Week 3 3D Design

Task 1 - Design an Eco-friendly form of Transport

This week was about designing a eco-friendly form of transport based on the reduce concept. We were then to brand our design with a catchy name.

My initial design looked at gears, this was ditched when I could see it not working.

I then thought of the step exercise machines and whether this could convert to movement. As I continued down this path I could see my design turning into what looked like a bicycle as I searched for balance.

My third and final idea was to base the design on a wheelchair, a form of transport that uses just the arms for movement but, for the able you could also use the power of your legs to assist movement. So I combined this idea with a large wheel for a faster ride.  As I continued with this idea, I thought there might not be a need to actually use your arms or legs. As a mouse runs in its wheel, its forward weight turns the wheel.
If a person was suspended in the wheel and their weight was shifted forward, without using their arms or legs this could turn the wheel. A new form of transport that is eco-friendly.

What to name it?

The Roller

Robby Roller

the cube (irony)

Swing Move

Design

Shape: round

Media: rubber and light weight durable steal
Style: industrial

The Swing Move

Research

When googling my concept I found someone had invented a motorbike with the same design concept, i.e. a person suspended in the middle of a large wheel, pictured below.

http://www.transportblog.com/archives/002845.html

Research 

One concept for a 3D Design may involve a shadow box. As I am not aware of how to make this I Have done some searching on you Tube....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3IQXJMS79w

Here a person uses a cutlery tray as a shadow box.

Week 2 3D Design

Task 1.   Identifying sources of information

Researching sources of information is found in Week 2 2D and 3D Design

Task 2. Create a design for a CDU Design Student Shoulder Bag

Instructions included:

• Use any tools you wish 
• Address these 3 points of difference in your design 
• Shape
• Media
• Style

The concept for my bag is something fun, gloss colour, retro look.

Something like ...

this style

with this sewing technique

with these colours

and in this shape

So I am looking for a long strap rectangular bag, made of a semi-gloss vinyl with a definite stitch down the side. It should reflect a contemporary version of the retro look.

My early drawings looked like this:

The concept here is to add "U" (you) to CDU

The 2nd concept included the use of a QR code linking to the CDU web site

final draft design

As they say, it's not only how good it looks, but how long it looks good ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=749iU2Zv1kw&feature=player_embedded#!

Week2 - 2D Design

This week, as a group exercise we looked at and collated sources of information. Following this activity we designed a new background for our blog.

Task 1.   Identifying sources of information

Top 5 search engines worldwide

Google #1, Yahoo #2, Baidu #3, Bing #4 and Ask #5 (reference top 5 internet search engines in world)

It's important to use different search engines because results can vary depending on what you and others generally look at, therefore different results are produced by different search engines.

Alternative to search engine use 

• You can visit a library to look at magazines, books – Michelle Turner is the creative arts library specialist at CDU 
• Forums and discussion boards 
• Industry specific websites 
• Local Galleries 
• Museum 
• Television 
• Facebook 
• Communicating with other artists 

Using web sites like:

• Youtube 
• Whitepapers http://www.whitepapers.org/ - research reports 
• Eyemagazine http://www.eyemagazine.com/home.php
• International Journal of Design http://www.ijdesign.org/ojs/index.php/IJDesign/
• Graphis – Cherill favorite http://www.graphis.com/ 
• I like this site because it is visually exciting, inspirational and covers both photography and advertising
• Facebook – André favourite
• Andrea likes the versatility of facebook, so many users with different points of view
• Kati Vond - Andre's favourite Tattoo art http://www.katvond.net/  
• Andre would like to be a tattoo artist and finds this site inspirational
• Global Design Source http://www.g-d-s.net/
• Design Mag - http://designm.ag/inspiration/design-inspiration-toolbox/
• The design files – Queenie's favourite http://thedesignfiles.net/
• Design you trust – Paul's favourite http://designyoutrust.com
• Paul likes that this site has so much to offer, the subjects are varied and educational

There are different ways to word your web searches 

• You can put an “ around particular words to narrow the search to the string of words. 
• Add a “-“ to exclude certain words, for example – cats will return a search without reference to cats 
• Ctrl F, then type the word you are looking for on an opened web site to find your particular reference 

You can also use the following features:

• Google – wildcard for a broader search  
• Boolean Search – use and / or gives more variation on search 
• Google Scholar – research and peer review information, academic writers 

(Reference class material, reference http://websearch.about.com/od/internetresearch/a/genericsearch.htm)

Task 2 : Design a new background for your blog

In the break I took a number of photos using my iPhone and emailed them to my university account. 

