Monday, April 15, 2013

Proposal

For our next project, we will be working on making a form and creating a stop motion animation using that form. For my form I am using a slotting technique using 12 cut-out Bristol pieces. For the stop motion, I will be taking this form around the city of Philadelphia. The form will symbolize myself by traveling to the places that I go to most often. Below are some photographs of the form in progress.



Sunday, April 14, 2013

Zaha Hadid's Theatre Seating

Recently, we learned about Zaha Hadid in our Foundation Design 102 class. These seats were designed by her. She not only designs amazing architecture, but she also designed these amazing theatre seats. These seats are an innovative because they are an equally effective and more interesting twist to the classic theatre seat. She includes the geometry in to her work just like she includes it into her architectural design.

array auditorium + theatre seating for poltrona frau
zaha hadid
Designboom

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Artist's Statements for Mid-term critique on March 25, 2013


  1. Modular Relief
The first project in Foundation Design 102 was the modular relief project. I worked on a design team with Maxine Whiteley. Maxine and I worked very well together. I enjoyed working on a design team. Being in different majors, I imagined that we would have very different visions. However, we found to have a similar idea: a sculptural dress with intricate detail and relief. We started out with a large vision that was transformed into something more successful than we had originally envisioned. When we first started discussing our visions, we both knew that we wanted to make a dress, however, we wanted it to not be as literal as that. We wanted the dress to be seen as both a sculpture and a piece of clothing. Our first thought that was provoked because of the restraint of color was to design a wedding dress. With this idea, we wanted to keep it delicate but still structural and fresh. We chose go with folded origami cherry blossom flowers in different sizes. Our biggest technical challenge was time. This ended up working out to our advantage because our sculptural dress was more successful with a short skirt. Our main concern for this project was maintaining good craftsmanship. In my opinion, I believe that we did an excellent job. We used the same techniques that would be used in a dress made out of fabric as we did with our dress made out of paper. For example: we hand-sewed every flower onto the dress, used hook and eyes for the closure of the dress and made a structure for the underneath of the skirt that is similar to a hoop skirt structure. An unexpected positive change to our bodice occurred when we began layering strips of paper measuring less than 1/4” on the bodice with the use of matte medium. The intent was to hide the darts placed to make the bodice fit better on the mannequin. The strips of paper did not completely hide the imperfections so we began folding, cutting and sewing paper cherry blossom flowers measuring less than an inch in diameter. This was a positive solution to the problem because our fresh, delicate, and sculptural dress became more intricate. Even the time challenge became a good problem because it forced us to keep the skirt short. This was good in end because the length would have taken away from the intricacy of the bodice. We were able to achieve a good balance between the bodice and the skirt. This also gave us a good balance between the low relief in the bodice and higher relief of the flowers in the skirt.



2. Serial Planes samples/curvilinear foam-core sample sculpture
For my horizontal serial plane without a transition, I chose to get inspiration from my background and place of birth. This project represents where I was born, which is in London, Ontario, Canada. This inspired the plane’s shape which is an abstracted known symbol of Canada. My work visually incorporates the maple leaf from the Canadian flag. Craftsmanship is important to me. Therefore, I tried to keep the transitions between the planes as even as possible. The planes are separated my foam-core squares which are the same size and placed in sequence throughout the serial plane.



For my horizontal, right angle serial plane, the project represents from my home away from Moore College of Art and Design. My work visually incorporates flowers and water in wave form. The bottom plane is a flower which reminds me of my home because every year we plant flowers at my house. Another prominent inspiration from home is the beach, considering we live a fairly short distance away. As the serial plane transitions upward, it morphs from flower petals, to waves. This personally resonates me with the feeling of summer. Like the non-transitional serial plane, the planes are separated with foam-core squares that are placed in order from the bottom plane to the top. This is so that there is good craft from all angles of the work.


For my vertical transition serial plane, I took inspiration from the right angle horizontal plane but in a different sense. I took the curvilinear edges from the flower concept and transitioned it to become from linear as your eye moves backward on the plane. My work resonates with a sense of softness to hardness caused by the transition of the edges from curvilinear to linear. The biggest technical challenge for this piece was cutting the curvilinear edges with an xacto blade and maintaining good craft. This serial plane was the most challenging to execute.


The curvilinear foam-core sample structure was more challenging for me. I focused more on material explorations than the overall concept for this piece. The biggest technical challenge was placing all of the material explorations together on one foam-core base so that they were cohesive. I believe that this piece has a good balance as all of the elements are placed around a central element. This gives a sense of organization and balance. Also, the elements rotate around the central element and transition from curvilinear to linear. I also believe that this unifies the piece. The elements steer the viewer’s eye around the central element and keep the viewer’s eye engaged in the architectonic sculpture.





