MOVEMENT

More visualizations for a clearer perspective. I envisioned this in neighbourhood parks that has a huge demographic of people from different ages and interests in activities. The nature of a park is also a communal gathering and thriving space which is ingrained in us historically. Utilizing this factor, my design not only becomes a meaningful intervention that exists in this space but also provides a handful of benefits to this space, without removing any critical elements of the neighbourhood or community. Therefore, it becomes a subtle but impactful design.

I imagine my spatial design to be made of reclaimed materials, like metal or ropes which could possibly be extracted from older sites or upcycled materials, making it more affordable and easily attainable. This also increases the possibilities of it being duplicated or replicated in several neighbourhoods, or even countries, which further enhances its value. Although the "spiderweb" looks complex, the entire structure can be put together with ease.  As I thought about the sustainability, life span and construction of the space : should the material or structure deteriorate overtime, or should it not be suitable for a specific communal neighbourhood, it can also be easily renovated or re-constructed. Therefore, the entire lifespan of the spatial design is environmentally beneficial and positive for humans.

A web that brings commuters and communities together, encourages interaction in an enclosive space, or just simply for individual leisure.

Miyoshita Park, Japan

Hibiya Park, Japan

Shiba Park, Japan

MOVEMENT

For my final model, I originally had two ideas. The first was a series of installations that acts like a pavilion-like space which would be made out of a few of the 9 models I made on Tuesday. The second idea was to add stability to the web ring and get it to stand stability with minimal supports. The resulting outcome was a tilted infrastructure that is a space which hinders movement in and out of the back of it and also while sitting on it. I envisioned this space to hinder the movement of commuters like that of a spider web and prey. It was more of a physical manifestation of an abstract idea rather than a conventional and functional installation space. Within this space, the user(s) can enjoy their personal or communal interactions/activities while being "entangled" within the ropes that actually forms a hammock-like seat and allows them to lounge in it. With this idea in mind, I hope to successfully communicate the idea of enjoyment and leisure within an undesirable situation/space.

I made my model using copper rods and yarn as I liked the contrast between two thin, yet contrasting materials - one encompassing brittleness, being stretchy and able to be contorted(yarn), while the other being solid, firm and generally associated with being stable and reliable.

The theme of contrasting elements and ironic ideas has rippled across my Movement project and I really wanted to carry it on to the finale, in material, abstract ideology and user functions.

One of the insights I got from my model making was how the weight affects the structure. The more people interacting or resting on the "spiderweb", the more it begins to sink and elevate the feeling of being entangled. Overtime, the wear and tear of the material shows the constant usage and deterioration, reflecting the use and interaction of the community in that timespan, proving its communal contribution.

Coincidentally, the nature of the material resonates with its intention and escalates its emotional value, physical presence and overtime, becomes deeply rooted in the community as something cherished and meaningful, going beyond the basic idea of being just a spatial intervention.

MOVEMENT

Today I did more miniature model making to experiment with how brittle I can use the material to make the model, to make it feel brittle like a spiderweb. I also tried to play with 3-dimensionality to come up with extract forms. For most of my models, I looked at textile designers to see how they use knit material to create cursive, organic and fluid forms and even micro structures.

With these models, I was really looking at how I could hinder movement through walls, structural frames and odd shapes intertwined with unconventional materials. I found that out of these materials, the most innovative and successful ones were the ones where I largely used wire, copper rods and some yarn. It felt much more spatial, enclosing yet simplistic and organic. The models made largely from aluminium sheets felt too rigid and dull because of the lack of light entering the spaces. 

I felt really satisfied and inspired by this development of models as it taught me the importance and potential of just getting into making something despite not having any sketches as it generates pure, imaginative ideas which then form into a train of ideals all inspired and interlinked with each other. Throughout this and the last two projects, my biggest takeaway for ASD is visualization of how it'll be in the real world context, fast, explorative model making with different experimentation of materials, form, scale, and lastly, how to draw inspiration and concepts from primary research.

I decided to take the idea of copper rods and yarn furthur, and came up with this abstract but aesthetically unique form, which I envisioned to be an outdoor lounge space. It allows users to sit or lie down, sinking into the web lines and feel comfortable being entangled, but at the same time showing tension in the lines and creating a sense of irony.

I envisioned the spaces in different scales with the same intention of entangling and hindering movement of commuters to derive the form and scale I favoured the most.

MOVEMENT

I made some more organic and larger scale models to see if I could produce a more organic form because I feel my previous model felt too sterile and clunky. I experimented with different materials of different thickness to give it an abstract and curious form. 

