Gradually exposing myself
Hate, a three piece individualistic structure that speaks the story of my relationship with my father when I was young. This is translated into the actions and shape of the structure. The Dominant (Father) is seen trying to reach out to Subordinate (myself) whom I always shun away from by closing the door on him. Depicted as the Sub-Dominant (Door) serves as a guardian that always protect me from him whenever I hide in my bedroom to avoid contact with him
We were given a list of Verbs to visually translate them into a physical form – Wrap, Puncture, Cradle/Grab and Bind
The chosen verbs that I used are Slide, Puncture, Cradle and Bind
As this is an exercise on literal visual metaphor to translate the actions into a physical form, I went to www.merriam-webster.com to look up the definition of each verbs.
Slide – to change position or become dislocated
Puncture – to make useless or ineffective as if by a puncture
Cradle – to support protectively or intimately
Bind – to wrap around with something so as to enclose or cover
These are the sketches that I had made in conjunction to the verbs
Prototyping phases to develop the sketches into models
Slide
Puncture
Cradle
Bind
Before incorporating the verb element into the final product, my initial thought was to make a Japanese woodworking style in a form of a puzzle box. The box itself is supposed to look normal and it has many hidden features that can open up to different compartment with element of surprises
A brief consultation with Ms Sherry had made me realised that how I can actually develop on the “Sliding” element since the Japanese hidden features incorporates a lot of sliding details as it works as an surprise as each move will reveal a new clue or progress.
Click here to proceed to ASSIGNMENT 2B – HELD . WORN . CARRIED – WEAVE Part 2
After figuring out what the prototype that I have wanted to do, the task was to move a step beyond to incorporate at least one element of the verb prototype into the final product. My direction is to make a luggage with hidden features.
Click here to the link for the prototype fabrication.
Original box with twine used to secure together
Sliding of the box cover to reveal the inner compartment as first hidden feature
With the top cover removed, it will shows the compartment within the box
Second hidden feature, the handle is then remove from within the box through the built-in locking mechanism
Using steel wire to act as a double hooking lock mechanism system to secure the base cover intact
Steel wire is turn to unlock
The base cover is then being remove after unlocking
Final composition of the Prototype luggage
With the prototype made and shown for consult with Ms Sherry, she mentioned a few details on making it “Less complicated” in terms of the hidden puzzle mechanism as it will be too troublesome for the users to use if they have to figure out how to open it and the steps taken will be too much
Secondly, “Incorporation of weaving” in terms of the handles or parts where I can incorporate weaving details into the product to show how I can compliment weaving with the rigidity of woodworking
Lastly, “Exploration of ideas” in terms of the joinery, how I can incorporate the idea of “Binding” into the product itself to make it compliment with weaving since I am doing wood product in this case
Finger joint
Christiana, A. (2010, October 23rd). [Picture]. Finger-joint Basics. Startwoodworking. Retrieved 2019, March 3rd from http://www.startwoodworking.com/post/finger-joint-basics
Box-in-cherry-with-square-half-blind-box-joint
Unknown. (n.d.). [Picture]. Gallery. Leigh. Retrieved 2019, March 3rd from https://www.leighjigs.com/f3-finger-box-joint-gallery/
secret-compartment-box-japanese-merchant-chest
King, C. (2013, July 14). [Picture]. Secret Compartments in Wooden Japanese Merchant’s Chest. Stashvault. Retrieved 2019, March 3rd from https://www.stashvault.com/japanese-merchants-chest-with-secret-compartment/secret-compartment-box-japanese-merchant-chest/
Wooden Briefcase
Unknown. (n.d.). [Picture]. Wooden Briefcase. Alibaba. Retrieved 2019, March 3rd from https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Wooden-Briefcase_100055374.html
StreetWalker_Roller_V2-WEb-layers_0013_StreetWalker_Roller_V2-Harness-1687-
Unknown. (n.d.). [Picture]. Think Tank STREETWALKER® ROLLING BACKPACK V2.0. maniocinetools. Retrieved 2019, March 3rd from https://manioscinetools.gr/en/product/think-tank-streetwalker-rolling-backpack-v2-0/
Black Leatherette Braided Sling Bag
Unknown. (n.d.). [Picture]. Black Leatherette Braided Sling Bag. Limeroad. Retrieved 2019, March 3rd from https://www.limeroad.com/black-woven-leatherette-sling-bag-alvaro-castagnino-p9657881/
Weaving-with-a-recycled-plastic-loom-BABBLE-DABBLE-DO-Basic-Weaving-Steps
Dziengel, A. (2014, June 5). [Picture]. Art for Kids: Basic Weaving Using Recycled Plastic Looms. babbledabbledo. Retrieved 2019, March 3rd from https://babbledabbledo.com/art-kids-basic-weaving-plastic-looms/
Boomerang Burnt Rattan Handle
Unknown. (n.d.). Rattan Handles. [Picture]. Sunbelt Fashion. Retrieved 2019, March 3rd from https://www.sunbeltfashion.net/Rattan-Handles.html
With the research and references in place, I have decided to create a product that incorporates a briefcase with wheel and pulley mechanism that is made entirely of wood. The next step towards bringing the product to life is sketching.
