PD 4: ( Atmospheres – Peter Zumthor )

Atmospheres

As I am a really indecisive person, reading just the first few pages actually kind of little convince me that once we see something, be it or not, we kind of already have the yes and no percentage separated clearly. 

Magic of the Real:
Looking at the example the author gave us it make me think of things in another perspective. Something we look at an object or in product design case a product. We often look at it individually then think hmm how I am able to create something like this but never have i think of creating something the the atmosphere this product have in an environment. 

The body of architecture:
Even though in the article the author talks about using the material in an certain items to create a space that could touch his body. But for me it makes me wonder instead of the material inside the item that created the space, what if it is a more direct approach the material inside an item that have direct connection or even contact with body. Will it be able to trigger someone emotion feeling?

Material Compatibility:
I feel like material compatibility has a certain link to the idea of “the body or architecture” it is the idea of how certain material work together, or even in some case one material itself with some twist to it, it could become something different that could eventually affect the emotion of the person if he/she comes in contact with it or enter a space with surrounding created by this material. 

Sound of a Space:
To me, it interlink with the idea of an environment. Sometimes even in us, like my peers in PD some listen to music, some listen to drama/movies, some listen to natural sound like rain or waves. We seek for this sound because it reminded us of a certain environment that able to helps us stay focus. Or some of us do work at home in the living room with the TV on but not even watching, sound in environment can affect someone emotions. It can gives familiarity and make people feel safe at certain point.

The Temperature of a Space:
The temperature of a space can greatly affect someone. Especially since we are living in Singapore, the hoe temperature out door is possibility of making someone frustrated and or annoyed. Taking the trip to eco garden as an example, sometimes because it is too hot we would think of finding shelter, or even exiting the place, in result we might missed interesting thing inside that we could spot if we stroll through the park in a cooling weather. 

Surrounding Object:
Surrounding object kind of remind me of art pieces. When we walk into certain place the art pieces immediately gives impression of the place to someone, Take example of hotel lobby, some hotel have big installation of art pieces greeting us the moment we walk in whereas some have only potted plants, I am not sure if its physiological by we do sometimes feel that the art piece lobby probably give the high end feelingt we have to the hotel.

Between composure and seduction:
It reminds me of spatial planning, making use of a space you could indirectly lead the user the way to walk. Just like in product we could in cooperated it into a space combining it, it can somehow leads the user to interact with it in a certain method,

Tension between interior and exterior:
To me, exterior and interior acts as a two way thing, you could make use of the interior to block someone off from exterior or you could work them together where you can still see the exterior when you inside. just like what the author mention regarding the women sitting in the room facing the window. It reminds me of our bench a little bit, the panels similarly works in a way like the walls that block off the exterior, but this time round instead of total remove the visibility of the exterior, but we work them together by making use of the panels. So to give the user some kind of “interior” space without cutting off exterior.

Level of Intimacy:
It reminded me of the perimeter test that we do for our project. Infact at certain point I think that perimeter is really an important factor for us designer, weather you are a interior designer or even a product design that you have to consider the perimeter you product is going to be place in.

The Light on Things:
Light is a big big big influence factor in design feel. Not only in product design but in film, photography or even 2D. It can gives 2D work a three dimensional look, providing emotion and mood to audience in movies and photography, Lights plays a big roles. Even in this project, many groups have concept that make uses of natural sunlight to creates an emotions or mood for user in the Jurong eco garden.

 

 

 

PD 4: ( Another Scale of Architecture – Ishigami Junya )

Another Scale of Architecture

Till now most of us have seen architecture as an individual construction. Most of the time we separated them from the natural environment and only observed it on its own, not taking note of the natural environment of sometimes even ignoring the natural environment. However it is interesting to put them together in consideration and compared them or even joined them to create an “environment”. Sometimes like the article mention we could look at the natural environment, then reconsider the scale of the architecture and recreate it into another perspective which like mention an environment. Also it expanded the possibilities of artificial architect, making it possible to become one with the natural environment or even to create a total new “environment”

PD 4: ( Prototyping Takram )

Prototyping Takram

As a design student we are often ask to do prototype prototype prototype. But many of us always have this wrong conception of doing one prototype to test out our ideas and also to show our professor was enough. Learning from what the book mention, it is always beneficial for us – the designers to create more prototype. We can even do simple dirty prototype created by paper or even sketches. It is definitely plus point if you could do amazing sketches but most importantly like the book mentions, finding the purpose of the sketch. if it helps you to convey ideas or jot down the way of improvement then nice sketches is not always essential. 
Also it always not always about spending huge amount of money, but more of letting the designer observed how the prototype i being use and what people experience with it are. An interesting topic mention in the book is movie prototype. We often think about it as creating a video, creating an animation or promotional video for our product. But not necessarily think of these videos as prototype. Actually the function and purpose of the videos are similar to the 3D prototype we create, it helps us to easier convey our ideas to clients and also showing the user perspective of it. 