3. Architectonic Sculpture with re-purposed materials
Instead of my architectonic sculpture made out of repurposed materials being made to be viewed on a horizontal plane, it is meant to be viewed vertically, or as an installation piece. It is meant to be viewed this way because I wanted to focus on the weaving on the base of the foam core. The reflection from the background catches the viewers eye and the simplicity of the design lets the viewer focus on the elements inspired by the concept. I went through 3 different versions of the project derived from the same concept: Tribal print, navajo sand painting and blankets, and cactus flowers from that region. In this project I used: the ‘Smart Pop’ popcorn wrapper, condiment paper cups, water containers and broken plastic.











The Ginkgo Polypropylene Umbrella

The Ginkgo Polypropylene Umbrella
By: Federico Venturi, Gianluca Savalli, and Marco Righi
Designboom.com
I chose to blog about this design because it is relevant to our current project: recycled materials. This umbrella was designed in Italy within the past three years. The umbrella is both aesthetically pleasing as well as practical and environmentally conscious. The umbrella's parts have been reduced from 120 pieces in a traditional umbrella, to 20 pieces in this more conscious design. The production steps have been reduced by 80% as a result of rationalization of components as well.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Texture Experimentation



Reading Assignment #2 3/17/2013


1. Describe interaction and stability in 3-D form. What is the “three plane rule?” Give an example?
It has been discovered that there are only three ways that two planar forms can interact with each other. (1) When paper is folded, it meets at a common edge. (2) An edge of one plane can have a common boundary with another. (3) Two planes can pass through one another. The three plane rule is the most simple way to achieve stability. "A stable structure results when any three planes meet so that each plane interacts with both of the other planes."
Honeycomb Lamp
Kyouei Co. ltd
Japan
Designboom

2. What is an environmental plane and planar structure? Give examples and describe it.
Examples of environmental planes are walls, ceilings, shelves, surface of the earth, etc. They are examples because they all define space in where a planar object finds itself. The ground plane is what a planar structure is attached to.
Magnetic Steel Block Installation
OBU by Elisabeth Lemercier
Designboom

3. Define an architectonic form. List three examples given in the reading: (A). (B). (C.)
Architectonic form is the category for furniture, architecture, and other objects. Three examples are (A) regular geometric shapes, (B) emphasis on horizontal and vertical orientations and (C) the contrast of closed and open space.
MRM Arquitectos: Añorbe Cemetery Extension
Designboom

4. How cans a reflective surface effect the transition of space? 
Reflective surfaces can effect transitions by creating the illusion of space.
Mut Design
Zig-Zag Mirror
Designboom
5. How can planes define volume?
A space is divided and shaped by a plane. For example, a circle can be shown as cross-section slice from a sphere.
Wangjing SOHO
Zaha Hadid
Beijing
Designboom

6. Describe the following organizational principles that relate to 3 dimensional forms: (Give your own visual examples)

1. Organization-the structure or pattern that ties an object and it's elements together.
Carpet Pattern Skyscraper Structures
Babak Golkar
Designboom

2. Synergy-"the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts." Each element individually is not interesting, but when but together in numbers it creates something interesting.
Tokujin Yoshioka: Mirage for LEMA
Milan Design Week 2013
Designboom

3. Order and freedom- Human minds naturally create order. Excess freedom can result in the lack of viewer engagement. 


Waelice 3D printed wall lamps
Nodesign
Saint-Etienne Biennale 2013
Designboom
4. Structure and unity-A grid is the most common systematic structure. Relies on formal and math principles, while unity is the principle that perceptual devices bind a composition together.

Japan Pavilion
Expo 2000
Hanover, Germany
Designboom

5. Symmetry-the same on both sides. Most common is the 'mirrored' or bilateral symmetry.

Symmetry
Ivo Rodrigues
Portugal
Designboom
6. Repetition within variety- repetition with the same elements into a composition. When there is no variety in the repetition, viewer interest is blanketed.
Isbjerget Housing Project in Aarhus by seARCH, CEBRA, JDS + Louis Paillard
Designboom

7. Rhythm and gradation-both help to create variety. 
Waelice 3D printed wall lamps by nodesign
Saint-Ettienne Biennale 2013

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Homework Progress for 2/25

First Serial Plane that I designed. 
The serial plane was abstracted from a Canadian Maple Leaf and consists of 7 planes.

Zaha Hadid



Zaha Hadid is a female, Iraqi-British architect. She was born on October 31, 1950 in Baghdad. Zaha was the first woman to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2004. She uses serial planes in her architecture.
Below are some of her designs.
 




