Virtural Environments M2: Design Student No: 639492, 641728 Kevin Huynh & Sarah Chan
Semester: 2/ 2013 Group: 5
Idea Development - Research
Concept One
Idea Development - Sketches
Development of the design was the main goal this week for our journals. The best ideas that came from both our individual works were put forward and combined in such a way that both ideas were still present, however creating something completely unique from the original. Defining what a second skin is, required personal critique. Lectures and readings had ideas of how others perceived a second skin, however we wanted to include our own interpretation and reflect our ideas of a second skin. A combination of differing ideas gave us a chance to question what we wanted to achieve through the design and furthermore gave us the opportunity to critique, analyse and reflect on one another’s ideas.
Idea Development - Sketches
Initially, we researched the concept of skin and bone and a second skin. However sometimes only one aspect of skin and bone was shown, so we decided that in some areas of the design only skin will be present, and on others just bone. Additionally, we also decided on areas with a combination of them both.
The brief wanted a second skin that reflected skin and bone and a sense of personal space. After establishing the form, we wanted to define our ideas of personal space.
Idea Development - Sketches
Most of us function well with our sense of vision, however when this disappears, we become less comfortable. Therefore we came up with an idea where our face could be partially covered to hide ourselves, yet also permitting us to see past it. Having a boundary and stopping strangers from entering our personal space is necessary, especially areas behind us and to our left. Both of us are right handed and we agreed that it is our dominant side in comparison to our left. Our initial idea was a ‘bubble’ that surrounded the body with protective spikes that protruded from the surface, evoking an emotion of fear for the viewers, but also arousing the emotion of fear within ourselves due to our fear of strangers. Yet this did not reflect one of the themes we were aiming for which was discourse.
Idea Development - Sketches
Through research and personal reflection, we established the emotions we wanted to evoke, which were later transferred into our design. We wanted to establish and evoke contrasting feelings that changed from one person to another.
The feelings we established were, fear, discourse and truth. The context of truth was showing real emotions behind a personality, not caring what others thought about them and not holding back. Discourse can be established due to the various perceptions of second skin and its changes. Fear is including as a measure of personal support as we both fear the outcome of this design but also fearing the judgment that comes along with it.
Idea Development - Rhino
Discourse was a problem we faced in answering the brief; discourse is the communication or debate of a matter or object. We wanted to reflect this emotion in the design but we questioned if the second skin should be skintight or lose fitting, used geometric or organic shapes and portable or fixed. This gave us a good foundation to develop our initial ideas.
Idea Development - Rhino
We changed the form and made it simple, yet a sense of complexity was still evident. We settled with an asymmetrical aesthetic, however the juxtaposition between the spikes and the curved form of its exterior still portrayed some sort of balance between the two. Blurring the boundary of skin and the design may be another path we might pursue, and also establishing a hierarchy through the use of colour and tones.
Idea Development - Rhino
Concept Two
Precedent Study #1 Cedric Price, London Zoo Aviary Designed by Cedric Price the Aviary highlights the beauty through a simplistic nature. The design is complex, however simple at the same time, which showcases weightlessness- like a bird. The frame pioneering through the sky like the birds that are kept inside it. Singular parts of the frame fit together to form the basic shape of the structure. These simple structures form pairs as they move together, as the volume of the space changes, similar to the umbrella. The framing of the design establishes the bone structure and the mesh the skin structure and together forming an inter-connected skin and bone structure that reflects the configuration of a bird. The design illustrates form through the use of geometric shapes and also through the use of a transparent mesh to establish the contrasting features of skin and bone but also the balance that each theme represents. The scale and proportion of bone to skin is quite similar, with no real aspect dominating the hierarchy of the design, as a majority of the design is empty space. This empty space creating a sense of great volume, which is key in the design, as the wildlife that is kept inside must feel ‘wild.’ The design may influence the way we shape and proportion our design, however most pressingly it will serve as a starting point in generating the space we want through shapes and forms. Note the minimal use of material, however resulting in a large volume of space.
