DDF M4 Journal

DIGITAL DESIGN + FABRICATION SM1, 2017 Reflective Second Skin Chua Qin Sheng(Cedric)

835148 Joshua Russo, Tutorial 5

Contents 0.0

Introduction

1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3

M1 Summary Measured Drawings + 3D Model Reconfigured Model Sketch Designs

2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3

M2 Summary Refined Sketch Design Exploring the Form of the 2nd Skin Initial Design Proposal

3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6

M3 Summary ‘Base Unit’ Prototyping ‘Reflective Surface’ Prototyping ‘Strip’ Prototyping Final 3D Model Fabrication Process Model Photography

4.0

M4 Reflection

5.0

Bibliography

Introduction Digital Design and Fabrication is a subject taught at the University of Melbourne. It prompts students to utilise digital tools to design a ‘second skin’ that is built upon the human body to explore aspects of personal space. The second skin project must address the expression of the personal space through one of three material systems (the formal qualities) as well as through sensorial effects (experiential qualities).

M1: Ideation Module 1 sets the foundation for the second skin project. M1 tasks included measured drawings of a stool (panel and fold system), basic 3D modelling, reconfigured sketch model of the stool and sketch designs for the second skin.

Essentially, M1 tasks led me to a better understanding of the panel and fold system and led me to explore different potential approaches I could take to design the second skin. The book “Digital Fabrication� by Lisa Iwamoto was essential to my understanding of the panel and fold system. Based on that text, I understood the material system as the transformation of a flat surface into a 3D volume. This

transformation aims to generate organic tessellations that allows for variations in surface and materiality. (Iwamoto, 2009) The materials used in a panel and fold system must also be thin and bendable. This knowledge had an evident influence on my teams’ final model, which combined multiple materials, each with individual forms, into a coherent whole.

1.1: Measured Drawings + 3D modelling

1.2: Reconfigured Model

I played with different folds in an attempt to enrich my understanding of the panel and fold system.

1.3: Sketch Designs

M2: Design Module 2 put every student into a group, where we had to agree on a core concept and develop the design in that direction. We all decided to base our personal space scenario on Doris’s own personal experience. Basically, she experienced subtle instances of racial discrimination when travelling on public transportation when she was on an exchange program in Stuttgart. Chinese people are a minority group in Stuttgart due to the city’s lack of multiculturalism. As a result, Doris would occasionally receive puzzling stares from locals (especially from the elderly demographic). Our group decided to design a second skin that confronts these situations by using reflective surfaces that

cover and blur the vision of the wearer’s facial region, which was where the strangers that Doris encountered were staring at.

The main achievements of the team during this module were the development of the prototypes that constituted the basis of the second skin design.

3D modelling was also essential for communicating our abstract ideas between group members as well as to tutors. There were no particular precedents that influenced our design in a significant way. This is due to the unique nature of our base units, in which its dimensions were generated based on our sketch model alone.

2.1: The Refined Sketch Design

2.2: Exploring the Form of the 2nd skin

1. Exploration of the group’s reconfigured model.

2. Further development of the folding unit into one that can open and close.

3. Through trial and error, the unit was developed into a ‘V’ shaped sheet that can be folded and joined with other units.

4. The group’s final prototype for M2 was a continuous

2.3: The Initial Design Proposal

M3: Fabrication Module 3 consisted mainly of constant prototyping to produce an optimal second skin model.

At this point, we have identified three main components of our second skin; the base units, the reflective units and the strips in the reflective units. Additionally, we have found metal wire to be the most appropriate for providing structural integrity for the units. The images on the following pages show the optimisation process for each component. Like M2,

3D modelling was extremely important in allowing us to communicate our ideas clearly.

As we moved towards more complex volumes, it became increasingly difficult to describe and explain our ideas and their free-form nature through words alone. In the end, we essentially joined the units to form a linear strip. The joined units are then curved to wrap around the head of the wearer. The metal wires ensure that the curved form is maintained.

