With these initial exploration, my approach was to create a shape and try to configure the pieces in numerous ways until I found a structure that I was intrigued with. The shapes were not chosen for any particular reason other than I wanted to see what they would look like configured.
Triangle
With the first module I designed, I configured the pieces in a way that was very symmetrical and linear. Being that this was the first one, I was not quite too experimental with it and only focused on it fitting together. The first one took up a lot of horizontal space so for the second one, I made it taller and take up more vertical space to try a form that contrasted with the first one.
Parallelogram
The first structure I designed with this module was very symmetrical and looked almost like a spaceship. This association is because of its symmetry and because the shape I created was angular and had two pointy ends that created an entrance. The second structure is taller and I wanted to design it in this way because the first one was quite symmetrical so this was more asymmetrical and did not necessarily interlock all in the same way.
Diamond
The last two structures I created are very similar. What I learned from this shape is that creating more slots will provide more variety for assembly. I don’t necessarily like that they both look very similar and I think this is because of the location of my slots that limited how it was assembled.
For these initial explorations, I struggled with following a set rule for how to assemble the module. After the first module that was very linear, I decided that I wanted them to look more angular, dynamic, and to take up more vertical space so I just assembled them to somewhat achieve that.
02.05.21
During critique, Q said that what we are designing is not an object but rather a space. With my previous experiments, I was not thinking about the fact that it was a space so they looked more linear and object like instead of being a space. From my classmates, I saw that many of them experimented with scoring their modules which helped them to get a more dynamic and interesting structure so I want to try that out in the next exercise. I think that experimenting with more scoring will create a more dynamic structure instead of relying on the slots in the chipboard. I think this will also help with following a set rule but not having the module be exclusively linear and object like. I also want to think about the silhouette of the structure and how it would look when people look at it straight on.
02.08.21
Assignment: Develop up to 3 modules 2" x 2" and make 20 individual modules. Choose a verb and configure the modules in a way that would embody that verb.
Inspiration:
When I was thinking of what verb to use, jump and climb instantly came to mind. I wanted to create a structure that had movement, so a verb like jump or climb would make the most sense.
Climbing
With three modules, I created a smaller structure and connected them all together to create the space. I did not create a piece that had clear and distinct levels or a clear way of how to climb because I think that if the form was more organic, it would encourage discovery and play. In retrospect, I think a more clearer way of entry onto the structure would have indicated that it was made for climbing and been more communicative.
Structure vs Space
The drawing of people interacting with the form made it look much smaller than what I intended it to be. As a result, the form looks more like a structure instead of a space that people can go through and experience which is not what I want. If I were to do this again, I would draw the people much smaller to indicate that the form should be experienced as a space rather than a structure that exists.
Scale
Through my drawings, I do not think I conveyed the scale of the structure very well. Because I drew the people so small, it makes the structure look much larger than I intended. I also did not create a small person to put next to the structure which made it hard to visualize the scale of the structure.
02.09.21
After the small group critiques in the last class, I got the feedback that it did not look like my structure was made for climbing because it looked very chaotic and random. Another thing that was mentioned was that the way the light creates shapes with the shadows looks interesting.
Perception helps us to understand the world. We do this with color, patterns, images, illustrations, typography, scale, lighting, and material. A question to ask is how does changing the color and lighting change the perception of the space?
Next Steps:
Based on the feedback that my structure was random and was not immediately understood as a structure for climbing, I decided that I wanted to make new modules and follow a set rule so that my structure had more rhythm and pattern. My goal with the new structure was to create a form that was complex enough so that people would want to say and interact with it, and not too predictable because it’s not as engaging and also to not create a form that too complex because it would be intimidating and unapproachable. Up until now, I realized that I mistook complexity for randomness. I thought that it order to create a dynamic and complex structure, the structure needed to be random because that would create visual interest, but I did not consider the experience of the user. An experience is more successful when users are not overwhelmed and I think that the randomness I was approaching with these structures made it so that the mood and feeling is too overwhelming. Randomness also looks messy and not well thought out and that is not my intention.
