Virtual Environments: LANTERN
Virtual Environments Semester 2 2012 Group 14
Zheng Xingguo (Zach) 395236
Volcano
Lantern
Before Life
Artificial Light
INSPIRATION LIGHT NATURAL EARTH NONLIVING
Where does natural light come from? Light by the earth, even before life?
Fire Light
Natural Light
Earth Light
Sun Light
The first idea started from the eruption of volcano, which was treated as a still picture on a 2D plane. The visual intersections of parabolas generated grids
IDEATION1 Intersection Visual Grid Chessboard Tape
The lava patterns show both dark and bright colour due to different temperatures. By importing the pattern colours into the grids, a chessboard pattern was formed
As temperature differences can move materials into layers, the lava pattern was interpreted as two layers in its section view. This developed a double-layer idea.
Double layer is a good way to replace simply painted grids through creating visual grid patterns by tapes. A combination of visual grids, chessboard patterns, tapes and the volcano cone shape generated the first idea, which was not practical because of too many curved surfaces and its high extent of pure mimicry of the volcano.
The second Idea focused on the volcanic layers. In the 2D section view of the volcano, of soils and rocks were simplified into parallel lines in terms of layers as indicated in sketches on left.
IDEATION2 Volcanic Layer Rectangle Polygon Ring Overlap
The top view of the volcano was transformed into a round ring shape, then into polygon ring. The hollow part represented the hollow tube of the volcano.
Then the parallel lines were extruded into 3D layers of rectangle. Each short edge of the rectangle matched an edge of the polygon ring as desired.
Finally the rectangles were overlapped to generate the concept on the left picture. This concept was not practical because of its predictable unstable structure and highly extent of pure mimicry.
IDEATION3 Tectonics Trapezoid Square Rotation The third idea was developed based on the tectonic theory, which is the process of volcano, rather than the appearance of it. This idea avoided the pure mimicry and provided a wider possibility for future modification.
The chrono-photograph of the tectonic movement generated shapes with serration, and similar to trapezoid. While the section of the continent show square shapes. The combination of the square and the trapezoid formed the ¼ compoennt in the sketch. The finally concept consisted of four same components.
The concept of a torch, named Trioch, was an inspiration to the lantern project. It is a simple design, symmetrical model with a trapezoid shape in side view. Both its top and bottom can be positioned up and down.
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Precedent & Plasticine The model was practical in clay material. But its curved surfaces on sides need a better solution in paper material, because paper is fragile and not stable, thus not easy to curve.
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All Possibilities DEGITISATION & DESIGN
MODEL DIGITISATION PROCESS
The separate parts were combined again based on the elements of two squares with 45ยบ. This is the idea of unique, and it will be enhanced in further development.
The separate parts of the model compromised the uniqueness of the design because there are always 4 same components. It is also difficult to modify for the same reasons. Clay Model
Digital Model
Key Elements RECOMBINATION
Single Piece
The exterior of the recombined model was designed to be unrolled into one single tape. This reapplied the concept of tape and visual intersections from ideation part. It emphasized the idea of unity. UNROLLING: SINGLE TAPE
UNITY Emergence Unpredictability The idea of unity comes from the unibody concept in Apple’s Macbook design. Further development of the lantern project explored the method to incorporate unity into not only the exterior appearance such as the shape; but the spirit of the design, the intangible rules deeply inside the model. Emergence and unpredictability (Lecture 6) were two invaluable inspirations. They emphasised the PROCESS of generating the model form, but not the form itself. Thus Most basic parallelograms were applied along directions of diagonals on all surfaces, then split, deleted between each two. In the application of the paneling tool, the ideas of the model, unity, was connected with its structure, one single tape, rather than meaninglessly trying different patterns over and over again.
PRECEDENT Aluminium Exterior of the Macbook Unibody - One Single Piece
PROTOTYPE mini Progress to Failure
The curved side tapes is very changeable. To achieve stability, each curved surface in the model was replaced by two connected triangular planar surfaces, which allowed the shape to be fixed.
The lack of support in the centre made the model fragile. The idea of internal support provided enough support for the lantern to stand by itself. The internal space is also suitable for hiding battery and light sources.
The base was modified to be hollow, with edges connected with supporting structure inside. The hollow shape achieved the visual connexion between exterior and the internal part of the model.
