DIGITAL DESIGN & FABRICATION; skin and bone

DIGITAL DESIGN + FABRICATION SM1, 2016 SKIN & BONE Rose Ong

(743424) Tim Cameron | Group 6

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DIGITAL DESIGN + FABRICATION SM1, 2016 M1 JOURNAL Rose Ong

743424 Tim Cameron | Group 6

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1.0 IDEATION 1.1 Object Measured Drawings As the object chosen is rather small to work on, a scale ruler was used to measure the object’s dimensions accurately. The party popper was photographed and then printed out to trace over at a 2:1 scale.

Elevation 1.0: Party popper curled/original form

The party blower is then blown out and a clip is used to prevent it from coiling back.

The measurements are then taken of the rolled out length of the paper and wire.

Elevation 1.1: Party popper expanded/blown out

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The section of the party blower is measured when coiled up. The width of the paper and the dimensions of the mouthpiece was then measured.

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1.0 IDEATION 1.1 Object

Digital Model The digital model of the party blower is modelled in Rhino using line and circular curves, and then extruded or lofted to create the desired shape. Boolean difference or split is also used to trim any harsh edges, such as the folding of the paper at the edge of the plastic tube. The tapered option during extrusion for the tube is selected to create the original plastic tube shape.

Digital Model 1.1: Party popper curled up/relaxed from perspective

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Digital Model 1.2: Party popper curled up/relaxed from perspective

1.2 Object + System Analysis

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1.2 Object + System Analysis

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1.2 Volume

Reconfigured Object

Reconfigured Object 1.0: Perspective view

Reconfigured Object 1.1: Perspective view

My sketch model is mainly made out of wires flattened out in paper, and then bent to the desired shape.

I have taken the concept of the movement of the party blower where the wire and paper are both combined to form its different shapes through simple air flow.

Reconfigured Object 1.3: Back view

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1.2 Volume

Reconfigured Object

Reconfigured Object 1.3: Front view

The concept of my reconfigured object evolves around the wire and its ability to curl, forming coverage for what is beneath it.

Also, the concept of the party blower’s movement is focused on, and is translated into the model where the wire and paper are combined to form a dynamic shape.

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Reconfigured Object 1.4: Perspective view

1.3 Sketch Design Proposal

Sketch Design #1

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1.3 Sketch Design Proposal

Sketch Design #2

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1.3 Sketch Design Proposal

Sketch Design #3

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1.0 IDEATION Reflection

Based on Module 1: Ideation, I had the opportunity to explore my design development process through analysing the party blower and applying its form and movement to my reconfigured design in relation to the sleeping pod. In this module, I have focused on the concept of the party blower which is skin and bone, and has applied that to my design using aluminum wires and paper, creating a dynamic shape that provides coverage through its “leaves”, while providing movement with the malleability of the wires. At the beginning of the module, I found the technical drawings to be rather straight-forward, however, as the module progresses, I felt that it was rather challenging to produce a reconfigured design based on a simple object like the party blower.

Nonetheless, the Making Workshop was insightful and allowed me to generate more ideas for my design, as it enlightened me further on the material system of the party blower, which was skin and bone. This is because we were encouraged to “break the rules” and design unconventially, which I found to be highly interesting and refreshing as opposed to my other studios where we were always required to accommodate the rigidity of the brief, such as Design Studio: Earth. I strongly believe that thinking out of the box is crucial when developing my design, as it helps me advance as a designer, by going beyond my own boundaries.

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DIGITAL DESIGN + FABRICATION SM1, 2016 M2 JOURNAL Priscilla Auyeung & Rose Ong 795998 & 743424 Tim Cameron | Group 6

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2.0 DESIGN

2.1 Design development intro

From Module 1 to Module 2, Priscilla and I attempted to incorporate both of our ideas into one based on our reconfigured design. We extracted my “leaf” idea and tried to combine it with Priscilla’s coil design.

We explored the different ways on how the leaves could work with the coils cohesively as one function - a sleeping pod. We also targeted the different areas of the upper body to see which part is most appropriate for our design.

We liked how the leaves provided coverage whereas the coils could be a medium of support, allowing users to feel comfortable at the same time.

