dsdn 111 | project 3 final hand in

Project Three

Final model

This storyboard (as previously shown here) presents my initial development

After this I went away from the idea of a container or box and focused on the lock. I devised a plan in Solidworks as seen here

Storyboard of movement for first version of model

 The feature that was the most complex was the locking mechanism - the lug:

The lug involved a fairly simple design for a locking mechanism - though not simple enough

And started working on making a prototype in MDF. The problem was that the size (as per the dimensions above) made the construction very difficult. I also made a model in pine wood to try and devise a way to make my curved lock work however it became apparent that the curved lock was too detailed (in that size) to build so I went back to the drawing board.

I adjusted the lock so that it incorporated wire into the catch mechanism...

Wire in sectioned version of final model

All that was required was to design a 'D' shaped catch which would be made from a semi-circle of rubber (with corner sliced off) sandwich between two pieces of Sculpy (one circular, one 'D' shaped)

Front face of final design

I was lucky enough to have access to my father-in-law's workshop:

drill-press, file for corner fillets, the iPhone curve - ha!, rubber section being made from piece of rubber window squeegee

The evolution of the model

3-step movement of model

High quality image of presentation drawing

My vellum/drafting film illustration hand-in - the drawing I had originally intended to hand in was left at home on hand in day

Decal for presentation wallet:

This forms the bottom layer of the illustrations accompanying my model and is folded three ways so that the name appears on the front

Summary: Two to five sentences that explains the principles and ideas expressed in your work, and reflect on the value of the skills and processes you learned in Project Three.

Inspired by the joint that works the human jaw, this model was based on that joint's ability to first slide out of its resting position, (which allows the up and down motion), then rotate freely.

The lock position and six black dots have been geometrically designed to provide the operation code.

The user must locate the correct code or 'sweet' spot by placing the upper piece on the lower one (the clue is in the two sets of three black dots and the shape of the central lug) in order to ROTATE in an anti-clockwise direction to a closed or LOCKED position.

I have revisited the skills I learnt last year in DSDN 104 by designing my model first in Solidworks. Due to the initial intricacy of my design I was unable to finish it by hand so the most important decision I needed to make was when to redesign to suit my resources. I really wanted to create an aesthetically pleasing piece which I am proud to say I achieved.

Movements

Upper piece: Rotate/Pivot

Lower piece: Lock/Catch

Materials Used

Upper and lower wood shapes: bass wood;

Lock: aluminium wire, Sculpy and rubber (sandwiched between the circle and ‘D’ shaped Sculpy pieces);

Six black circles: inlaid Sculpy.

dsdn 111 | final model - the movement

dsdn 111 | progress update

I have put aside my container idea because there seems to be a lot of negativity about it and because it will be hard to do it in the cylinder shape without a lathe.

I was finding the slide and lock feature that I wanted to include in this project really difficult to finalise in reality - I am not a skilled carpenter and am worried about chiseling a finger off! So I went back to the idea of modelling it in Solidworks or 3ds Max.

I decided to find a way to lock three layers together with the bottom layer being hinged to the middle and then the top locking the three together. The solution lay in creating a section of a screw so that a thread was formed for the top layer to attach to.

The top literally screws into place and I have added the four circles as a kind of code for telling the user when they have placed the top layer in the correct starting position.

At this stage the prototype is made with 3 mm mdf, I will refine the final form by either adding a wood veneer to it or making it in solid bass wood which would necessitate changes in the thickness of each piece.

I will incorporate rubber into the model by cutting a narrow strip from a glove and using it as the hinge that connects the bottom and middle layer. I have recessed the point where it would be glued so that the two lower layers will connect at all points.

I am going to build a piece of recessed wire into the design so as to satisfy the wire requirement of the brief.

At the moment the dimensions of the model are exactly those of an iPhone (this is how I first tried to explain my idea to people - using two iPhones sandwiched together) however I feel this might be too large and may scale it down to the size of a credit card.

