Final Design

This was my chosen final design. What I like about this is how it harks back to the snowflake and crystal precedent images I used at the start while incorporating Braille as a communication method through surface.

Further Developments and Process

Starting off with a central hexagon I extruded perpendicular branches out which spell out my name using Braille.

To create a more complicated form I created a pattern of extruded rods and used a surface to communicate my name through Braille.

Developments

Here are some jpegs of the developments I have made so far on Solid Works.

What I have been trying to do is create a hexagonal structure which has a Braille surface which spells my name and also creates an interesting pattern.

From here I think I will try take away the exterior structure in order to reveal the geometric, crystalline structure underneath.

Ideas Deveolpment

These images focus on a variety of hexagon shapes that occur in nature. What I’m interested about by this shape is the strong structural shape that can occur in nature. Another idea that I’m interested in is the use of Braille for a surface texture. Braille uses a sequence of bumps in the surface of something to communicate a message etc.

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Project 3 Precedent Images and Ideas

The first four images are microscopic images of snowflakes. What I like about theses is the hidden structure which is contained within very small and delicate objects. Some design concepts that I have gotten from these images is perhaps using symmetry and geometric shapes. Even though they are geometric they are also quite organic looking taking the shape of flowers.

What I like about these next four images is the crystalline surface that they all have. In the first image I like the cracking visible and the rainbow effect the surface has when it reacts with the light.

In the second image I like the mountainous, glacial quality created organically by the crystals. Perhaps it is possible to create a similar colour effect as a post process in the rapid prototyping.

In the next two images I like how the slender crystal shapes have created a ‘forest’ of sorts. I feel that this will be quite an interesting surface texture to experiment with. On the second one there is a layering of these long crystals to create a haystack look.

For the last image the part that interested me was the lattice created and the weaving. In Rapid Prototyping it could be possible to create a weave which I think would be an interesting surface.

Project 2 sletch models

In these models I experimented with a variety of different methods in which I could express a 3D form from relatively flat laser cut layers. I also included a conceptual sketch for my final design.

Project 2

 In this render I was trying to give my chosen iteration a prehistoric, fossilised texture.

In my final model i wanted to create something that looked like it could be in a museum display. The acrylic created a frame in which the relatively 2D card models are arranged to express the 3D object or skull that is was previously.

Note: My photos of sketch models and drawings were left at home so I will update my blog when I get back to include these

These images interested me because they had different methods of expressing 3D forms using layers of laser cut material.

Laser Cutting

Got back my two sheets of laser cut material today but had to re cut the acrylic one because the laser just scored the surface.

It’s looking like it will all fit together I'm just wondering whether or not I should do something to the cardboard to change the stark white surface, perhaps make it look more ancient and fossilised.

I've tried peeling off the top layer of the card which reveals a rougher more earthy colour which could be good. However I think the change in material thickness might ruin the craft of the model.