DIGITAL DESIGN + FABRICATION SM1, 2016 M2 JOURNAL - Profile and Section David Bi, Kayla Yao and James Sciessere(813472, 779984 and 699068)
Matt Greenwood Group 8
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Personal Space Analysis and Design Direction
Design Goals/design target: - To create a design that explores the area between our designated conscious and unconscious personal spaces
Differing levels of consciousness
10 cm
- To test the limits of profile and section models by attempting to create a nonrigid form - The designated use the design would be as an everyday item used primarily in settings such as public transport
30 cm
- The intended purpose of the design would be to provide the user with a sense of comfort through various means yet to be explored - An effect that we want to explore through the design of the model is the manipulation and diffusion of light
With regard to personal space, we first mapped out an area around the body in which we thought were areas of comfort, or rather areas in which people would begin to feel uncomfortable should they be invaded. However, we also explored the idea of ‘conscious personal space’, meaning the areas within this previously mentioned space in which we are constantly aware of. The aim of this was to identify a space which the user would be aware of the design subtlely. Therefore the area that we tried to situate the design was the intersection between the two points, creating an active portion and a passive portion, with the active area constantly reminding the user of the passive ‘safety’ area.
OUR AIMS SUMMERISED INTO A CHECKLIST: - PERSONAL SPACE INTERPLAY - FLUIDITY - COMFORT/SAFETY - EFFECT: LIGHT DIFFUSION
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Sketch Design Development In essence, the only element from this sketch design that we thought would positively impact our design was the idea that you could kind of incubate your personal space/ use external elements to create areas of personal space. Rather than try develop a weak design, we instead decided to use the weak points as a design reference of what not to do and started developing ideas that way. Comparatively, the sketch design had a much smaller impact on our design direction than our personal space map did.
Original sketch design
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Refined Sketch Model
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2nd Skin proposed design V.1
PLAN VIEW
PERSPECTIVE
This concept was the most literal translation of our goal to achieve the two areas in sync. Essentially a wearable member, it aims to act as an exo-skeleton of sorts. However, whilst the rigid nature supports this idea, we are unsure if this is an avenue we wish to explore further. Things we liked: Echoes the shape of active personal space mentioned previously, somewhat fits the natural shape of the body also - fulfilling the second skin idea.
ELEVATION
Aspects we disliked: The structure looks too rigid and planar. The only interesting element of its form was the curvature in the elevation, when looking at the model from front on, it comes across as an axial mesh.
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This was the original personal space map that we designated at the outset of this module, however, it didn’t adequately represent what we wanted so we didn’t use it. However, when we designed this model, it is what we used, and therefore the general shape revolves around what is represented in this image.
The yin yang symbol was a motif that we tried to apply to our design at this stage, as it illustrates the interplay between two contrary states - something that we too are trying to achieve. We then settled on this shape as a general foundation of what we wanted to try design for this part of the project.
- PERSONAL SPACE INTERPLAY - FLUIDITY - COMFORT/SAFETY - EFFECT: LIGHT DIFFUSION
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2nd Skin proposed design V.2
PLAN VIEW PERSPECTIVE VIEW
FRONT VIEW
ELEVATION
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We felt we couldn’t adequately draw the concept for this part of the design, so we used a sketch model to try and find a desirable form. It’s based loosely off the idea of a jumper, trying to promote the idea of comfort, as well as the back section of a life jacket - satisfying our aims for the personal space interplay as well as the idea of safety.
- PERSONAL SPACE INTERPLAY - FLUIDITY - COMFORT/SAFETY
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- EFFECT: LIGHT DIFFUSION
Precedent Research Swoosh Pavilion at the Architectural Association Architects: Second and third year architecture students at the Architectural Association school of Intermediate Unit 2 tutored by Charles Walker and Martin Self.
FLUIDITY/MOVEMENT/LIGHT EFFECT/AXIALITY
What is the concept of the precedent? [Maximum 5 key words]
https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3160/2708401012_424ea9dd8c_z.jpg?zz=1
Description of precedent Each of the continuous profiles are connected by a series of individual pieces, rather than being continuous profiles in two axes. The composition of the pavillion gives up the structural integrity of standard waffle grids to instead explore the potential of curvature and less regular openings.
http://www.mexican-architects.com/portal/pics/bdw_mex/bdw_
Aspects that we could use to enhance our design from this structure is the idea that the pieces of our model do not necessarily have to be interlocking and also do not have to intersect at 90 degree angles.
mx_09/01_2009/tema_1_2.jpg
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Precedent applied to design FLUIDITY/MOVEMENT/LIGHT EFFECT/AXIALITY
Using a style similar to the precedent model, we have created a shape that we think will diffuse light as well as an area on the existing model that we have identified it could be integrated effectively
This was our first attempt at trying to apply the ideas of the precedent to our design, however, we found this to be an unsuccessful means of doing so as it did not interact with our existing design ideas or concepts.
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How can you use this precedent to influence your design ? In many ways, the precedent seems to be the final piece to realising our design goals comprehensively. In angling the horizontal members, we are able to apply a proven way of diffusing light through the external structure. Whilst the application put forth is a protype of sorts, if we can integrate it into our model, we believe to will enhance it greatly.
Design development - Version #1
Regarding this stage of development, we aimed to make our initial design concept into a functioning idea. To do this we had to use the body as a more strict guideline, remove the pieces that went internal and then offset the model off the body so that it was wearable and not sticking into the body.
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Chronology of the overall form of the model
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Design development - Version #2
PLAN VIEW PERSPECTIVE VIEW
FRONT VIEW
ELEVATION
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Shown is the process that we went through to incorporate the precedent idea into our design. We used the existing member at the back of the model as a connection point, and then redrew the curves to match those of the precedent idea. It also effectively answered the issue that we had previously, which was that we hadn’t considered the effect that we wanted to use at all.
- PERSONAL SPACE INTERPLAY - FLUIDITY - COMFORT/SAFETY - EFFECT: LIGHT DIFFUSION
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Prototype The prototype that we chose was the section that we further developed in ‘design development - version 2’ as it is the aspect of the model that illustrates the effect of light diffusion most effectively. We fabricated the model first by laying out a schedule in rhino and then having the individual pieces laser cut. As we intended to incorporate elements of the swoosh pavillion into the model, rather than interlocking pieces we used a bonding agent - in this case, hot glue.
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Testing Effects
The effect that we are exploring is the way that light diffuses through section and profile models and how the angle of both the light source hitting the model and the angle of the model itself can effect this. We started by using a sketch model with the horizontal members set at various angles. This was a basis for choosing the angle in our prototype. With the prototype itself, the effect is illustrated though a series of photos showing how the shadow cast changes as the angle of the light changes.
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Appendix
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WOODEN WAVES - BURO HAPPOLD
This precedent used different sized openings on a flat A4 page in order to manipulate the shape of the object when bent. The interplay between the compound lines and the more spaced lines creates an interesting means of filtering light through these shapes that we could potentially apply to the project.
How can you use this precedent to influence your design ? Ultimately we couldn’t find a use for this precedent in our design, as we felt it moved too far away from the original section and profile model that we wanted to design. However, it was successful in helping us understand openings in a different manner.
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