FURTHER IMPROVEMENT
Four straight tapes were added as supporting parts. Then pattern will be filled between each 2 tapes. These four components act as the main supporting structures.
Internal Patterns were added in the centre of the model. It helped to modified and manipulate the light transmission of the lantern.
PROTOTYPE FABRICATION full scale
PROTOTYPE ERRORS
The Four Tapes as supporting structure were not rigid enough. They can be easily curved by the self-load of the model, thus the precision of the design was compromised. So they were replaced by triangular columns in the final model.
The internal tapes inside patterns have negatively affect the transmission of light. They were cancelled in the final model.
The exterior tapes with curved surface were very changeable, which made the model loose and unstable. So each curved surface was folded into 2 triangular surfaces in the final model.
MODEL FABRICATION
MODEL FABRICATION
The change from white ivory card to black card increased the rigidness and stability of the model due to the materials used. The black colour also has a high contrast with the white light. As the gaps in this design are relatively big, which would result in a lack of dense light. White light on white paper would compromise the light itself. So black paper can make white light more distinguishable. Another unexpected result with the white material was the obvious burning scars by the computer-controlled cutting tool, the laser cutter. Black card weakened the scars due to its colour.
FABRICATION PROCESS
FINISHED MODEL
PRECEDENT The Spot The Business and Economics Faculty
The Analogy used in the design of the Spot Building was forests. Columns represented tree branches (Designing Environments Lecture), and spots were imitating the results of sunlight going through forests. It has similar concept to the elements in this building.
The patterns and main supporting tapes or columns in the lantern model resulted in similar shadows and light spots when light go though the structures from the centre of the lantern, and cast shadows on the floor and wall.
OPTIMISATION
Stablising A tape folded 90 degrees was later stuck under each edge of the top frame. As the value of second moment of area is higher, then the frame was stablised in one plane without curving.
Supporting The four tapes originally designed for supporting were replaced by four triangular columns. Those columns are were rigid and stable enough to stand themselves and support the whole structure of the lantern.
Visualising The frames designed for the top tapes and bottom tapes were zoomed in towards the centre. This emphasised the connexion between each two tapes at the edge, which was the highlight of visual unity.
LIGHT ASSEMBLY
LIGHT The light was originally assembled facing up, on a removable foam board on the bottom. This design ensured the convenience of changing battery and modifying light source. Aluminium tapes were stuck on the inner surface of the lantern top tapes to reflex lights.
After conducting tests in both a dark room and a bright studio, experiments found that the facing-up light was only visible in dark place. In bright space, usually it is easier for light to cast clear shadows on the floor rather than the roof or wall around due to the distances.
Finally, the light was reassembled on the top by a H-shape base. The side of the LED was covered in black to be cohesive with the lantern. Wires were hidden perfectly in one triangular column to the batteries on the bottom. Butteries were also covered nu black cards.
BATTERY & SWITCH
The batteries were fixed and hidden under cover along two parallel edges of the bottom. They can perfectly keep the balance of the lantern. The switch was also covered in black. It can be fixed into a small tube after each use, as indicated in the photograph.
LIGHT (facing down) TEST
THOUGHTS & EXPERIENCE DESIGN: The design process of the lantern was a magical experience with inspiration, imagination, limitation, discovery and unpredictability. Although the model and the design was carefully modified, still the evolution of the lantern was sometimes out of control. IDEATION: The original idea of design should come from the mimicry of the natural process, but it is sometimes hard to generate ideas based on the natural process. It can be confused whether to have the idea first, then to find a natural process to match it, or the idea was truly inspired by the nature. Thus there is not purely and fixed inspiration, the thoughts of natural inspiration and designing ideas are always influencing each other through the whole process of design. The initial 3 ideas were rather generated first, then matched by the volcano concepts, two of them were given up due to pure mimicry. Since design is about creation and interpretation but not to simply copy or record another object. Of course, there is not completely useless idea in design. The final optimization of the model still employed some elements from the two dropped concepts, such as the tape and visual grids. UNPREDICTABILITY: Simple and basic object is usually beneficial for the beginning of a deign. For example, the clay model consisting of four same components were recombined into a single object. Because changes in a single object can have uniqueness and even more possibilities than in the four same components, where same objects always come together. Design process is usually unpredictable, thus it is better to conducting experiments rather than to keep thinking over the design. However, the experiment should bear a purpose rather than meaningless attempts. The one-single-tape concept was a great example, which demonstrated the idea of unity. It was discovered accidentally in the modeling software. Although computational technology makes the experiments easy and convenient, designing ideas should not be limited by the computer functions or errors, because they cannot generate design, they are only tools.
