Final Photos

These are the final photos of my finished model. I chose to do them in black and white so it wouldn't take away from the contrasting pattern.

Final 200 word description

I chose to work with sight as my main sense for this interactive project. I wanted to create an object that was visually pleasing to the user and had a movement that contributed to the overall visual effect. I chose a bold mono-chromatic pattern that I believe draws the user in and encourages them to continue to play and manipulate the object to continue seeing the pattern move. I wanted something that didn’t take much concentration to use but at the same time had a mesmerizing affect. The object also allows different shapes to be formed when the corresponding sides are matched up and folds up into a cube. I have kept my craft simple and chose to only use paper and tape as I found that these were the most successful materials for this project. I hope that overall I have created an object that hold peoples attention and gives a pleasing visual experience for the user.

...

The main point of my object is to be about sight so I just want to make sure that the object has a smooth movement but focus more on the quality of the pattern and how bold and contrasting it is. With my craft I re-made the object in a thin sort of card however I believe it was to thick and it was much chunkier to handle which I did not like. I wanted something more solid than the paper but not as thick as the card I had chosen.

....

This was my first prototype with a rough pattern on it that I made up. The peieces all connect together so that they fold up into a cube and back out to the large shape. I first made this model out of paper and cellotape which was really flimsy. In the studio we talked about what other materials I could use. I wanted to try wood but I thought because of the shapes it would be too difficult to make sure they fitted together properly and also the cellotape acts as a hinge between the pieces but with wood it would be much more difficult.

This was the first black and white pattern that I tried however I like the effect it has on the object and that the way the lines are drawn keep to the triangle shaped effect.

....

After the circles I moved on to triangles and was wanting to connect them in a way that they would all fold up, I found various sorts of things on japanese origami websites and cut the shapes out of paper and joined them together.

object development

I tried to experiment with different shapes. I used to make these sorts of things when I was younger. The photos above are failed attempts to make a circle shaped folding object. I measures it wrong however but didn't really like the idea enough to continue and make it properly. I felt that with this shape when I held it in my hand it didn't really feel like anything special and i wasn't tempted to play with it.

The pattern could have been quite nice to try on it but i thought I would try something else.

Shapes

At the beginning I was using the cubes as my shape however I found this was to simple and to similar to the rubix cube and other such toys. I started experimenting with different shapes trying to find a good geometric shape that would correspond with what I was trying to achieve with my interaction.

image source : https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYqgJ8ssTgmr-thNK4p75BksBdnoWXKinyaZhRmVJMdBzX3TwRcg6k4utqZMgzTHE-03-k6G4mI5ph_terb6bF2tQegXrVsw1fUIBXr3bUEOxC3RM3kXwMUp6nWzYd88peFwackM8X-I/s1600/Platonic+Solids+Christmas+Lights+Papercraft.jpg

patterns...

I am definitely preferring the plain black and white patterns to the coloured ones as I think this will make it easier to concentrate on the pattern itself rather than the colours.  I like how simple the top image is and how the lines are drawn the image pulls you in, this is a similar effect I am hoping to create with my model.

image source:http://images.kaneva.com/filestore4/3453496/4037198/focus_pattern300dpi.gif

patterns..

1.

2.

These are the types of patterns that I myself are attracted to however I feel that with the object I am wanting to create these will be to ornate and confusing and so it would be better to perhaps go with something more linear and clear cut. I do like the use of the colours in these 2 patterns aswell.

image source: 1.http://obeygiant.com/images/2010/02/Obey-ornate-pattern-18x18blk-500x500.jpg

2.http://www.patternsshop.com/wp-content/themes/EmptyCanvas/slider/celebration_floral_vector_pattern.jpg

..

I also found information on something called pattern therapy which is when certain shapes, proportions and positions are used to positively influence well being. I don't know how legitmate this therapy is however I want to use pattern in this way my creating a soothing or almost hynotising object that captures peoples attention. I want to look into colour and also at different patterns to see what sort of shapes I find most appealing.

development

I wanted to do some research into patterns and visual stimulation however I was unable to find very much on the subject. I did however find a lot of research and information on visual stimulation for children. I wanted to create an object for people to enjoy using patterns and I found it interesting how it is recommended that children are also stimulated by images of patterns. Many websites I found recommended pattern flash cards for infants and said they will calm, soothe and increase concentration and natural curiousity. It was also suggested that high contrast colours such as black and white were the most effective. So although I am not designing for infants I am taking this into account.

image source: http://babystrology.com/_img/infant_visual_stimulation.gif