module 4 chen chaoming 769691

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DIGITAL DESIGN + FABRICATION SM1, 2016 Planet

CHEN CHAOMING

(769691) Tim - Seminar#3

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“ PLANET “SLEEPING POD PROJECT

BRIEF

The project calls for designing a wearable sleep-ing ‘pod’ for one person who may use to sleep or take a powernap in the work place. Not only creating a 3 dimensional volume for resting pur-pose, but also exploring the effects to keep the boundary of personal space.

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CONTENTS

M1 IDEATION

1.1 Measured Drawing1.2 Rhino Model1.3 Object Analysis1.4 Re-Configure1.5 Sketch Design1.6 Reflection

M2 DESIGN

2.1 Personal Space Study2.2 Proposed Design #12.3 Proposed Design #22.4 Precedent Study2.5 Design Development2.6 Material Test2.7 Prototype2.8 Reflection

M3 FABRICATION

3.1 Design Development #13.2 Design Development #2 +Fabrication3.3 Final Digital Model3.4 Final Prototype Fabrication3.5 Final Prototype3.6 Effect3.7 Exploded Image3.8 Fabrication Sequence3.9 Reflection

M4 REFLECTION

4.1 Reflection4.2 Credit 4.3 Bibliography

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MODUEL 1 IDEATION

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1.1 Measured Drawing

PLAN SCALE 1:5

ELEVATION SCALE 1:5

Measuring Methodology:

Series of different methods have been used to measure the ob-ject. Since my object is the hyperbolic paraboloid that is quite novel and unfamiliar to me, I found that the most precise way is to take photograph from the exact angles of each view and draw based on it.

As well as for better observation, an exactly same object was made at home according to the measurement I took from class. Through the process of making hyperbolic paraboloid, I had a better understanding for the panel and fold system which could be folded along the crease pattern.

CREASE PATTERN SCALE 1:5

- - - - - Valley Fold

-------- Mountain Fold

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1.2 Rhino Model

TOP VIEW

SIDE VIEW

PERSPECTIVE VIEW

The rhino model is started by polyline to draw the outline curves of quarter of the crease pattern (triangle and trapezoid) and use ‘planar curves’ command to transfer them into planes. Secondly, I drag up all the ‘mountain fold’ to the same level to form crease, as well as duplicated three surfaces more and rotated them to form a completed square. Lastly I adjusted the shape from front and right view to ‘curve’ the surface in both sides.

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After observing the movement of the object, I found that hyperbolic paraboloid can be twisted in both directions with remaining in same shape.

Secondly, it is hard to flatten the crease after the shape is formed while it maintained both compressive and ten-sile characteristics which can be applied and further de-veloped in the later design.

1.3 Object Analysis

“X” SHAPE

The geometry can be folded easily by a square piece of paper.

After folding the diagonals of a square, and several con-centric squares in alternating direction which is one square of mountain folds while one other square of valley folds and so on, then the piece can be squeezed into “X” shape and naturally formed a pleated hyperbolic paraboloid shape.

Hyperbolic paraboloid is an infinite surface in three dimensions with hyperbolic and parabolic cross-sections.

MOVEMENT

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1.4 Re-Configure

By the inspiration from the panel and fold structure of hyperbolic paraboloid, first of all, I started to create my reconfigured object used square cardboard to form square frames in different sizes.

The corners of frames are folded in same direction with the diagonal side and adverse in the other side which is the idea of detaching the crease pattern of the original object to extend the covered volume.

Through the re-configuring process, I found several possibilities to arrange the frames such as sequentially arranging from small to large (as shown on left), or organized without order (see below left), even stacked randomly to form an irregu-lar volume.

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1.5 Sketch Design

FRONT VIEW SIDE VIEW FRONT VIEW

From the inspiration of the crease pattern frames with random sizes, the ad-justable ‘amour’ is created. According to the different body shapes of each person and different distances people want to keep with others, the defense can be freely arranged and adjusted to surround the body. The user is able to control the device according to his own situation and repel any invasion of personal space

This design gives people an all-around protection of personal space and can be easily opened up and packed up by stacking together.

