module four nan ma 611953

Module 4 Nan Ma

Student Number: 611953

Semester 2 2013 Group 1

VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS

_M1 Ideation_

_Analysis of Umbrella and Material System (Skin and Bones)_

Generally, the structure of an

umbrella is a handle, fabric and

bones. The handle of umbrella is

essential , which supports the whole

umbrella. It mainly can be made of

wood, bamboo and metal. The

bones can support the whole

fabric and also can be folded. The

umbrella surface (also named

fabric)is the most important part of

the umbrella. It takes the

responsibility to give people a

shelter and it can be made of

plastic cloth, fabric, silk and the

durable nylon cloth.

Because of these knots, the

umbrella can be folded and easy

to take. In my umbrella, these

knots are made of metal and

although they are stainless steel, it

still can be rusted. Moreover, in

order to make the lines and knots

together, the producer uses small

enough screws.


_M1 Ideation_

_The Ideation Development_

At first, I played around the umbrella, I was very interested in the bones so I deleted all the

skins. In Rhino I was surprised finding that only has bones’ umbrella looks like a spider. Why

do not I make the umbrella into a fashionable and creative hat. And then, I rotated all

bones. But I found that it may affect people’s horizon. At the result, I changed the shape

which is three bones in front of person’s face and the remaining four bones are behind

person. However, for the skin, it can be made of silk or muslin.

The most special feature of this hat is it is foldable. In this case, it makes the full use of

umbrella’s feature. Therefore, when people do not want to use it and want to save the

space, just fold it. But, there is a disadvantage that it may let people feel a little bit heavy.

PERSONAL SPACE Robert Sommer

According to Sommer, people prefer closer presence of a

stranger at their sides rather than in front(1969).

01 02 03 04

ONLY BONES WHIRLING CUTTING FOLDING

Module Two

Design


_M2 Design_

_Surface Digitalisation_

Back View

Front View

The key to my trumps development is to find an efficient way amplifying sound maximize. Due to the first design was five-pointed star, it was to hard to fabricate.

TRUMPS DEVELOPMENT

TIMELINE

01 First I digitalised the

upper five-pointed

star and then

created smaller ones.

02 After analyzing the difficult

level of making horns and

based on some researches,

I decided to change them

into six-sided shape.

03 Subsequently, I beautified

their shape and made

them look flat. After all,

they are second skin and

people will wear them

Horns drawing, Brian Siu, 2013


_M2 Design_

_Prototype for Skin and Bones and Connection_

The purpose of testing this prototype is trying to have skin and

bones trail. Wooden sticks were used for making internal

frames (also named as bones) and a sheet of plastic wrap

was used for skin. Testing whether it does amplify sound or

not is necessary. The result is although couple of sticks as

frame maintain the shape, it is still fragile in conjunction.

Therefore, we decided to use card papers or other thicker

materials.

The main reason for making this prototype is to test the

connection whether it works between two horns, as our

design focuses on sounds. Through making this

prototype, it is believed that for the mouth horn, it is

supposed to be small. In this condition, the sound from

mouth can be directly transmitted into channel and

amplify them successfully.

Prototypes photos, Brian Siu, 2013

Prototypes photos, Yinjun Shi, 2013


_M2 Design_

_Paneling Development_

01 Default triangles.

02 Default triangles in patterns

with offset points to create

though using paneling

tools

03 Outer surface of horns are

different from inside

patterns.

04 Create grid: 3 by 2

Offset grid diameter: 1

Check Grids

Choose Patterns


_M2 Design_

_Precedent Researches and pattern testing_

I focused on concert halls and recording studios, because in this buildings,

protecting and amplifying the sounds is crucial. It is notable that most of

these kinds of building, sound scattering shapes were often used.

Specifically, the design of Knowlton School of Architecture’s main space is a

good example, which was experimented with by implementing a material

with a certain shape to allow sound movement. After studying these

precedent researches, the conclusion is similar patterns being sold as

acoustics products, which scattered sound to create a passive surround

sound effect and amplify efficiently.

_M2 Design_

_Digital Model Performance_


Module Three

Fabrication


_M3 Fabrication_

_Unrolling and Nesting_

UNROLLING The main patterns including both inside and outside are

around a hundred. Tabs were created by using plug-in

tool named Grasshopper.

I decided to use Ivory Paper and its gsm is 290. I believe at

least we need 40 papers.


_M3 Fabrication_

_Model Assembly Process_

01 02 03 04

CARD CUTTER FOLD PATTERNS FINISH ONE OF TRUMPS HALF OF WORKS LEFT

Using card cutter first to cut all of

patterns and channels. Afterwards,

I used UHU glue and double side

tape to cling tabs. After finishing all

the inside patterns, we stuck horn’s

openings.

Model Assembly

TIMELINE Actually, during fabrication we met lots of difficulties.

Because sounds are spreading in these channels, every

opening should be closed definitely. Because some of horns

are small, the suitable inside patterns are small as well so that

it was too hard to fold. Moreover, I had to get a hole from

one channel for inserting another one.