02.10.21
New Modules and Structure
The new structure I created consists of 2 different modules, they all follow the same shape but 3 of them have different slits than the rest in order to make the structure stand upright. The verb that I was trying to emulate was “climb”. With this structure more so than my past ones, I tried to create levels and follow a pattern to create a more rhythmic and less chaotic structure.
Assignment: Add color and take pictures from the perspective of the viewer.
Color
I chose to use orange because I think it’s associated with joy, sunshine, and enthusiasm unlike black or white which are often perceived as clean which is not exactly what I wanted because it would not be as interactive and approachable. I experimented with leaving half of the module the same color as the chipboard because they are similar in tone and it would provide some contrast but not too much, though I’m not sure if it is uncomfortable because it feels unfinished.
Light
White Light
I experimented with light by shining my light at different angles and distances from the structure. I think that the white light washes out the back pieces of the structure, especially when the light is shining to the front of the structure and creates a silhouette instead of illuminating the structure. I also think it messes with the color makes the orange appear duller and darker than it actually is. Because of this, I tried lighting my structure with a warmer light. The different lighting angles also make the structure seem very mysterious and dramatic which is not a mood that I want to create.
Warm Light
I think that the warmer light illuminates the structure better because the orange looks more accurate and it doesn’t make the back pieces too dark and create a very harsh shadow. It also make the shadows more blue which creates a more vibrant atmosphere.
02.11.21
Critique and Discussion:
- Structure doesn’t look like it was designed to perform an activity.
- Looks more for sitting and lounging than climbing
- Will all black work?
- The orange makes the structure look sophisticated and not exactly like it was made for children.
- Will painting the modules different colors on different sides be interesting?
Next Steps:
- Design the structure so that it intentionally fits more with the verb sit.
- Open the space more.
02.13.21
Redesign
With this redesign of my structure, I wanted to create a more clear and intentional way for users to enter and sit since the last structure was intended for climbing. I kept the modules the same, but just arranged them in a way that would open up the space more and make it clear that it is used for sitting.
Scale
With the ways that I cut the slots in my modules, I think that the scale of my space is not correct because the seats are too far from the ground. Before the next class, I want to cut slots so that the seats sit closer to the ground. Also having seats that are on top of each other doesn’t make complete sense because there is no way to climb.
Mood
I’m currently unsure of the mood of my space so I want to decide how I’m going to design it to convey a sense of sophistication but also playfulness. I think the color has a large part in this, so for right now I am going to keep the modules two toned, leaving the raw chipboard color exposed to see if it conveys that mood and I can adjust it later if it doesn’t.
02.15.21
Assignment:
Step 1: Revise the structure based on feedback from Tuesday and Thursday.
Step 2: Decide on 3 adjectives that convey a single mood (e.g. comfortable, colorful, bright, cozy, scary, etc.) and use color, scale (determined by the size of your scale person/people), and lighting to set this mood.
Step 3: Show photos of your structure to 3 people outside your cohort (friends, family) and ask them how they think the space would feel. Be prepared to tell us your intended visitor experience and whether or not it matched what other people thought.
For this version of my structure, I wanted it to be at a scale where users were able to get themselves onto the seats and climb up towards the top and sit or just sit anywhere. One thing that I worked on from my initial redesign on Saturday was creating a clear entry way for the space. The structure basically consists of three structures combined so I arranged them in a way that would intrigue the user and make it more open so that they would not feel intimidated by the large space and feel like they are supposed to enter it. Something that I added was paint. The marker was only used because it was faster for experimentation, and I did not have any paint, but I decided to stick with the orange because there is a sense of sophistication when orange is used in this structure but not so “grown up” or intimidating. It also is a bright and fun color but in combination with the original color of the chipboard, it doesn’t scream play and climb, it’s just nice to look at.
Sharing:
Friend 1:
- Structure looks like it could be played on.
- Wants to climb it
- The contrast of the sharpness and roundedness makes it feel fun and engaging, but there is structure to it, so not getting the feeling of a jungle gym.