Almost Finished Paper Dress



 This is the almost finished product of the paper dress that Maxine Whiteley and I designed.
Click Here To Go To Maxine's Blog

Class Notes from 2/18

  • Points determine a line. Lines determine a plane. Planes determine a volume
  • A line can be represented by a serious of points.
  • A plane can be represented by a serious of lines.
  • A volume can be represented by a serious of planes.
  • Each plane is a cross section of the volume.
  • To construct a volumetric form, we can think in terms of its cross sections.
  • How the form can be sliced up to regular intervals, which will result in serial planes.
  • Each serial plane can be considered as a unit form which may be used either in repetition or in gradation.
  • Gradation refers to gradual variation of the unit form, and it can be used in three different ways
    • Gradation of size but repetition of shape.
    • Gradation of shape but repetition of size.
    • Gradation of both shape and size. 
  • Zaha Hadid
    • Hadar Aliev
    • Hotel Puerta
  • London Aquatics Center
  • Beethoven Concert Hall
  • Innovative Architecture
    • Frank Gugenheim
    • Frank O. Gehry
    • Aurora Robson- from Toronto, Cananda, repurposed materials in fine art
      • Started with renderings/paintings
      • Build Maquettes (small prototypes in 3D)

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Chanel's Spring/Summer 2013 Runway


CHANEL Spring/Summer 2013 Show

This is a video of Chanel's Spring/Summer 2013 runway show. I found this on Designboom.com. I chose to post about this because I liked Chanel's push for green sustainability by using solar panels on the runway as well as windmills. Whether the green elements are working or not, they still send a message. The elements also help to accent the "airy" collection.

Monday, February 4, 2013

Getting Started

The picture below shows Maxine and I's progress on the bodice of our paper wedding gown. We chose to use a sweetheart neckline layered with small strips of paper for texture.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Class Notes from Feb/28/2013


  • To Design: A planned arrangement of visual elements
  • Point, Line, Plane
  • Principles of Design: unity/harmony/simplicity/emphasis/focal point/scale/proportion/balance/rhythm
  • Konstantine Broncusi- 20th C. sculptor; lyrical, simplified sculptures
  • Abstraction: distort, simplify, convey a meaning
  • Analysis: problem solving and communicating an idea
  • Perception: nature, art history, and culture
  • Compare/Contrast
  • 2D/3D world
  • Positive/Negative
  • Space/Shape
  • 3D Design: length, width, depth
  • 3D Design: defined by x, y, z
  • How does light affect surface on the form?
  • Hierarchal Structure
  • David Smith
  • Art & Design: Form an/or function? Which is more important?
  • Examples of Form and Function: Clothes, Cars, Interior
  • Does form determine function?
  • Marcell Breuer-Furniture Designer
  • http://www.marcel-breuer-furniture.com

  • Design for a specific market
  • Thomas Eriksson: abstracted, simplified first aid kit
  • http://www.tribu-design.com/collections/index.php?ac=f&pc=&pict=1&ty=10&st=48&lg=en
  • Serial Planes: repetition of flat planes


Homework #1

1. Describe the design process; it’s categories and how it is used as you outline step 1, 2 and 3? 
Step 1: Identify the Problem
Establish the needs and requirements that need to be met
             What needs to be fixed? What needs to be solved?
Step 2: Generate Ideas
             Brainstorming: sharing ideas in a group setting

Mental Inventory: your own ideas

Research: learning about past solutions to similar problems

Lateral Thinking: thinking where no idea is too unusual

Thumbnail Sketches: small, quick drawings to be used as reference

Sketch Models: same as thumbnail sketches, but in three-dimensions

Written Notations: writing all of your ideas out on paper, similar to 'thinking out loud'
Step 3: Refine and Analyze
              This is the first step where criticism occurs
Drawings
                          Presentation Drawing: more visually engaging, drawing meant to represent the idea                       to the client or audience
                            Working Drawing: used for reference in the building process
Models and Mock-Ups
                           3D representation of solution in a smaller scale
2. Define Three-dimensional form and find a new example using the research links.
Three-dimensional form: has an actual plane and volume. This Challenges designer’s 2D imaginations because of physical laws pertaining to material and structure.
Click Here to See More of Felix Schramm's Installations
Felix Schramm
January 2013
Trendland
3. Define Space and find a new example using the research links.
Space: defines form, and in return form defines space. Without space, form would not be able to be altered because space “activates” form.
Click Here to See More of Tomàs Saraceno's on Space Time Foam
Tomàs Saraceno
Space Time Foam
November 2012
Designboom
4. Define Positive and negative space in3-D form, find a new example using the research links. 
Positive and negative space are two different ways to see the difference between space and form.
Click Here to See the 'Ice Queen' by Swoon in 'Art in the Streets'
Swoon
Ice Queen
July 2011
Designboom
5. Define Direction and find a new example using the research links.
Direction- angles of elements toward other elements in a composition within a space.
Click Here to See More of 'Shifting Perspective' by Fabrication
Fabrication
Shifting Perspective
February 2013
Designboom
6. Define Scale and find a new example using the research links.
The size of an object in comparison to another form, such as the space that contains the form.
Click Here to See More of David DiMichele's Installations
David DiMichele
December 2012
Trendland
7. Define Point of view and frame of reference, and find a new example using the research links. 
Point of View- Constraints set by the observer
Frame of Reference- a second perceptual constraint; the format of position, direction and scale that are realized
Click Here to See More of Joseph Egan and Hunter Tomson's Anamorphic Typography
Joseph Egan and Hunter Tomson
Anamorphic Typography
August 2010
Designboom