3.1: ‘Base Unit’ Prototyping

1. Testing 290GSM Ivory Card as material.

It had good structural rigidity but was too thick.

2. 200GSM Optix Card is tested. It had good structural rigidity and was easy to fold.

3. Testing out differently sized units.

3.2: ‘Reflective Surface’ Prototyping

1. Testing aluminium foil. It wasn’t a suitable material as it crinkles easily and the reflective effect is diminished after multiple folds.

2. Testing reflective spraypaint. The group was not able to produce a smooth and consistent surface with the spraypaint.

3. Foilboard proved to be the most suitable. It could also be cut using the card cutter in the FabLab.

3.3: ‘Strip’ Prototyping

1. These strips only occupied a small volume of the units, which does not blur the vision of the wearer enough. Thus, it does not fit our design concept. The strips were also being damaged when the unit is opened widely.

2. This arrangement of the strips looks simple and neat. The strips are in good condition when the units opened, but it looks quite flat.

3. We chose the strips which formed an “8” shape because the reflection of the strips look compared to the others. Moreover, the volume that the strips created was quite big and it also opened nicely without damaging the paper strips.

3.4: Final 3D Model

3.5: Fabrication Process

1. The laser-cut Optix Card units are etched.

2. Every unit individually.

is

folded

3. The units are glued together.

4. Two metal wires are slotted through the top and bottom edges of every unit.

5. The wire is bent into a curve.

6. The strips are attached to the reflective units using double-sided tape.

7. The reflective units are glued together.

8. All reflective units joined together.

9. The base units and the reflective units are joined to each other at one end using velcro.

10. The end product.

3.5: Assembly Drawing

3.6 Model Photography

M4: Reflection I chose this subject partly because it is a recommended subject, but also because I was curious towards the subject content. I saw the works of past DDF students and it seemed very puzzling to me as an outsider. I wanted to experience After completing the subject, I still (quite frankly) find it weird.

The concept of personal space is very dynamic and ambiguous and left me confused during the M1 and M2 phase.

However, my group and I were able to agree on an interesting personal space situation that I otherwise would not have been able to do so if it were an individual project. Groupwork is a significant feature of this subject as all groups must work together for 10 continuous weeks. It has caused me a lot of frustrations as there were multiple instances where my ideas clashed with the other team members’ ideas.

For example, I opted for a top-down

design approach while the other members wanted to take a bottom-up approach. I am glad that I was able to compromise my personal ideas for the groups’ and utilise a bottom-up approach. It is quite an interesting design method as you, the designer, has no inkling as to how the final product will turn out. You keep digging for many ideas and eventually the pieces start to come together. Working in a team environment has ultimately taught me the importance of mutual respect and being able to stay on the same page with other group members.

It has provided me with a good (and bad) experience of working in a team which I will use to ensure that I do not run into similar problems in future collaborative design projects.

The other aspect of the subject that I would like to reflect on is the use of digital tools in design. I am completely

new to digital design and fabrication and the subject has piqued an interest in how digital tools are used in architectural design. I felt that my lack of knowledge in architectural geometry has hindered my ability to further elaborate and increase the complexity of my second skin design. Digital design has become something I want to further study as a result of taking this subject.

As stated in the reading on the Third Industrial Revolution, we are in a period where manual fabrication is accessible to anyone. (Rifkin, 2011) Digital tools and fabrication can engage architects with craft, providing them with the ability to manually design building components. A good understanding of contemporary digital tools can greatly enrich an architect’s designs and I want to achieve that knowledge.

5.0 Bibliography

Iwamoto, L 2009, Digital fabrications: architectural and material techniques. New York : Princeton Architectural Press.

Rifkin, J 2011, The third Industrial Revolution. Palgrave Macmillan. pp107-126

Appendix CREDITS

Page Cover 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Drawings

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Computation

Model Fabrication Model Assembly

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x

x x

x

x

x x

Cedric Chua Doris Zhang Nakita Chan Tian Sheng

Photography

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x x x xxxx

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Writing x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Graphic Design x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Page Cover 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85

Drawings