People are not able to predict the situation on the invisible boundaries and dislike to be disturbed when they are concentrating. With the structure, users are becoming defensive without any obstruction.

The structure is made of repetition of fragmented crease frames with random sizes that formed at the back and extended to both sides of shoulders. As the structure is covering the sides and back of people, it will not affect the daily activities and also considered about the aesthetic performances. In addition, when the device is not necessary, the user is able to let the segments collapses.

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1.5 Sketch Design

SIDE VIEW FRONT VIEW FRONT VIEW

People are not able to predict the situation on the invisible boundaries and dislike to be disturbed when they are concentrating. With the structure, users are becoming defensive without any obstruction.

The structure is made of repetition of fragmented crease frames with random sizes that formed at the back and extended to both sides of shoulders. As the structure is covering the sides and back of people, it will not affect the daily activities and also considered about the aesthetic performances. In addition, when the device is not necessary, the user is able to let the segments collapses.

Protection of head is vital to people while the purpose can be both of safety and privacy.Some people might feel uncomfortable when they are reading book or using phone but can be watched by surrounding people. With the help of the device, the situation is solved.

The structure is utilized the compressive and tensile characteristics of hyperbolic paraboloid so that the users are able to control the size and expand angle of device. By considering the materiality, it should be light, flexible but strong for easily keeping and carrying.

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1.6 Reflection

The first module aimed to ask student formulate design ideas based on the chosen material by exploring its material system through careful ob-servation and measurement. As Jensen mentioned in the article, “obser-vation is a necessary part of creation,” I found that after the measuring drawing and digitally modelling according to the object, design po-tential gradually revealed. Hence three sketch designs were proposed which addressed Sommer’s claims of defining personal space. However, due to my careless and misunderstanding, my sketch designs were a little bit off-track as the concentration of the design should be not only for pro-tecting personal space, but also creating a device for sleeping purpose. The mistake gave me a lesson about while starting to handle a design, careful and serious comprehension on design brief, indeed crucial to a designer.

After finish of the first module and trying to push my sketch design forward to next stage, I realized that the material system of my original object was not taking into account hence the further development encountered numerous difficulties. It is depressed while I found the design ideas could not be moved forward, but I did decisively recreate design idea with teammate and started to move in next stage.

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MODUEL 2 DESIGN

(Chen Chaoming/ Jaqlin)

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2.1 Personal Space Study

Research from Glen McBride suggest that our upper body is more sensitive in terms of personal space. Around our head we feel most vulnerable.

Considering the way the head falls and rotates when people sleep upright, we have focused on using the hyperbolic paraboloid to support it which might function as a neck pillow. Our design is planned to revolve around the neck to protect the head and to mark personal space a great distance from the body, while using an object fitted to the body.

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2.2 Proposed Design #1

FRONT VIEW SIDE VIEW TOP VIEW PERSPECTIVE

This design produces an armor of sorts; it is both protective yet intimidating due to its sharp points and threatening scale. This helps in delineating personal space while also achieving a sense of security by the wearer who knows they will not be disturbed.

From the inside, the pod is comfortable and private, while the exterior is harsh and unwelcoming.

The design also uses the compressive benefits of the hyperbolic paraboloids in providing support for the neck and head regardless of which angle they decide to sleep.

PROTOTYPE

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2.3 Proposed Design #2

FRONT VIEW SIDE VIEW TOP VIEW PERSPECTIVE

PROTOTYPE

An expandable shell allows for a full enclosure either be fitted to the wearer’s upper body (to sit on the shoulders and enclose the head) or be constructed at a larger scale to fully shelter the body in its entirety. The amount of personal space that the wearer wishes to have is up to them depending on which size they opt for.

Since it is so comfortable to sleep in a ball/fetus position, we profited on this in that the body could be completely enclosed and the user in a comfort-able position. This is a potential design variation.

