💐 Vase Iterations 🏺

Iteration #1 ✨

• In this iteration, I used Gene Pool to control the spiral directly, instead of letting it go through a math process. In this way, the spirals are more random, because the circles aren’t divided evenly. I also used dispatch & scale to generate the patterns on the surface. After baking the grasshopper thingy, I offset the surfaces and unioned the solids. 
• Parameters: height of the circles, radius of the circles, rotation angles, number of curve divisions, dispatch patterns, scale of the dispatch segments. 

Iteration #2 ⛓️

• This time, instead of using circle, I tried using polygons, but I don’t think it made much difference. I wanted to make everything shaper instead of this smooth. For the rotation angle, I tried math calculation. I wanted to make the polygons thicker in the model so that there will be patterns on the vase, but the shape of the polygons didn’t actually fit the surface. 
• Parameters: height of the polygons, radius of the polygons, polygon segments, rotation angles, number of curve divisions. (I realize I could have used gene pool to control each polygon segment as well heheheh)

Iteration #3 ⚜️

• This iteration is a bit similar to the first one, but I added more circles and more spirals to it. The height of each circle is not arranged according to the order. Instead, I made the circle 0 a bit lower than circle 1. The dispatch pattern might not be a good idea because I don’t think the vase can stand on its own if printed, but I do like the patterns :P. I feel like adding more circles is very similar to adding more control points: you can shape the vase more
• Parameters: height of the circles, radius of the circles, rotation angles, number of curve divisions, dispatch patterns, scale of the dispatch segments. 

Tutorials:

Dispatch | List Item/ Cull

Notes taken when watching the tutorials: 

 

Reflection on the TED talk & Guest Speaker’s talk 🤔️

• In this TED talk, the speaker gives insight of designing the process that generates the form, instead of the form. There are a few benefits of designing the process:
  • It enables the embedment of data that can’t be perceived directly by human eyes
  • It enables the designer to replicate the process: as long as the designer has a process, they can always embed different data and generate different forms. In this way a family of forms can be created
• Another inspiring idea he shares is about how to bring the computer modelings into physical forms. In the example he gives, the columns are almost unprintable because of the intricate modeling. However, the team sliced the modeling and used laser cutter, and afterwards stacked all of the boards together to make one model. They also used mirrors in another set of physicalization so that they only need to print a half of the modeling.
• I think I experience the similar thing when making printing choices for my project 1: the materials, the patterns of printing matters. The speaker also suggests that we can source inspirations from the nature world
• As for the take-aways from our guest speakers talk, what left me with the deepest impression is that be critical about your data. The data you use might be incomplete because of the dates included. When you have doubts about your data, try to research more and dig deep, so as to ensure the understanding and application of the data are correct.

Reflection on Readings 📖

• thoughts while reading:
• Working with parameters gives you infinite possibilities of different designs. It reminds me of coding in p5.js (umm, probably the arrays and the random variables)
• About RANDOMNESS:
  • The readings shed light on my understanding of randomness: sometime I like the randomness because I want to see unexpected things. However, in my previous experiences, I could never explain the randomness. The embedment of randomness should be a combination of conscious choices made by artists/ designers themselves and choices out of their control. It is essential to make sense of the design. (On the other hand, I do think nothing is absolute. Maybe sometimes the explanation of the randomness is simple: I just want to experiment with the randomness. :DDD)
  • Interesting insight: “Sequences of random numbers can be generated in such a way that each number in the sequence differs only slightly from the last”. When speaking of randomness or permutations of the original model/ design, I am always seeking after big, very conspicuous changes. But slight changes matter as well!

DEFINITIONs

• Parameter: a value that has an effect on the output of a process; it describes, encodes, and quantifies the options and constraints at play in a system (I’ve never really thought abt the constraints before!)
• Parameterization: Identify and describe the variable elements in a process  
  • decide what can change and the range of possible values for each parameter
  • it creates connections between the intention of the designer and the system he or she is describing
  • repetition (explore possible variations) and transformation (parameters’ effect on form); visualization and stimulation (describe how data or other inputs will influence the behavior of the system)
• Variable: The changeable parameters
  • Sometimes variables make sense only in a certain range, a range can be refined to produce a narrower, but more pleasing field of variations.

PARAMETER TECHNIQUEs

• • One-of-One: works as a singlar piece but provide a window into the complexity of the system (generate variations while preserving family resemblances)
  • Variable Fonts
  • Console: a set of controls for electronic or mechanical equipment
    • Values controlled through a software console are linked to variables within the program; allow the state of the program to change without rewriting the code
    • Can make the project more interactive by allowing users to change the parameters

⚜️ Designings⚜️

This documentation is about project 1 Visualizing Myself. I made a phone stand for this project because this project is related to phone, especially social media usage and my perception about myself. 

Based on the observations I made, my initial idea was to make something related to the phone, and shows the idea of connection and restriction at the same time. But eventually I only kept the restriction part and didn’t include the connection part. That could be something for future improvement because my classmate suggested that making another hand, wrapping it with other things and connecting the two can show the idea of connection.

… Anyways, here are my inspirations: 

⛓️ Modelings ⛓️

I made 3 iterations in total. And below shows my explorations & Final results 🙂

• Iteration #1 is very much like my previous blog post of this project. The hand came after my exploration of the chain, because if each link of the chain is not set in one shape, there is no way for it to hold the phones. 
• There are a few ways to fix the structure in pic 2. One is to make the holes bigger using the drill. The other is to heat and reshape the connecting parts. The latter one is harder to control, so the former one is recommended. 

💭Future Improvements 💭

• (some of the improvements can be found in the designing stage)
• After seeing the other projects from my classmates, I am thinking about adding more data into the project, like screen time or something to measure my actual productivity.
• The distance between the thumb and the index finger is a bit hard to measure, but it controls the angle of the phone. To make the model better I should take that into consideration. 
• There is also much to explore regarding the printing of the chain. The angle of each one can affect the printing result of the chain.