Biomimicry

 

Morphotex –  Donna Sgro

Morphotex is the world’s first structurally coloured fibre, developed by Teijin Japan.  It’s a fabric imitates the microscopic structure of the wing using nanotechnology. Colour in the textile appears coloured but does not use any dyes. This innovation also saves on water and energy used in conventional dyeing. This inspired another technological breakthrough – displays for mobile phones and other electronic devices that can be viewed under any light conditions.

Tilapia skin bandages

 

Wearable Tech

Hussein Chayalan 

Readings (Spring/Summer 2008) was a partnership with Swarovski was inspired by ancient sun worship and contemporary celebrity status. The clothing was embedded with moving lasers and crystals that refracted the rays of red light. The result of this combination alluded to glowing embers, yet deflected laser beams into the surrounding space, evoking a magical imagination of new-age sun gods.

Image result for hussein chalayan readings     Image result for hussein chalayan readings

Intel partnership

The project was aim to spread the awareness and regular management of stress through the models who induced different stress levels, affecting the imagery shown.

Intel’s glasses gathered biometric data from three sensors – capacitive electroencephalogram (EEG) electrodes to monitor brainwave activity; measure heart rate; and a microphone to pick up on breathing rates. Together, they measured stress in real-time.

This information was transmitted to a belt through Bluetooth. Using another Intel device – Intel Compute Stick (computing device the size of a stick of gum) the information was then translated into the visualizations and projected through small Pico projectors hidden in the belts and onto the runway wall.

The Hussein Chalayan and Intel connected accessories on the runway at Paris Fashion Week (Image credit: Intel)

The Hussein Chalayan and Intel connected accessories on the runway at Paris Fashion Week (Image credit: Intel)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelarthur/2016/09/30/intel-brings-wearable-technology-to-hussein-chalayans-paris-fashion-week-show/#707082e11b7c

Vega Zaishi Wang

Alpha Lyrae explores the deep space using an eight-dress collection of luminescent designs. It tells the story of the universe from beginning to end through augment fabric with organic animations brought to life by electroluminescence (EL).

Inspiration

My sister’s eczema – I always admired her for her bravery to go and achieve her dreams despite the painful condition of hers. She has eczema all over her body and it is genetics so there is no way of curing except treating it since she was a child. Eczema sufferers can feel ostracised for their condition hence that’s why I admire her courage of ignoring people’s stares to go on doing things she loves and achieving them.

Extinction of bees – Bees are a vital part of our ecosystem because they help with pollination. However, even though the main reason behind the colony collapse disorder is currently unknown, there are many factors that contribute to the decline in bee population. They could be pesticides, pathogens, climate change, GMO crops etc. Bee decline affects mankind too because without them, our food production is devastated.

http://sos-bees.org/situation/

 

Ishigami

Man made environment and the natural environment has affected each other to the extent that a new environment is created and it is one that we have to rethink our idea of architecture and how it plays a part in this new environment. It is interesting how scales affects what we see as the main form of architecture in an environment by making us forgo one for the other. But I think the ability to change the scale of environments can make one re-evaluate what is a space in a world that is undefined and maybe produce something unique when boundaries are crossed. 

Peter Zumthor

As architecture is a temporal and spatial art, everything needs to be taken into consideration from the exterior to interior. It is a form of art that triggers all senses. The perception of atmosphere has 9 different qualities that is used while appreciating the beauty of architecture. When all 9 qualities work together harmoniously, only then can one experience the beauty or desired experience of the architecture. It really makes one rethink what spaces are and how they are so much more meaningful than we know. Every single detail that goes into a space has a purpose and we should take more time and effort to fully immerse ourselves in the experience.

