DIGITAL DESIGN + FABRICATION SM1, 2017
module two - skin and bone study MADELINE GUNDRY 759778 YEN SZEHARLAIGNE 720182 LAUREN HO 834731 DI WU 860315
LUCA LANA STUDIO #2
PRELIMINARY DESIGN IDEAS The notion of a kinetic enclosure system in its physical state has formed the beginning of our conceptual design; creating the ability to form a screen of privacy containing personal space whether individually or with the comfort of another. Enhanced by the idea of using the individuals’ arms as a mechanism to generate the kinetic aspect, allowing the individual to be in control of their immediate personal space. Fluid hyperboloid forms that moulds around the individual influencs the aesthetic while incorporating the material component of a flowing, curved, flexible material.
IDEALIZING PERSONAL SPACE
Following the reading Sommers Personal Space (1969), personal space refers to an area with invisible boundaries surrounding a persons body, into which we experience discomfort with the presence of intruders. Although intruders are not welcome into this space, the companionship of somebody close to us or somebody we love within this space is extremely comforting and something we ultimately desire. Perhaps the gap between these spaces then merge and instead create an attractive effect. Personal space also changes with differing situations, by exploring two strangers and how they interact with each other in public situations such as sitting on a bench, strangers would stand or sit as far away as possible from each other. If you replace this stranger with somebody who is close in relation to, or someone that they would desire to be close with, the space between each other diminishes, regardless of the surrounding space.
VEASYBLE
BY GAIA AT ISTANBUL DESIGN WEEK
Concept: Intimacy, Isolation This particular project focused on creating a series of wearable objects that could be transformed into an object of isolation or to create a sense of personal intimacy in any environment. This led to the design of an ornament that could be worn at anytime to create a private place for intimacy or a place to be alone. The design was set to encompass “a strong, dominate exterior that conceals a fragile, personal interior.�
BUBELLE BLUSHING DRESS BY PHILLIPS DESIGN
Concept: Emotion, Visual Sensing This particular design explores emotional sensing technologies to display the emotions of the user through the presence of LED lights. The concept of the ‘mood ring’ is further explored through the use of sensors that read excitement levels and display the emotional state through pattern and colour change. The design encompasses a delicate bubble surrounding that interacts with the skin, displaying different illuminations depending on the feelings and personality of the user. The idea of incorporating electronics into the second skin garment to express emotion and further enhance the experience of embrace was inspired by this design. When you are in the presence of someone you love, positive emotions are eroused and by showing a glow we emphasis the intimacy and uniqueness of this moment.
CAN’T AND WON’T DRESS BY YING GAO Concept: Movement, Emotional Expression
This design consists of two dresses that feature robotic movement and facial recognition technologies that allow movement within the dresses, as if they were breathing. As people around the dress display even the slightest bit of emotion, the dress will ‘freeze’ in an attempt to further explore the effects of emotional expression on our surroundings. The concept of movement within the dresses inspires our second skin design, as by allowing interaction with the user, the sense of emotionality can further enhance the effect of the garment.
DESIGN EXPLORATION
Exploration was then made with the ideas of the precedences and preliminary works in mind, generating different forms of ideas in different components. Materials such as wires and wood were considered, different mecanical joint possibilities were made into informatic diagrams and further conceptual designs were then explored. The idea of a fluid form was favored and developed.
MATERIAL EXPLORATION
MATERIAL EXPLORATION
The design process involved working with a series of stiff materials such as wood, fence wire and chicken wire to explore different ‘bone’ characteristics and possibilities of our design. Theese materials were extremely sturdy and created possible structure scenarios, however it was faced with challenges. The goal was to create a design that encompasses movement and can be manipulated to change its form depending on the user. These materials were inadequate under the effects of gravity so movement was not achievable. The materials were too stiff to manipulate into the intended forms and curves. These materials were also not reliant in the presence of a ‘skin’ for completion. Thus new materials or methods had to be explored to achieve the desired type of effect. Due to design constraints and the vast possibilities of the type of materials we may use, it was essential to create real-life models and prototypes at an early stage of the design process.