I also wanted to see how materials mix well with each other in terms of overall aesthetics, joinery and contrast. I was really intrigued by the contrast of small metal sheets and thin metal wires and how the slenderness of the material, malleability or surface area changes the spatial and mood perception of the area. Material consideration could influence the demographics of users that would like to visit and use this space, which ties-up into where the space could be situated for the users.

For example, how expensive or refined the material looks would affect how the user chooses to use the space and also the status of the people who get to experience this built space.

I tried different method of joinery and managed to produce one result where I used yarn, and it enabled the copper rods to turn without sliding apart. After this, I was really interested in using stringy material and decided to look into textile designers joinery methods. I envisioned my model to be slight brittle to replicate the feeling of a real web.

I felt that I am not very good and construction methods with architecture as I was always imagining something really ambitious and conceptual, It was difficult to implement the construction methods.

MOVEMENT

Today I tried different base shapes for my models, I went with a circle shape as I felt it feels more enclosed as it had no corners. I tried to mimic a spider web's shape using wires, in a grid format and made use of the steel to stronger associate it with being enclosed like in a cell, it also provides a sense of sturdiness to the space because the seats in the area are made like a hammock, which I mimicked using tracing paper. Building this model inspired me to further experiment with metal as a core material because it can be rigid yet malleable.

Render

Site Plan - Urban Space

Reflecting on my specialist pathway

Over the past two week I've been thinking about Architecture. With a background in Product & Experience Design, I've always been intrigued about how a space influences emotions, experience and movement. After involving myself in two architectural projects, I better understand how to implement experience in a space, but I still feel spatial design is a little lackluster. I feel that it does not have the same intimacy, sensitivity and personal-ness as products. I also enjoy doing product more as it can be more conceptually and art direction driven with less engineering restraints.

Although architecture is more impactful as it has a larger physical presence, there are so many components that are restrained by engineering or material/construction. I really feel that I can achieve more in product design if I step into the boundaries of fine art, or even using products to allow a spatial area to improve lives and experiences of humans. 

Because of a lack of exposure to real sites for design, which is not really led by tutors or teachings in class, I tried to self-educate myself but I could not really learn a huge amount.

I also feel that in Product Design, we think much more on a microscopic level for human interaction before expanding our possibilities. Compared to architecture, we think on a large scale and sometimes miss out minute details. Architecture is also generally harder to comprehend for me. I enjoy learning insightful points from it to apply to product design. 

Because of how conceptual our classes require us to be, I feel that it will be more ideal if I specialize in product design, its a much more broad field and I think it's better suited for me.

MOVEMENT

I was really stuck on how to make my model, because of how ambitious and complex the form was. I consulted the metal workshop technician and he told me I had to simplify it or it would be too difficult to make as well as wasting a lot of materials. 

So I took a step back to look at my concept again, with the outline of the brief. My idea is all about people gathering, migrating(coming from another area to this space), and I want to design something to immerse and accommodate them temporarily. I looked into biomimicry and I was inspired by how spiders trap prey in their web, which gave me a sense of immersion and enclosure I wanted to implement in my design. 

I'm developing an idea of an outdoor lounge area with "trapping" seats. Some seats are harder, will be made from wire, which symbolise the harder parts of the web. Some I'll be making from tracing paper or string to mimic the texture of a hammock. Overtime, the use of the seats will result it in drooping a little to show the use and transit of users.

MOVEMENT

Rather than designing an Olympic Stadium for 2028, I reimagined what Tokyo's Stadium for 2020 could look like because I felt it was overambitious and I do not want to under-deliver.

After doing the group discussion on materials, I was really intrigued by the material association of concrete and wood. I decided to use this neutral, raw and simple material to construct my model and also envisioning it as the final structure.

I started sketching some ideas inspired by the form of Mount Fuji in Japan, as I also want to preserve the culture of Japan while adding Movement themes.

I settled on a building that was Mount Fuji shaped, but upside down, giving it a more dynamic and unconventional shape. It would have a wood shelter as a rim around the entrance. Above it, it has revolving wood beams that match the footsteps of people around the area, via pressure sensors in the tiles. It also has lights and a retracting sunroof. 

For my action plan I will be looking at materials to make the model out of and probably using renders to communicate the design. Also, lots of consulting with the technicians.

I was originally stuck with the development of my concept. The main theme of movement I wanted to focus on/ I was influenced by is the motion of many tourists, locals or other relevant humans travelling to the space I design to have leisure activities.

I began with a hotel idea with hot springs, which was a direct translation of the watering hole idea I was inspired by.

I was really stuck with the form and settled on the foot print of an elephant as the base form, playing with its scales and openings for light. I also considered making it a kinetic architecture. I found that an enlarged elephant footprint resembled the shape of a watering hole.