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2.2 Digitalization + Design Proposal V.1

Digital Model

In this first iteration, we highlighted the use of leaves in order to create a protective surface, serving as a boundary providing personal space for the user. The leaves start from the back of the neck and curve around the scalp, meeting at a point in front of the face, which can be considered the most vulnerable part of the head.

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2.3 Precedent Research

Precedent Research

In this first iteration, we highlighted the use of leaves in order to create a protective surface, serving as a boundary providing personal space for the user. The leaves start from the back of the neck and curve around the scalp, meeting at a point in front of the face, which can be considered the most vulnerable part of the head.

This structure of the precedents studied greatly involves the bending and shaping of metal to create a curved and rigid structure to serve as the structure’s “bone.”

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2.4 Design Proposal V.2

Digital Model

Perspective

Side view

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2.4 Design Proposal V.2

Concept Drawings Moving forward, we have decided to focus primarily on movement that involves a compact form expanding to create volume.

This second iteration of our design involves a series of sturdy, wire hoops (the “bone”) that meet at a hinge on the back of the head. They’re connected via a single coil that retracts and unravels to create a protective volume in which the user can find refuge.

The wire frame also acts as a support system for the head, allowing users to rest their head comfortably on the fabric (the “skin”) without having to lean against the table top.

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2.4 Design Proposal V.2

Concept Drawings + Precedent Applied

For our pod design, we emphasized the wire structure idea taken from the Burnham Pavilion. This is meant to serve as the main frame for our idea, providing rigidity and shelter. When expanded, the leaves are meant to mimic the structure of a ribcage, extending from behind to curve around the body.

From these precedents, we derived the idea of using a spring/coil system to perform the retracting/expanding movement that serves as the main function of our original object, the party horn.

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2.5 Prototype + Testing Effects

Our leaves are made of two major components: stretchy, black fabric that acts as our “skin;” and rigid wire as the “bone,” serving as the frame to our entire structure. In order to attach the leaves to the user’s body, we inserted the ends of them into foam pads that are meant to rest on the person’s shoulders. Here, the leaves are fully extended, ending at a point to create a kind of menacing look, discouraging others from approching the user.

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2.5 Prototype + Testing Effects

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When the coils are curled up, they can be easily stored on the body in a compact way. The dark color of the fabric and the overlapping of the leaves help keep the user covered enough to feel at ease when sleeping, but the negative space between the leaves as well as the sheer characteristic of the fabric allow the user to still be in tune with what is going on.

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2.0 DESIGN Reflection

Based on Module 2: Design, Priscilla and I have explored the different ways of designing our sleeping pod with our material system of skin and bone.

We first started off with V.1 which was not feasible as it was not only uncomfortable, but also provided little coverage or shelter. I think we focused too much on aesthetic at first, and then soon realized that functionality was key, and then only aesthetics. We also wanted to emphasize on the movement of the sleeping pod, as inspired by the party blower, and experimented with different materials such as measuring tapes and coiling mechanisms (ID card holders), while figuring out how to integrate that onto our “leaves�. It was challenging to incorporate movement into our design, while meeting all the criterias of a sleeping pod. I believe we were too focused on having to merge both of our reconfigured designs together, while allowing movement and providing comfort and so forth, that it got too overwhelming which made it difficult for us to tackle one problem at a time. Hence, our prototype was unsuccessful and did not work the way we wanted to. Althought it had the sturcture that we wished for, it was stuck on its movement aspect as it was made out of wires, which do not work in simple coiling mechanisms. Nonetheless, it was interesting exploring our ideas and going beyond our own boundaries as designers. Most of the time, we have similar ideas, and we both find it easy to come to an agreement whenever we have to make a decision.

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DIGITAL DESIGN + FABRICATION SM1, 2016 M3 JOURNAL Priscilla Auyeung & Rose Ong 795998 & 743424 Tim Cameron | Group 6

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3.0 FABRICATION 3.1 Introduction

After exploring the different prototype designs and concepts in Module 2, we have decided to fabricate our design through laser-cutting and 3D Printing for a higher quality product. In our design in Module 3, we have focused on the coiling mechanism and its retraction of the fabric over a frame system, which we fabricated by ourselves through both laser-cutting and laser printing. We ensured that the base of the sleeping pod was carefully designed in order to fit the user comfortably through a waffle concept involving notches. The 3D-printed components were made to support the leaves, which is also part of the frame system for the fabric to slide over, like a railing. It was very insightful experimenting the different ways of approaching our ideas through the fabrication process.