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Begin with a simple piece of planar geometry

Organic shapes with curvature and dynamism developed via tesselation

The panels also differ in size, creating a dynamic and unpredictable surface; this is a concept we could use in our design to mark personal space. (Variation in sizing of the hyperbolic paraboloid could create an interesting volume. It would also allow us to cater for different parts of the body. For example, having large hyperbolic paraboloids around the neck, but smaller ones in the nooks and crannies of the upper body.

2.4 Precedent Study

Huyghe + Le Corbusier Puppet Theatre_MOS Architects

The theatre comprises many 2D panels which have been arranged and tessellated in a manner which creates a dynamic surface; flat surfaces have been combined to develop a curved one. This results in an interesting space where the visitor is pulled between viewing the space as a static and flat one, or as an undulating and dynamic one.

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2.5 Design Development

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Beginning with a simple sketch of threatening spikes around the head.

Variance of spike sizes creates a dynamic effect; it makes the object seem alive increasing threatening levels.

Translating this de-sign onto the body using the general shape of hyperbolic paraboloids.

Sketching the complex geometry of the hyperbolic paraboloids, while maintaining this spikey form that focuses on marking personal space around the head.

_2 _3 _4

The face component is an array of smaller hyperbolic paraboloids around the shape of a human face, which compresses when being rested upon. This component is at-tached to the arm and can be used when the wearer wishes to sleep on their forearm.

FRONT VIEW SIDE VIEW BACK VIEWPERSPECTIVE

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2.6 Material Test

Flexible Foamboard 2mm cardboard

290gsm Ivory Card Polypropylene

When testing both of these materials, we thought they had each had potential in different ways.

The ivory card and polypropylene sheet were both able to be successfully folded into the hyperbolic paraboloid shape, both performing well in com-pression.

We found that the different compressive abilities of each material could be utilized in different parts of model.

Since the thin card is more compressive and less stiff than the polypropylene, we thought the card could be used in areas that don’t require support; ie. in the facial cover. The polypropylene on the other hand, could be used as a more supportive element such as for the neck due to its strength.

Flexible Foam board was tested as too fragile to be cut along the folding lines and cracked immediately while bending. Also it has no senility and too brittle to form hyperbolic paraboloid shape. Furthermore, while folding the 2mm cardboard, buckling occurred on the surface which affects the aesthetic performance.

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2.7 Prototype

The shoulder element is made of polypropylene sheets, which makes the user feel more supported as they rest their head on it.

The face coving segments are made using the ivory card, as it needs to be lightweight and easily compressible to fold over and compact.

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2.7 Prototype

FRONT VIEW TOP VIEW PERSPECTIVE

The arm segments are made from several small polypropylene hyperbolic paraboloids with pins attaching them to each other and the cardboard panel. This allows the paraboloids to adapt different angels that accommodate the user’s head resting on the arm.

In addition, the sharp spines of the paraboloids is facing outwards to avoid injury.

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2.8 Reflection

Honestly, the second module is the toughest phase through the whole semester. Although the first few sketch designs and prototype testing we produced were optimistic, the more we explored, we found the limita-tion of our design idea more obvious. Hence the final outcome of the second module was unsatisfactory to us. In addition, as our group co-incidently faced the problem of suddenly changing direction and time synchronization, the works from this point onwards were decided to carry on individually.

However, M2 was still a helpful stage to me from both digital and physi-cal modeling aspects. As Scheurer and Stehling suggested in the Week 4 reading, “building a model means reducing the infinite complexity of the real world,” the digital modelling process through Rhino assisted me in stretching out the possibilities behind the original object as well as further visualizing the sketch design in a three dimensional space. Besides, I also got chance to touch with the materiality through physically modeling process which help me to examine the feasibility of sketch designs.

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MODUEL 3 FABRICATION

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Design Development 1 Design Development 2 Design Development 3

During the developing stage, I tried to keep the idea of assembling different sizes paraboloids to model a varying geometry that not been limited too much of following the human body’s shape. However, by considering the feasibility of fabricating the model, a more pure, spherical geometry was created.