I felt this idea was not very fruitful or ambitious. Although there are hints of me attempting to relate back to my previous research, it felt lacking. After the 3D model making in class, I became pretty engrossed with the shape of an enclosed structure (like some sort of cocoon) It emphasises the mood of being gathered and being secure, allowing users to comfortably enjoy leisure activities. 

Following this cocoon like, immersive idea, I made sketches which were round in nature and meant to kept users in the space for an extended period for time while they enjoy a lengthy activity (E.g. Concerts, Fishing, Picnics, Airport Transits). My most ambitious idea was envisioning a cocoon wrapped dome that was kinetic and would serve as 2028's Olympic Venue. The structure would have rotating rings or horizontally shifting rims that alter the height or view of the spectators during different events, and alter the amount of light basking the indoor stadium.

This was a vast development of the Gathering and Migrating + Watering Hole concept, where I imagined different animals as different cultural/ races of humans coming from all over the world and Gathering to watch the Olympics.

I plan to look up more ways to incorporate movement elements because I find that my idea was heavily influenced by movement themes but it is not kinetic on its own.

I've decided that I'll be doing a set of urban apartments for travellers who like to experience harsh climates. The main theme of movement within this space is that of gathering - an open space for hot springs and migrating - the act of travelling to visit this space and I'm also trying to see if I can make this space a moveable structure.

I'm also currently looking into designs done by Zaha Hadid, and dynamic forms such as the Qatar Hotel and Dubai Expo 2020. It looks very fluid and dynamic, which matches the theme of movement. I think I might add some elements of a yacht to it like sails to help it crawl with additional spider legs.

I want to make the idea as simple as possible so I want to explore intricate yet simple forms as after I add the moving idea, it might be too complicated.

I am feeding myself form references from the exotic plants and trees in Africa, and I am imaging a kind of intertwined form to build on the mood of gathering. I also discovered the existence of the "Big 5" which is the rhino, lion, elephant, buffalo and cheetah. I'll try to incorporate some elements into my design, either it will be a plant inspired one or an animal inspired one. I am torn between a plant based form or animal form as plants look aesthetically better but the animal forms would relate better to my watering hole idea. 

Side Note

I've watched a video by Bjarke Ingels on how architecture should be more like minecraft. It is shaping our future so it should be more visionary, imaginative and creatively challenging limitations. It was very inspiring and propells me to push my design further but at the same time I want to keep it grounded and not to complex.

https://www.dezeen.com/2015/01/26/architecture-minecraft-bjarke-ingels-big-movie-worldcraft-future-of-storytelling/

MOVEMENT

Following my previous reflection on how humans seek shelter/ enjoy travelling or leisure in undesirable weather conditions, I was really interested in looking at how weather conditions improve living qualities or restrict/ worsen living qualities. I was trying to find a way to explain and show the contrast and irony between this too.

These is a vast contrast of how lifestyles are in a hot climate. High status humans enjoy the luxury of living in a hotel, while poorer humans suffer from the drastic weather conditions.

Above is another example on the irony of going to a harsh climate for holiday and engaging in leisure and fun. Whereas on the other hand, people are suffering in the cold. This really makes me think about the status of the people my design could be for, whether it could be luxury for the rich, a saving grace for the poor, or a bridge for both social groups to co-exist, like my previously mentioned "Gathering" and "Herding" concept.

Going forward, I also looked at how animals migrate and hibernate in groups due to climate change. I related it to the context of humans, where both species seek a more desirable climate to have holiday, procreate or survive. This stems from our primal instinct of living together and getting through harsh conditions and hurdles in life.

Whatever the crisis or species, primal, basic survival instincts and luxury desires drive us to seek a safer environment or secure, higher standard living space. All these relate back to my previous reflection on humans gathering like animals. I'm still trying to find a way to communicate this vast spectrum of ironies, living conditions and habits.

I went further and looked into extreme weather themes that hopefully could inspire my design. What heavily interests me is El Nino and La Nina, two contrasting weather conditions that cause damage, but also relates to the luxury living in harsh weather climates as above.

El Nino is a heat wave that causes drought and destroys agriculture and kills animals from thirst and heat. La Nina, on the contrary, is a monsoon that causes severe flooding and storms, some of which benefits natural environments that are water-based but causes floods or snowstorms for urban cities. It was intriguing because La Nina actually produces a small positive impact.

El Nino

La Nina

With all said, here are the keywords that I'm working with and trying to narrow down to a theme and conceptualise some 2D and 3D ideas:

- Gathering     - Herding     - Seeking of shelter     - Animalistic traits similar to Humans   

- Migration (In context of travelling for humans)

- Harsh climate conditions     - How Crisis Aversion can lead to positive Social Living

Action Plan

My action plan for now is to come up with ideas, for different climates and social status of humans, for different lifestyles. Then, I'll look up what other designers/ artists have done for inspirational secondary research to improve and formulate better designs. I'll pluck positive and relevant ideas from my own design as well to infuse into a better design before more testing and narrowing down.

