MENGYAN_YU_DDF_M2

DIGITAL DESIGN + FABRICATION SM1, 2016 M2 JOURNAL - YOUR PROJECT TITLE Ng Xuan Ly, Yu MengYan, Feng Hao 751730/732107/742200 Tim #3

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Sketch Design Development

Based on our sketch concepts, we have identified a few important criterias that would help us achieve a sleeping pod that would accommodate university students to take power naps in the university itself. We wanted to emphasize on the creation of personal space through the contraction and expansion concepts which were derived from all of our reconfigured objects. Besides that, we wanted to give importance to the ability to block out the sight as well as part of the hearing. Thus, a concept of enclosure is considered to achieve such aspects. The concept of our sleeping pod should also allow the students to be in a state of comfort.

Therefore, we also take consideration on the support structure to support the way a student sleeps with maximum comfort.

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Elevation view of Sketch Model

Side view of Sketch Model

Refined Sketch Model

Xuan Ly’s Reconfigured Object

Hao’s Reconfigured Object

Sketch Model of Neck Support

Based on all three of our reconfigured objects, we emphasized on the articulation and the form of movements of our models and derived those concepts into our further development of a sleeping pod. The concept of opening and closing of the face area using pins and joints movement allows the user to gain personal space not only from others but for himself. Based on the sketch designs, we emphasized on supporting the user’s position in sleeping as well as the enclosure of face area. We tried to model the concept of supporting the neck in both positions of the head leaning forward and backwards.

Meng Yan’s Reconfigured Object

Repetitive structures for the enclosure of face

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2nd Skin proposed design V.1

Plan view of Sketch Model

Perspective view of Sketch Model

Elevation view of Sketch Model

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The back of a user’s head is part of a vulnerable position as one is unable to see the activities performed behind him. Therefore, the back of the head is covered as a form of protection. We reflected on one’s current mood depending on whether he is awake or asleep. When one is more aware of the surroundings, he tend to be more welcoming thus reducing his personal space whereas when one is sleeping, covering the face indicates being more defensive. However, looking through this development design, we realised that we did not incorporate the phyical forms of our reconfigured objects as well as the advantage of the articulations of the physical forms. Therefore, we decided to approach onto a next development design.

Research

Neck Brace Example

Identifying different sleeping positions in relation to the sleeping pod

As university is a public space that allows all students to access, it is common for students to feel that they are in a vulnerable state to take power naps in an exposed area. Therefore, we wanted to create a wearable sleeping pod that provides students to be in their comfortable state even in a vulnerable space. Thus, we considered taking care of one’s position of how the person is sleeping as an important aspect to allow power naps to be at its full effect. We reflected our sketch model based on a neck brace seen (on the right). It has been identified that the neck is supported with the weight acting upon the shoulder, firming its position to prevent further injury. Thus, we tried to emulate its function and demonstrate it onto our sleeping model.

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Sketch Design Development V.2 While retaining the criterias in designing our sleeping pod, we decided to move on from the initial idea and incorporated more of our reconfigured objects design in our further development sketch model.

Looking at the physical structure in Hao’s reconfigured object, we obtained the form of its structure and applied it into our sleeping pod design. The head structure enables a user to adjust the opening and closing motion as a form of privacy.

The closing of the head structure not only allows one to feel more secure but also enables movement within the structure without feeling confined due to its spacious area within. Based on the articulation and the movement of both Xuan Ly’s and Mengyan’s reconfigured objects, we formed repetitive forms of triangle-like structures which are able to expand as a form of protection and safety as well as contract when not needed.

Elevation View of Sketch Model #1

Elevation View of Sketch Model #2

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Side View of Sketch Model #1

Side View of Sketch Model #2

Perspective View of Sketch Model #1

Perspective View of Sketch Model #2

Refined Sketch Model V.2

Opening motion of the model

Closing motion of the model

We proceeded in trying to model the concept of the frame of our sleeping pod and tested out the movement of the enclosure of the head. The concept worked well due to the adjustable movement of the middle diamond-like structure. However, we were still not satisfied with the concept idea as we were too focused on just creating a frame that allows moderate movement.