I initially choose a frangipani tree with a sky background. I found that when placed as a background the tile effect was messy as the join was not aligned. Text also covered the interesting focal points of the picture, leaving me looking for anther option.

My second choice was a photo of flax from the garden, again the text covered the interesting light arrangement in the centre of the photo, so I decided not to use it.

Finally, I chose the bark of a tree for a more consistent background with less obvious joins. To reduce the file size I added artistic effects.

For all files I ensured the photo was a minimum of 2560 x 1440 pixels as this is the resolution of the monitors at university. I also ensured that each file was less than 300kb and saved for web and other devices.

Initial choice

Second option

Final choice - Original photo from my iPhone 4

The following steps were taken to achieve the final result:

• solarise
• glowing edges
• diffuse clouds

Final design for blog background

My final design ....

Shape - saved at a minimum of 2560 pixels wide, constraining the proportions for height and document size. Not tiled as a background.
Media - I have used my iPhone 4 to take the photo before applying artistic effect in photoshop

Style - The colour background represents two things, the red tone represents vigour and passion for design, the  brown earthy tone reflects substance and my down to earth nature.

Research

What is QR code and how does it work? R001

QR Code is Quick Response Code, a 2D code. It was first used by a Toyota subsidiary (Denso) to track cars during the manufacturing process. It is popular because it is fast to be read and has a large storage capacity compares to bar codes.
QR "code consists of black modules (square dots) arranged in a square pattern on a white background." The code can include data like numbers, letters and binary.

Apps for QR codes can be found on smartphones.

The amount of data that can be stored in a QR code depends on the datatype. The error level varies depending on how much data is stored.

"Version 40 (177×177). Content: "Version 40 QR Code can contain up to 1852 chars." R001

There are different types of QR codes:

• Micro QR Code - holds a maximum of 35 numeric characters
• Standard QR Code - contain up to 7,089 characters
• Custom or artistic QR codes - are standard QR codes with colour and shape added to them for artistic purposes

Here is a short video to show what they can do.

Here is some creative ways to use QR Codes

Reference:
R001: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_code

3D objects from Territory Craft Members' Exhibition

During the week I visited the Territory Craft Members' Exhibition, July 2012, Outside the Square. If you're not familiar with it, it is located near the Darwin Museum in the Northern Territory. I thought I'd share some of, but not all, of my favourite pieces.

Birds on a Log, ironwood log with glass birds by Andrea McKey

I enjoyed the contrast of the natural wood, its texture and deep earthy tones with the fresh, bright reflective colours of the birds. I also appreciated the simplicity of the birds, the colours are not mixed, there is no attempt to add individual feathers, just simple shapes representing the bird.

Nest Light and Pod Light, cane, palm & banana fibre by Catherine Buckley

The use of natural materials to make these enchanting lights is fabulous. The soft light would add to the relaxing feeling and ambience in any room where a natural theme was required.

Paint a flower

I'm searching for a 3D reference and I find this link video, instructions on how to paint a flower. I'm not too keen on the flower but it is amazing that the artist makes it look so easy. I do like the final leaf pattern, if I do something Art Nouveau this might come in handy. I'm thinking that my 3D exhibition piece should reflect both a decorative, Art Nouveau style and the Swiss Style.

