Semantic Forms

Design Lab. 04.18.2021.

The objective of this project is to be able to see and translate natural and
human-made forms through three mediums: soap, clay, and paper. While replicating the forms and proportions of these objects, it is also important to understand the aesthetics of the inherent curves.

I have the biggest shell out of everyone. Everyone makes the same comment when they see it: “wow, that is a big shell”. I plan to use it as a candle holder after this project. :)

April 22nd

INSERT 6 SHELL SKETCHES HERE ( I DID IT I PROMISE)

In my first attempt at this project, I chose to use the medium that I was the most comfortable with: plasticine clay. With a little bit of sculpting background in high school, I knew I would have to separate the shell into parts and add them together instead of subtractive carving method.

After making the main swirl, I thought of the ear part as a sheet of clay that wraps around. it did make sense, but I had to really adjust the thickness in order for the form to stay in place.

However, I was still having a hard time with the clay because the warmth of my hands kept softening the clay. As I kept working on adjusting the proportions, it was very frustrating to see other parts start to deform. What is even worse, is when I set down the clay shell to rest for a little, the surface that touches the desk keeps flattening. Therefor after I finish molding my shell, I would have to be very fast about taking my pictures, or else it would start deforming again.

One of the biggest questions that I had would be how much of lines I should carve out of the shell. There were many levels of depth within each crease and it didn’t seam plausible to recreate all of them. Thinking about the concept of dominant, subdominant, and subordinate forms, I think the dominant form would be the ear, and the subordinate would be the tiny swirls on both ends of the shell. This leads to the conclusion that I should leave out the swirls in the middle and at the most suggest it with slight dents.

In terms of the carving method, I realized that even though the carving tools created thinner lines that are sharp and precise, I found that the hand actually created more fluid lines. Even though they do not accurately define the thin swirls, the hand made dents match with the fluid aesthetics of the natural shell.

While taking my photos, I realized that the small differences become very visible. Depending on how the shell sits and where the center of mass is, the photos do not accurately depict the proportions of the shell.

Feedback:

1. missing some volume on the main swirl dominant form.
2. the ear is a bit exaggerated in some angels.
3. pay attention to the major axis, both ends of the swirl should match in one line
4. how many ridges is shown is a decision about abstraction
5. cold makes the clay harden, try working with a window on

April 27th

For this iteration, I decided to try to use soap. After watching Dani’s video on her tips and tricks on P projects, I learned to first create a block that is the same ratio as the actual shell (had to do math for this but I can’t find the paper). Then I lightly carved out the shape of the shell on all 6 sides. This method prevents me from over carving because of the subtractive nature of soap.

Since I cannot ctrl + z on this project, I have to be really careful with soap. I still messed up on one tho, after over carving in one area, I was forced to make the whole shell iteration even smaller.

In the middle of this iteration, I had to drive to Michigan and back for 10 hours. This really threw off my work schedule but I still managed to create an iteration. This is when I realized that having one dedicated workspace in studio is really important for this project. The wide wooden table with a cutting mat and large garbage bins are very helpful, especially when there are friends to talk to. This is when I decided to facetime people in studio and work together virtually. suffer together, trauma bonding~

With the limited size of the soap bar, my shell iteration had to be super small compared to my large original shell. The nature of this made it harder for me to compare the proportions and replicate the same amount of detail. It was really hard to carve down even more because I realized later that there still wasn’t enough volume and the back part is still flat.

A method that I used to smooth out the shell was just to use water and rub it lightly. I adjusted the number of lines carved out and ended up with a minimal amount of detail.

It was really late at night when I finished so I did not have the time to set up a nice photoshoot backdrop. Other than struggling with matching the center of mass of both shells, I was pretty proud of this iteration compared to the clay one. That was surprising to me, and maybe I should use soap for the mouse as well.

Feedback:

1. At glance, the two shells are very much accurate, but when using digital rectangles to compare the proportions, I could see slight differences.

had to miss this iteration because of burn out from traveling back and forth. Almost there.

May 4th

Started my first mouse iteration with paper because I wanted to spend more time thinking about it. In the beginning, all I could really do is kind of trace the separated surfaces. With tape and scissors, I cut out many iterations by adjusting minute curvatures.

This initial idea was to create a ring of paper that wraps around the mouse on 4 sides and have two flat pieces on both the top and bottom. These two sections would then be connected by a supporting middle plane that will also indicate the scroll.

With tape, I was able to adjust the shape and size to find the perfect shape. I kept comparing and adjusting how it stretched by wrapping it around the mouse. It was still tricky to find a way to make it sustain its structure though.

After completing an iteration with the aid of double-sided tape. I then replicated the same pattern and used tabs and slits to construct them together. The issue with this method is that the slits and tabs would throw off the proportions, resulting in a taller mouse than intended. It was also very fragile due to the lack of support and resistance.

Feedback:

1. Even though it was a simple design, it still captured the characteristics of the mouse well to show the different curves
2. each iteration should show something that is only achievable with certain materials. For paper, it is inner structure and gridding
3. try to take away the top layer and instead add two more supporting planes that are vertical.

What i have so far:

May 9th

As I worked on the soap iteration for the mouse, I found myself facing similar problems from before: it is harder to find accurate proportions with purely subtractive material. This time, I kept having to carve away the height of the mouse, but my mind kept stopping me because I was scared of messing up.

One trick I found helpful was: instead of sitting on a chair and looking down at the shell, I found sitting on the ground and staring at the shell from eye level, I was able to compare the proportions so much easier.

Before taking my final photos, I spent long hours trying to remake my paper mouse. After following the suggestions from the professors, I made a sturdier mouse.

After slightly reworking the soap shell, I made a few big changes with the clay shell. I held the shell in my hands the entire time because I didn’t want it to deform again.

Final Photos:

Exclusive Angst Episode: The Making of Showcase Video with a Very Small Group of People

Realized that the video is due in 24 hours. Realized that instructions from professors did not make sense. Started planning showcase content from scratch. Spammed my plan in the slack group at 4 am. Made motion graphics. Fell asleep.

Got 2nd dose of vaccine. Took extra strength pain killers. Went to buy food and cake for final showcase party.

Started working with small group on content. internal conflicts. Realized that no one did anything. Very stressed

Worked non-stop. Had multiple breakdowns. I am not paid enough to do this, wait, I’m not even paid. I just want closure.

Finished at 9am. finished rendering at 10. John got breakfast ❤

went back home to look presentable. Joined showcase to hear that some people who didn’t contribute were unsatisfied lol. fu.

fell asleep. people tried to wake me up. failed. missed final showcase party and photos.

woke up confused.

went to buy snacks and drinks.

Conclusion:

I am glad I am finally done with first-year design. No one can make me do this again. I don’t think the professors understand how much work I have done outside of these 3 hour zoom meetings, and I don’t care. cmu design flopped hard, and bruce is fake.