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2nd Skin proposed design V.2

Plan view of Sketch Model

Perspective view of Sketch Model

The repetitive triangle-like structures that expand outwards to create a form of protection can be further developed. Through this development design, we came to realise that the top part of the head structure design appeared to be too segregated with the bottom part of design structure, creating a division between the overall design. Thus, a merge is needed between the designs to be acknowledged as one overall design. Therefore, we made further research and modifications to form a new developmental design.

Elevation view of Sketch Model

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Percedent Research The Drop Series by Olivia Decaris

Spaciousness, Flexibility, Privacy

Initially, we chose this following percedent image as most of the percedent images from LMS focused more on the repetitive structures that intertwine with one another which do not associate with the mechanism of our reconfigured objects, which is pin and joint movements. Therefore, we decided to move forward with the drop series that allows movement and flexibility which is more suitable towards our reconfigured object and specific aspects in a more abstract context. The drop series which allows spatial movements within a specific space instead of being confined and restricted with the movement were considered into our design. The ability to contract and expand also allows maximum articulation to adjust towards a user’s liking. However, we feel that the percedent image chosen does not play a strong aspect in our further development design. Thus, we decided to study another percendent image in help of furthering our design.

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Alternative Design The design examplified a convertible chair where users can perform power naps when they feel tired by converting the working chair into a sleeping chair.

The design was later disposed of as we found out that conventional sleeping pods are not encouraged. Instead, we looked in further on designing a wearable sleeping pod.

Expand

Alternatie Sketch Design

Contract

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Alternative Design

Plan View of Sketch Model #!

Perspective View of Sketch Model #1

Plan View of Sketch Model #2

Perspective View of Sketch Model #2

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Percedent Research The Trivis Sculpture

flexible, movement, repetitive, volume

What is the concept of the precedent? [Maximum 5 key words] A

B

C

AB=BC

Overall Concept

Head Structure

Repetitive Structures

Description of precedent The Trivis sculpture uses the form of repetition to create a twisted 3D volume. The movement of the structure derived from the instersections made between different points along different axis.

With that being the main aspect of the structure, we applied the repetitive forms intersecting at different angles and axis into our developmental design. We reflected back on our reconfigured objects and extracted the repetitive patterns shown in Xuan Ly’s model and emplified the movement as well as the structures. With some modification done within the patterns, we applied them into our development design.

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Precedent applied to design

Back View of Sketch Design

Side View of Sketch Design Articulation of head Structure

How can you use this precedent to influence your design ?

Based on the percedent image, we emulate the concept and applied the approach of repetition as well as intersecting them at different distance along an axis into our final concept. We created different sizes of the same pattern structures to achieve the criterias made for our sleeping pod. With patterns being formed by pin and joint movement, we managed to create articulating joints that allows movement in our sleeping pod.

Overall Structure

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Design development - Version #1

Plan View of Model

Front View of Model

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Perpective View of Model

Perpective View of Model

Detailed Section of Model

Perpective View of Model

Detailed Section of Model

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Prototype

We made segments of the same pattern structures at different lengths and sizes to form a repetitive form for the overall design.

Each piece of the pattern structure is attached along an axis to form a segment of articulating structures. The segments are then joined at a different angle and area to produce volume and depth towards the model. This can also help in moulding the head more efficiently and easily. We joined the segments together through a metal wire piece as it can be bent quite easily, allowing the concept to work.

Throughout the process of making the model, we realised that the joints tend to get a bit loose after countless times of expanding and contracting the structures. Therefore, we looked into fabricating and digital cutting as our next process in furthering our model concept.

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Testing Effects

The model is modelled at a scale of 1:2. Due to the articulating joints, the ends of the structure is expandable to act as a form of protection and personal space for the user to keep other people away at a distance. When the user is more welcoming, the sharp ends of the structure can be lowered as a sign of being more approachable for the people.

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Testing Effects

The repetitive structures that allow articulation form a mould around the head to suit a user’s comfort. The long structures that drop down to the user’s face acts as a enclosure that blocks the user’s sight as well as part of the hearing. The ends of the structure that stick out not only acts as a form of protection but also a support for the neck when being placed against the top of a chair.

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