Precedent Study #2 Yurt Tent The Yurt is a freestanding structure that is a portable dwelling structure used by nomads in central Asia. The yurt made with natural materials uses a repeating geometric pattern of form the supporting structure that is held together by the tension of the membrane rapped around it. The Yurt and the umbrella have many similar characteristics that related to skin and bone. The most pressing is the type of connections present in each. Since the Yurt is portable no nails are used in the construction but the knot of cord similar to the umbrella. The connections of each element in the Yurt are very similar to the umbrella, where the movement of one element caused movement in the other elements, since all elements are inter-connected. Furthermore there is flexibility to the Yurt and the umbrella that enables it to sway with the wind allowing it to flex and not snap. The design of the Yurt is extremely similar to the umbrella, and due to this the idea of connections may be explored further and also the idea of branching and reaching present in the ribs and arms.
Precedent Study #3 New Chamber Music Hall, Manchester The bone structure in this design is wired in such a way that shows many curves and turns, also portraying a sense of elegancy, especially because there are no sharp corners or rigid areas. It is framed by wires of different lengths and joined together onto a continuous of wire that enhances the direction of flow. This consistent flow from the structure compliments well with the context of the design. This is because it is created for a music hall and generates the feeling of awe towards the audience and viewers. The various sizes that create the appearance of genes forms an abstract look and is very random. This skin of this design and structure has white platforms that fit into the gaps between the wires. The colour white gives it a sense of purity and peace, which is exactly what is required at a music hall where people can experience the beautiful music of instruments. Another factor for these white panels, other than for its appearance, may be because of practical means, where these large panels can act as walls and sound can bounce off them. This also changes the atmosphere of the room as the audience can experience the full potential of sound coming from the orchestra. The shape and its idea of having a spiral look is very unique and I could incorporate this idea into my design. This can also be a boundary or barrier that stops any strangers from getting close by. Therefore I could use this same concept where sound can rebound from wall to wall. The theme of the design is focused on ‘blindness’, some of these features can be used near the ear area to enhance other senses such as hearing.
Precedent Study #4 Membranes – Sean Ahlquist The bone structure of this design is very abstract and looks flexible. The curved sides of the design seem to be manipulated by the stretch of the skin where it appears to be pulled and tugged at to create the form that it is now. Due to the bone’s flexibility, there is no restriction to its shape as it can be bent in specific ways in various degrees. There also seems to be a smaller bone structure that is more faint and comes form the skin. Diamond like shapes can be seen through the transparent skin where there is a continued pattern connecting to each other. Although, this bone structure is not as thick as the exterior bone, it still works as a structure that keeps the stretchy skin material intact, instead of being a loose material. The skin of the design is very stretchy, therefore can be used in various ways and conditions. Stretching this material results to a transparent appearance even though there is a smaller bone structure within it that can be seen. The appearance of this material reminds me of spider webs that can evoke feelings of fear as I have a dislike for spiders. Generating ideas and using inspiration from this design, helps me come up with more designs that can represent the theme of ‘blindness’. The flexible bone structure can become very useful because it can be used to repel objects or people without harming them because of its flexibility. This allows us to push people or stranger away from us without physically using our hands to push them. Otherwise, this flexible bone structure could be used as a sensory guide, informing the ‘blind’ individual that there is something in the boundary.
Blindness - Movement #1 After exploring the idea of fear, discourse and truth we decided to backtrack and solely focus on the concept of blindness which was an initial design concept. We focused on protecting and defending our personal space through fear. Covering our face transformed to being afraid which then transformed to provoking fear in others through a intimidating volume. We wanted to define our personal space when blind however this completely exploded out of proportion.We feel that the addition of fear, discourse and truth it did not promote or present ideas of being physically blind but clouded the definition of blindness. The concept of blindness came from the sense of perception, since sight is a major aspect of personal space, restricting sight would significantly affect personal space. Through sight we can identify and determine the affect of a object, however since eye sight is restricted we cannot identify objects therefore changing the affect of the object affecting personal space. Eye sight also allows other individual to ‘see into us’ and determines the magnitude of personal space relative to themselves, in restricting others from seeing us, we can affect their personal space.
