Evaluation

Throughout this Territories of Practice programme I have gained an insight into the world of computer aided design for both 2 and 3 dimensional outcomes.In the first few sessions I began to appreciate the potential of even the most simple materials. Even something as simple as a piece of printer paper can be folded and cut in such a way so that it changes the way in which the material behaves. It can become a form with volume, a self supporting structure and even a decorative piece of design. The visit to the William Morris gallery was highly insightful, as I was able to see first hand his intricate designs and better understand his methods in the design process. The sessions on Rhino I feel would have been more useful if we were able to actually practice the techniques for ourselves and if we'd have had a few more sessions as my understanding of the programme is still very limited. 3D printing is an area which I wish to explore further as the brief session on this was very interesting, however I feel that my knowledge of Rhino and other CAD software would have to improve. Throughout the process of designing my final screens, I took inspiration from William Morris's Botanical inspired designs using floral shapes cut out to reveal a colour behind. My final 3D design was inspired by my screens and took on a cuboid shape. I feel that the whole programme may have been more effective with more time spent on computers practising the techniques on the Rhino software as these sessions seemed inconclusive. However I have found that keeping a blog means that I was able to engage more with my work through evaluative writing and also inspirational artist links. 

Final Designs

For my final designs I cut paper in designs inspired by the works of Morris to reveal colour behind.

Final Product

Rhino and 3D Printing

An Introduction to Rhino

Rhino is a program to aid multi dimensional design. The programme allows you to work on various axes which correspond to build up a shape on the screen. You can create solid forms, hollow forms and very complex forms due to the non-uniform design of the program. I think it would take a lot of lessons on Rhino until I would be able to understand it, it is a very complex process.

 You can build up faces of an object and add volume to it.

  

Rhino can be used in the 3D printing design process.

3D Printing

This is a fairly new process in which one can actually print virtually any object or shape using an 'additive process' which layers up material in the form that has been programmed in. This process is often used for prototyping such as small scale architectural models but it has also been used to 'print' human body parts for prosthetics. 

Its an almost limitless technology, quite amazing really!

Iris Van Herpen s/s 2012

William Morris Visit

William Morris Gallery

Textile designer, artist and writer, Morris is mostly known for his beautifully intricate wallpaper designs which are often inspired by botanical objects and animals. His design were popular throughout the 19th Century and have stood the test of time.

The visit to the William Morris Gallery was to get us to observe how Morris created complex and interlocked surface patterns and to help us to further understand his designing techniques. Inspiration can be taken from his designs for the screens we are to create.

Just a few of my favourite designs from the gallery. 

I love the colours and intricacy of this design, you can clearly see the botanical influence with many different leaf formations and floral shapes.

You can see the multiple layers of the design overlapping and interlocking almost 3 dimensional.

 The designs in which he incorporates birds and mirroring are really playful and interesting, you can see a repeat of flower formations with great attention to detail.

In this design Morris intertwines leaf shapes and floral shapes almost giving the design another dimension.

Observing Morris's works I began to contemplate the importance of accuracy in design. The fact that his designs are all hand drawn highlights the time consuming nature of them. The same attention to detail must be applied to the paper screens if they are to be effective.

Pattern, Layering and Folding.

'Beginning with an initial fold, a single action causes a transfer of energy to subsequent folds' - Matthew Shlian

In the first session we explored the various ways in which paper, a simple material, can be manipulated by cutting and folding and be transformed into an expressive surface. I find it interesting that if one affects the surface of a single sheet of paper, whether it be by cutting or folding, the capabilities of the material increase significantly. By folding or cutting in a certain way the sheet of paper can even be a self supporting form. Bearing this in mind I then created 4 self supporting structures from a single sheet of paper, the instructions were clear no glue only folds or incisions but the structure must be self supporting. 

For my first structure I made multiple cuts along the paper and attempted to join the two ends in a loop using interlocking flaps.

For my second I used a concertina fold but also manipulated the paper into a curl.

Again i used a concertina fold but I also folded the paper down in order to make a stand.

This is perhaps the strongest structure as the thickness of the paper is doubled by lots of folding.

The groups' paper structures.

Having been split into groups of 3 we were then given the task of folding patterns in order to render the surface of the paper 3D. The patterns varied in difficulty I chose the advanced one which happened to be quite tricky.

The task was then in our groups bring together our three folded design and wrap a wine glass without using glue. This created almost architectural sculptures and each groups' sculptures varied despite everyone using the same three patterns. 

Judging the structures.

Paper Folding Artists

Richard Sweeney - Sculptor Richard Sweeney created precise structures using advanced folding techniques. His works combine hand craft and computer aided design resulting in very unique and crisp outcomes. Although he uses simple materials I find Sweeney's sculpture highly complex and beautiful.

Matthew Shlian - As a Paper Engineer Shlian applies his works to various different sectors such a inventing and researching. His structures are both simple and complex creating raised up surfaces which are often self supporting. One can see both of the pieces below are simple made up of folded triangles in different patterns and sequences making their appearance very different.

Lisa Rodden - Paper artist Lisa Rodden uses simple cuts and folds combined with colour to create interesting 3 Dimensional surfaces. It is the simplicity of her work that makes it beautiful, it's not overdone; a clean white sheet with bright colours showing through. 

Elod Beregszasz - Paper artist Elod Beregszasz takes his inspiration from shop front and high rise buildings. He uses sequences of cutting and folding in different directions in order to create his structures.

Alexandra Verschueren - Fashion designer Verschueren shows how these folding and cutting techniques can be used on fabrics, making them appear rigid with multiple dimensions.

More paper folding inspired Fashion

John Galliano for Dior

John Galliano for Dior

Marchesa

Sandra Backlund

Links
http://www.janm.org/exhibits/foldingpaper/artists/
http://www.mattshlian.com/