Design Inspiration: WolfChrom by Pavel Platonov

The Russian artist Pavel Platonov has many geometric sculptures, this one being my favourite. It features in the Moscow Park deeply covered by forests trees. Its almost clear surface allows it to blend in perfectly with its location, this would have been a key purpose of Pavel's work as he is a photographer. This artwork inspires to create my own sculpture using a reflected surface that is create by assembling geometric shapes.

Design inspiration: A-Cute by AndViceVersa

London design firm 'AndViceVersa' have design a set of table and chairs that transform into a sculpture when not in use. These design almost look like prototypes for furniture design but are an actual finished sculpture. I like folded sculptures and this pieces and the piece from this design were laser cut, folded and welded in place. Multifaceted solid objects inspire me a lot and this is why 'A-Cute' inspires me. 

Intail inspiration: Digital scuplture

Digital Orca by Douglas Coupland 

This Sculpture is the most digital I could find as is looks like mega-pixels. I am intrigued to make a sculpture that uses coloured blocks, almost like Lego but with less structural attaching. This object could easily be produced using the 3D as the shapes are simple so there would be little room for error, then painted or sprayed with suitable colours. I could maybe go onto to develop ideas using this technique with more natural forms like plants and trees.

 

Sit Stay by Ted Lott

 

This design is called 'Sit Stay' by Ted Lott. It is a chair that has been transformed into an architectural structure. I'm really inspired by the way he has woven in a structure around a functional object and I would love to experiment with this feature. I would have to be carful not to use a chair in my design as this would be clearly copying it. However I could use other functional objects for example cutlery and produce structures around them. Instead of hand cutting the wooden components I could laser cut and pin them together and also down size the design so it could work in a number of more spaces e.g. table pieces or wall mounted objects.

 

 

Paper Sculptures - Richard Sweeney

This sculpture by Richard Sweeney inspires by the complexity and weightlessness of the object. It is made by using paper which is a 2 dimensional object and has create a very complex 3D object. This interests me as it challenges the properties of materials and leaves room for lots of experimentation. Copying this design is different to copying the one above as you cannot protect someone from produces a 3D paper sculpture, however the forms and shapes of the design are not to be copied directly. If I were to produce a piece similar to this I would try and create my own complex object using the 3D printer as it allows me to create such shapes.

 

 

 



Legislation and 3D printing: Words to pictures



 In this image I have quickly drew out my essay on Legislation and 3D printing. It starts in the bottom right corner with the design process. This includes developing designs and proposing them to a design team that consists of market researchers, product testers, CAD CAM experts etc. Then I moved onto protecting a product with acts and laws (The shield, dramatic faces and signed certificate). The design/product has to then be converted to a file that the 3D printer can read , throughout the production checks are made (The Cheque in top right corner) to unsure the product is accurate and correct. The drawing next to the final product is a health and safety manager who again checks the design and approves it (the tick next to the product).      

  

Project title: War Child

W a r  C h i l d

Unit 96 & 97: Human scale design & Product design 

In order to complete this project I would have to produce a range of diverse design ideas for children living in conflict zones. To do this I will focus my ideas around the problems that the children in these war zones may face and some of the troubles that my client, war child, may have in trying to amend certain issues. To do this I will base my product around one specific problem facing many of the children in these societies. War Child is a charity that provides help to children who are affected by war all around the world.

 The main aim of this project is to design around the human scale and to use anthropometrical data to inform ergonomic design ideas. Our designs have to be functional, original, innovative, eye-catching and exciting. I need to investigate anthropometrical data and ergonomic features and refine them to produce a range of design ideas then to develop a suitable outcome for a specific user (Children affected by war). Materials, processes and manufacturing will be things I will have to consider during the design process. As well as these things, I have to produce a final product and model.

It may be argued that this project has its constraints as war child is a charity based company, relying completely on public donation; therefore cost is a major issue when purchasing materials and shipping as funding is limited. The material used in my final product has to be practical. Durable and cost effective materials and processes are a main focus of my product. 

Having identified what the project consisted of, I decided to find out ways in which I could help my clients resolve any problems they may be facing. The main problem areas I focused on are Transport, Displacement and Privacy. These are realistic problems for the children affected by war in developing countries that I believe I can help with directly. I believed that transport, displacement and privacy were I major problem facing war child as I read through the convention on the rights of children, created by the United Nations. A key aspect I focused on was the idea that ‘children have the right to privacy as well as a healthy living environment’. I have taken an interest into the living conditions of these children as they contrast with the conditions we live in here in Britain, and I believe that all children are equally   entitled to a safe and healthy life, regardless of poor conditions of the country.