The final model will still fulfill my own wish to produce an 'executive toy'. I can imagine wanting to endlessly and absentmindedly play with the lock feature of the movement.

dsdn 111 | process

We've been asked to create an abstract, tectonic, multi-material object inclusive of two physical actions. We have begun by researching a joint within the human body... 

Mine is the jaw

These iterations and models illustrate my progress over the past couple of weeks.

I commenced with a sliding move with this relatively simple, clunky and (admittedly) literal contraption:


sliding jaw

There's something I like about it though so I will store it away as a possible idea for the future.

I then thought about the video (here) that explains the movement of the jaw.... I thought about how the jaw, once it moves out of it's inert/resting position, is able to rotate freely. I created a card model that expressed this:



card model

This movement is best shown here:

I then started working on the idea of making a small container with a lid that needs to be connected to the base in a way that provides a means for locking the container (using the above movement).

Box

I feel ike this might be better made in a cylindrical form so I have experimented with foam to see how this might work:

I will using Sculpy to shape the smale holes on top so I have been experimenting with this material as well.

Sculpy test

Storyboard

dsdn 111 | precedent video

Found this interesting video on how a healthy bite and jaw joint work together... gave me some ideas about how to approach this project

dsdn 111 | project 2 hand-in

High quality image of presentation drawing ©2013 helenkwilliams

High quality image of final model ©2013 helenkwilliams

High quality image of final model ©2013 helenkwilliams

High quality detail image of final model ©2013 helenkwilliams

High quality image of final model & two submitted process forms ©2013 helenkwilliams

Summary | Project 2 | Build up and Release of Energy

[Using braid technique]

The build-up and release of energy was inspired by precedents of swimming strokes in water. I wanted to express the build-up through the plastic at first. I then identified a pattern in some of the precedents which led me to explore ways to translate the action of alternating or rhythmic energy which emerged as a ‘plait’ or ‘braid’ concept. I realised this neatly encapsulated my idea in an abstract way.

I started by literally braiding the plastic – at first with a longer version and then proceeding to extract one aspect of that, then creating multiple iterations to find a way for the wire to have a reactionary dialogue with the plastic. I achieved this by the use of the ‘v’ shape which expresses the notion of propulsion. The wire now formed a conversation with the plastic and additionally the wire reads as lines of perspective so I was able to express transition.

This project was challenging in terms of committing to a form I felt enthusiastic about, however I feel like the form I eventually chose to work on was a good and unique expression of my ideas. I had no prior experience in working with Rino plastic so I found this project useful in acquiring that skill. I value the experience of furthering my knowledge of design principles, strategies and methodologies. I am looking forward to applying what I have learnt to our next project.

dsdn 111 | interim presentation poster

For today's studio were asked to present a poster and short explanation of our latest iterations as well as the process involved with arriving there:



dsdn111 | process images



The kebab ©2013 helenkdavis



The braid ©2013 helenkdavis

dsdn 111 | process work/today

Feed me a crumb... anything.

dsdn 111 | homework

While I have been thinking off ways to express the build-up and release of energy required for each stroke of swimming, it occurred to me there is an exchange of this pattern between the left and right side of the body - best illustrated with my diagram below:

Source

I now feel like I have something meaningful to abstract from.

dsdn 111 | today's studio process work

Bearing in mind we have much less time to complete this project, I forged ahead with sketching and after reviewing my images and quick sketches from the last studio:

 

I most liked the ideas around the swim stroke

So I started sketching more ideas around the swim stroke

From this work I confirmed my words:

build-up (and) release (of) energy

 I then worked on the idea of making one simple figure that expresses build-up and release.

I drew this

Then I tried to recreate this in the paper I had bought for the project but found the paper loose and it would not do what wanted, so I think it will be Rino plastic for me.

first iteration...?

 Incidentally here is an image (found here) taken by my friend Neale who is attending the Salone del Mobile 2013 - he credits it as being by Poliform though I could not find any more info about it so I will have to wait to till I hear from him to found out some details (like who the designer is etc). Isn't this all about fluid form?
 

post hand-in bliss

101, 111 & 171 first hand-ins done and all is serene and good in the world...

dsdn 111 | introduction to project 2

4 Precedents

Had our first studio for the new project regarding Fluid Form.

