2013_4_Reflection_Student_Journal

Week 4 Physical and Emotional boundaries

Physical

Emotion

Happy = closer distance Neutral= moderate distance Sad/Angry= further distance

Based on our opinion on personal space, we have grouped them into two groups which are the physical and emotional level. To further integrate these two aspects into our design we decided to join them together. With this, the physical levels of personal space such as the preferred distance from others will change vary on the users emotions.

Designs

To incorporate the users emotion as well as creating a personal space for them, we decided to use shapes to show them and create the appropriate distance.

We decided to incorporate on how different fan powers can be used in an inflatable. Hence, for this design, the different fan powers will control the distance between the users and others. This is done by pumping more air giving the inflatable a more rigid structure therefore causing it to lift upwards and creating a larger boundary.

Cuboid or rectangular shape resembles a neutral feeling.

The round or bubblelike shaped infaltable ressembles happiness

Spikes/ cone resembles anger or sadness

Precedent Studies Inflatable skirt

Readings and TED

Inflatable heart

This is a very good example of a precedent product that produces an area of personal space solely for the user. The product uses an inflatable, airtight design in the shape of a skirt, supported by more rigid materials, which encompasses the lady giving her a portable private space. The space created is very personal, being almost completely encased in the yellow bubble it offers physical and visual protection from the waist up. As well as covering the upper body the skirt also provides a protective circumference around the outside of the lady of approximately one meter. It deploys very quickly, activated by a switch and being airtight the structure inflates in a few seconds, looks quite rigid and solid to touch, this allows the user to become encased very quickly when feeling threatened or venerable. The design incorporates bright colors that not only makes the skirt more practical to wear but also attracts a lot of attention when deployed. Aesthetically the skirt is very practically appealing, it appears to be only a skirt until the user hits the switch to deploy her private, portable space. This factor promotes the wearing/use of the skirt, as the user won’t look ridicules wearing a bubble everywhere.

When deployed the skirt inverts on itself covering the upper body leaving the entire lower body exposed with no visual or physical protection. The practicality of the skirt could also be improved, as when deployed the user has no visual perception outside the yellow bubble, this limits the use the skirt to being stationary only. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEOD6xJNR1k

The Inflatable heart created by KAte Hartman is used as way for someone to express themselves. THerefore, if the user wants to show whether is feeling happy or sad, they would either inflate or deflate the heart. http://www.ted.com/talks/kate_hartman_the_art_of_ wearable_communication.html

Based on the reading by Stehling & Scheurer (2011), they discussed about creating 3D models from different software primarily the CAD software. Making a model using programs requires a variety of steps and they are abstraction, reduction, algorithm and quality. The two main steps that are important in making a basic 3D model in my opinion is reduction and abstraction. This is because the models that we make require the basic shape of the object that we are modelling and as long as it is identifiable. Unlike abstraction, reduction requires using enough information from the object we are creating into the object. While doing my model for module 1, it was initially really difficult to create an exact replica of an inflated flaotie.

Therefore, I tried to cut down details such as the creases and irregular volume of it at certain area and create the basic shape of the floatie. By doing this, I found it really helpful as a beginner.

I found the Ted Talk by Thomas Heatherwick really amusing and interesting at the same time. Many of his designs incorporated the usage and materials to create effects that are creative and innovative. One of the designs that I found really intriguing is his Rolling Bridge. Instead of designing a bridge that opens up like most bridges, his bridge instead rolls up into how a worm or a millipede would. The materials he used played an important role in achieving this. It uses a folding and framed system instead of a rigid structure.

Conclusion Concluding this week’s activities, developing our design further was a challenge. However, trying to think how the inflatable would work to create a desired personal space helped to create a basis of our design. Furthermore, sharing ideas and opinions in a group also contributed to the development of our design. Not only that, the Ted talk by Thomas Heatherwick, examples shown in lectures as well as the precedents provided ideas on how we should work our inflatable.