Assignment #4: Modularity, Tessellation and Complexity
Go to Phase 2 | Go to Final Documentation
Phase 1: Intro, Background and 4 Tesselation and Module Exercises with Scissors
Excercise 1 -- Simple Modular
In exercise 1, each member of the group created an origami Petra star made of paper. Different colored paper was used to better see the folded relations that create the star. I then undid one of the pieces to show the individual shapes that made the star as a whole.
Exercise 2 -- Tesslations and Modules
Using this tutorial, each member of the group created a tessellating shape out of construction paper. Each of us in the group (Mandy, Van, and Robert) created our own shape that we cut out six times. These six shapes tesselate with each other perfectly. Then as a group, we created three shapes that would be the compatible to fit together all of our unique 6 shapes. Below is the end result.
^ Part 1: My own six tessalating shapes.
^ Part 2: All 18 (6*3) tessalating shapes of the group, as well as the 9 (3*3) of our compatible shapes to connect all shapes into one uniform shape.
Exercise 3 -- Modular Orgami with Groups
Option A
As a group we decided to go with Option A: modular snake system We decided on the size of origami, and then each made 13 pieces.
Exercise 4 -- 3D Fastener BrainStorming Designs, Mockups and Design Approuches
I was the only person in the group who did Option B to use a thicker material to contrast a fastener. I utilized a larger piece of high density foam. With that I created a flat dovetail joint to fasten the two pieces together. However, my dovetail did not necessarily create a 3 dimensional shape, as I created a flat dovetail.
Phase 2 -- Digital based designs and 'Goldilocks' Fastener Laser tests Laser Cut
Part 1: First Designs with Adobe Illustrator
Choosing a common side was easy, as we chose the exact same common side design of the previous exercise. However, we found out later in class that the exact measurements of our common side were not the same. In hindsight, we should have created an AI. file with the design of the connector and then shared it among ourselves to work from. In order to compensate for this error, we manually had to transform and disotirt some our shapes so that they could fit between each other. As you can see in the image above, some parts are smaller or warped in order to work.
Part 2: Digital Fastner Designs and Goldilocks tests
From left to right: Robert’s, Mandy’s, Van’s
Each group member created roughly 2”x2” designs with 1/8th inch notches at the base. From top to bottom, each notch becomes widened in order to have several different sized fasteners. This is done in order to experiment with the notch size as well as the material. Though we knew the plywood was 1/8th of an inch, this did not guarantee that our regular, unedited notch would work.
Above are images of the Goldilocks designs and notches being tested with each other after cutting. We chose the design that had the better suiting notch. However we would soon find out this notch would not be compatible with acrylic despite it being the same size (1/8th in).
Final Documentation
4 April 2022
Artist Statement
Our project is titled Dear Visual Diary, a visual, structural diary that records emotions using colors and designs that represent designated general feelings. The pieces are colored coded to represent 4 general umbrellas of emotions: sadness, happiness, frustration and inner peace. Each emotion category has 5 designs to represent a scope of each emotion. For example, a red design can represent conventional indignation, distress or any other associated sentiment. The unique thing about using images instead of words is that people can connect their own meanings to each image rather than to a word which has a defined definition. This makes each structure unique to each person’s life. The DVD is also a great device to help with self reflection. See a lot of red pieces in your Diary? Maybe a lot of blue? Use the data to make the adjustments and changes you want to see in your life!
It took the group a while to come to this proposal, mostly due to the fact that our original idea was compete dissimilar. The only characteristic of our original project that transferred to the final was the notch fastener and the acrylic medium. Utilizing a notch is significant to our project, as it is an easy fastener to connect and disassemble. The utilization of acrylic not only was a prettier choice, but it actually activated the project since the finished sculpture is a standstill object. As a group, we individually decided to create our own designs. This meant that though many of our designs represent conventional Western emotions, other could be more abstract. We decided to do this because the main idea is to assign your own meaning to a piece, so took that ideology and implemented it into our own thinking of the designs. For example, the red designs of anger might be more akin to traditional anger, while the clear pieces were developed more abstractly by Robert to convey fluidity and nutrilaity.
Schema
Video
Who created which pieces?
All Pieces
Constructions of the pieces
Successes of the Project
Overall, the general idea and theme of the project were extremely successful. I think using symbols and color to identify everyday emotions and to create a hands-on data visualization diary is a unique and fun idea. The idea is straightforward, and can have many viable applications to someones life, such as self-improvement, and mental health tracker. The designs themselves are very amusing and broad which help be curable to different people. I think also choosing acrylic as our medium was a great choice, because not only were the colors more vivid, but their semi-opaqueness create beautiful shadows that make the still object more active.
Future Improvements
Despite the overall success of the project, I can admit that there could be many improvements made in the future should we decide to continue this project in some way. I think for one, the color and design choices are fairly Western, so having different sets with different colors and designs representing the same emotions would be a great way to be inclusive of other cultures. Apart from this, another criticism would be design choices. I think to improve this, we could include more colors to have a wider range of possible emotions for different days. The same could be said about designs; if each emotion had 10 instead of 5 designs, the medullary and customization would be greater and better for the user. Something else to consider for the future, would be the size of the pieces. Though we found success with roughy 2”x2” pieces, it would be beneficial to experiment with much larger and much smaller sizes.
What did everyone contribute?
Alyssa:
- Created the original concept of a physical, modular structure that represents a persons mood over a long period of time.
- Came to the initial Tap Plastic visit to choose acrylics.
- Ordered and picked up the acrylic sheets from Tap Plastic, San Jose, as well as helped organize the budget for total costs.
- Created the 5 designs for the mood category of “anger.”
- Designed the schema, as well as wrote the information that would go on it.
- Helped design and organize the slide presentation.
- Helped write and edit some of the script for the video.
- Acted in the video skits used for the presentation.
- Presented in the final project.
Van
- Came to the initial Tap Plastic visit to choose acrylics.
- Created 5 designs for the mood category of “happiness.”
- Wrote the script for the video.
- Filmed and edited the video for the presentation.
- Helped organize and produce the slide presentation.
- Presented in the final project.
Mandy
- Came to the initial Tap Plastic visit to choose acrylics.
- Created 5 designs for the mood category of “sadness.”
- Photographed the cut pieces and edited them.
- Acted in the video skits used for the video.
- Helped organize and produce the slide presentation.
- Presented in the final project.
Robert
- Came to the initial Tap Plastic visit to choose acrylics.
- Created a script for the video.
- Provided graphics, photographs and voice-over for the video.
- Acted in the video skits used for the video.
- Proof read the schema.
- Created 5 designs for the mood category of “neutrality.”
- Produced and oversaw the laser cutting of the designs.
- Presented in the final project.