3.1 Design Development #1

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Every piece of hyperbolic paraboloid is cut to offset the edges by 5mm to create a tab connection and use glue to join together. I also tried on the double-side tape which is performed frustrating that easily separate apart due to lack of viscidity.

The prototype demonstrated nice aesthetic performance of external side. However, the size around the neck circle should be further adjusted.

3.2 Design Development #2 + Fabrication

To test the feasibility of the design, I started to fabricate the bottom part using the small card cutter. And I also met some setting problem with the cutter which could be adjusted in final fabrication.

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A circle of inner layer is attached near the lower part of face which comprised layers of parabo-loids with cotton ball, aimed to increase the inte-rior comfort level for the wearer.

However, small piece of hyperbolic paraboloid seemed a little bit sharp and threatening to the wearer while they are direct facing the inner lay-er. According the feedback from tester and tu-tor, the inner layer will be further develop for bet-ter comfort performance.


INNER LAYER

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FRONT

LEFT RIGHT

TOP

PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF DIGITAL MODEL

After the first completed prototype was finished, it is easily observed that the effect on threatening level of product is not satisfactory compared to the digital model, since the compression capability of hyperbolic paraboloid is unpre-dictable. Besides to achieve a more spiky appearance, the arrangement of black and white pieces could also be further explored to more complex and rational pattern.

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I chose to try different patterns on the digital model which is more changeable and visu-alized. The range of pattern selection is nar-rowed down to black/white gradient and stripes which have high possibility to be inte-grated.

Moreover, from the inspiration of astronaut helmet, the front facing direction is deter-mined by a piece of clear polypropylene which also functioned as a ‘window’ for wearer to observe.

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3.3 Final Digital Model

FRONT

LEFT Interior

TOP

PERSPECTIVE

Due to the materiality of polypropylene, both wearer and people surrounded only can see a blurred view through it, which ensured the privacy of users.

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3.4 Final Prototype Fabrication

290 gsm Ivory Card (White)

290 gsm Ivory Card (Black)

1mm Polypropylene (Clear)

Learned from the experience of previous prototype fabrication, I extracted accurate measurement from my digital model. Above images are showing the templates for card cutter which are differentiated according to different materials and sizes. The grass-hopper program is used to create the dashed line.

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290 gsm Ivory Card (White)unit: mm

290 gsm Ivory Card (Black)unit: mm

1mm Polypropylene (Clear)unit: mm

70 x 70 84 x 84 97 x 97 99 x 99 70 x 83 96 x 83 98 x 83

70 x 70 84 x 84 97 x 97 99 x 99 70 x 83 96 x 83 98 x 83

96 x 83

The images are showing the folded hyperbolic pa-raboloids and flat joining panels piece by piece as well as classified according to sizes and materials.

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The sphere is built layer by layer until the top is en-closed by last layer of cover.

_1

_2

_3

_4

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3.5 Final Prototype

FRONT VIEW SIDE VIEW

The assemblage of different colors and types materials demonstrated sharp con-trast between light and dark parts.

Compared to the previous prototype, the final prototype is demonstrated a larger inner space for better comfort and more threatening effect.

Besides, the internal paddings are en-larged with more cotton balls added. This also helps to increase the comfort level of the product for the wearer.

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3.6 Effect

_1 _2

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3.6 Effect

The above images demonstrate the process of wearing the sleeping pod which is quite easy and artistic.

_3 _4

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3.6 Effect

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3.6 Effect

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99 x 99 (Black)

99 x 99 (White)

84 x 84 (White)

84 x 84 (Black)

97 x 97 (Black)

97 x 97 (White)

70 x 70 (Black)70 x 70 (White)

70 x 83 (Black)70 x 83 (White)

96 x 83 (Clear)

96 x 83 (White)

96 x 83 (Black)

98 x 83 (Black)

98 x 83 (White)

3.7 Exploded Image

The exploded drawing shows the prod-uct in detail with specific measurement of every piece indicated.

