26/10-02/11
During a week, I made a model of my moving theatre. I used acrylic to cover and metal wire to joint the part. It can switch the size so that to fold. I think its pretty good, for a model.
But actually, acrylic was not the prefect material I think. Because it was translucent. And acrylic was not the suitable material to trans sound. And I think it could have another shape to be a theatre. Maybe a square is good.
Still, the idea is still good I think. For charity, to realize children’s dream. However I think there are a lot of things I need to consider more. It’s not enough.
23/10/17
Today we discussed our 2 days work with group and made some sketches. I sketched a window cover, an air-condition and a house through my research. They were all referenced by “Fold”. My group mate gave me some suggestions, then I chose to further my sketch on house.
In my idea, I referenced from the childhood. Once I decided to use “fold” to further my design, I was thinking about the paper folding such as paper plane which we were so interested on them when children time. I thought maybe I could design an architect which is for children. However the idea hadn’t been decided yet.
Some of the functions I had considered about. For example, we can change its size by folding so that to make it easy to move, and have light weight, and easy to built.
But, my group mate and tutor reminded me some serious problems. For example a usual family don’t need change the size frequently. A family house also has so many different sections such as kitchen, living room, bedroom. So that’s complex to change different sections in a house.
So I had to change my idea. Finally I decided to use the same idea. But to change it much bigger. The house could be a theatre, a cinema or a concert. The benefit for the house is it can hold different amount of people when they have different requires. Such as if it to be a cinema, it don’t need to hold so many people, and it can divide in many section to play several films. Or when they have a big event, such as hold a concert, it can switch to the biggest size to fit huge amount of people
Other details were still under decide. The materials, other functions or how to use it?
They were still need to consider clearly.
05/10/17
Today I made the primary model. I choose one from my three models. I use just one piece of paper, cut it into several scripts.
The idea is from my research. I was so interested for the living and animated feelings. So I reference from water because I think wave gives my organic and moving feeling. So that I made the paper model to shape like wave.
And actually, even through I would make a metal one. That’s not means they are the same one. They were different materials so I would find another way to express on metal model. For example my paper model has two side to gather the scrips because paper are soft. I had to use two side to support them standing. However metal is hard and easily to stand. So maybe I would choose one side or don’t need any side to support but just let them stand by themselves.
Then I was thinking about how to improve my model. I think the material is not enough to express moving. So I ask for the workshop tutor. And he recommend the metal.
Because to compare with paper, if I use metal to shape the wave, that can strongly express the living feeling, more than the paper. I think he was right. So I accepted his advice and started making metal model.
21/09/17
Today was my first task on Product Design. We made chairs.
First, I went around the campus and find several types of chairs. Then I sketched a lot of sitting postures from classmates. I found several people would lift up one or both of their legs when they are sitting. Someone lifted their legs to be a desk to sketch. I realized that must be the comfortable way of sitting. Also I found some like sitting the different angle.
For observation, we need to thinking about the headset, the way to use chair, arm rest, materials, feelings, and many so on.
So I made a chair which can sitting at several angle, and wont feel uncomfortable. And I made three stick to support, they are twisted in special way which can lift up leg. I think that' s pretty interesting because there are so many sitting products but fewer of them would think about the functions.
Above of all, that a meaningful day for me.
18/9/17
Today we learnt construction. We made a group, used sticks tape and paper to make a building.
First we made several basic triangles. I was thinking the geometry was quiet bored. So I use one sticks through the middle of stick. To break the order of the construction. That’s work.
Then my group mate used several sticks to make a sheet of grid. That’s also break the order of the construction and put into a new element.
After that we need to link two groups of construction in together. As we are thinking about how to link them, I take one of the joint above their work. Make it taller, just use one joint. I told my group mate that’s look dangerous but you see it’s actually keep still. They accepted happily. Then we made some changes such as reinforcing the joint and decorating them. Just like tutor said, add more elements to make it not bored.
13/9/17
To have research for the words “Rationalism”, “sound”, and “weave” that we have discussed for two days ago. My group met in the library to resume. I have learnt how to use key word to search the book we need. We divide the work to find different directions of books. Then gather the book to search useful information. After that prepare to discuss. Because we divide our work into three parts. So that’ so fast to collect the useful information.
I choose Christine Joy and John McQueen for my research because I like their natural and moving feeling from their works.
(More details are in the Research page)
Today I realize the high efficient of the group work. We just used only one day but finish triple of one person’s work.
Also, reading those book make me learnt a lot. I record several artist and their masterpieces that I have ever seen before. We realized other ways to express those three words, more than which we talked 2 days before.
24/10/17
Today we talked about the feature of various materials within group at first. We discussed metal, wood plastic leather and wool. We shared several words to describe materials. Although we discussed those five materials, but actually was interested on paper and copper. I like paper because it was the basic material of doing almost every products. It could be soft, also could be hard. It’s smooth, also could be rough. It has a perfect adaptation in various situation. For copper, I was be attracted for the design by Tom Dixon at first. Copper has a unique luster and several colors. It could be red, orange or green, it is depended on how many percent of cuprum in the alloy. Combining with other kinds of metals, copper would have different colors. That’s impossible on other metal material.
Honestly, I was also like wood, metal, plastic, leather and wood. But just prefer copper and paper more.
After lunch, I continued my idea development. I understand I can not make my model as a house, so I decided to make a theatre, but the question is why a theatre needs to move? My basic idea is to make a moving architecture and can be easily built. So what kind of people would use it? And how to link it to children?