Friend 2:
- Sharp, geometric, and symmetrical nature of the structure makes it feel neat and structured almost like it belongs in an office.
- Round edges makes it appear comfortable.
Friend 3:
- The three components that make up the structure is calming because they are symmetrical so even though there are a lot of parts, its not too chaotic.
I think that for the most part, everyone of them got the general sense of the vibes I was trying to achieve. The three adjectives that I had in mind were comfortable, fun, and inviting.
02.16.21
Critique:
- Nice to show more color to indicate function of the structure. (color the platform where it is designed to be seated)
- Leaving the natural color of the chipboard on the module does not create enough contrast
- Choose an accent color based on the mood. Make it vivid and not too light because it will make the structure more rhythmic and complex because currently the modules are very simple.
Next Steps:
- Decide on what color(s) to add to the structure to make it more dynamic.
02.17.21
Color:
I decided to go with a blue, gray, and orange color palette. Blue and orange contrast each other and I thought that by having the seats be painted blue, the user would know what exactly the structure is for and it would stand out a bit. The side of the modules that face inside when the user enters the space is painted orange. The side of the module that faces the outside is painted gray. The gray being outside and orange being inside will surprise the viewer and create a more pleasant experience.
Modules and Color Combinations:
Structure:
After painting my modules, tried to see if there were more ways that I could configure them. I tried closing off the entire space by connecting 4 of the separate structures together, but I felt like the space was too closed off and it would be intimidating for users to initially interact with it. I tried this in the first place because I thought that by leaving an opening in the space and having the “exit” like arch straight ahead, the user would only pass through and not want to interact with it, but I believe that the colors and overall structure is intriguing enough so that users would want to interact, climb, and sit in the space.
Scale:
Another thing that I tweaked slightly was the scale of the space. In my last version, I made the figures bigger, therefore the space was smaller and felt cramped. When I talked to Dani, she said that the color palette went well together, but that the supporting modules in the front of the structure made the space feel really small. When I took these modules out, the space felt much more open, but it no longer communicated my intention of sitting, but rather it looked like the space was designed for climbing. After I felt stuck configuring the modules in a way that both communicated the intent of sitting and feeling open, I talked to Jiyeon and she suggested that I adjusted the size of my figure. By doing this, I could still use the front modules so that my space would look like it was designed for climbing, but it would not feel as claustrophobic or small since the people themselves were slightly smaller.
User Experience:
I think my structure works best in large public settings like a mall or a modern office space where large numbers of people can climb up and sit either to work or people watch. I want to encourage play in the sense of climbing up to find a set, but not continuous active movement like for a playground setting. I think that through the use of color, I achieved this because the colors give off a commercial vibe unlike a playful and active vibe. The orange is a color that grounds the space and adds a sense of sophisticated vibe and the blue works to indicate to users where they can sit. When experiencing this space from the outside, people will mostly just see the gray upright structures and the blue seats and I wanted them to be curious and want to discover what the space is for. Once they step into the space through the large opening, they are greeted with the bright orange.
What I learned:
- Lighting matters a lot. The way in which the space is lit can greatly affect its overall mood. I learned this after experimenting with the direction and temperature of the light I was using to photograph the space. The cool light created a sense of moodiness and mystery and the warm light could create dramatic and sharp shadows. In the end, I lit my space with a warm light and tried to not cast too many harsh shadows because I imagine this space in a public setting where the light is above and does not fluctuate as much and also it creates a much cleaner and crisper vibe.
- Complexity is different than randomness. In the beginning I wanted my structures to be dynamic and I tried to convey that through randomness which did not even convey complexity, it just made it look as though I was thoughtless and messy which obviously is not my intent, so in future iterations, I made sure to create and assemble modules that followed a nice pattern and had a sense of calmness through symmetry.
- Color can convey complexity. In my last version, I experimented a lot more with color which taught me that it can also be a way to add a sense of dynamism and also greatly influence how users view and interact with the space. Different factors of colors include what color it is, how often that color is used, whether or not the color has a purpose, and where that color is used.