Blindness - Movement #2
The room was set up in a way where I was unfamiliar with its new obstacles. Chairs were aligned in the middle of the room, which I was not used to and was not aware of before I was blindfolded. I became very apprehensive once I began the activity; feeling my way around the place and not knowing where I have to go to be safe. What I had considered safe was not hurting myself and having the ability to get around objects that are in the way. Both my right and left hand was used but I noticed that I tended to use my right side more than the other. It also felt much safer when I didn’t walk front forwards, but having my body facing it’s side and walking sideways was a lot more practical when blinded. The reason why I used my right hand more is because I believe it is the most dominant side of me that helps me a lot more than my left arm. It is the arm that is most physically stronger and most coordinated, therefore automatically becoming the dominant arm of the two.
Blindness - Movement #3
I later tried an area that I was familiar with, my living room. This was not as easy as I first thought it would be, especially with the fact that I already knew where all the furniture was. I tried feeling my way around by running one hand with a straight edge and follow it till my wandering hand can find another object that is of distance from me. Without the use of a stick or something long enough that could act like a cane and being visually impaired, I had to focus much more on my other senses such as touch. I realised that my two senses of touch and hearing was required more and was strengthened as I kept focusing on them.
2.5 M
Blindness - Mapping Personal Space
When we are blinded, our motions are a lot slower because the environment around us is unknown. This is why our sense of touch is so important, in order for us to feel our way around obstavles. We rotate our body and swing our arms in a 360 degree motion till we are able to grasp onto an object or feel something that can help guide our pathway.
Knowing that the environment around you is safe, your mind starts to play tricks with you, playing on your emotion strings that makes you feel very unstable. I no longer felt more comfortable with a right than left, or front than back, the personal space surrounding me was equal in magnitude. The space around me became precious, and my personal space around my transfromed into a sohere covering my whole body .
Personal Space before blined
The front was important to protect when we were blind folded. Although the back is most vulnarable when we are not visually impaired, the front tends to be the main focus of action when we are blinded from our vision.
Blindness - Reflection
Vision is beautiful, you are able to view life, and through viewing life you experience life. However when blindfolded for only 30 minutes life loses the characteristics that make life wonderful. You start to feel alone and experience anxiety. Your personal space becomes skin tight as you are not unable to perceive your surroundings, you want the space around you, an change in the surroundings environment will cause dramatic emotional affect. The space around you becomes personals however the boundary of your personal space increasing exponentially as time goes on. With the lack of visual stimulation, your mind starts to question the space around you, your sense of visual perception is missing and due to this your mind starts to produce the space around you, you start to sense things that are around you and also sense things are are not, you start to imagine your surroundings.
During the time blindfolded your mind starts to relay on your other senses. Touch, smell and hearing. Especially touch, you feel the environment around you as you move around. I walked around my house two times, once with a stick and the other with just my hands. What I experienced was with the stick I was more willing to feel my surroundings as I didn’t fear getting harmed. Also I walked in a more causal manner, without the stick I reverted back to post evolution when man moved around on all paws. Earring was another strong sense, it felt like my hearing increase, the things that I normally wouldn’t have heard was very loud.
Idea Development
Idea Development
Idea Development
Idea Development
Idea Development
The left side of the design is more compact becasue the left side was found most vulnerable even with or without the ability to see.
The bone structure in this design creates a larger skin which can be reminded of the fourth precedent from the works of Sean Ahlquist.
The spikes help detect any objects or people that are nearby that can possibly invade our personal space.
The fan-like structure has the ability to block strangers away from their personal space.
Idea Development
The left side is more conjested with the design pieces because the left arm is not used as much as the right arm. The right arm is left to be free, therefore can conduct any sort of actions without any restrictions.
These spiral shapes are used to help enhance other senses such as hearing when vision is impaired. Sound can travel easily by bouncing off these long tubes. This design also has the abilty to block strangers away from their personal boundaries especially on the left side.
Rhino