Introduction to 3D Design Portfolio
The goal of this class was to develop conceptual and critical design thinking while solving problems to create 3D structures with sustainable materials, processes, and consumption; discuss, develop, and evaluate composition principles and their relation to aesthetics, modular systems, structure, and sustainable use of material through handmade models and systems that lead to final designs; engage in diverse multidisciplinary collaborations. This course aims to expose students to 3-dimensional design studio concepts and its relation to aesthetic, structure and material. It intends to provide the necessary knowledge and practical technical skills to allow students to further explore the 3-dimensional creative process.
Project 1 : Polyhedral Solids
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In this project we made 5 platonic solids and one Archimedean solid using traditional hand drafting and paper construction. We also learned about Life Cycle Assessment elements that showed how wasteful design can be and how important it is to create sustainably. Using white Bristol board 3-Ply we used compasses and straight edges to prove and draft shapes on a 2D plane and cut out with an exacto knife and fold into 3D shapes using tacky glue.
The 3D shapes that we created were platonic shapes, a cube, a Tetrahedron, a Octahedron, a Dodecahedron, and an Archimedean shape, a Truncated Octahedron.
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Project 2 : 3D Tiles
In this project we worked with White Clrln Paper and created a visibly pleasing wall tile. Each surface is 6" by 6"and folded forward and backwards with an exacto knife and careful bending. In this project I used a drafting system of cutting a 6 by 6 square out of my harder paper and cutting out shapes to fold the paper around. This was to observe mass production technology and sustainability.
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Project 3 : Framework
The goal of this assignment was to create a wood structure with seven cubes or tetrahedrons, shapes studied in previous projects, that expresses movement and has us learn about how to use lumber to minimize waste. We used 1/4" x 1/4" x 36" wooden dowels and wood glue, and for this project we had access to the University of Iowa Art Buildings Woodshop and we learned about how to connect edges using 45 degree angles.
In my design the smallest cube is 4" by 4" and each cube increases by 1.5".
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Project 4 : Space Divider
In this project we were tasked with designing and building a space divider using modular blocks, sustainable material and practices. We used a sustainable white board material and laser cut our design with the University of Iowa Visual Art Buildings CNC cutter. We utilized AutoCAD, and various revisions of physical drafts. In my design I merged both of my International Studies degree and my art degree by putting reversed and edited Japanese numbers on the surfaces and connected them by using line weight to end at the 3rds of the blocks.
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