DDF_M2 Journal

DIGITAL DESIGN + FABRICATION SM1, 2016 M2 JOURNAL - SLEEPING BACKPACK Trinh Pham, Nik Lee,Henrik Green 784173, 697421, 803461 Joshua Russo - Tutorial 7

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CONTENTS

PERSONAL SPACE...........................................................................................................3 SKETCH DESIGN DEVELOPMENT....................................................................................4 REFINED SKETCH MODEL................................................................................................5 2ND SKIN PROPOSED DESIGN V.1................................................................................6 2ND SKIN PROPOSED DESIGN V.2................................................................................8 2ND SKIN PROPOSED DESIGN V.3..............................................................................10 PRECEDENT RESEARCH 1.............................................................................................12 PRECEDENT RESEARCH 2.............................................................................................14 PRECEDENT RESEARCH 3.............................................................................................16 DESIGN DEVELOPMENT................................................................................................18 RHINO MODEL OF NEW SKETCH DESIGN....................................................................24 PROTOTYPE....................................................................................................................26 TESTING EFFECTS............................................................................................................28 APPENDIX......................................................................................................................29

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PERSONAL SPACE

In order to create a design that responds to personal spaces, we measured the model’s subjective sensitivities in different body parts. The images show the subject is the most sensitive around the arm, head and frontal chest area.

Therefore, to create an ideal personal space, our design will aim to protect the model’s sensitive body areas according to the study that is shown in the images.

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Sketch Design Development

From Module 1, we decided to use the butterfly shapes and the leaf shapes to further develop our design. The very first idea is to produce a double-layer structure. The external layer is a rigid frame that creates a clear boundary between user’s personal space and surrounding environment. However, the structure still ensures comfortable postion by having a layer of fabric or soft material wrapping around his/her body. The butterfly shapes are potential for building aexternal frame and grid layer, while the curved leaves following body shapes act a shell protecting the user.

Timber frame built from butterfly shapes

Fabric layer

Plastic layer

IDEA 1

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IDEA 2

Refined Sketch Model

MODEL 1

MODEL 2

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2nd Skin proposed design V.1

TOP VIEW

SIDE VIEW

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ISOMETRIC VIEW

Proposal 1Design Process

Cushion and Plastic

Taking the idea of a flower and bird nest, the structure considers the visual elements of a butterfly and leafs as a personal sleeping pod. We also utilised panel and fold structure to allow the design to be flexible for comfort and furthermore allows saving space.

The space gap in between each panel also provides a peeking space for the user, also allows light to come through, allowing a sufficient amount of interaction with the exterior world while sleeping.

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2nd Skin proposed design V.2

Unlike Design 1, we aim at designing a sleeping pod that wraps around one’s body and can be attached to an existing chair

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2nd Skin proposed design V.2

When a person is sleeping, the external frame acts as a protector from surrounding environment. The upper body is enclosed in the spherical structure

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2nd Skin proposed design V.3

TOP VIEW

RIGHT VIEW

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ISOMETRIC VIEW

2nd Skin proposed design V.3

Flat sheet with wave form

The strips are arranged around the pod

Thin strips cut from the sheet

Right elevation sketch with ribs

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Precedent Research 1 Not Whole Fence by Ball-Nogues

Visibility, Protection, Light, Milling

Part of the fence showing how material density varies to create a pattern as well as effects in terms of light and visibility.

A schematic drawing of a single section which shows how the depth of the section varies.

Description of precedent In the precedent example, protection around a volume is achieved by multiple parallel sections. Visibility and light is controlled by altering the material density of fence by milling of the profiles to produce a wave like pattern inspired by a wooden plank. The visibility through some parts the piece invites to interaction with people in its surrounding.

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Precedent applied to design Visibility, Protection, Light, Milling

Elevation option 2 Elevation option 1

Spacing of ribs increases B

A

B

A Scematic plan view option 2 Scematic plan view option 1

How can you use this precedent to influence your design ?

The material density can be varied to provide: visual control of personal space by making possible to see through while close to the ribs but not from afar. Control of light, the material density may be adjusted to achieve a comfortable quality of light inside the pod

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Precedent Research 2 Veasyble by GAIA

Transformability - Panel and fold - Collapsibility - Initimacy - Wearable

Description of precedent Veasyble by GAIA focuses on the concept of isolation and transformability by creating a device that is collapsible to create a portable and wearable personal space. The portability of the design allows the user to have maximum level of intimacy through the panel and fold system.

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Precedent applied to design Transformability - Panel and fold - Collapsibility - Initimacy - Wearable

How can you use this precedent to influence your design ?

After studying the precedent design, we’ve decided to make our design collapsible, therefore requiring a new design of the pattern to create a more defensive personal space. When expand, the depth of the design increases, up to 5 cm more than our previous version. In addition, we have also considered making the device wearable by adding a bag straps to allow a portable and secure design.