THOUGHTS & EXPERIENCE
CULTURAL DIVERSITY: During the whole project of the lantern, cultural differences in terms of design were interestingly found through communication and observation of others’ work. An obvious difference between local Australian people under western experience and Chinese people with a Confucius tradition was the expression of the design ideas. For example, many local students would like to visualising ideas in a very obvious and even exaggerative expression such as complex combination of patterns. While Chinese culture would prefer to include the design ideas usually as an intangible rules deeply inside the form or the process of the form, as the Chinese culture traditionally discourages a direct expression and the sense of showing off. The cultural diversity in design resulted in distinct products. This is a significant benefit to have chances being inspired with freshly new experience. FABRICATION The desired design can be very different to the model in reality. There are usually new problems and errors, which are the basic motivations of making prototypes, especially in Architecture. The limitation of material is another important consideration in turing the digital model into paper. This is usually relative to physics in terms of structure stability and rigidness. In these cases, solving problems through design modification is generally better than simply applying stronger materials, although sometimes that was another practical option. Choosing glue is another critical point. As there are always errors likely to be caused by manual operations, thus the double-side tape is a good choice. It is damage-free when being removed for changes.
THOUGHTS & EXPERIENCE LIGHT: Light is easily being affected by many factors such as the light in the surroundings, distance to other objects, direction and gaps of the shell. In the model fabrication, the light was originally assembled on the bottom facing up. But the light was not visible in bright room because the roof and surrounding walls are relatively too far to be casted shadows on. When the light was then fixed on the top of the shell, the light and shadow were clearly seen on the floor. It is interesting to use size of gaps, and difference shapes to manipulate light. INTERFACE: It is good for the lantern to be a unity. This means the lantern should not have loose or separate objects, but still keep the convenience when changing batteries or lights. To achieve an outstanding results, all details need to be carefully concerned. For example, in this project, the batteries were carefully hidden under a cover on the bottom of the lantern. The batteries was also distributed along parallel edges to keep the lantern balance. The switch and the LED was covered in the same colour to the lantern shell, with same-colour wires hidden in proper structures. The switch can also be hanged into a designed tiny tube after use. These detailed modifications do not only make the function convenient, the lantern will also look precise and clean. CONCLUSION: It is an unforgettable experience in designing the lantern. The lantern is a proud product, but it may not be the most valuable knowledge learnt from the subject. In fact, the annoying reports along with each steps of the design are most helpful. They forced designers to reflex and think over their ideas over and over again. So a good understanding of design process was established. They also trained designers with a better preparation to face limitations, errors and many other unpredictabilities. The knowledge are invaluable through any future career relative to design.
Photo Source http://keithpaulcook.wordpress.com/sunlight-in-a-jar/ http://paulbuckley14059.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/energy/light-bulb/ http://www.treeworld.info/f36/fire-situation-out-control-6900.html http://www.dragoart.com/tuts/10979/1/1/how-to-draw-a-supervolcano,-supervolcano.htm http://geology.com/volcanoes/stromboli/ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=37003 http://tech.hexun.com/2012-06-13/142424187.html http://ajdasawesomelycoolscienceblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/earths-inner-secrets-unit-reflection.html http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/bigphotos/11587353.htmlhttp://www.turbosquid.com/FullPreview/Index.cfm/ID/161038 http://trustednerd.com/2012/07/25/trioh-the-worlds-most-beautiful-flashlight/ https://studyabroad.asu.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=programs.ViewProgram&Program_ID=1421 http://luigi-guides.blogspot.com/2011/06/super-paper-mario.html http://www.shoshone.k12.id.us/environment/Volcanoes.html http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=846
Information Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcano http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/volcanoes/vclimate.html http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/education/gases/origin.html http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=846
Virtual Environments Semester 2 2012 Group 14
Zheng Xingguo (Zach) 395236