More bad 2D Designs

If you are looking for more 2D Designs that miss the mark check out this link: http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/

Is seems that colour, bad graphics, unexplained functions, unreadable text, lack of product sensibility, automatic unwelcome downloads, lack of focus and visual mayhem are just the start of problem 2D Designs. I'm sure these will at some point momentarily feature in my new creations, being aware of them will hopefully keep this moment short.

Decorative style, lets bring it back

Something that has stuck in my mind .. my lecturer, having returned from his Spanish holiday, said (not a direct quote) "we all follow the International / Swiss style, there is not enough decoration".
How strange it is that this is true, in the most part, we all look to the streamlined, clean style. There is Grunge, but its hardly decorative.

So, my commitment, given the opportunity I would like to include in my exhibition a Swiss Style and an Art Nouveau style, lets bring back some decoration.

Week1 3D Design

Task 2: As Homework find a 3D object you like and explain why you like it.

My thoughts race, the first thing that comes to mind are miniature creatures that are dressed like people and come with their own life accessories, houses, ice cream carts, but I dare not admit this to the class. Something more grown up might be appropriate …. I loved the 3D knit sculpture I saw in Brisbane at the Gallery of Modern Art, it grew like a banyan tree to the ceiling of the Gallery, I loved that they had added the scent of lavender so it didn’t smell like old mouldy, mothy wool.

Knit to the ceiling

The detail and variety of material is amazing.

Standing inside, surrounded by knit.

Why I like this piece of work by Hiromi Tango:

I like..

Ø  its size, you could walk threw or sit inside and by surrounded by the creation

Ø  the colours, the colour of a tree is very different, to use abstract colours to represent a tree adds a sense of fun

Ø  that it has recycled objects that may have been sitting unused for many years, the objects may have otherwise been thrown away

Ø  that everywhere you look there is something new to discover, for me, this was a memory of dolls I once owned, my Grandmothers knitting, the knitting I once tried and never finished that sat in the bottom draw for years

Ø  that it seemed to be growing

Ø  the concept that something so soft and delicate formed the vines of knit with the strength to support the structure

Ø  that even though I don’t like knitting or sewing I loved the magic of this object

Here is a video on Hiromi Tango's inspiration. She describes how a collection of special moments becomes a mass and quite overwhelming, it "becomes nothing" she said. I thought this was an interesting way of seeing her creation, when I saw the art I was overwhelmed by it's splendour but not it's complexity, it wasn't nothing. I think it took nothing, the unfinished craft, the junk craft and turned it into something  ... something magical, to inspire your senses, to give the feeling of another world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvv2Ne8vOUA

Week1 2D Design

This is the first lesson in 2&3D Design, we took embarrassing photos of ourselves and posting them in a share folder for the class to see. We then heard what tasks would be ahead, including a blog, a web page and an exhibition. Finally, we grouped together for the class task. The task would need to be our first blog, and my first blog ever.

Task 1: In your group of 2 students select a “bad” and “good” 2D Design. Discuss the reasons why you think they are bad or good and then add this to your blog.

Group of 2: Myself and Paul Myatt

The Bad 2D Design:

http://www.petsonline.com.au/

What we didn’t like about this design:

Logic (flow):

·      There are too many options to choose from

Legibility (readable/ Clear):

·      Navigation buttons are too small

·      Too busy, cluttered – font size too small

Information (Organisation):

·      Again too cluttered

Artistry (Execution/ Appeal):

·      Colours are bland

·      Buttons with font and drop shadow seem dated

On a positive note, the information does seem comprehensive and if you would like to buy a pet it offers up-to-date information on the front page.

The Good 2D Design                  

http://www.theleagueofmoveabletype.com/

What we liked about this design:

Logic:

·      Simple navigation

·      Clear information

Legibility:

·      There is a clear message

·      The font is easy to read

Information:

·      The information is clearly presented on one page

Artistry:

·      Floating layout, so screen size doesn’t matter

·      They presented an eye catching font as the first example, this draws you into the site

·      The confronting words help to define their purpose of revolution

There was nothing in particular that we didn’t like about this web page.

So this is the start, falling over my own feet to get across the finish line. I'm sure it will get easier.