Virtual Environments Student Journal Module 2, Design Second Skin Development Kate Moffat, Venus Ng
Design Precedent Origami As our material system is panel and fold, and we want to work primarily with paper, we were intrigued by the art of paper folding, called origami. Generally using no adhesives, origami makes skilful use of folding, which results in striking geometric effects. Paper is often seen as a something to draw on – but with origami, paper becomes the art form itself. Not having been exposed to much paper work, we were fascinated to see the creativity that paper allows and the boundaries that origami works push with what is possible with paper. The origins of origami are not definite, but the Japanese are credited with creating its enduring popularity. ‘Ori’ is the Japanese word for folding, and ‘kami’ is the word for paper. Paper used to be an expensive medium, but as papermaking methods became cheaper, origami became a popular art for everyone. There are basic techniques to origami, and Akira Yoshizawa developed a system of folding symbols, allowing users to follow diagrams. This includes diagrams such as valley and mountain folds, pleats and reverse folds. There are differently types of origami, such as modular, wet-fold, action and tessellation origami. Mathematics is interlinked with this art form, and folding innovations have gained real-life applicability. The most well known origami model is probably the crane, synonymous with peace, but there are a vast array of folding possibilities, and as the mathematics in this discipline have gained complexity, so have the models.
Making Workshop
Paper model 1 We created a section of our model using paper, which will be the medium we use for our final submission. There was a flexibility to our model, however it did not neatly stay together using tape. After creation, we realised that we will have to think carefully about the size of the pyramids and how they will fit together to ensure a fitted wraparound to the arm. The irregularity of the pyramids is another factor that we want to develop.
Play-doh model For the second task, we used play-doh to make a scale model to fit the mannequin. It was possible to form the whole overall curved shape of the model more easily than with our paper trial, however it was almost as if the model was in two parts - the underlying sshape, and the protusions that were joined on top. It lost a lot of the angular look that the paper gave to the model; instead there was roundness and curve. Doing it to scale allowed us to see what it would look like on a human.
Paper model 2 (movement) We returned to paper for the last model, however this time there was an emphasis on trying to create a sense of movement with the paper. After feedback on our first model, we decided to try to create ‘tabs’ which would help with the joining of the small paper pyramid modules. We experimented with contrasts in rigidity/flexibility in the paper. The tabs also gave us more control.
Modelling
Modelling