Statement

Statement

As part of the final submission for this assignment I was required to write a hundred word statement. I have included it below, but as I believe its only been the last week that I have referred to my project by it's title I should provide some context. I called my project 'Box' because I spent the initial weeks thinking 'inside the box', limiting myself to the boundaries I thought were in my room and that I could not move. It was only in week 8 that I realised that I had more freedom and so was able to fully achieve my original goal of allowing more light into the room and exploring a threshold in the window area. I have tried to explain this briefly in my statement whilst explaining how I could communicate my process, decisions and results to my audience. My final statement is as below:

Box

It is easy to restrain oneself within a limited mindset. Through ‘Box’ I communicate to my audience the possibilities when existing parameters are questioned. This is seen unquestionably in my workspace models. I imagined how college accommodation could be structured to allow more light into small rooms. To communicate this, I made a series of models that showed the progression from traditional configurations to community-minded rooms that increased natural light through shared windows within internal walls. Notably, one model demonstrates how I achieved my goal of increasing natural light in the room and provided a threshold to the outdoors. By changing the existing framework, I learnt to think beyond the supposed limitations and experiment with the ‘what if’.

'Box' 10 Best Process Images- Final Submission

Fusion360 Model One

Fusion360 Model One

This is a rather belated post. I realised I had not yet posted the original Fusion360 model that I made. So here are the photos and a bit of an explanation of the complicated process it took to get to the final stage of the file.

It took a couple of goes to get the hang of Fusion360. I was also operating it on a computer that wasn't quite up to where it needed to be graphics or processing time wise. I had to restart a couple of times but eventually was able to construct a box with 3 different sections with the grid at 3mm thick.


I then laid out all of the pieces onto one plane. We can start to see here that I'm going to have some problems as some of my pieces have extra lines from where I haven't constructed them correctly on the original model.

I then exported the plan into a PDF file as instructed on the tutorials. You can see that like Russel I also manged to unintentionally bring across my original model as well. Here we can also see that I have made my model a lot smaller than the one in the tutorials. If we were to cut this it would be incredible small which would make it difficult to assemble.

I opened the PDF in the Adobe Illustrator template for the laser cutters and adapted the colours so that the machine would know what to cut and what to leave. My work is so small you can't see it here.

 I zoomed in here, but because the line weight is so fine I clicked on an element to make it stand out.

 Which highlighted that problem I mentioned earlier. The machine is going to look at this piece and think it needs to cut it in two which is not what I want it to do. If it does this I won't be able to assemble it the way it needs to be done.





I used the pen tool and the cut tool to remove the line and then grouped the two sections into one. Now it should cut correctly! I had to do this on a number of faces which has ensured that I now am more careful in making sure my sketches are accurate on the original model. I can see that simple mistakes can have a far greater impact than they seem far later on in the process.

Photoshop Model

Photoshop Model(s)

I had another go at putting texture on my model. To be more accurate I had another 3 goes. Each time, I learnt some more about how to use Photoshop and so decided to make a new version in case what I was hoping to do didn't work out (I didn't want to go back to the start!)

Attempt 2.0

I started using the texture feature of the paint bucket which worked a lot better, but realised my perspective was sort of odd and so started trying to adapt it.

I painted with black and white to add to back of the model so that I could use the clone tool to cover it in texture making it look like it had been there all the time.

I wanted to show that my workspace was part of a much larger complex of buildings so I put it into Adobe Illustrator so that I could draw a series of lines to hint at other rooms.

I then reopened it in Adobe Photoshop and played with the clone tool, paintbrush, bucket, eraser and most important- the opacity level to make the other spaces fade into the background. I have always loved the effect of water colour on an image so I aimed to create a scene that looked a little like that rather than something that was hyper-realistic. I also used the lines to add some detail to the window to finish if off. Ta-Da!

I then made two more images by taking this image and changing the background.

 The first one took the background of my first attempt and made the model sit in it. I had to alter the lighting to make it more appropriate. I have another source of light from in front of it as you can see the front corner is a little lighter. I used the Photoshop pattern for grass and then used the eraser, paintbrush and blurring tool to combine it all together.
Image courtesy of: http://www.freeskybackgrounds.com/pages/free-sky-background-14.html

My second image I went with a forest theme and had some fun making it 'disappear' into the forest. I once again used the eraser, paintbrush and blurring tool as well as adjusting both light levels and colour. I also made a mask of the foreground which I copied multiple times to create the vine effect.
Image courtesy of: https://www.pikrepo.com/fbotu/movie-scene-forest-forest-scenery








All in all, I have learnt so much in Photoshop. I began this process with barely any idea of how to use Photoshop and have finished with the skills to do everything I want to do. All I really need to do now is practise using these skills so that I become more competent.