My conclusion for my idea so far is still a hotel and socialising space, after examining secondary research I feel it might change.

MOVEMENT

I began my movement research by looking at how humans maneuver an urban space for leisure activities in groups. I went to Borough Market to shadow some people, and identify problems or habits they have. Fortunately, it was raining on the day I went, and I managed to get some insights.

After mapping the area, from my perspective, it looked like people tend to follow the movement of the rest of the crowd and stroll around in loops to attend all the stalls. Particularly, I was looking at how groups of people seek shelter from the rain and crowded under a bridge to have their food. This made me think about designing a sort of shelter that could enable socialising, quick dining and it could be dismantled and put away when the market closes.

It also made me wonder about the irony between seeking shelter and wanderlust (travelling). Although these people came here in the rain, which is an inconvenience, they still enjoyed their time on holiday/leisure time by seeking shelter. The big groups of people strongly made me think about the movement theme of "Gathering", "Seeking a comfortable environment", and "Moving in Herds". This really reminded me of how animals move in packs/herds and gather towards watering holes. There is a stark familiarity in how both humans and animals centre around a sustainable space based on basic survival instincts.

The image above is used to depict how animals, in this context of multi racial humans, gather towards a water hole, just like how different humans gather at a weather-proof space to have their food.

At this point I really felt the strong, primal nature of beings "Co-existing" and "Gathering" and "Herding".

Above shows how animals and humans are very much alike in "Gathering & Herding"

At the back of my head, I have a rough idea of designing a social space or a hotel that has a very savannah kind of vibe. I wanted to give it a feeling of being around a bonfire socialising to recreate the gather and herding theme. At this point, I wanted to go deeper into the irony and contrast between seeking shelter, wanderlust travelling, and how these two very different activities are carried out in the wild, as a leisure activity like a vacation, and in third world countries were it is harsh basic survival.

I also want to look deeper into how status can affect the type of activities, level of enjoyment and the mood of the environment and activity, as well as the impression of my design.

STRUCTURE & SURFACE

STRUCTURE & SURFACE

I evaluated my overall performance based on what my group mates and I felt about my presentation, concept & research/exploration/development.

- Verbal presentation was good but it could have been better if my sketchbook lay out was planned ahead to have a smooth flow. But due to the nature of my exploration and experimenting I was a messy process that branched everywhere. 

- By doing architecture there are lots more of detail to consider. Unlike product design where the design usually influences an individual or a few, architecture impacts much more and also the lifespan of the space is different.

- For my next project I want to try more collaging, mixed media & unique exploring. I'll also keep my concept ambitious but simple. I also want to make a more polished model by consulting the technicians beforehand and doing online research on materials used by other makers.

STRUCTURE & SURFACE

On Tuesday I begun the model making in the workshop. Following this on Wednesday, I pieced it together. My model turned out quite fragile due to the nature of my choice of materials (Balsa Wood). I reflected on my work today with the following insights:

- Dimension and scale of the model. This is important because it affects how large the final model becomes and the surround materials would have to be tweaked accordingly (E.g Trees, Human Models) Having too big of model also takes away the clean aesthetic a smaller, simple model provides. It also feels a little unprofessional.

- Planning for the materials and development process is also really important. In the beginning I did some notes on how to make my model and I actually encountered some issues on the way, such as :

1. The softness of the material affecting how precise it could be cut, resulting in a need for sanding which then resulted in uneven finishes for the final.

2. Time management and proper research on how professionals make certain pieces before I attempt to make them with no experience.

- Given that this was my first ever attempt in making a model like this, I think it turned out well although I tell myself to always push myself further the next one. I think it will be good if I sped up my exploring phase and go into the model making phase sooner so I have time to resolve any issues.

STRUCTURE & SURFACE

So after reverting to my playscape idea, I explored different forms again, this time trying to further challenge 3-Dimensionality and space between the cubes, to create contrast and give the space a more ambiguous and imaginative interpretation.

I tried a few different forms, narrowed down to 2, and selected the more multi-functional one for my final design. For my action plan, I'll be finishing the model as much as I can, give it texture, add some humans for scale and give it a location. I'll be also rendering it from different angles and situations to give a clearer visual communication.

I'm really glad that I manage to get myself back on track after going off tangent trying to pursue something unconventional and risky. Will keep this in mind next time. As this is the first time in my design life that I'm attempting to try a spatial/architecture based design, I feel my ideas are quite limited as I am used to thinking on microscopic details for products rather than visionary concepts for spaces. It is very enjoyable and I really want to hone this skill, and program skills that are needed.

