecting on the previous iteration as well as hearing my classmate and professor comments, I was able to come up with iteration #6. Very similar to that of the previous iteration. We see the rectilinear qualities as well as symmetrical. The coils were meant to show a foundation of memories that grows from behind the frames to support as well as extend through. Ultimately, it looks prettier than anything else. My intentions were to show an expression of time through the growth and movement of the coils but instead became fixated on the static movement of the frames and coils.
Another successful failure from which I wanted to elaborate on in the next iteration.
Carefree
Youthfulness
Energy
My first thought of inspiration that came to mind had something to do with spindles or fibers of fabrication representing the memory of one’s past, present or future. What that means in my design or rather to me in general is still a mystery but I believe it is also a part of my tectonic vocabulary trying to find it’s voice. With that being said, iteration #7 has a completely different look, feel and expression. Still present are the “frames” of our memories. Now they are no longer being trapped within the rectilinear space but finding they way through the fabrication of time and space. The positioning was not intentional, which definitely affects the message that I am trying to bring to life with my design. The intention was thoughtful but the lack of connections between design ideas created a simplicity that did not clearly represent the story of time and memories. Even now as I write my own reflections, I see that there is youthful, carefree energy about this iteration that was not present in the previous works. No longer rigid and static but now containing movement and life. These were problems for me and I hope to achieve a better way of design through that.
“Boring” - J. Lum
Boring. It’s probably an understatement. My design has lost it’s way with this iteration. The rectilinear and symmetrical static within are enough to make me want to kick it to the curb. Thankfully I didn’t so that I may reflect and process the intentions I had in design versus the actual intentions that were carried out. The model has become a box of frames. Coils, meant to represent time, growth and remembrance, have lost their suggestive meanings. There is nowhere for the imagination to go. And nowhere to come from. I should be asking myself… WHAT IS IT? WHY NOT? WHAT WORKS?
Iterations #1-8
NO GLUE
No Glue. That was the new rule handed to us for our new work. Not only was I using glue for all previous iterations but I was not thinking of different materials and approaches to connections without glue. Effectively putting restraints on myself and my design. I had become fixated on the connections within the materials I was using and had lost track of my design concepts, intentions and overall message. This iteration showed a new potential in my craft, intention and message. But somehow I still needed to connect the big ideas and determine how it could be used‌
Non-Symmetrical Suggestive Movements
Extension
Trying to focus on non-symmetrical, suggestive movements. I believe this iteration was successful as well as proving to be another design failure. I did manage to create suggestive meaning throughout parts but ultimately I prevented myself to succeed due to the lack of intention within aspects of the design. This is brought on by a current lack of discipline and time put into my work. Feeling overwhelmed by the work at hand as left me disillusioned toward the conceptual expressions within my model.
MORE INTENTION NEEDED!
I have completely lost track of my design intentions, concepts and overall tectonic vocabulary at this point. Seemingly stuck on this idea of time through the “coils� that I keep inserting into my work. Not sure of their meaning so quite quickly the message to any audience is lost. Problems: Trace, Time Management, Discipline, Materials, Lack of Vision
Iterations #1-11
In progress currently.
Wanting to succeed more than anything in this class and life overall has brought me to a point of absolute breakdown. My design thought and intention have hit bottom with the only direction left to go but UP! Goals for the second part of the semester‌ TIME MANAGEMENT SELF-DISCIPLINE CREATING & USING MY TECTONIC VOCABULARY THOUGHTFUL DESIGN INTENTIONS HAVE FUN!