Module 3
Semester 2, 2013 Sophia Nguyen
It was suggested that I try to incorporate two main themes into my design idea. One was the transparency and rigidity behind the fence and the other was the blocking of the senses to provide the illusion of security. The problem I had with incorporating both of these themes was that they contradicted each other; the fence idea relied on the expression of personal space through a see-through structure and the other, through an opque structure. I didn’t want the compromise between the two ideas to affect how the skin would perform in both of these aspects.
The skin around eyes and ears has to be opque to block senses.
Even though chest and back are vulnerable areas, lighter protection is required. Can be used to express degree of vulnerability- transparency can be incorporated
This design by Jule Waibel was really useful in terms of seeing what could be done with folds. The mechanism behind the bag is a lot similar to the one behind the privacy shell from Veasyble, but it applies it in a new and different way. I liked this because it gave me a more open mind when I was thinking about a different way to apply a similar fold. I also think that this design could very well fit the brief that was given to us at the beginning of the semester, although the designer did have different intentions in mind when they creatd these pieces.
I thought that these designs, taken from the Zoe Bradley website, were good examples of how a simple fold can be used in different ways to create texture and to convey the idea of space.
These are Motion Forms by Richard Sweeney, and although they were designed around the theme of motion, I really liked the way the curves and the structure of the folds have created a form in three dimensional space. I think these are really beautiful forms and could perhaps be incorporated into my context.
I initially tried to incorporate everything into my idea; that is, I wanted it to be somewhat transparent, somewhat opque, a dynamic structure, protective of te chest and upper back areas and able to block the areas with the most prominent areas (the eyes, the ears and maybe the nose). I came up with a hat that basically rolled down to cover the face, neck and chest. However, I was unsatisfied with this idea because it wasn’t really thought through properly and was in no way aesthetically appealing. I had no idea how I was going to make this look nice and when I tried making my first prototype, the folds were crumpled- which probably should have been something I thought of first.
I then remembered to follow the suggestion to start off looking at different types of folds. I was told that the fold should justify the design and inspired by the anecdote that a skin could be pulled out from a thin layer made up of many folds, I went through the book, looking for a fold that would fill this criteria. The book, Folding techniques for Designers: From Sheet to Form by Paul Jackson was a very helpful and insightful guide to the different types of folds. After looking at a few patterns, it became increasignly obvious that complex structures are really just simple modulars repeated. So I experimented with a few of my own and although they were useful in understanding folds, they weren’t really applicable to my design criteria.
Some more folds....
Finally I came across one that I thought would be suitable. I thought that it was relatively hard to deform, it could be repeated to create different shapes and was easy to fold in and out. I then repeated it in different forms to see what I could come up with.
Attempt at connecting them in a linear sequence Trying to see if fold must have all sides free to fold properly
Most basic form
Doubled the folds. Weaker in strength
Obviously not...
Left: Using one piece of paper to form four repeated patterns with points connecting.
Above and left: Trying to encompass fold to see if all sides can be connected but still fold perfectly. Failed. Paper tore.
So after experimenting with the fold, I found that the best and sure way to have strong folds was to have them in a linear sequence or with their straight sides joined rather than their folded ones.
FRONT
BACK
The skin will be attached Panels will extend from back towards the front. to the back of the head/ neck/ upper back. The Curves will be incorporated because they make straight, bold black line indicates the place from the skin look less urbanwhich the skin will expand. ized and more natural. Holes may be added to All areas are opaque. Trisome of the lower parts of angles represent separate the skin to show a degree folded patterns. of transparency adn vulThere was the option of nerability in the skin. doing it horizontally but it Skin will wrap around front, covering forehead, was felt that vertical pulleyes and ears to provide ing would allow for more control. protection.