After observing the pores on the cubes, I narrowed down on two primary, reoccuring shape of pores. These were Oval-shaped and C-Shaped. I carried this element into my new set of cubes and made a big hollow opening in the surface as it provides even weight distribution. The smaller pores were imagined to be substituted with rock-climbing handles or a darker shade of finish on the final material I intended to use, which is wood. At this point I also decided that cat furniture was not valuable and impactful in a real world context so I reverted to my previous concept of it being a playscape for children.

STRUCTURE & SURFACE

Experimented with tracing some cheese pores and making it into modular cubes to try out structures and see how it would possibly fit into urban commute spaces.

Some variables I tried out were:

- Size of pores (Big, Medium, Small)

- Pores on surface vs. Pores on edges

- Weight distribution due to the allocation of the pores

- How the pores can elevate the 3-Dimensional aesthetics

STRUCTURE & SURFACE

Useful methodology I picked up in class today:

- Micro Architecture & Upsized Products can cross each other's field of design. I could design a product that shapeshifts into a space or affects a space

- Reconfigurability

- Simplicity in design

- Knowing when to explore more or cut off ideations

- Left brain(I think) sketches that are more creative

I came into class with a fixed idea in my head that I wanted to design something modular and rigid. But upon exploring sketches and model making with paper, I ended up working on something I never thought of : Porous. It was one of my least favourites amongst the keywords given. Thinking of porous surfaces gives me goosebumps.

It really showed me that although its good to have my own ideas beforehand, I should not always come to class with a pre-conceived notion. Ideas can come from the least unexpected of places.

Now that I've gotten into the routine of my tutors, I find myself more adaptable and able to explore a broader area of ideas through their basic methods. I really understand how time management is key, even on a microscopic level of ideating, I used to think it was only important in dividing my tasks into segments to do.

I'm quite excited to look into more 2D and 3D ideating techniques once I'm done with this project, to apply for my next project. Over the last few days I also realised the importance of communication visually and verbally so I spent hours re-organising my workflow to look clean. From this point on I'm also picking quality and relatable content to fill my sketchbook with.

I'm focusing on Porous and Modularity, trying to express Porous through the reconfiguration of homeware. It is very interesting how 3-Dimensional these 2 keywords can make a design look. The curves and unpredictability in the form really interests me.

I've prepared a thorough action plan written in my sketchbook for the weekends and next week - on the weekends I'll be doing more exploring on model making, once settled, I'll be making a few life scale models from Mon - Wed and a 1:10 scale model with renders to show a user scenario.

I started off designing a modular, urban retail space that had lots of holes and gaps to showcase the porous nature. Porous, scientifically means a material that allows the passage of particles. I interpreted this in a real life context, on a larger scale, and thought how could I design a space or product that allows the passage of human interaction.

From this point on, I felt that I was dwelling too much on an overambitious architecture, and I scaled my idea down to a rock-climbing playscape that looks porous, with concaved areas, protruding grips and holes. It was designed for young children. This was just an idea that struck me when I was doing observational sketching, the 3-Dimensional shapes gave me the idea.

After this, I thought how could I better showcase the porous form and make it more unique, as the form looked really ugly to me (Like a badly made sculpture). I came up with the idea of designing it for Cats, and making it reconfigurable. Cats are more agile than children and complements the porous form much better. I still derived my inspiration from bigger architecture forms, though.

ILLUMINATE

Reflecting on my work after today on things I've done well:

- Functional secondary research experimenting

- Contemporary design 

- Fairly good model on first attempt

Things I could have done better:

- Clearer relation of primary and secondary research, in all forms (Drawing, Photos, Annotation)

- Getting really hands on with primary research and picking apart my research

- Clearer communication and layout of sketchbook content

- Simplify my design. It is harder to remove and easier to add elements

- Have fun and enjoy the process!

ILLUMINATE

Trying out a different way of reflecting today. After personal tutorials and discussing with my group mates, I received constructive feedback on my design. Although it's too late to improve upon, I took note of it to learn from my mistakes:

- Lack of primary research and my own perspective

- Abundance of secondary research, lacking my own touch on the design

- Lack of relation and context in design idea and primary research

- My design does not reflect "Me"

- Too functional, not art directed (still discovering more on this topic)

How I plan to resolve and improve these mistakes:

- Evaluating my work more consistently (daily rather than weekly) Quality depth thinking, rather than going for quantity of research. I tend to sidetrack often.

- Balancing my primary research and pushing myself out of my comfort zone to do more of it. 

- I need to understand that primary research is about first-hand experiencing, understanding and getting my perspective on something. Secondary research is another creative's philosophy/take on whatever is related to my project brief, and inspirations. Clarity of this helps segment the research and prevent me from straying out of context.