Researched precedents and came up with the above.

Started abstracting ideas and sketching them. Worked on ideas for the planet images and the swimmer image:

Studio sketches

For example the amount of drag/force underwater versus above water.
Or the increased distance between the sun and the planets represented as a fan-like object.



dsdn 111 | hand-in

Planar (Card) Form

Line (Wire) Form

Mass (Foam) Form

All three forms

Presentation drawing: three forms combined in (side) orthographic view

Final summary: 

In this assignment, I think I have had varying levels of success in expressing my intentions in the three forms I have created.

The first form (card) was useful in kick-starting the design process and even though I do not think it was the most resolved form, the heavy line of its 'spine' inspired the development of my ideas for the shape of the second form, the wire form. This form became a metaphor for my chosen word (focus) as well as informing the overall concept for the second form.

Working on the second stage of the assignment culminated in an 'a-ha' moment in the design process. Because it required me to create three forms, each of which are necessarily created sequentially,  this assignment forced me to move past what proved to be a difficult early phase and I was eventually able to produce a form that met my design objective; to entirely convey the sense of the word 'focus’ without resorting to a literal interpretation. Consequently, I have come to better understand a crucial difference between art and design (or perhaps more accurately ‘happy accident vs. intentional result’). I have best summarised the principles I applied to this part of my work here. 

The final (foam) form came easier to me, allowing me to further abstract my focal idea using the previous stage, even though time constraints left me with a piece that I know I could have crafted better.

Ultimately, my enthusiasm for this project grew as I worked until I achieved a successful outcome and this impetus has fuelled my motivation for working on the next assignment and for the degree as a whole.



dsdn 111 | line (wire) form - two more iterations

The eighth and ninth iterations came about after coming into the studio and talking to Nan.

I knew my wire form was unresolved and a routine question about the slightly rounded corners on the form ended with a new perspective on my whole project. The word I was looking to represent is

focus

which the card form had already illustrated exactly. I talked through a few adjustments and half an hour later I had produced this form which I felt was the most successful version so far.

eighth iteration

If I wanted to further the concept of my form containing or defining the space, the process was better served with the use of alternating 'ribs' which interlocked. I sketched a diagram to represent my idea:

alternating rib idea sketched up

Even though these changes resulted in an asymmetrical form, it is still balanced and unified. The form looks wholly deliberate now especially with the addition of the one line of black thread which allowed me to reincorporate the spine idea and really emphasise the idea of 'focus' by drawing the viewer's eye down the line of thread to the focal point or focus of the object.The repetition of the rib forms strengthen and unify the form. The implied tension of the thread (even though it is not load bearing) seems to pull the piece together and ultimately define the interior space.

Ninth iteration: Focus

The word 'focus' better encapsulates my original ideas around the tiled bathroom image too as it is more positive than 'cornered or 'trapped' yet bears some relation to those ideas.

This form is the most successful of the three I produced for the project. There are clear design principles used to support my intentions. It is asymmetrically balanced, (it sits really comfortably contrary to the lopsided shape), it uses repetition (in the 'ribs') and tension (with the thread).

dsdn 111 | mass (foam) form

First sketch. I had this to start with as I entered the workshop. I have been playing around with ideas in 3ds Max as well but found sketching more effective.

Sketch ideas for foam form.

Since I have developed my wire form further I was afforded an opportunity to explore assymetry with this form as well.

I used the outline of the wire object to inform my sketches.

So this image

Side view wire form

Became this sketch:

Sketch of side view

 And the alternate side view image

Alternate side view

Became the sketch that was the first design of the foam form:

 Finally, I used the front view image of the wire form

Front view

 To become the plan for the foam cut outs.

Plan for cut-outs

 And used adhesive labels cut to these sizes as templates for cutting the foam:

Templates - adhesive labels

I cut the five pieces then shaped them one by one to complete the form

Foam form - left side view

Foam form - rear view