DIGITAL DESIGN + FABRICATION SM1, 2017 M3 JOURNAL - DEFENSE
Jun Da Ling, Lantian Li, Xinchao Lin (811977, 745412, 818267) Nic Dingwen Bao + #11
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Introduction M.2 DESIGN During M.2 the group explored the idea of personal space with an idea of a defensive sling that would wrap around your body and also could be expanded and retracted to portray different spaces corresponding to different needs. This concept also acts as somewhat a floating personal space where it seems as though the sling is not in complete contact with the wearer. The sharp pyramid folds gives a sense of defensive properties as well as providing a sense of safety and fortification.
M.2 Prototype
Top View
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Front View
Side View
Design development COMPLETE DESIGN OVERHAUL Our initial design for a second skin shown at the image to the right was proven to be too simple and not being able to convey personal space very well. The design review during M2 greatly helped us to look back and reflect on how we could come up with a brand new design for a second skin.
We looked back to our initial concepts and designs and went with a more interesting proposal that we used in M.2. The image to the left shows that initial proposal in M.2 that we should have developed rather than a simple sling around the body. This new proposal sparked a new challenge which is implementing our concept for the first design into this new form. M.2 Prototype
M.2 Initial Alternate Proposal
Perspective View
Side View
Back View
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CONCEPT IMPLEMENTATION
Pyramid Pattern on Form
Pyramid and Circular Pattern on Form
Hexagonal solids and hollow shapes pattern on form
Learning from our mistakes in M.2, we decided to explore the scope of complexity and dynamism in our design to avoid it being too simple. We decided that to portray our theme of panel and fold as well as implement our concept of a defensive second skin we would need this form to portray a defensive-like pattern. Through rhino we experimented with many patterns, playing with positive and negative space. Eventually we decided that the pyramid shape would be most effective at showing the outcome we want from our design.
Pyramid
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INCREASING THE COMPLEXITY OF DESIGN
Precedent Orthographics Precedent Site
We weren’t satisfied with the design being just a single pattern of triangles over a certain form, we went back to M.2 once again and had a look at our precedents which was Le Corbusier’s Puppet theatre. The element that we wanted to apply to our design from this precedent was that it uses a modular construction system. The form itself is made out of many different geometrical folded shapes to become one singular entity. This idea will be what we use to create our second skin.
Precedent Interiors
Modular pyramid sketch idea that will be used in the construction of the second skin
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Design development + fabrication of Prototype V.2 FORM IMPROVEMENTS With the construction and pattern of the design all worked out, we felt the need to readjust the form of the overall design. Our initial form had an inward arch at the top that would make it inpractical to wear over the head as the sharp edge would only make it uncomfortable for the wearer. The new form seems more similar to somewhat a teardrop. The top area of it is more smooth making it more comfortable to wear. With this new form, the next step is to apply the pattern onto the form.
Teardrop Form
Pyramid patterns
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PROTOTYPE V.2 Through Rhino, we created a prototype v.2 by using Panelling Tools. The 3D custom panel tool gave us the ability to basically implement our pyramid pattern onto the teardrop form. Through further experimentation we decided that a pyramid pattern with 3 edges would produce a pattern that looks more complex and stable.
Following the precedent application, we created a series of singular pyramids then attached them next to each other to create a pattern that overlays the form.
Prototype V.2
Single Pyramid Piece
Pattern View
Front View
Back View
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Reading Response Wk 6 Architecture in the Digital Age - Design + Manufacturing/ Branko Kolarevic, Spon Press, London c2003
Briefly outline the various digital fabrication processes. Explain how you use digital fabrication in your design? The reading shows the relationship between conception and production in digital fabrication. This technology allows us to continue to visualize what our desired outcome would look without the effort of working with real life items. Through design process, continual progression can be made through the digital model by just adjusting and improving certain parts, providing a constant workspace. Frank Gehry, a reknown architect utilizes digital technology and fabrication in his design processes. Gehry implores the idea of translation through digital technology, where his idea is essentially a collection of joints that merge to create intricate and complex structures and forms. These merged joints serve as a basis for it to be loft to create a further developed volumetric design. For our design, we used digital technology, Rhino to create what we would visualize the patterns of the design onto our desired form. From there this gives us a clear picture on how to develop the design and to add or subtract anythings from the design.
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Reading applied to design How does the fabrication process and strategy effect your second skin project? Once again, through the fabrication process, the digital model of our desired second skin allowed us to continually make changes to the design we otherwise couldn’t make in reality. The laser cutter machine is well suited for our design as we need something that can cut mass pyramid patterns. Through rhino we rolled the patterns and sent it to be laser cutted. However, due to time constraints and the queue times in the Fab Lab being too long. We decided to handcut the pyramids by outselves to create the prototype.
Laser Cut File
Once created photographs were taken to document the visual effects on how it looked in reality.