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Precedent Research 3 California: Stage Set for John Jasperse

Flexibility – Reflectivity – Lightweight- Translucency

Description of precedent In making this dance piece, John Jasperse focuses on creating a complex developable surface from basic triangular shapes. These pieces are connected to each other by zip ties, which act as a pin joint allowing flexible movements. Besides, the main material of the panels is polycarbonate. Polycarbonate sheets are translucent and they can aborb and diffuse light. This can help create different effects while the dancers are performing on stage.

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Precedent applied to design Flexibility – Reflectivity – Lightweight- Translucency Zip ties are used to connect two pieces of plastic together

How can you use this precedent to influence your design ?

Frosted

polycarbonate

frame

can help limit light transmission to inside of the sleeping pod, but maintains social interaction

We were interested in John Japserse’s choice of material and his use of pin joints. Polycarbonate sheet can be a great idea for the external frame of the sleeping pod. As it diffuses and reflects light, polycarbonate frame, with translucent feature, allows social interaction, but limits the amount of light that reaches the person inside sleeping pod.

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Design development

After analyzing the precedent research, we decided to create new geometric shape from the original sketch model. The sketch model was cut in half and two halves were glued together to make the new shape that has more depth and can be folded in multiple directions.

We also tested out the zip joints on the new sketch model. However, we found out that paper is not a good material to test out joints, so we decided to laser cut the shape on polypropylene sheets (we want to use plastic as our main material)

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Design development

Shape 1

Shape 2

We laser cut two different shapes from polypropylene sheets to test out the materials, joints, system, and voume

The first model with curves requires many joints which reduces flexibility of the structure. Also, the curves weaken its structural form

we had to use many joints and it reduces the flexibility of the structure.

Also there are big gap and space in between which is not ideal for sleeping pod design

After testing shape 2, we revisited Shape 1 due to the elasticity of the polypropylene. Shape 1 has more surface area and can potentially create more barrier for the user.

After merging Design 1 and Design 2, we decided to omit the pentagon chain, but keep the butterfly shape and developed them as a bird nest around one’s body. This structure can be folded into a backpack and the main material is expected to be polypropylene.

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Design development MDF

Polypropylene

As we chose the butterfly shape, we decided to slightly change our design. Instead of having folded panel structure wrapping around the back, we incorporate a section and profile structure (ideally MDF timber) attached to the model’s back and the folded panels joining with the timber frame and expanding to cover one’s face and chest.

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Rhino model Sketch Design

TOP VIEW

SIDE VIEW

ISOMETRIC VIEW

FRONT VIEW

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Design development - Joints issue

We have tested out threads and cable ties as potential joints but threads are too weak to keep the shapes together. The cable ties are too large compared to the thickness of plastic sheets. It turns out to be not so aesthetic.

We also thought of using plastic binding screws to connect the panels together. However, our priority is joining the panels together without using any extra or fabricated materials.

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After consulting with our tutor, we finally came up with a pin joints between panels by creating holes on one panel and arrow shape on another panel then joinining them together. With this joint, panels are allowed to flexibly perform rotational movement and have strong resistance to tensile force.

Design development - Version #2

In order to increase comfort, the shape of the backbone of the pod was altered. A more rounded profile allows the wearer to rest comfortably against a surface at more angles than the previous shape.

To keep the panel folded and to fasten it when unfolded a thin strip of MDF can be attached to the panel and a groove cut in the half-circle around the neck. By rotating the strip it can be pulled through the groove and then fasten in the slot of the neck piece. The idea is that the internal forces of the panel, compression when folded and tension when unfolded, will keep the strip in place.

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Rhino model of new Sketch Design

FRONT VIEW

ISOMETRIC VIEW

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TOP VIEW

SIDE VIEW

BACK VIEW

Rhino model of new Sketch Design

RHINO PROCESS

The panel design alllows restricted interaction. User can observe activities and objects through space gap between the panels.

Create butterfly patterns by using Line, PlanarCurves and FoldFace command

Draw different curves by using InterpCrv command

However, people from outside cannot see through the panels.

Unnecessary direct light can also be limited, allowing user to have a good nap with minimum interference.

Create surface by using Loft command

Generate grids and offset grids in order to panel custom 3D from butterfly patterns

Fastening details

Panel custom 3D from butterfly pattern

Fix details with Gumball and Mirror command

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Prototype

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Prototype - Details

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Testing Effects

Folded position

The polypropylene panels performe as “partly-invisible” barrier between user’s personal space and surrounding environment. In Side view and Isometric view, people from outside can partly see through the panels. However, they cannot fully observe the actions and expressions of the user. This structure create a boundary that protect user, but at the same time, it still allows social interaction when necessary.

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Appendix - Reflection and Current Issue

At the moment, we are experiencing issue with the folding function of the panels. Due to elastic characteristic of polypropylene, the panels are inclined to bend downward in the middle, which distort the shape of the structure. Also, considerable amount of force is required to compress and keep all the panels in their folded position. With the current fasterning detail, we have difficult in compressing the panels as their reaction force is greater than the force generated by the fastener.

We are aiming to work on the fastening detail and think of better solution to compress the polypropylene panels in faster and easier way. We will also try to solve the bending issue by testing out bigger panels and replacing pin joints by more fixed joints.

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