I'm quite disappointed I did not realise earlier but I am glad I learnt.

Praying all goes well for Crit tomorrow.

ILLUMINATE

Today in class I started on my new prototype with blue foam, rasping it into shape before applying plaster and sanding it to give it a smooth, well contoured finish. I took some pictures with my classmates' and tutor's hands to see how it sits in human's hands to decide where the ideal keys and lights could be integrated. On Thursday night, I sketched some ideas and justified my design before proceeding to make the final model on Friday and give it a lilac color - something that feels dreamy, sleepy and friendly. 

If I more time with my model, I would remake it with better form and keys because I came up with a better idea for it after planning how to make it. I also did not manage to include lights in my design which is quite disappointing as I am afraid it won't look as impressive as my classmates' designs, some of which are architectural models and lamp shades.

Overall, I'm content with my concept and research, if I had the chance to start over, I would include a stronger aspect of Light in my design and make something more visually pleasing.

ILLUMINATE

For my design, I modeled a real life scale Kalimba to see how it fits in my hands and have a closer look on the ergonomics. I tried a basic way of implementing the light compartment above the Kalimba.

After evaluating my first prototype, I found several insights to improve upon:
1. The light compartment is protruding outward and does not look aesthetically pleasing. It also hinders the portability of the Kalimba and makes it look fragile and clunky. My next step to improve this is to experiment with including the lights into the form itself rather than an extension. The device also has a lot of edges and I plan to embezzle the edges to make it look softer and friendlier. 

2. I want to retain the acoustic and rustic feeling it has, Kalimba being a cultural and old tradition product by nature, by giving it a wood finish and maybe some modernized decorative visuals that won’t stray too far from the implementation of the lights. A light wood finish would be ideal - I’ll be looking a little into wood work and Muji products as they’re traditional Japanese products made Minimal and modern.

3. Some extra research I’ll be doing is looking into handheld consoles and hand fitting fruits and applying biomimicry to my design. A human mind and hand is familiar with fruits so it’ll fit in well with the user. 

At this point, my only worry is finding an electrician to guide me in building the light circuit, because I’ll be making my model from foam and I won’t be able to insert anything within the model such as wires or batteries without making it brittle. I’ll see how it goes after finishing the model on Friday and try to make it as realistic as possible.

ILLUMINATE

Today's lesson on drawing Form, Light and Movement really emphasizes to me how I can find inspiration in the most mundane and ordinary of places, such as construction sites, lakes & shadows. I feel that the biggest takeaway I got from this exercise was teaching myself to look closer at my surroundings and draw inspiration, and giving attention to in depth, often overlooked details.

As of now, I feel that a longer project would allow me more time to formulate my thoughts to design a stronger and justifiable idea. I also prefer this pace as I have time and space to myself to pick my brain and think with less distractions. With more time on my hands, I can draw relations from my primary research and inspiration from secondary research to come up with an even better design idea - although I'm fairly afraid of under-delivering for the final product, as I have a higher expectation of myself now!

For starters, I'd like to experiment with keeping my idea as simple as possible, while making it innovative and fascinating despite its simplicity. I also want to inject sensorial experiences into my design to bridge the gap between design and human beings and create a memorable relationship that goes beyond the lifespan of the design.

For now, I feel that I can choose what's most useful by thinking of daily, overlooked problems that we face and solve it with light - as light is generally regarded as something clinical. I want to change the perspective humans have of light into something positive, calming and soothing. I particularly liked reflections moving in ripples and the tranquility of being in a calm space with light shade - like the leafage from trees which were grey, as the light penetrated the thin leaves.

I also strongly want to experiment with colour provided I have the time - I read a scientific research on Plutvik's Wheel of Emotions and how it unconsciously and visually can alter a human's mood. With this combined with a soft, diffused light design or a device which re-purposes how light is used in a small space, I want to make something meaningful. Looking forward to conceptualisation but not so much of actually attempting to make it!

EXPLORE IT

After a week of fast paced projects, I expected myself to work adequately fast with today’s exercise. I was taken aback at the 1.5mins we had to sketch ideas as I usually take longer to formulate my thoughts. I found that this method generates ideas fast but it doesn’t produce the best ideas. On the bright side I find that it allows me more time to improve on the product because I get is materialized quicker.

I derived a huge sense of satisfaction from crafting and seeing my product come to life. It really shows how raw and simple a design can be and the potential to develop it. Some challenges I anticipated and faced were: 
1. Everyone was using paper and yarn, so I tried really hard to make my product stand out but ended up losing functionality and eventually went onto develop something more playful after seeing others’ work.
I also knew that most people would wrap the yarn around the tomatoes and lemon as that was based of human instinct upon first interaction with the fruits.

