Virtual Environment

Student JournalModule One

Xiaojie Bian633796

Semester 1,2013

Week 1 Introduction to subject

I found it very interesting in reading the article of analytical drawing. It’s basically analyzing the still life object, simplifying them to simple geometrical shapes and then transforming to graphic motifs. In the process of generating a geometric shape similarly from real object needs time and experience, which pretty much develop the skills of precise-observation, summarizing the main idea and also the critical thinking. In my case(which I chose a daisy as the pattern), I was struggling to perform a ‘movement’ of the static object. Spending time staring at the photo and trying to find the ‘structure’ of the daisy, I get a clue that I can actually using line to produce the effect, by unevenly spacing the lines.

My chosen natural pattern - a diasy flower

My recipeBalance- 1 divide the space2 plot five dots in each space, using the dots to draw a pentagon.3 repeat step 2 in the rest spaces.

Movement- 1 create an angle of 15 degrees2 rotate the angle by 5 degrees (5 degrees rotation added in next round)3 repeat step 1 and 2

Balance

Symmetry

Movement

Week 2 Pattern & Rule based system

Reading Task

Q: Described the formation process behind your found pattern? Are they specific moment of the transformation from your found pattern that you can emulate or stimulate in your emerging form model? Refer to highlighted comments in the text.

According to the Philip Ball’s text Pattern formation in nature, who claims that ‘evolutionary biology needs to take into account’ for the formation of a nature pattern. I looked up the reasons why flowers have petals; research showed that petal is one of the important organ of the flowers which helps in pollination. And the colourful petals are aimed to attract bees, birds and other insects. When I look at the pattern I chosen and consider doing an analytical drawing of it, the first impression bumped into my head was branching. As I simplify the pattern to a series of pentagons, I can see the rule behind the formation of the different layers of the petals about the daisy. It is basically a pentagon rotate in a certain degree. Likely, the second layer of the petals is simply enlarging the base pattern and rotating in another fixed degree. That’s how I create my 3D model of my chosen pattern.

Recipe of my 3D model1 Base model a) equally space a strip of paper into 5 units b) fold the strip according to the spacing c) glue the edges of the strip and form a pentagon d) repeat step 1-3 e) glue the base edges of the pentagons and form fgdthe 3D emerging model

*Recipe of my 3D model - cont.2. transforming modela) repeat step 1-3 from the base model to generate a 3D pentagonb) cut at an angle of 5 degrees from the perpendicular in the middle of two adjacent pentagons c) insert the pentagon just made to the slitd) repeat step1-4 to all adjacent pentagons

According to the Philip Ball’s text Pattern formation in nature, who claims that ‘evolutionary biology needs to take into account’ for the formation of a nature pattern. I looked up the reasons why flowers have petals; research showed that petal is one of the important organ of the flowers which helps in pollination. And the colourful petals are aimed to attract bees, birds and other insects. When I look at the pattern I chosen and consider doing an analytical drawing of it, the first impression bumped into my head was branching. As I simplify the pattern to a series of pentagons, I can see the rule behind the formation of the different layers of the petals about the daisy. It is basically a pentagon rotate in a certain degree. Likely, the second layer of the petals is simply enlarging the base pattern and rotating in another fixed degree. That’s how I create my 3D model of my chosen pattern.

Rhino

I found this building(the 101 tower in Taipei) is pretty similar to my emerging form. In these two models, both of the newly formed shape are sort of ‘inserted’ in the previous one. However, there is a certain insert angle in my model and therefore the model is looking sort of encompassing by itself, forming a abstract looking of daisy.

101 Tower, Taiwan

Week 3 Camouflage & Effects

Photo from Wednesday workshop

Develop the idea of how the model would look like in realistic. As well as how scaling affected the model. (the model was made in scale of 1:5 in the workshop ) I would like my lantern to wrap around my arm, goes up in spiral shape and ends up near elbow.

Development of idea --- double helix

The pentagon somehow immediately reminds me of the structure of DNA, the shape of double helix. I would like to see my lantern spiraling around my arm and therefore develop the idea of single helix shaped lantern. The base of the pentagon need to be tilted in a certain degree so that it could form a wavy cure.

Then I model it on rhino, draw the base pentagon, select and rotate(3D) it to form the curve. Later on I also adjust the curve to better fit the arm.Some screen grab of the rhino modelling process.

Rhino

developing idea-- fan propeller Getting idea from the fan propeller and trying to make the lantern in this form. Consist of series of extruded trangles, in an ascending order and also having an angle with the horizon.

top view--flower shape

side view-- ascending spiral Rhino notes-- create a base element, command-- Arraypolar, rotate-- YES,First reference angle--30, goes around--360. Zaxis--15

Week 3 Camouflage & Effects

Emerged form of clay

Photo taken of the plasticine model. Looks ugly but it can illustrate the primary structure of my lantern.

Idea from the diamond

The pentagon reminds me of the structure of diamond. It inspires me to develop this model. I just want to emphasis the idea of ‘diamond’, then I decided to make it in the form of bracelet. Which could be worn around the wrist. The supporting base would be an extruded rectangular shape, and the diamond-like lantern is at top of the surface.

To start off

I tried to make a wavy base however it didn’t work out well.

Rhino process description--extrude curve-- pentagons tapered -5, triangles-- to a point. Align them together.

Being inspired by the disco lighting ball and tried to make a semi sphere lantern. It could be held in hands. The surface should be a wave like curve so that it could form a sphere. Cover the cross section area with color paper and project with colored effect. Also, I can make some see through area in the lantern surface and the audience who holding the lantern can actually see the hollow structure inside. It creates fun in using experience and also generate a strong visual communication impact since the light goes through the holes projects in a different way.

I take ideas from all my development drawings before and come to the final decision of my lantern. It is bracelet shape, diamond structure lantern. It is kind of bracelet, which can be wore at the wrist, and wrap around the wrist, extend a little further(2 diamond blocks) to arm. The model is basically hollowed, as the simi sphere model, with see through sections at top, these random holes create a funny projection.