PROJECT 3: SUPER LAIR (Beeconstructed Hideout)

Here is my post-assignment/semester blog about Project 3 for IDP!

We had to pin up our works by hook or by crook on Thursday July 14. On Friday, July 15, was presentation day. I was freaking out as I only finished up my board at 3pm (the pin up started at 2, but was shocked to see myself be one of the earlier ones to finish up.) Needless to say, the end result was worth it. I expressed to my tutor (Mr. Qhawar, who kept me sane and gave clarity throughout this project) that I was really worried about the board as I knew 3 days to work on it might be tough.

Me with my pin up on presentation day! I love the way it looked in the end.

My work:

My layout board, A0 size.

The infographic I designed for my model.

My critique:
I got mixed reviews for my critique. I am okay with this however, as I figured out that the moderators were the kind to give the good news and bad news sort of people.

• The bad: my form could use more exploration/extrapolation (in terms of making it more minimal), basically, the final shape of the whole thing. I will elaborate further below.
• The good: layout did its job and ideas/information were clear, Project 1 and Project 2 really impressed them, I sounded confident and had good basic knowledge, and did my research, my activities were interesting.

Reflection:

• What I have learnt: Miss Diana and Vickram (my moderators) gave really good advice. Firstly, they told me to never stop sketching and reading, which I intend to do over the break. They taught me to always explore a step further in terms of design because the process never really has a finish point. Even if you think the form is perfect, there is always something else to explore/extrapolate. As much as that is confusing, it's good to start questioning yourself at some points, just to test your aptitude as a designer.

• What I could have done better: For the form, they actually wanted me to remove all the components (but the plan/section would literally be a square, but it's clever design! Think: Apple design process) as the components seemed to be built to be accommodated by the form, but integration would have been much better.
  
  Firstly, as my form was simple (which to them was not a problem), I could have made it a spinning cube. Eradicate the running wheel and make the entire building the running wheel.
  
  For the trampoline, it could have been on the ceiling and floor, changing its orientation and features as the cube rotated. The climbing walls could be on the adjacent sides of the trampoline and integrated with the facade design.
  
  As for the openings/facade, it could be more dynamic in terms of deconstructionism. Maybe make more cubic forms inside and outside the building. Make it more similar to my Project 2.
• What I would do next time: Time management is something many designers struggle with, and my mom even chided me for wanting to sleep with final submission coming up (my body gave in eventually, though.) I somehow need to figure this whole thing out, but my next strategy would be to start conceptualizing immediately after the brief.
  
  I will keep a sketchbook and do more research, recording it into this. Mood boards, sketches, ideas, I need to materialize and document my thought process more, rather than eventually forgetting about it.
  
  I will also push myself to be more detailed and organized. Or perhaps, create clever minimalist designs because it's easy to add more, what if I tried to explore less is more?

IDP BIA Sem 1 post-presentation. Love these guys!

PROJECT 3: SUPER LAIR (Crit 1/2/3)

In this post I will document my journey to the final project. Here are the posts for my crits.

For all my crits, my scores were all pass. As much as it was just a pass, at least I didn't fail in the end, and somehow ended up with the green light to continue on...

This post is image heavy so I'll just add short captions under the pictures.

CRIT 1: Inspiration + context draft + storyboard + activities

Inspiration: Takashi Kobayashi treehouse. A simple house but exudes the inspiration behind the beehive. My design language was cubic with a clustered form.

Ideation sketch for my context. Scrapped as it was too direct, but I refined some ideas from here.

My storyboard. It was just the rough penciling during the crit, but here is the inked version.

Contextual study: flora & fauna. Context is a quartz ridge with dipterocarp trees and tropical flora/fauna.

Activities I: Calisthenics (pull ups) and bouldering (rock climbing at a shorter height.) I chose these activities as it helps build muscle mass and stamina.

Activities II: Trampolining and running wheel. These activities increase agility, flexibility, stamina and are really fun!

Aerial view of my context

Verdict: PASS

This was my first pin up crit and I didn't really know what to expect. I didn't really produce enough documentation either but the following tutorial, we had another mock pin up and managed to improve. From this point on, I made sure to provide the documentation needed, and never came empty handed in any of the criteria. The challenge was the increasing workload however.

CRIT 2: First mock up + context + drawings

Section (diagonal)

Perspective views of my first draft

Elevation view

Design language analysis

Initial floor plan

Section view of context

Draft I

Draft I perspective view

Verdict: PASS

For this, the problem was exploration of form. I had to figure out a way to make it look more dynamic and reflect the theme. Other suggestions was to add more openings and make the activities more visible in the interior.