2. It was difficult to work in a big group as everyone wanted a say in the final idea. In the end the passive members were drowned out so I had to compel myself to speak up more. Maybe there was a language and/or idea barrier amongst my group mates as some of us were seeking artsy approaches, some wanted practicality and big scale and working with the melon itself, while I myself wanted to utilize the given materials fully.
We had a little clash of ideas and decided to stick to the simplest idea as it was feasible.

I realized this lesson that for a group to achieve an outstanding outcome, everyone would have to be verbal and be on the same page. Some would also have to give in abit more to others. I found it a little difficult to explain to my group mates the bigger picture I was seeing. However I could be wrong though.

Most of my ideas were inspired by pattern creating as this is a common trend in upcycling materials in asian countries and geometric modern designs. Traveling to London, I also noticed a big trend in reusing shopping bags and tote bags so a huge portion of my ideas were dedicated to design something that could be carried on the body.

Overall i found today’s exercise a good experience  in pushing myself to work fast. I know I’m a slow thinker and take longer to formulate thoughts but as a designer I feel I should learn how to stretch my capabilities.

I also felt that something could be done about the cultural barrier between the Chinese and Locals as the Chinese took the projects really literally and maybe sidetracked too much. They kept to themselves more and it was a tad difficult to work with them. Perhaps in the future, there could be a culture where everyone in the group has to give a mandatory criticism, as some in the group just said the ideas were good but didn’t give improvement suggestions.

Honestly I was rather disappointed with how the watermelon design turned out but I still look forward to more groupwork as more heads think better than one!

WEAR IT

Today's exploration of pieces on the body was hard for me to grasp well because my thinking was too inclined to a more regimental and engineering way of thinking. Especially during the 10 minute brainstorms for 10 ideas, I only managed to pry my brain for 4. I found this project much more broad, explorative and abstract and took awhile to adjust to it. I felt pressured to maintain my standard of ideas based on the last two projects. It was really eye-opening to see how others interpreted the project and went to explore unique forms and body parts as we were not restrained by practical uses.

Like I said in my previous reflections, I aim to improve my model making skills and work faster. Today I did just that, and although the model did not turn out very well, it was semi-okay and I feel if I did present it, it would be able to communicate my idea well enough.

I never expected accessory making to require so much precision, craftsmanship and patience. I have a new found respect for this field and also would try to apply it to my own preferred design field.

BUILD IT

Today's fast paced project was a new experience for me as we were absolutely required to construct our structure and ideate a way around it even if it did not turn out according to plan or turn out aesthetically interesting.

My Group (9) and I attempted to make a perfect docehedron as we were chasing symmetrical aesthetic at first. Unfortunately, we made mistakes and the shape was deformed and unstable. I learnt that the bottom bamboo sticks needed to be the thick ones and the top ones should be thin so they could be supported without leaning. At this point, I felt really stuck but motivated to move on, while having quite a bit of fun with the constructing as my team mates were really optimistic and did not mind the deformity.

I noticed that alot of my peers constructed the architecture from very simple and basic shapes such as different kinds of triangles, which gave them more stability and less complexity to work with to understand the integrity of the architecture, something which I learnt today. 

The unique selling point of our architecture was that it formed a very contorted shape, unlike the other groups' work. Having an un-uniform shape gives us more room for imagination as everything is unequal. I feel that if the shapes or structures are too symmetrical, it makes me or possibly others adopt a more linear form of ideating and thinking, resulting in a very ordinary concept. It may not be a bad thing, but I strongly felt that the deformity of our architecture allowed me to explore better ideas in the end because there was just so much spaces, light control and forms I could play with.

The wrapping of the craft paper reminded me of the texture and color palette of tents and the desert, and the bamboo gave me a really "scrappy, put together in a messy way" kind of vibe. Hence I visualized my idea to be in a tropical, sahara-like location with greenery.

My idea is a semi-futuristic greenhouse with ties its building's functionality with the natural environment, and invites its user to interact and co-exist with the surrounding natural elements, such as a river that streams into an indoor greenhouse, wind and sun energy generators, hawaii-style rooms and more. I envision these buildings to be suitable for the future in tropical climates with no seasonal changes, such as Singapore, Malaysia or India. Although the shapes of the spaces are quite extreme and edgy, I feel that this is the kind of innovative forms that will shape our spaces in the future as it is different from the rest.

The conceptualisation I mentioned above would may not have been possible if our architecture was uniform because it would not feel as organic to be intertwined with nature. What Alastair mentioned about envisioning for the future also played a part in my ideating for the years to come, as during the time while these are being built, the world is changing politically, culturally, economically as well as every human's living habits and craving for something more and unusual.

End of Week 1 Reflection

What do I feel about my design?