Patterns photos, Brian Siu, 2013

Module Four

Adjustment & Reflection


_M4 Adjustment & Reflection_

_Getting lessons from last fail model and creating a new one_

After finishing late design fabrication, I found that it was

unstable , including clinging openings , horns are too heavy

that main channel cannot suffer that weight so that it was

fragile. After discussing with my group members, we

decided to create a simple model and this time our model

only around neck.

First and foremost, we discussed the rails such as how it looks

like, how Vicki can hold it, how lose weight to make it lighter

and how could sound spread from mouth to each horns.

Back speaker: its function is avoiding to damage ears

and assuring sounds can be amplified successfully.

The channel cannot be too curved, because it

would be difficult to make physical model. It is

supposed to put one more trump.

This opening is for mouth. It is

supposed to make small so that

sounds can directly go to channel

without any remnants.



_Model Assembly Process_

01 02 03

PATTERNS ON SURFACE CLING THE OPENING CLING EACH TABS

After doing previous fabrication, I got experience

how to make model stable. In this case, I found that

the connection between channel and back horn is

vital, otherwise it will fall down. Therefore, I added

to layers to connect them assuring they are safe

and stable.



_Model Performance in Rhino_



_Model Performance_


REFLECTION After going through all the designing processes and twice fabrication, I found that I really enjoy weekly reading and lectures, working

with group members and attending technical sessions. All of these experiences helped me to use digital tools such as Rhino, InDesign,

Illustrator and some plug-in tools and understand the function of design principles. Working with other students lets me know how big

strength that group members can give. Especially for Module 3, everyone worked hard and met everyday at university to make

model. We almost lost our confidences and felt so frustrated when we saw our physical model, but our tutor cheered us up, she gave

us inspiration and brainstorm. Therefore, we worked together again with full of confidences. Consequently, we finished our model on

time and it worked. We were so excited and clapped after filming our model.

In one of the first few lecture, lecturer introduced to us some designs were created by Bryan Chee, the most impressive design is an

enclosed volume is formed by folding techniques, no beam and column within the structure. It is very useful to design our inside and

outside patterns in the aspect of stability. Bryan Chee also got another design, he folded a piece of paper and this structure stands

itself without any supporting things. Moreover, during the fabricating process, it is really important to know some constructing methods.

The article named Architecture in the Digital Age written by Branko Kolarevic is a good example to understand the context. In this

article, the author mentions several ways to make 2D and 3D models successfully. It also talks about the model-making machines, I

think the most useful more is card cutter since the most of cutting shapes that we had was made by ourselves. For the Card Cutter, it

will not damage any colour of paper and it absolutely shorten our time to translate out digital model to physical one. Most importantly,

in order to get high-quality cutting results, we are supposed to clean the blade regularly.

Besides, I have to admit Daniel Charny’s Thinking through Making giving me some brand-new perspectives and knowledge. Mostly

makers would like to say that making is a continuum and will always be a part of people’s lives. Certainly, well made or fine ly crafted

objects will always draw a particular audience. Most of people refer to making or fixing to buy new. According to Charny, the making

skills are supposed to be practiced and otherwise, it would be deteriorated quickly. Charny also mentioned that today, there is a

great amount of producing things are low quality, poor materials, bad engineering, crude creft and thoughtless design. Charny

argued that thinking through making—holds social, economical and cultural values that are particularly suited to our times and to

shaping our future. He found that if people use craft as the forefront of these activities, it is easy to find out that people embrace new

applications—mutations that happen at the junction of craft, technology and human ingenuity that make the artform relevant again.

Later, he also mentioned three types of making and they are adding techniques connect, layer or combine materials, subtracting

techniques remove materials and Transforming techniques alter materials.

All in all, I am really proud of myself in the end of this semester, because any difficulties that I have met I have already overcome.

Although sometimes I questioned about myself that should I keep pursuing this design, I finally go through Virtual Environments

successfully. Now, I have a much better understanding of ideation, design, digitalisation and fabrication which I totally have no idea

before.

Acoustics First N/A, QuadraPyramid Diffuser, photograph, viewed 25 August 2013,

<http://www.acousticsfirst.com/diffusors-quadrapyramid/QuadraPyramid1.png>

Bassetti, F 2013, Arkwhat-Ark Canary-iPhone Speaker-iPhone Sound Amplifier-Tech Gadget, photograph,

viewed 21 August 2013, <http://blog.blomming.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/arkwhat-ark-canary-iPhone-speaker-iPhone-sound-amplifier-tech-gadget.png>

Charny, D n.d, Thinking though Making, n.d, Australia.

Kolarevic, B 2003, Architectural in the Digital: Design and Manufacturing, Spon Press, London.

Sommer, R 1969, Personal Space: The Behavioral Basis of Design, Prentice-Hall Press, Australia

Welker, A 2010, Indivboard, 3D render, viewed 27 October 2013, <http://www.adamwelker.com/wp-

content/uploads/2011/12/indivboard.jpg>.


_Reference List_

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