David Kitterman III
College of Architecture + Urban Studies
Foundations Design Lab
Fall 2020 Portfolio
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RELIEF AND SHADOWS | Interplay of Light + Depth
Discovering the relationship of bends, folds and cuts led to interest in how they create depth and illusion-like behavior. The fold across the sheet lifted the barrier of space beneath and crossed the 8 in. cube boundary. Reflecting a pattern in the bottom section gave proportionality while the upper section brought a new structure.
Scale: 8” Square
FIGURE-GROUND | Lines Lifting From a Page
Repetition of a unique line type set a base for exploration. Line weight brings darker lines forward and moves lighter lines back. Relief brakes a two dimensional flat plane and raises the figure up, casting faint shadows on its origin. Elements on a page come to life with interplay of bends and twist, challenging a papers flat structure. Ultimately, heirarchy could not compliment the unique line type.
Scale: 8” Square
Hierarchy stripped this image to it’s core value, one shade.
The gradient of 5 values delivered depth and shadows.
Each version happened to compliment a different section, possibly with
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w/ Bristol + Graphite
COLOR STUDY | Transparency + Cubic Planes
w/ Magazine cutouts
Scale: 8” Square
Shape Scale: 3” x 3” consiting of a 1” square
Studying overlap and hierarchy showed understanding of colors and how they interact. Blending two colors requires attention to values and aspects of like characteristics. Limitations when searching through magazine pages yielded intriguing color selections and many false predictions. Uniquely, the 3 tone background was an after taught upon going back to the oblique cube concept.
The arangement of the 3 shapes follow overlap order. The opacity transitions from the horizonatal to the vertical being on top. Transparency was created of non-transparent magazine cutouts, sheding loght on peception and hierarchy.
Scale: 8” Square
Perception of space is often overlooked. Hierarchy establishes space between objects. The affect of illusion is important to recognize for its role on a figure in space. Magazine cutouts helped send objects back and arrange others front and center. Close ups reveal the unique relationships of hues, value and chroma.
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OBLIQUE STUDY | Sketch to Digital Experience
The space of Cowgill Hall is unique for its environment. Capturing its beauty for the average person, especially in the age of Covid-19, offered a unique insite in the experince of the building. From the pyramid skylights to the dividers between each students desk. The exterior flight of stairs lacking a ramp to the LumenHAUS in the open grass. Another glimpse inside would show the commitment to learning using walls as pin up spaces meanwhile green arrows and tape guide people safely despite of challenging times.
This simple sketch of the building and stairwell concluded as a helpful understanding of space and its prime qualities
Scale: 19” x 24” (cropped)
A closer look at one example of how the “studio space“ may be experienced this fall.
Scale: 19” x 24”
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w/ Photoshop
CUBIC SPACE | Planes that Define Shapes
Using programs like Sketchup can give all the answers of how to start but could never replace how the mind thinks, eyes see and instinct responds. Dependence to computer programs proved to limit experience and creativity while sheltering real life perspective.
Working with plane forms included trial and error, blind discovery and candid interpreation. Implying simple shapes with a open/ closed approach brings interesting considerations for figure and space. Challenging the limitations of “what is cubic” and applying the concept of “play“ helped create an intersting take on order.
In this approach, the attention is on a traditional cubic form, simplistic nature and reserved physique. Faces are open but closed and the figure follows one path, beginning at the outlined square and ending at the outlined cube.
Scale: 19” x 24”
Scale: 8” cube boundary
The figure above and to the left both reveal diverse styles in the realm of cubic structures which sparks interest and wonder of how the qualities of both could work together
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w/ Bass Wood + Bristol
CUBIC SPACE | Model to Digital Imagination
w/ Photoshop
Converting a model to a digital format tied up the experimentation thus far. Introducing a different scale of something much larger reveals the possibilities of the created model. The floating-like illusion using planes complimented the characteristic of a cloud. Restraint of the left face and slightly darkening the right face played into the observation of how light touches faces. Consideration to the white outline created needed clarity; meanwhile, the variety of forms, planes and shapes naturally host the cloud image for an intriguing result.
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