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3.8 Fabrication Sequence

Unrolled Surface in Rhino Duplicated in Card Cutter Template Cutting Pieces Folding Pieces From Flat Surfaces

Joining Pieces Assembling Layers Adding Interior Padding Final Model

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3.9 Reflection

Coming to the third module, the previous design should go through fur-ther iteration of prototypes process in this stage. However, I was sug-gested to change in direction which brought about some problems of inadequate time to prototype my final design. Thus I chose to do not to-tally overthrow the previous idea, but modify the shape of the entire pod became a more practical and pure geometry. According to the reading on Week 6, based on the materiality of chosen material as well as the desired design outcome, the ‘two-dimensional’ digital fabrication pro-cess was selected as all of dashed lines for folding crease and joints were created by the card cutter. With the help of machinery, the fabrication process became much more efficient compared to the previous phase since it formed ‘seamless connection between design and making’ as Iwamato mentioned. So I extracted the exact measurement from digital model and unrolled pieces into cutting template, the cutter will finish the work of producing pieces after that I could directly take over the ready part for assembly. However, the precision of digital model did affect the

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MODUEL 4REFLECTION

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4.1 Reflection

While standing on the ending point and looking back the entire works done through this semester, I become aware of how fasci-nating the experience that I have gained. First of all, I do really appreciate that this is a well-organized subject with regard to its teaching contents, structure as well as overall management. The most impressive part to me is the listed weekly tasks which that became a clear guidance leading me to complete the final perplexed project through breaking it down to step by step. I also quite enjoyed the weekly seminar as it was not only a lesson on every Monday, but also a good chance to share your idea and gain feedback around a group of mates. I realized that as a designer, the way of communication also becomes influential to your design outcome. The weakness of my oral presentation skill was found and I will keep practicing to enhance it. The technical workshop along the first three week conducted a general introduction to the useful software which is truly beneficial to my project afterwards.

Through the practice along the whole semester, my awareness of time management is promoted a lot as I understand the ratio-nal allocation of time in every phase and allowing sufficient time for the final refinement before deadline is truly essential to a successful design project. In this time, as the change in direction suddenly occurred, I fell a little bit behind in the third module so that the final re-finement actually conducted before the film session. I can see there are much more improvement I can carry on such as testing a more efficient approach to form rigid joint during assembly, making a full-scale prototype before the final refinement to avoid insufficient time to solve the situation of unsatisfied effect and so on. Besides, distinguished from architectural design studio, Digital Design and Fabrication is aimed to raise awareness of the influ-ence of digital fabrication which is increasingly considerable in the modern era. After the research study and practical work through whole semester, I realized on nowadays, ‘digitizing’ becomes such a huge new wave to the world is reasonable as it is not simply relied on modern technology to replace manual work, but an evolvement of industrial process that could be well-integrated with traditional craftsmanship. Coming back to my sleeping pod project, design ideas could be translated to three-dimensional model and easily tested out effects by manipulating in Rhino. Furthermore, with the help of digital fabrication technology, the efficiency of production is greatly improved. However, the precision during digitally modeling is still a challenge cannot be ignored. In conclusion, I am going to keep working on enhancing both my digital and physical modeling skill afterwards, as well as utilizing those digital fabrication technologies in other design studio projects.

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4.2 Credit

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Branko Kolarevic, 2003, Architecture in the Digital Age - Design and Manufacturing, Spon Press, London.

Heath, A, Heath, D, & Jensen, A, 2000, 300 years of industrial design: function, form, technique, 1700-2000, Waton-Gup-till, New York, USA.

Lisa Iwamoto, 2009, Digital fabrications: architectural and material techniques, Princeton Architectural Press, New York, USA.

Scheurer, F & Stehling, H, 2011, Lost in Parameter Space? IAD: Architectural Design, Wiley, 81 (4), July, pp. 70-79

Sommer, R, 1969, Personal space: the behavioral basis of design, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

MOS Architects, 2013, Huyghe + Le Corbusier Puppet Theater, Photograph, Viewed June 2016, <https://au.pinterest.com/pin/3096293465885667/>.

All other photographs, drawings and renders are finished by Author.

4.3 Bibliography

module 4 chen chaoming 769691

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