With the sketching done, the final step is fabrication of the product. Click here to the link for the briefcase luggage product fabrication.
The final product, Briefcase Luggage. The verb elements that I had incorporated are all four – Slide, Puncture, Cradle and Bind
Me posing with my briefcase luggage as an user experience.
This is a video of me using the briefcase luggage.
These are the required drawings as per the final product. Orthographic projection drawing, Axonometric drawing & Perspective
Through the process of making, I had encounter two issues which were very good learning point for myself.
Firstly, the handle has no excess space to rotate, which causes the handle to be unable to extend and I have to correct the issue by using a table saw to trim the affected width down.
Secondly, wheels, as this is my first time experimenting with a luggage, I miscalculated the length to put the wheels and it causes the wheel to be too high and I could not roll the luggage as planned. Issue was corrected by remeasuring the length and re-drilling the hole to fit the wheel and axle.
In conclusion, this is a very meaningful exercise that allows me to experiment with making a briefcase luggage system. The challenges lies in the weaving and also the mechanism of the handle.
How I can improved, Ms Sherry had commented that it is a shame that the product is not fully incorporated with weaving as I only incorporated weaving within the handle and sling. I felt that for the body of the luggage, I could use weaving to weave into the compartment so that it does not look too rigid like a plain box.
This is a general idea that I would like to work with in the near future, a wooden wheel purse that has the sides secured with rattan weaves to show the transparency as compared to a blocked up enclosed approach like my current design. The concept of a shoelace weave over the opening on the top that allows users to loosen or tighten the weaving to take or place their valuables.
Following our first assignment on building an isometric template, we were tasked to sketch out a handheld object for Orthographic and Perspective projections. For this assignment, I have decided to choose my drinking cup to draw. Given that the design itself allows many ways to hold as per the picture demonstrations below, I felt that it will be good to use it as a subject to explore for Object Studies.
The pictures below are the Orthographic drawing and two point perspective drawing respectively.
1:1 Scale for the cup that I used. Top, Front, Right view.
Two point perspective, I have decided to draw two views, one from the bottom (located above) and one from the top (located below), in order to study how my cup will look like.
Next up, my first pair assignment 2A, weaving techniques with rattan with my classmate, Yee Teng. Based from the list of examples that we have seen from the template, we have decided to use the Hexagonal Pattern called Mutsume ami to challenge ourselves under Weave Technique Studies.
Measurements for all individual rattan strip to be 25cm (250mm).
With the 2D pattern done, we shifted our attention to 3D. Given that since we are doing a pair work, it does not make any sense if we were to go by the traditional way of finishing the project in school as one whole product as planning and experimentation is needed to be done. Secondly, if were we to split the work, it does not make sense too if work were allocated that I do half of it first in school and then Yee Teng brings the remaining home to do. Thus, we have came to a conclusion that we will make a product that can actually be split into two and combine as one in order to split the workload evenly and also to create the element of pair dynamics.
Our idea is to make a frame basket individually, and then combine together to form a surprise element.
An initial sketch and planning on the frame ribs for the frame basket to weave the rattan strips.
A slit on the masking tape to slot in the rattan strip, as demonstrated in the picture below.
Final frame ribs being fabricated out using masking tape as the connecting element.
Attempts to do the Mutsume ami Hexagonal pattern weaving, seen here are two strips weaved on each side, however, due to the use of masking tape, it is not strong enough to contain the tension and when I weave in the third strip, the whole frame was dismantled on it’s own. I have to abandon this method to think of a better method while I enjoy my Chinese new year.
After Chinese new year, with the good food and relaxation, I have thought of a conventional method, since I am weaving, why not let’s do a combination of sewing and weaving together?
Sewing both ends to meet together to form a circle.
Sewing the middle rack rib frame.
I have decided to sew through the circle as this step creates tension and also aids in securing the circle to have a stronger foundation.
Tying a clove hitch to strengthen the rib frame.
Square lashing to create stronger securing.
Gyn lashing to secure the ribs frame together.
The rib rack is completed after a few hours of sewing.
Trying out the hexagonal weaving.
From bottom view up to show the process.
Isometric view.
Making use of steel wire to tie towards the loose ends of the rattan strips that are too long in order to secure them for trimming.
Next step, towards measuring of legs.
The four strips are then slot into the weaving which will be tighten with steel wire.
This is our Project 2A – Lunar Pig Basket, wishing you all a Happy Lunar New Year! At last, with the top that Yee Teng has weaved using the pine needle method as the head of the pig. Since we are both combining half a rattan basket to form ball, we have agreed to put it to other uses as a decorative pieces as well as a functional basket. Given that it is Chinese New Year, the animal Pig is adopted to signify the festive mood as it is now the year of Pig.
Our individual products before combining them together.