PD 4: ( Fukasawa – Embodiment )

Embodiment

I really like the sentence where Naoto Fukasawa mention Being on the creative side of things, I try to design not from the perspective of creating something new, but rather from a viewpoint of helping people realize something that they actually knew already I like this sentence because it reminded me when my group was doing the eco garden project. We are stuck at finding ways and be creative to create an unique “enclose” environment that could help create the solitude environment our group wants to archive. However, like the sentence sometimes is the small gesture that we already embodied in our daily life that show this idea of the solitude space that we want. Such as simple putting down the armrest. Even for us when we realize this we also go “oh” yaaaa that we are already doing it and knew already just the we are so focus of coming our something new, but forget to actually look at our daily gesture that already show us the hint to what we are looking for-something we already knew.

Sometimes as designer, it is not about always creating something new. Just like he mention take the environment into consideration, look at the surrounding as it is also an important factor when designing an object but also not forgetting what is the role of this object portraying.

Surface Design – W11 ( Resin and Latex )

Resin and Latex

What is Resin and Latex?

“Resin” is a term widely and commonly used to describe a compound that starts in a liquid form and then hardens to a solid, thus mimicking tree resin. True resin comes from trees.  It is an organic material used in the manufacture of varnishes, food glazing agents and also incense and perfumes (think pine scented products).Synthetic resins like the ones used for jewellery, crafting and industry have been manufactured to mimic natural plant resins – that is they are viscous (thick + sticky) liquids that are capable of hardening permanently.  They are an inorganic material.

Natural Latex is a milky substance harvested from rubber tree plants (Havea brasiliensis) which are grown in tropical climate plantations around the world. Natural Latex is bio-degradable and naturally resistant to mold, mildew & bacteria.Synthetic latex is a man-made molecular copy of natural latex. The scientific name for this compound is Styrene-Butadiene (SBR).

Resin and Latex Technique:
– Resin

– Latex

Resin

Materials Used:
– Resin
– Hardener
– Mold
– Weighing Machine
– Grease Agent

Experiment:

    

Pour the desire amount of resin you want into a container place ontop of a weighing machine. Take the amount of resin shown on the scare and times 0.03. That is the amount of harder that we would need to add into our resin. So, the hardener should be 0.03% of the amount of the resin amount.

    

Give it a quick mixed and even mixed. The whole process must be done really quickly so recommended to have your mold sprayed with grease agent prepared first if not the resin would dry up really quickly. 

    

So I wanted to create earrings out of the acrylic rings that I laser cut from previous etching class. I have to first lay a thin layer of resin into my ring. Using a toothpick to slowly pick up resin bit by bit to filled the ring because it has a small area to work with. Then placing my dried flower on the first layer of resin and then cover them with a second layer of resin. Doing so I must make sure I filled up the base evenly so that there are no empty spots but also not to put too much that it over flow the thickness of the acrylic thickness as it would be unable to encapsulate. 

   

I also cut rings that I thought I could play with some wool left over from the felting class. I place a acrylic sheet at the bottom to help secure my resin earrings and also to easier move around. I had to spray slightly more grease agent as I am afraid it can’t be remove after it is dried. 

    

I was a little sad because I did not know that wool would not be visible after I pour the second layer of resin:( But I am happy because it also create a soft thin of pastel colour inside the resin which I find it quite special:) “It is alright if the resin over flow, even though it is not recommended but it can be removed after resin dry:)

    

My classmate also bought some saga seed and I thought why not try to encapsulate something slightly larger and more 3D:) while it is drying I felt it kinda look like fried egg. 

TADA!!:)

Latex

Materials Used:
– Liquid latex
– Hardener
– Mold
– Weighing Machine
– Grease Agent

Experiment:

    

As usual spray grease agent onto the surface you want to pour your latex. I poured 100g of Liquid latex and add in 2-5g of hardener. And for me I wanted to create a flesh like look for my latex, so I added some red acrylic paint inside while I mixed the latex to create this pinkish colour. Putting on aluminium foil I wanted to create the crumple surface texture to it so hopefully it forms well:)

    

Then place your latex under the sun to dry. I was thinking maybe because I add in too little hardener. It take super long to dry and I am still unable to peel it off the aluminium foil:(

   

It was quite fail as the latex was not dry enough and thus sticking onto the foil:( even after peeling them the surface was sticky.

   

Even though it was sticky, but I really love the texture it was created. It and also the light pinkish effect was really special to me:) One tip, I coated it with baby powder and then shake them off, so they are not sticky now! and smell so nice:)