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Paper and card engineeringLesson 19

James PlayfordSeries Editor: Louise T Davies

Lesson objectives/aims

• Examine the categories, purposes, uses and construction of paper and card engineering.

• Identify the need for and methods of achieving accuracy in paper and card engineering.

• Recognize the use of paper and card engineering in the production of graphic products.

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Learning ladderBy the end of the lesson:

You must: • be able to identify the categories, purposes, uses and construction of paper and card

engineering• be able to identify the need for and methods of achieving accuracy in paper and card

engineering.

You should:• be able to explain the categories, purposes, uses and construction of paper and card

engineering• be able to explain the need for and methods of achieving accuracy in paper and card

engineering.

You could: • investigate the history of pop-up books.

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© Folens 2009

Introduction

As a Graphic Products student you will need to understand the role of paper and card engineering in the design process and in the production of innovative graphic products.

Paper and card engineering

• You have been engineering with paper and card since you could hold a pair of scissors.

• What was the first thing you can remember engineering from paper or card?

• What was the last?• Which, of all the things you

have ever made, was your favourite and why?

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© Folens 2009

Paper and card engineering: categories

• There are two categories of paper and card engineering (and no, they are not paper and card):

Modelling Graphic products

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Learning task: modelling

• What were your three most recent Design and Technology projects?

• How did you model your design ideas?

• Did you use paper or card in the model making process?

• Why do you think paper and card are widely used in the development stages of commercial product design?

Modelling

Paper and card modelling is widely used in the commercial product design

industry for the following reasons:

• The materials are inexpensive.• The materials can be easily cut.• The materials can be easily folded.• The materials can be rigid.• The materials can be flexible.• The materials are readily available.• The materials are available in a range of colours.• The materials are available in a range of surface finishes.• Colour can be applied to the materials.• Appropriate adhesives and fastenings are inexpensive.• Appropriate adhesives and fastenings are readily available.

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Task 1: graphic products

• Watch the linked video clip from popup mailers.co.uk and answer the following question.

http://www.popupmailers.co.uk/videos/jumpinjax.html

• What is the purpose of this product?• How does the use of card engineering add appeal?• How has the movement been created?

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Paper and card engineered graphic products: pop-up books

• There are many types of paper and card engineering employed by the graphics industry.

• Pop-up books employ paper and card engineering to add interest, excitement and intrigue.

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Paper and card engineered graphic products: promotional items

• Companies need to advertise their products to promote sales.

• One method is the use of promotional items – small gifts that are intended to capture the recipient’s imagination and form a positive mental association with the product or the brand.

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© Folens 2009

Paper and card engineered graphic products: packaging

• Packaging has a variety of tasks.

• One of the key jobs is to attract the potential customer’s eye while it sits on the shelf surrounded by competitor products.

• Clever paper and card engineering can give your product the edge.

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Paper and card engineered graphic products: point of sale displays

• Point of sale displays are alternatives to shelving units.

• The advantage of a point of sale display is that it also advertises the product.

Task 2: graphic products (1)

• In groups analyse a promotional product produced by either the Card Masters or Pop Up Mailer companies.

• Report your findings back to the class.

Here are the links to their websites:

• http://www.cardmasters.co.uk/cardboard_engineering.php • http://www.popupmailers.co.uk/paper_and_cardboard.html

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Task 3: graphic products (2)

• In groups construct this 3D waving hand mechanical toy courtesy of Flying Pig:

http://www.flying-pig.co.uk/pages/zen.htm

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© Folens 2009

Accuracy

• As with all Design and Technology activities there is a need to work accurately at all times. Failure to do so will lead to poor quality products.

• In the industry the rise of motion control has simplified the processes of producing high quality products.

• Computer controlled plotters are able to work to minute tolerances.

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Plenary

• What are the categories of paper and card engineering? • Why is paper and card modelling so widely used in the industry?• What advantages do paper and card engineered products have in

the industry?• What was the best example of paper and card engineering we

have seen today?• Why is accuracy important in paper and card engineering?

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Extension

• Visit Mark Hiner’s website:

http://www.markhiner.co.uk/

• Read Mark’s short history of pop-up books.

• Write down the key developments.

Homework

• Visit the dtonline website and explore their range of downloadable nets:

• http://www.dtonline.org/apps/menu/app?3&areas%2F2%2F1%2Fo%2F&0

• Choose a product.

• Select a net from the viewing choices in the top left.

• Print out two copies.

• Decorate one appropriately.

• Assemble it.

• Photograph it.

• On an A3 sheet stick down the undecorated net and the photograph of your completed graphic product.

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© Folens 2009

Useful weblinks• http://www.markhiner.co.uk/• http://www.origami-artist.com/paper_engineering.htm• http://www.cardmasters.co.uk/index.php• http://www.popupmailers.co.uk/videos/jumpinjax.html• http://www.popupmailers.co.uk/paper_and_cardboard.html• http://www.flying-pig.co.uk/pages/zen.htm• http://www.metacafe.com/tags/cardboard_engineering/• http://www.dtonline.org/