Rolled down pyramid
Form Sketch
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Reading Response Wk 7 Digital Fabrications: architectural + material techniques/Lisa Iwamoto. New York: Princeton Architectural Press c2009
Describe one aspect of the recent shift in the use of digital technology from design to fabrication? This reading really showed us how technology has shaped how we started with only using digital softwares to design but now we use it to fabricate as well. This is largely due to the innovation of 3-Dimensional designing software as well as fabrication systems that allow us to work in this new digital realm and produce it in reality as well. This new design process that we learn in DDF: READING - THINKING - DESIGNING - PROTOTYPING - FABRICATING These individual tasks in the processes had no link to one another. But with the use of digital technology, this process becomes a whole due to the continual feedback we can obtain throughout this process and through digital software. As for our own design, we felt as though we learned many things through the specific process of prototyping. As important digital models are, what drove our design was initially creating a paper prototype in reality to then be translated into a digital model. From there, there was a lot of tinkering with the materiality and structure. This reading relates to us where we continued to optimise our design by repeating the processes of prototyping and fabricating to create the most desired outcome.
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Reading applied to design Referencing from the lectures and readings, what is the implication of digital fabrication on your design ? Reflecting from the reading, digital fabrication allows us to print our pattern and assembles through the addition of tabs and folds. The precedent which inspire our design was in the reading, Le Corbusier’s Puppet Theatre. We were working similarly to this precedent which we had to create a series of modular pyramid items and assemble them into a specific form. We tried creating these pyramids with many materials but chose that card is most suited for our design as it is aesthetically pleasing and its simplicty and gloss really protrudes the concept of defense.
Prototype V.2
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Prototype development EXAGGERATION OF PERSONAL SPACE AND FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS To response to the M2 feedback , more folding elements should be added to the design. Through a further look into our precedent we discovered that each piece of the structure varied in size and length. Our tutor Nic also gave us another precedent in the image below the prototype to analyse and we thought it would be suited if the pyramids had different size and lengths. We tested many combinations of different positions and sizes of pyramids to increase the dynamism of the design.
Prototype V.2 Rhino Model Experimentation of sizes
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Precedent by Tutor
INCREASED COMPLEXITY OF DESIGN Due to going too overboard with the alterations of the first prototype, the model was completely scraped. So we had to create a new model with a specific plan on how we would lay out the pyramids. The next thing we had to deal with was the structure not being able to effortlessly fit onto a body. The structure had to be held by the wearer which is very uncomfortable and tiring due to the weight and size of the model.
New Model Back View New Model Front View
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Prototype optimisation OPTIMISING EFFECTS
We realised that due to the irregularity of the pattern placement, the sense of the theme being panel and fold has decreased. To revert this we reorganised the patterns. We removed the unnecessary pyramids to create a much tighter pattern on the front side of the model. As for the back side, we created more bigger pyramids to create a larger contrast between different elements and to also correspond to the body’s arches and structure, where the body would be most vulnerable.
Before reposition
After Reposition
Sketch for placement of Pyramids
Before addition of larger pyramids
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After the addition of larger pyramids
With the patterns of the design sorted, we had to tackle a new problem of having the model worn by a person. The initial outcome was not desired as the model could only enclose the head, neck and part of the back. Which is completely not the design’s focus. The main focus should be the body as the concept of defense should be projected on the body. To solve this problem, we added perforations to allow the head to move through the model. We added further perforations for the arms so that there can be more freedom of movement while wearing the model.
Initial Model worn by wearer
Initial Model worn by wearer
Perforated Model worn by wearer
Perforated Model worn by wearer
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FURTHER FORM ADJUSTMENTS
Left Side View
Right Side View
Perspective view
Because of the perforations in the design and how certain pyramids restricted movement for the wearer, we had to reduce some parts of pyramids to allow more freedom of movement when wearing the model.
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Front Side View
Prototype optimisation MODEL ILLUMINATION EFFECTS Through analysing the model, we decided that we wanted to increase it’s intricacy. We realised that due to the nature of assembling the model with many modular pyramid pieces, there are inevitably gaps in between each piece. This ultimately works to our disadvantage because the gaps lessens the theme of panel and fold. But we decided this disadvantage could work for improving the complexity of the design. With that we added illumation inside the model via bright LED lights. The lighting from inside the model allowed the gaps to further let the light out. The usage of light can easily create different degree shadow on the model. Light also defines clear boundary of the wearer, the model defines personal space more clearly , especially in dark invironments.
Illumination effects on the model
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FINAL ILLUMINATION EFFECTS
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PROGRESSION OF DESIGN
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2nd Skin final design
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Fabrication Sequence
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Assembly Drawing
Smaller Size Pyramid
Common Size Pyramid
Largest Size Pyramid
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2nd Skin
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