LED LIGHTING
To further emphasis the concept that the design is incomplete without another, we have decided to include a series of LED lights that will light up the whole design when the two people come together in embrace and hold hands. To create the illumination, the design process involved exploring various techniques and materials to create an array of LED lights that can be connected to the model. Materials such as aluminium foil, PVC insulation tape, wire, dry batteries, different LED colors and resistors were used to create a circuit. The switches of this circuit are constructed out of aluminium foil which will be attached to the users hands. When the two users come together it will create the sensation that they are glowing, further promoting positive emotion within this moment, a moment that is special.
THE SECOND EMBRACE
The design concept explores the notion of capturing embrace and intimacy, by allowing somebody into our personal space and encapsulating the moment. Our design is incomplete without the presence of another, as the two people come together in embrace, our design combines to create a finished, enclosed structure. The design has a dual purpose, to use the design to create a space barrier that prevents strangers from entering the space we restrict for ourselves and to allow those that are close to us. The second skin is user specific, as the user chooses the distance of their personal space while also giving the freedom to let the presence of another within their protective barrier or use it purely for themselves, something that is determined by the individuals preference or comfort levels. We chose to work with the senses of touch and emotion, as when we are in the embrace of someone we love, we feel comforted, safe, warm. This is a feeling that provokes positive emotion and we wanted our design to encompass these elements. Touch is explored through the interaction of two people, who must converge together for the design to be complete. However if desired, the user could use this design for the prevention of touching others, to ensure ultimate comfort: whether in isolation or in an embrace.
DESIGN CONCEPT
To inform a design that could combine two people, to explore the notion of intimacy, closeness and embrace through a dual person design. This concept led us to the idea that our design could be incomplete without the presence of another person, but with the movement of embracing another, the design could form together to encapsulate the moment. As we explored and discovered the movement of the new materials, we let our findings influence our visualized design. This ultimately led to us deciding to use four elongated ‘arms’ that combine together to create our body aspect of our design.
In addition to this, we have created a headpiece that is constructed out of the same elements. This headpiece is envisaged to be worn by another person that is close to the user of the body piece. We imagine that as they come together in embrace, the design combines together to create a closed dome, that can be used at anytime or anywhere to create a private place for intimacy and encapsulate the embrace.
MATERIAL EXPLORATION 2.0
This metal material’s form is extremely dependent on the stretchy nylon ‘skin’ that we placed over it to create it’s intended shape, as it was moulded into a thin, long and curved shape that we used for the ‘arms’ or our design. This arm created a skin and bone function, as one could not remain in the same form without the other. With this new material, we faced the issue of the wire bending when moving the design, so we decided to incorporate ‘armature wire’ studs across the arm to maintain the desired shape we were searching for. Finally, we added the presence of ‘fishing line’ to create a clear and flexible join between the multiple arms that could be attached the hands of the user. This line allowed the functionality of movement to our design, encapsulating the concept of isolation and intimacy as the user manipulates the arms to create a barrier for themselves or with another within differing situations.
DESIGN VISUALIZATION The concept of our design captured in these Rhino generated graphics depict two states of our design, the first an open and the second an enclosed state. Both the body and headpiece have been functionally designed so that the design either opens or closes depending on the desires of the individual. This allows the individual to be in control of their immediate personal space allowing them the option to whether they wish to welcome people in, or shield themselves from strangers or potential danger.
DESIGN VISUALIZATION
Elongated arm elements are connected to the body at 2 points: at the back to secure the second skin and at the hands, whereby fishing line is threaded through the arm elements and attached to the hands of the user. By doing so, it allows the movement that encompasses our design, permitting the user to position the second skin depending on their circumstances. While in a relaxed position the body is still protected by the second skin and as the arms of the user move to embrace another or even for their own protection, the design then obtains a larger volume to confine themselves with another.
CONTINUANCE
The design progression was faced with multiple challenges, such as the effects of gravity. We wanted our design to encompass alot of volume and curvature, but when placed on a model, the arms would immediately fall flat into a position that did not create the intended effect. With exploring different materials and prototyping them into different positions, we were able to achieve the intended position and volumetric shape. However, this also caused more difficulty, as the position of the arm and the added motion of movement resulted in the twisting and buckling of the metalic skeletal structure, which we were then able to fix with the addition of ‘studs’ across each arm that kept the shape in place. There are various aspects of this prototype that we would like to further improve onwards o the next stage of the design process. Possibly to elongate the arms on the head piece element of the design so that when the two users embrace vertical elements can achieve a similar and more effective impact on the whole form of the second skin.