CRIT 3: Final mock up + context

Final mock up of my model

View from above into the interior.

Finished context

Another angle of the context model.

Plan view of context and model

How it looks like in real life

Verdict: PASS

For this crit, I made the exterior more cubic with the openings. For the section views, I made the running wheel bigger and the wall a triangle shape to give it a look like abstract art. After this step, there was no more time to explore on form and work on the final layout, orthographic drawings and model. (Though I wished we had more time to do so with more guidance as some times I felt like I was shooting in the dark, but being independent is good)

Visual & Documentation

My Design Communication Cover

Medium used: Colour pencil, ink

Contents page

Layout for model making and facade

For this assignment we had to build a model based on the plan of the house we worked on for the 2D orthographic drawings. We were encouraged to add designs to make it interesting.

For the facade model, we chose to make a facade design for Versace. We also focused on expressing our artistic inspiration through details and textures of papers.

We also tested our design skills by creating the presentation boards in photoshop.

PHASE 02: Media technique & technical application [3D Drawings and Model Making]

DC/BIA/05a/b: One Point Perspective

We learnt how to construct the one point perspective grid, and learn the terminologies such as vanishing point, measuring point, ground line, eye level. Here is the grid with the interior objects.

DC/BIA/05c/d: Two Point Perspective

We also learnt how to construct the grid lines for two point perspective. It is slightly different in form of vanishing points and how to calculate the measuring point. Here is the drawing with interiors.

DC/BIA/06: Axonometric Projection (60-30)

We learnt the various types of axonometric drawings (oblique and isometric) and the technique on how to draw it using the set square. To refine our orthographic drawing skills we also had to draw the floor plan.

DC/BIA/08a: Two Point perspective (Drawing Test)

Constructed two point perspective of my IDP model interior, according to scale.

DC/BIA/08b: Axonometric Projection (Drawing Test)

Axonometric projection of my IDP model interior, according to scale.

PHASE 01: Media technique & technical application [2D Drawings] Post 2

DC/BIA/02: Freehand Horizontal & Vertical Line Drawing

(Attempt 2) I filled up the entire page with a pattern and woman inspired by Klimt paintings and kept the rendering neat and gradated.

DC/BIA/03a: Multiview Orthographic Projections

In this assignment we are introduced to the various orthographic drawings and terminologies. We had to interpret the various views from our own understanding based on an Alphabet model.

DC/BIA/03b: Understanding Plan, Elevation & 3D View (3D blocks)

As part of the orthographic exercise, we had to draw 3D blocks in various views from our imagination with the guidelines (such as measurements and scale) provided by the lecturers.

DC/BIA/04: Layout Plan (Ground & First Floor)

Disclaimer: as the rendering was too light under the camera, it could not be detected hence the different light settings to ensure clarity of the orthographic drawings. Sorry for the inconvenience.

We were taught the technique of projection from blueprints to produce these drawings. It is faster and more accurate than tracing, copying, or measuring. We also learnt to project with the aid of guidelines and the steps to project to make it as efficient and accurate as possible.

DC/BIA/04c: Right Elevation

We further practised projection using the plans to produce an elevation with a reference picture. I realised the provided blueprints had many errors so the challenge was to correct and adjust it according to my basic knowledge and judgment.

DC/BIA/04d: Section X-X & Section Y-Y

The last 2D orthographic exercise was to produce a section drawing with minor interior details. We also learned about standard sizes and heights for interior furnishes, how to break a drawing, and other key shortcuts and icons for orthographic drawings.

PHASE 01: Media technique & technical application [2D Drawings]

DC/BIA/01: Freehand Horizontal & Vertical Drawing

(Attempt 1) For this assignment, we were told to draw anything, as long as it is comprised of horizontal and vertical lines. I liked how it turned out from afar but it wasn't what the lecturers wanted as it was too sketchy.

DC/BIA/02: Architectural Lettering

This assignment was to introduce various types of architectural fonts and to train our hands to get used to lettering. I enjoyed it but and in the end I discovered my own font style. Perhaps I will change it and improve it on the years to come.

Sketchbook Cover

Every student needs a sketchbook, and I decided to sketch a self portrait in ink for mine. Inside my sketchbook are messy scrawlings and thought processes mainly for IDP.