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Semester 2

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relational map: before + after

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testing the ramp!!

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shooting sticks tying method for the ramp

i wanted to use reused/recycled materials for the whole ramp to make it blend into its natural surroundings to make the user feel like nature is guiding them. so i decided to use rope. in this case, a shoe lace which was a close representative.

tutorial followed: https://youtu.be/G64HAnphLwU

#Youtube

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3D printed light up ball

after consulting with the tutors, i was directed to making my light up ball with a PLA material. it is lightweight and durable but still firm enough to roll on the ramp without it being affected by the wind.

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the chopstick ramp

this was made by closely analyzing an activity I was doing the whole time while I made models today; eating scorched almonds with chopsticks. i accidentally released my grip a little on the almond and it rolled down my chopsticks as I lifted it towards my mouth.

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ramp support exploration: rounded feet

taking inspiration from the curvature of the previous supporting structure, I realized I could change the shape of the ramp so an aesthetically curved structure could be used for it instead.

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pros:

the curved ramp is ergonomic in relation to the ball

the ramp sits well on top of the rounded feet supporting the structure

cons:

curved forms are much harder to make with natural materials like wood!

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ramp support exploration: a circular structure

i then moved on to the objects I had around me to test different possibilities. creating a circular structure definitely was a much more simple option but its rounded nature meant that it was going to be hard to attach it to the uniform ramp from its curves.

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ramp exploration: how can i give it support?

in relation to the my sketch of the scaffolding, i used wooden sticks to try replicating it. however, i realized that as detailed and aesthetic as the sketch was, the same support could be provided without the multiple sticks used which would have been time-consuming to achieve.

the photo just shows me roughly seeing what the wooden stick scaffolding would look like and then deciding against it.

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cushioning against the dark: the double ramp

i thought about my previous models on making the light move and it made me think what if the user was able to follow the light? at this point i thought about how i could harmonize the movement of the user who uses the light and the movement of the light to create functionality.

here, i attempted to make my first sketch of a ramp that would allow the ball of light to roll down the ramp and return back to its original position.

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pros:

it allows the desired movement of the ball to be carried out

it is sturdy enough to hold the angle/speed that I wanted the ball to roll down eg. slower while rolling down the ramp and faster when it returns back to it's starting point.

cons:

in terms of functionality, it needs supporting structures

the ramp is very basic. i want to create something that is both ergonomic and well suited for the movement of the ball while it being looks eye-catching.

my next step is to focus on exploring different scaffolding and supporting structures for the ramp. hopefully, that exploration will lead me to explore the ramp platform in different forms too.

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cushioning against the dark: a rolling ball of light idea sketch

after making the hologram and realising that light didn’t have to be stationary, i asked myself the questions; how else could light move? and how could i make it fun? this train of thought led me to digging up past joys as a kid and finding The Lemonade Machine video. the video shows a series of carefully constructed obstacles that continues the movement of objects consecutively as they fall, roll and tumble onto each other, eventually leading to the making of lemonade.

ramps were a common tool used in the video to get objects far across the room effectively, which made it exciting for me to watch and follow along as a kid.

for me, to make something playful and fun means to bring back the joy of a child in the user. since looking at Erlich’s architecture made me consider taking a playful approach with my light, i found that i could actually incorporate something as fun as a ramp to my design.

my idea was to create a ramp that allowed a rolling ball of light to follow the user as they walked down the path of Albert park at night. the light at this point no longer provided temporary guidance for the user but rather it obtains a more portable quality where the time spent using it is stretched.

#Youtube

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“Under the Sky” by Leandro Erlich

Erlich’s architecture has an ephemeral, illusive aspect of the visual world, where he recreates or even reverses the given logic of architectural space. 

this installation at a Parisian department store really captured my attention and made me consider taking a possible “playful” route with my lighting product. creating an illusionistic piece in a department store was a bold move but it also makes you realise that escalators can in fact be thought of in an “outside-of-the-box” way, and that design thinking doesn’t have to be so linear and direct in correspondence to its brief/story.

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Sources:

https://www.dezeen.com/2018/02/06/leandro-uses-visual-trickery-bon-marche-paris-installation/

https://www.e-flux.com/announcements/200929/leandro-erlichconstruction-of-reality/

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the hologram in action

the light is no longer stagnant. it moves!!

making this video with the moving light made me realise that light is a really malleable material that portrays its purpose of cushioning against the dark, or fear i should say, both of which are intangible subjects.

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cushioning against the dark: a hologram 

materials used: clear polystyrene from CD cases, tape

after experimenting with angles in order to direct light in my previous paper lantern model, i then thought about how it reminded me of a mini hologram that i had once seen at a school science fair. through some searching, i managed to find the hologram tutorial by Mrwhosetheboss that taught me how to make one myself. 

making the hologram branched out my design thinking into avenues of creating an “atmosphere” with light as opposed to the initial intention of it just being a temporary guide for the user.

i then thought back to how the lanterns at the Chinese lantern festival made me feel safe and comforted not just by the light itself but by the large scale in which the light filled the space. 

the Northern lights and the lit cabin in the middle of a snowy, monochrome setting are both examples of an impactful atmosphere created by light. with the hologram model, i hoped to achieve the same effect and accentuate the feeling of comfort i wish to bring to the users by making the light 3D, more realistic and more relatable.

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pros:

- 3D light making the users feel like they are almost getting physical comfort from the light

- the light is stronger/more visible than the light reflected from paper lantern 

- the transparent polystyrene material gives the model a high-tech and almost invisible quality. thus, making the 3D light/object feel more real and believable to the user

cons:

- sadly, it wasn’t me who created this method of making a hologram so i’ll have to think of other ways to form the same “atmospheric effect” 

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Sources:

https://youtu.be/7YWTtCsvgvg

https://youtu.be/Y60mfBvXCj8

Image sources:

https://www.diyphotography.net/island-hotel-wants-your-aurora-photos-in-exchange-for-a-free-months-stay/

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/lantern-festival-ready-to-light-up-auckland-domain-to-celebrate-year-of-the-rooster/KH4ISGT2VKBJQMD3GNURG4WR7I/

https://www.alamy.com/wooden-hut-on-the-lawn-covered-with-snow-the-lamps-light-up-the-house-at-the-evening-time-winter-landscape-mystical-night-mountains-and-forests-w-image437547215.html

#modelmaking #hologram

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exploring different shapes + forms with the folding lantern model

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cushioning against the dark: a folding lantern sign

materials used: paper, cardboard, PVA glue

with this i tried to make the folding lantern idea i had sketched earlier to see if making the cut-out sign at an angle would create a more visible reflection of the light on the ground.

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pros:

- the reflected letters on the ground were visible

- the paper lantern fold helped to hold the sign at the right angle

cons:

- was not able to hold its shape on its own

- needed a stronger light for all the letters to show in the ground

- the light didn’t reflect well on a darker surface

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cushioning against the dark: light ideation

after thinking about how i could create a feeling of safety with different lights, i decided to sketch my ideas out instead.

most of these ideas have been inventions of the past but drawing them gave me a better sense of where to take my project. 

i came to a conclusion that i could move forward with my light project in two ways:

1. i could make the light a temporary safety net where it provides the user a  direction in the park for a short moment in time before they continue on their journey without it.

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2. the light is portable and moves along with the user as they walk through the park. 

my next step is to explore these options in physical forms with prototypes.