Objects

Our last milestone project for the Object Design this semester was to create a type of chess set. Students where allowed to have total agency over how the design/models would appear.  We can see below is my take on the designs, I wanted to take it into a direction that talks about our Degenerative Economy under capitalism.  According to Marjorie Kelly, "a Generative Economy is one that creates the conditions for life to flourish, an economy with a predisposition to be socially just and environmentally sustainable. I n its current state all facets of modern society is exploitive and cannot be sustained because it requires natural resources with exponential needs based on growth hence the term Degenerative.     Starting from the left is my Pawn (Exploited Labor), Knight (Compulsive Consumerism ex: Fast Fashion), King ( Energy Industry/ Major Polluter), Queen (Land Management/ Real Estate), Rook (Habitual Consumerism ex: Starbucks Coffee), and Bishop (Media/Tech)....

  Castle Surface Design Laser Engraving Reverse Engineered Objects Chess Pieces

              In this project we are tasked with reverse engineering an existing object to study methods in modelling, and to develop a competent level of understanding CAD software such as RHINO 7. I am not gonna lie but the beginning stages of this project was rather hellish. The idea of translating an existing object into digital software, with correct dimensions was not only tedious but it also reveals flaws and imperfections on the object of study.  I found that measuring each individual facet or extrusions in the gadget showed me that even if the object was designed in CAD with mathematical precision, the final physical object is still bound by "Physics" and would never be perfect to scale. My object of choice was a low-cost and mass produced video-game controller. We were tasked with measuring each part with a digital calliper in order to make the models precise. But the problem was visually even though my object seemed to have straigh...

     We were tasked with using our surface design studies to develop patterns for engraving on wood. Students where given free rein on what patterns to implement and were encouraged to take the project in any direction. I've decided to utilize this time to create a wood block pattern that I could stamp on to a paper and create a decorative pattern.  As seen above the initial engraving was done on a basswood panel cut to a 4" x 4" square to be used as the template for the prints. The laser-engraving left a residue on the wood, At first I thought about clearing it with soapy water but decided to leave it so its pores would remain sealed. It saved me time as I no longer needed to apply a layer of enamel on the wood-block to seal it for the printing process.  Finally, using a brayer I was able to apply black acrylic ink on the pattern and use it to stamp out the design on paper.  I used the pattern to create paper folded birds inspired by the stripes of a Black...

  In this week's OBDF 200 class, students have been tasked with selecting 3 objects to reverse-engineer and eventually reconstructing through Rhino 7 a CAD software program.  Although, I'm already fixated on just working on a single object mostly because of its underlying structure and mainly its circuit component. I would be reverse engineering a voxel-styled USB video game controller. I do think it's complex enough to work on and has a worthwhile form to study. I'm mainly interested in recreating the circuit pattern, and I do acknowledge its complex angles, I may spend some considerable time recreating this part. Back-up Object: I think this clip is equally as challenging as the controller, I usually stray from curved angles. 

     "Surface Design encompasses the colouring, patterning, and structuring of fibre and fabric. This involves creative exploration of processes such as dyeing, painting, printing, stitching, embellishing, quilting, weaving, knitting, felting, and paper-making."  - Surface Design Association, Candace Edgerly  It is a technique commonly used by artists to manipulate any form of surface.  In this week project for OBDF 210C, we would be briefly looking into surface design and some artists that utilize this process in their works. Painting A recent example of a surface design I recently had an opportunity to witness was created by Simone Elizabeth Saunders. Her diasporic art series entitled "unity", was featured at Contemporary Calgary from Nov 2021 - Jan 2022.  Unity is a series of uplifting portraits of black women illustrated in a manner similar to tarot cards evoking ideas of magic and empowerment. visually appropriating Alphonse Mucha's greater arcan...

Dur-Sharrukin An attempt at recreating this capital Palace/City State in present-day Khorsabad in northern Iraq. also known as "The Fortress of Sargon" the city was built within a decade and may have altered its surrounding landscape due to the sheer amount of timber and stone needed in attempts in completing the city (note: upper rendering and depiction is not faithful to an actual landscape). Unfortunately, after Sargon's death in the battle of 705 BC, the city was never fully finished as his successor Sennacherib transferred the capital to the city of Nineveh in the south. This was rather difficult to model in Rhino because of its complicated design, so I decided to just focus on its central building and its atriums, I skipped the complicated ziggurat and its side wings just to create a simplified version. the structure is mainly rectangular in shape but consists of multiple layers, some lessons have been learned especially when combining shapes. I had a regular issue ...