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Prototype development As we continued to develop our idea, we decided that using a cushion as a shoulder & neck brace would be comfortable but neither structurally sound nor cohesive with the rest of our design. So, we decided to create a more skeletal kind of harness that would be made up of a series of small, curved pieces that mirror the form of the large leaves.

These curved pieces would rest snuggly as shoulder braces on the body. In order to keep these shoulder brace pieces together, we would create a series of curved joints that would be notched with them. These joints would then be notched with the leaves that extend above the body to arch over the head.

This design proved to be not only more cohesive with the bone aspect of our skin and bone design, but also showed more promise in terms creating a more sturdy system that can stand alone when being worn.

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After testing the pieces we had laser cut, we found that the shoulder braces did not fit to the shoulder as snuggly as we hoped. Because they were too small, they couldn’t rest on the shoulder or provide enough support to even one leaf without being held up manually.

The next decision we made then was to lengthen the backs of each shoulder brace so that they could extend along the rest of the torso.

We made each brace longer by a different amount to create a staggering effect that not only made the overall geometry more intriguing, but also provided more support in the middle of the body, close to the user’s spine.

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Completed 2nd Skin

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3.0 FABRICATION Reflection

Based on Module 3: Fabrication, Priscilla and I have definitely worked together most co-operatively in this module as we challenged our time management skills while being cost-efficient. We had the opportunity to laser-cut and 3D Print during this module, which mainly evolved around the 3D Program Rhino. We found it rather challenging at first when we first started fabricating as there were many functions on Rhino that we did not quite understand. However after some practice, we were much more comfortable with the basic rules of fabricating. We then realized that it really wasn’t as hard as we thought, and that fabricating is one very useful tool that we can re-apply in our future projects, as not only it produces work of higher quality, but is also time-efficient.

Although some trial and errors were costly, we managed to learn from them and not repeat the same mistakes. I believe that we have advanced a lot as designers since learning how to fabricate.

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4.0 REFLECTION

Overall, I found the subject to be extremely insightful on the use of fabrication through digital programs like Rhino. The learning objective is evident in all of its exercises, and is highly beneficial for future studios as they are strongly applicable for future design projects. I find that working with a group mate was definitely a great opportunity to advance as a designer, as we, as designers have different ideas and perspectives when it comes to subjective topics like deisgn.

I strongly believe that the key element of the whole subject is being able to fabricate and design according to a certain brief, through our own creativity and capaibility as designers.

I found that through learning how to laser cut and 3D print, as well as advancing further in Rhino, I definitely have a great insight now on how objects or models are made, which can be useful in the future as I am majoring in architecture. Module 3 was undoubtedly the most challenging topic, as we struggled with fabrication as our mechanism may not be as feasible for such standard. We were also caught up on the whole idea of incorporating both of our reconfigured designs together, combining them with movement, while meeting the criteria of a comfortable sleeping, that we struggled to produce a decent prototype in time, hence causing us to be one week behind every week.

Through the modules, we have improved signififcantly as opposed to pre-enrolling into this subject, where fabricating is out of the question when producing a model or a design.

Although we struggled to produce a sleeping pod of high quality, through the process of it, we have learnt a lot about fabrication as we had so many difficulties with 3D printing. I feel that I am more comfortable with both laser-cutting and 3D printing materials now, and would not hesitate to do so for any future projects. I have also learnt to accommodate a brief by concentrating on functionality of a product, while “breaking the rules� as a designer.

I personally feel that Priscilla and I worked very well together, although our product may not be of top-notch quality. We both struggled and tried out best to solve and tacke each issue that we encounter together as a team, and had mutual respect when it comes to sharing and deciding on design ideas. We both agreed that not only have we learnt so much in this fabrication subject, but from each other as individual designers as well. I strongly believe that I have become more accepting of the ideas of others now compared to before, and am able to change my perspective easily when trying to target an issue with different solutions.

Furthermore, Tim was also helpful in advicing us in our designs, and guided us through it all despite our failures. Digital Design and Fabrication is definitely one of the most challenging subjects that I have enrolled in, but one of the most insightful as I feel that my creative horizons have expanded.

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