In certain parts of Africa and Asia, transportation is extremely limited. Families lack transport of any kind, however it is needed in many cases, for instance, gathering food, transportation to hospitals and collection of clean water and medical supplies. A lot of the times, these destinations are at a distance. Journeys are carried out by foot and can often cause extreme fatigue, pain and dehydration, particularly for young malnourished children.

Due to the vast amount of war that occurs in these countries, families with young children are forced to flee their homes and forced to search for nearby refugee camps. This problem is a major issue In Syria. Families have been split due to illness and death on these long walks and children have been left to fend for themselves and younger siblings.

After looking at the problems and rights of children that war child focus on, I aim to produce a product that helps in the best way possible. 

My product was created to help the user in a number of ways. Shelter and privacy is just one of the advantages that it holds, it can sleep one fully grown child. It provides a private place for them to rest and feel safe in. Transportation is another clear function of my design. It will help to transport food, water and other necessary supplies that families may need, as well as the transportation of children when needed.

The ergonomic features of the design are most important. I have applied anthropometrics to almost every aspect of the finished product as human scale design and ergonomics are key features. Specific ergonomic features such as the height of the pulling mechanism that is adjustable to suit the height of the user, this will reduce muscle fatigue and pain. The shape of the pulling mechanism handle has been designed to fit human hands of all ages therefor it is universal. The length and width of my product when the fold out board is open has been adapted to suit children age from 2-10 years old. 

http://www.warchild.org.uk/

Norm 69 by Simon Karkov

The designer Simon Karkov is one of my particular favourite lighting designers the reason being is that he uses sharp edged pieces to create a lighting design and in some cases his work comes across quite architectural. In fact he is an architect and has been for the past 10 years. This lighting design is neat and precise giving it a smooth looking surface, it is also very angular and he likes to use set shapes in his designs. It is again very geometric and all the shapes are intertwined and layered together almost like they are folding out from each other. The design is assembled entirely at home, slots have been created for the 69 pieces of the design to fit together almost like the architects process of building a structure.

Forest house in the city, Japan by Studio Velocity

This is a house that was design by  ‘Studio Velocity' in Toyokawa, Japan. The architects wanted to create a less mobile build and one that was exciting and unpredictable.

‘Plants make decisions about where to unfurl their leaves and extend their branches according to the presence and position of plants and other objects in their environment’, says Miho Iwatsuki from ‘Studio Velocity'. ‘We were interested in designing architecture that exhibits a similar quality’.

The outcome was a selk, white rhomboid-shaped curved structure sounded by brushers of greenery. The site has a lot of limitations typically of Toyokawa. However the curved walls created enough distance from the neighbours surrounding, the right amount of floor space, increased the perimeter walls and made the site an efficient use of space. The downstairs consisted of a hairdressing salon and a living quarters connected by a spiral staircase leading to more living areas.

Here is a link to find out more about the house as it features in 'The architectural review'...  http://m.architectural-review.com/8649731.article

Project title: Exploring the concept of 'folding' in design craft

This project was completed as a part of my subsidiary diploma in the first year of my course. The brief was to explore the concept of FOLDING in design craft. Investigating into this subject I found that I really enjoyed looking at the folds in paper architecture and general architecture. I am very inspired by it in my design ideas and I wanted to explore further into it. During my research of this project I found that geometry in Architecture is something that I'm inspired to develop.

 This is what I did. First of all I started to play around with simple shapes and joined them together sketching and creating angular geometric objects. I had experimented with a number of materials like, Paper, Card, Foam board and clay. Foam board and card were used in the end as they were easy materials to assemble my piece and I wanted my outcome to look like an architecture model. The chosen variation was then produce on a programme called Google Sketch up (Simple and Free CAD programme), several drafts and measurements were then carried. Scale was a key area in the design process and as I was to create my final outcome by hand they needed to be precise to produce an efficient size model. The scaling was worked out and drew onto the Card and Foam board, cut out and assemble over a number of days. I had produce of 20 different models during this project both physical and computer aided. My outcome was a success and I'm looking forward to producing more designs based around Architecture. I was awarded Distinctions for every unit in this project and it was my most successful piece. 