Photoshop difficulties

Photoshop Difficulties

This is an update on my Wk 8 studio work. I have had some difficulties in using Photoshop to place textures onto my model. For starters, I realised that the original photo I was going to use probably would not be very good to set into a scene so I changed it to the image below. Even so, putting textures onto it has been far more difficult than I though it would. I am going to try an new technique but thought I ought to record the results so far.

I have been trying to place textures over my model, but I am going to try instead tracing my model with the magic wand tool and putting textures on the resulting shapes.

Latest Model

Latest Model

I completed the model of the plans I had drawn up earlier in the week. I made it out of cardboard to make it more substantial, however it meant it was a lot harder to cut.

 You can see very clearly the path of light in this photo. The larger window is letting in far more light and lighting a lot more space. It would mean that the desk and bed and light in the day which would be better for lighting to study. I am thinking of using the photo for my Photoshop work later this week.

Rendered Model

Rendered Model

I finished my model of my initials and rendered it on Fusion360. I chose to use a mixture of glass and cherry wood to create it which is a material combination which I thought is very attractive. The lightly frosted glass allowed the interior lines to be seen more clearly allowing the graceful shape to be on show. I also think it provides a different perspective to what a completely solid model would. You can see parts of the shape that would be hidden in any other material.

I was also able to shell the interior- I widened the top of the A and made the shell 1.5mm thick. In consequence there are two shapes on the inside going either side of the J to make up the sides of the G. Despite liking the original shape, I choose to shell it because I thought it would provide a different perspective to the shape. I am exploring what possibilities are available outside the most obvious.

This is the view from the G. One can see the effect of the light glancing off the glass. By choosing to have a reflection on my ground plane, I have ensured that you can see the shape despite some of it being almost invisible. I love how smooth it is. I love how it has developed from a very solid object to an object that appears very fragile and graceful.

Workspace Plans Reiteration

Workspace Plans Reiteration

Due to some technical difficulties, I began the studio work for Week 8 with pen and paper. I decided to draw a floor plan of my current model which gave me the opportunity to look at realistic layouts- how to fit the bed, desk etc. into the room. I became aware that the amount of free space was fairly limited and so deliberated on how to increase this. I realised I had significantly limited myself through assuming the wardrobe was a fixed element. Despite it being built in, I decided to remove it from its current location and place it in the corner diagonally opposite. This provided me with a broader spectrum to which I could experiment with light. I redrew my floor plan and sections which is what I will use to make my next model. I have annotated the materials I would use in the window area, my threshold between the interior and exterior.

Having a larger window will allow significantly more light in and I hope it will also make the outdoors seem a lot closer. I hope that by having the light filtered on 2 sides and clear glass on the other will allow my threshold to become a significant place in the room. 

Initial- A.J.G. 3D Model

Initial Model: A.J.G

I created a model of my initials on Fusion360. I tried to cut out the interior but due to the shape of the letters it wouldn't let me. However I really liked the shape on the bottom so choose to leave it the way it was to allow the natural curve to be evident. I am really pleased with the final outcome. I think it is a very graceful product.

Week 7 Models

 Week 7 Models

 This week I had to really delve into how I can develop the lighting situation of my model and how to develop a threshold. I have been fairly limited in where I could go and how I could develop my part of the building as I live in collage accommodation where I have people on either side of my and above and below me. I choose to instead use the room next to mine as well and and designed the adjoining wall to be able to share light whilst provided the privacy that is expected for a bedroom. The meter of wall that runs alongside the wardrobe section is a semi-translucent meaning that the light that enters the room from outside has a greater opportunity to fill the room with light. I have also increased the length of the window meaning more of the exterior environment can be seen. I want my threshold to bridge the gap between inside and outside despite not being able to go outside. I want to be able to open the window and let the breeze and fresh air in and to have a view.

 I felt that the end result was effective with the light path being very broad when I photographed the model. Due to technical difficulties (my laptop died) I have been unable to have a figure within my models yet. However they are at 1:50 scale, with a 2.5m high ceiling with a door that is almost the same height.

Modeling with paper has had its challenges. At times it has been fairly difficult to get the paper to sit and hold where I want it to go. However, it is very easy to cut and score lines and can be very time efficient as I can photocopy my template before I cut it so I can have 2 identical versions (which when folded oppoaite ways creates mirrored rooms).

I also found experimenting with the light very interesting- it created some intriguing effects.

* Update: I was able to get a figure into my models after my technical difficulties were resolved. As you can see, the window is much larger than the person as it is floor to ceiling. I have chosen to make it this big as I believe the difference in how much light can enter would me extraordinary. I also felt that with the room itself being so small, a large window would help the atmosphere seem less confining.