Prototyping by Takram

I was watching Netflix’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace and Gianni was telling Donatella, who was then afraid of sketching for fear of being mocked at, that it was not the quality of the sketch that matters but the idea behind it. Takram stated a similar thing too that “beautiful sketches are not necessarily essential”. I relate to these quotes as sometimes I struggle with sketching because I don’t have the confidence of drawing something nice and tend to give up which is bad. I feel like this fear prevents me from exploring design concepts and prevents innovation and creativity from happening.

Sketching is important to play a part in visualising the concept but to prove the effectiveness, prototyping is important as takram stated. We have to prototype to see if the concept visualised is possible to recreate and while using it, we have to question if it produces the experience wanted. This allows for fine-tuning and details that we may have previously missed to be added in to improve the experience when using it.

Embodiment

We always say design is form and function and as designers we tend to focus on form more than the latter. I think we tend to forget to design based on the people’s need as we tend to try to outshine each other to gain recognition for this “new” or “cool” form. Being able to design a form the triggers all senses is an impressive feat as it becomes more memorable and increases engagement with the user. It may be difficult to do but it is an important skill in my opinion as everything we come into contact with has an experience and this affects how users utilise products.

The Infra-Ordinary

The Infra-Ordinary talks about misplaced priority with “What is scandalous isn’t the pit explosion, it’s working in coalmines. ‘Social problems’ aren’t ‘a matter of concern’ when there’s a strike, they are intolerable twenty-four hours out of twenty-four, three hundred and sixty-five days a year.” As a society, we do not prioritise critical issues until something disastrous has occurred. Maybe because we do not question the issues and simply accept information given to us by ‘trustworthy’ providers of information — newspapers. There is a need to re-examine things, to invoke curiosity in us and perhaps we might see things in a different perspective and react differently to issues that needs to be changed.

Final Project Contextual Writing | Group 3 | Armorial Porcelain

Plate with the Arms of the Gyllenborg Family

Material(s): Porcelain 

Origin(s): China around 1755

From all the ceramics and porcelain wares found in the Trade Gallery in ACM, these Armorial porcelain plates caught my attention. Although small in size, the Gyllenborg coat of arms were painted with such attentiveness, capturing the intricate designs of the arms and borders. The elaborate border contrasts against the somewhat simple family crest yet the gold from the gilding accentuates and complements the vivid deep blue colour of the crest. Thus, the highly detailed painting emanates an aureate element to the plate.   

The gilt border uses vegetal forms such as flowers and leaves which come in many variations or perhaps different species native to Sweden. This border encircles an enamelled centre which features a family’s coat of arms. The crest features a golden crown resting atop a vivid deep blue oval suggesting nobility. Within the oval lies a miniature turret with a dark, winged creature posing on top of it. The creature has spikes on its back and claws arching outwards. Enveloping the blue oval, a dark greyish border along with some blue on the left are draped around it. Also, smoky greyish clouds are illustrated surrounding the crest’s bottom and left. Although it may be perceived that these clouds were part of the Gyllenborg’s crest, there was a funny and memorable story behind them. The clouds were an artistic mistake – things get lost in translation. So the story goes that the drawing of the Gyllenborg crest were damaged while being transported to China, and the “clouds” seen were not part of the drawing. The crest was smeared while being transported and the Chinese artist dutifully copied the details of the crest including the damage and thus, capturing and preserving the mistake for hundreds of years to come.  

The floral inspired design of the gilt border can be seen in the form or shape of the plate whereby the edges of the plate is curved in an inconsistent yet symmetrical manner. The edges bend and curves in a specific pattern to create and ornate, attention to detail aesthetic. The gilded stylised floral decorations are reminiscence of the Rococo or Late Baroque style which modelled after nature along with the abundance of curves. As the plates were made for a noble family, the usage of gilding emphasises on their wealth and social status as the presence of gold gives off the impression of richness. In my opinion, the gilding is mainly found on the rim and outer edge of the plates as when food is served, the food itself covers the middle portion of the plate but the outer edge remains untouched. Hence, going back to my previous point, the first thing the diner sees is the gilding and thus is reminded of the family’s social status.