Ingrid Siliakus : Paper Architecture

This piece of paper architecture is by a designer called Ingrid Siliakus she is very well known for her breathe taking paper sculptures. She started out creating famous buildings out of paper while also manipulating their form; she then grew to create her own architecture styled pieces. Her work is considered to be the product of marrying two paper art forms together, origami and pop-up. I have chosen this piece of work specifically for its precision. The cleanness of each cut is amazing and adds to its perfectness. The layering and intertwinement intrigues me into the piece, for me this is what design craft is all about. The way Ingrid lights her piece is important too because shadows emphasize folds. She has put subtle light in from both sides of the piece adding shadow. The piece itself has shadow because of the imprinted cut out left where the layers have been raise from forming a double shadow. Ingrid Siliakus produces he work by cutting into paper and then manipulates it so that it rises up from the surface, almost like a pop-up book. Ingrid produces 20-30 prototypes before her final draft is completed to make sure all the problems with her designs are solve before beginning the final outcome.

 

         More picture of Ingrid Siliakus' work           

Legislation and 3D Printing

Legislation and 3D Printing
 

When you create a design or product and intend to market it you first have to make your design your own. Before selling products there are a number of legislations and legal issues such as ‘The Registered Design Act’, this protects designs from being stolen if registered. It also prevents risks of being sued if you create and sell a product to find out that the design or product already exist you can be fined a lot of money. The ‘Design right law’ which covers the following acts and rules, ‘Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988’, ‘The Design Right (Proceedings before Comptroller) Rules 1989’ and ‘The Design Right (Proceedings before Comptroller) (Amendment) Rules 1992’.

When a company wants to produce a 3d printed object and market it there are a number of processes and skills required. First of all you need a design team that each have different roles. Such as Market researches, Sculptors, Model makers, Product designers, CAD CAM experts, Computers technicians, Health & safety advisers (British standards), Product testers, Packaging designers, Sales advisers. This a short list as the design process very complex and I am just highlighting the key departments involved in the production process.

It starts with a design that is developed using drawings, models and even 3d printed models. This is so designers can explore the full potential of objects and create a product that is best sorted. Initial designers work closely with marketing researchers so that their product is meeting the customers’ demands. After the design is finalised CAD CAM experts come in to produce the design a 3d software e.g. ‘Rhino Cad’. This file is then converted by the software that is installed onto the chosen printer and converts it into stereo-lithography File. A Stereo-Lithography file changes a design into a logical series of triangles. This allows the printer to read a design and print it as accurately as possible.

When the object has been fully tested for any health and safety risks is it ready to be put into suitable packaging. Packaging designers work with market researchers and the physical objects itself in create sustainable package for sale. This part of the process is more likely to be applied for a commercial use, as a pose to a private sale. When the product is being made for commercial sales a sales team would play a big part in process.

A 3D printer works by using a powdered substance at the base of the machine and then a printer cartridge apply a layer of resin on to it. The chemical reaction between these two substances forms a solid object which then sinks into the base of power. It then prints many layers onto the powder and gradually sinks until all layers are printed, the powder is then vacuumed away and the 3D object is left.

Other cutters and printers like a laser cutter can be harmful in terms of the fumes that come off when its in use. To make sure you do not come into contact with them unsure that a exaction system is fitted securely to the machine. Dust when cleaning this machine and a 3D printer can be just as harmful, a 3D printer uses resin which can harm skin and also be inhaled and my cause discomfort. Machines like the CAMM 1 (Vinyl cutter) can be dangerous as it uses a blade to cut out shapes, which hands can access so you need unsure hands are away from the machine when it is in use.

 

Summer School 'Architecture & The built environment` 2012

This is a Project I completed in the summer of 2012 at a summer school about 'Architecture and the built environment` at the Liverpool John Moores University. The project brief was to develop a small area of Liverpool into a Celebration space for all ages, our site was Williamson Square. The plot was bare grass with a fountain feature in the centre of it, our proposed development was to add a oriental food stall in the centre of the site. There would be two ramps and one set of stairs to lead the public down into the centre circle were the food stall is place. Eating booths fitted to the walls surrounding andd above the central attraction for customers to enjoy their time in the celebration centre.