Finally I have a wonderful idea to fit all of the features.. The moving theatre is for the children which cannot watching operas, movies or other events. It could be a charity program. For those children who are under the poverty, wars or disease. To let them understand the world outside, and further their mind. It was easily take and built. Maybe using a truck to transport the parts of the theatre, taking them to everywhere.
21/10/17
This weekend I was doing research for the Movement. I had chosen the words “Fold”,”Rotate”, “Roll” and “Wobble”. “ Fold” can make a flat or sheet into stratified. Make it unusual. “Rotate” , “Roll”and “Wobble”gives me the moving feeling of visual. Then I chose “Fold” to be my key words because when I making the research, I was attracted by some architectures which followed “fold” element. They were animated, living and logical.
During the process, I found several interesting architectures such as using foldable lamellas to switch light condition(One Ocean, South Korea, 2012), using foldable table to sitting more people (Desk, David Fletcher). That’s open my mind that fold can not just apply for paper, or just tiny things. Then I made some paper models. Following those four key words.
But actually, I was still keen on other words such as “Tilt”, “Drop” or “ Twist”. But the time was limited so I can not do those secondary research any more. I just make a primary research for them. Maybe I would choose them to make a research when next time.
12/10/17 From Death to Alive
Through 7 days model making, I have finished all of my works.
The title I want to use “from Death to Alive”
“Death”means the metal, it’s just a piece of metal sheet.
When I cut it into several scripts, bended them in the different shape, twisted some of them and finally sticked them in together. I shaped the piece of sheet into water wave. Make it “Alive”
That’s the whole idea of my model.
Actually, the model a made is a gallery tunnel. It’s a huge construction, people can walk through inside the tunnel. When people standing inside, looking above, they will have the magnificent feeling from the metal. When the wind blow, the metal scripts will be shaken. The sunlight through the metal, its seems like you are in the water, the water wave refract the light. It’s moving. It’s warm.
Otherwise, to consider about the materials, I think maybe metal is not the only choice. If I would make the product next time, I would choose such as plastic, glass or rattan, or maybe combine two or three of materials in together because I think different materials can reflect different luster on surface. Also to present verieties shapes I would find other ways to twist the scrips. Even not only reference from wave, but also from wind, cloud, trees and many so on. Not just only for one idea, but to thinking more. Just a simple brainstorming, I found such many variety of ideas.
03/10/17
My idea is to make the interaction for playing the light. I was thinking about to create the natural light by using some traditional materials. To be a Chinese, I reference Chinese lantern to make the shape and the materials. I use wood to support. And using paper to be the cover of light.
But lantern cannot switch. Through my research before, I understand keeping two pieces of paper in a special distance can make the light darker. So I add some fiction inside.When you pull the thread, the bottom of the light would be pulled up, the shade would be overlapped, and you will see the process from bright to dark.
I made a light to show the change of Illumination. I use wood to support the light. Then use translucent paper to make the shade. But actually I was little unsatisfied from the cover because to create natural light, I think handmade paper is great because that’s close to natural. I was little disappointed for didn’t find handmade paper. But seems like it doesn’t affect the whole feeling too much.
Also, I think the material of the connection are not match for so that the light doesn’t keep in balance.
And This was my first time to use workshop. The workshop teachers gave me some constructive suggestion for the support, and the shade. Helped me a lot.
19/09/17
Today we made some wearing things. We saw the picture of jewelry footwear and other types of decorations on body. There are so many varieties of things.
First, we need brainstorm. The key words are “surround”, “support” and “suspending”. We need to create ten pictures on each key words. That’s such a difficult time but I still deal with them. I made seven types for each words on sketch book.
Then I further three of my works and discussed with my deskmates. Finally I chose the only one to make the model on the right.
I think I still need time to get use the pace of the class. Sometime I was still thinking of the current step but others were doing next.
Also, sometimes I was not have enough confident for my idea. That’s would made me hesitate and slow down my pace.
Still, today we have the class about Fashion and Jewelry, I think I learnt a lot.
But I finally realize maybe I have no interest on them.
I think maybe I can attempt different courses such as construction or interior design, I was highly interested on them except product
.
14/9/17
Through one day discuss, two days primary and secondary research, today we need is to develop and visualize our idea. we made several sketch models and have discuss. We share our opinions with each other and choosing the best model we like and improve it.
I sketch a round stool and bench. The idea is from the two artists in my search. The material I choose rattan and wood. And twisting them in together. Then weaving like that to show the organic, growing and animated feeling.
For me, I think it’s a little hard to describe my idea. But my group-mates can explain their model from basic idea, materials, fictions, for whom and other so on. That’s give me an example to think which place can I add more details. To let everyone understand my idea is the most important, so I need get used to write as much detail as possible.
Also, I realized that to combine my primary and secondary research into my idea is necessary. So, I need to prepare a responsible research so that I would not annoy by having an idea.
11/9/17
Today was my first time in Archway. First task is to discuss in a group. I think that’s more efficient than brainstorming by self. I have gained several useful direction of words that I cannot reflect. Then we analysis every words to further our brainstorm. Every group-mate has his unique thought. Sometimes I just listen their idea, I would think I have gained another way of thinking. That’s more meaningful than I haver ever learnt before.
But we also met some trouble such as we cannot quickly make a deal on final direction. Every mate has his own idea. Brainstorm is easy to realize but means hard to reach a consensus.
All in all, I still think that’s a beneficial experience for me to further my mind.