I feel that I could have explored much more on the shapes, form and model making but my handicraft skills were limited. In the coming months I aim to challenge myself to explore model making much more. This design may have been simple and I envision it to impact the world greatly, but I could be wrong and in order to remove this doubt, I should have done market research and competitor research to justify it.

What do I feel about 3D Product Design and UIUX Design?

I feel that user experience and interaction, visual communication and sensorial aspects, crafting a strong belief for Users are key in a good design. Also as designers we are given a specialisation and a label, it is still one design language. Maybe my attention to detail is too much to think broadly and create an architectural piece as I enjoy product designing. But honestly I feel that not labelling ourselves as product designers and doing multidisciplinary work is much more liberating and unique as 'product' can be materialised as anything. That is what amazes me and drives me to study 3DDA.

Action Plans

1. I have to step up on my model making and product photography. I was hesitant to photograph my test models and include them in my sketchbook as it was ugly. It would have been good to include it as a progress report.

2. Better visual presentation of my ideas. I'm trying to learn Photoshop to boost my visual presentation to the point where I can design an A2 presentation rather than a scrappy sketchbook.

3. Progressive drawing and deconstructing famous designer works by redrawing them in different angles to understand them better - this was an idea I came up with after going through the tonal drawing classes.

My Other Classmates' Work

I was extremely impressed by Ruslan's moving architecture building and Isabelle's idea of drawing relation to include moss in her water-based bubble design. Although I made a 3D model, It could not fully show how my product works compared to Ruslan's. From Isabelle and Stanley I learnt that I should have more attention to detail and absorb more inspiration from the outside world.

IDEAS FACTORY

Today marked the final day of our Idea Factory. Looking back, I originally felt that this project was about designing something abstract and conceptual rather than practical. However, I decided to opt for a more practical route as that was my vision for the world. It would have been better to formulate a bigger idea that was more impactful to fit the insanely imaginative theme of this brief.

I felt that coming up with ideas quickly was challenging and demanding as I like to take my time with perfect ideas, thinking things through. Ideating fast led to more ideas and I could narrow down potential ideas from a wide spectrum of unrefined ideas. This made it partially a better technique.

I chose my most innovative and, in my view, most impactful design idea to present to my group mates, I think that they managed to grasp the concept of it as their feedback given was similar to my own critique of the flaws of my project. This might have meant that they interpreted it the way I had. However, I could have done much more on the visual presentation to make it rendered, and to show my flow of thoughts better.

My idea is a simple one but tough to manufacture as it was squid ink fused with seaweed into a pastry that was designed to be made into an origami ravioli. I am certain there would be wet properties to be rectified with some scientific processes I did not look much into.

IDEAS FACTORY

Today I finalised my idea and made some prototypes to test its form and usability. I came up with a User Journey and User Scenario on my presentation pages to help the crowd that would be listening to me to better interpret the design.

I think that I could have kept the visual presentation a lot cleaner given more time, and it would also be more ideal if it was rendered to look more realistic. All of this would contribute to a better communication. Although the collage was part of the lesson, I feel that it was too messy to communicate to someone who does not know what design is. Hence I feel that a moodboard would be more practical. As I have always presenting via powerpoint slides which I refined with photoshop skills, presenting in a scrapbook manner was an interesting challenge for me.

Later on while I was finalising my User Journey drawings, I realized that my product had a flaw. I did not give enough thought to it and made a mistake, maybe in the next project I would get myself and some classmates to re-enact a scene using the projects to fix the flaws.

IDEAS FACTORY

GMM eating Ink - what sparked my inspiration for my project

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evNGHI669DE

Today, upon seeing my tutors’ feedback on my work and others, I feel that I’ve interpreted my project a little too much in an abstract / realistic way, and the tutors are looking for something literal. This was different from how I was taught before CSM as I wanted my design to bring real life value to the world.

I’m trying to make more sense of my decisions and justify my designs so it is better tailored to the brief without losing my design thinking. I will keep in mind how literal or pragmatic each design project should be from now on. Glad to have learnt this little insight but I would really appreciate some 1-1 consultations.

Currently, my design idea is to design a squid-ink pasta that encompasses ‘folds or folding’ in its properties, in the context of an Utopian world where food waste is minimised, food production is creatively maximised with minimal animal abuse.

Out of 3 ideas, which was ink-based condiments, ink-pasta and ink-wheat products, I progressed with the ink-pasta idea as I was inspired by kelp noodles and the unique experience of consuming squid ink. It amazes me how on the spectrum of high end cuisine, food gets weirder and more exotic.

I’m currently looking into pasta types that have folding techniques and Japanese designers playing with shape and origami, hoping that this would become a unique gastronomic experience on top of the Utopian Green Footprint objective.