Sunday, April 18, 2010
Final Project: Onoga Kaku Hada ( My Second Skin)
“Onoga Kaku Hada” is a pair of shoes that allows power generation by the action of walking. This electricity is shown through the different folds of the origami surface. As a second skin, these shoes allow the user to be protected from the outside world and emit defensive warning signals to the surrounding people.
“Onoga Kaku Hada” conceptually references the main reason for clothing; protection, as well as our insecurities and lack of confidence towards the other persons surrounding us.
By using simple crank generators, we convert the kinetic energy produced while walking into electric energy used to light up three LEDs integrated in each shoe. The whole mechanism is hidden inside the sole of the shoe to give a feeling of independent organism supplementing the human body.
“Onoga Kaku Hada” conceptually references the main reason for clothing; protection, as well as our insecurities and lack of confidence towards the other persons surrounding us.
By using simple crank generators, we convert the kinetic energy produced while walking into electric energy used to light up three LEDs integrated in each shoe. The whole mechanism is hidden inside the sole of the shoe to give a feeling of independent organism supplementing the human body.
Report 2: Decorative Arts and Design Collection
As a second report, I have decided to visit the collection of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts called Decorative Arts and Design. I go quite often to this museum, but I did not even know that such a collection was available to see. It has been instituted in the museum in 1916 with the help of F. Cleveland Morgan who donated hundreds of objects from around the world. Also, the collection contains a large collection of 18th century English porcelain donated by Lucille Pillow, Henry Norton’s collection of antique glass and the largest collection of Japanese incense boxes (3000) of Georges Clémenceau. There are also a large number of European textiles, furniture, ceramics and glassware from the 18th and the 19th centuries. It was also mentioned that in 2000, the museum received one of the most important international design collection from the 20th century in North America. This collection places the MMFA as one of the most important museum of decorative arts in North America.
The collection was first shown in 2001 with the opening of the pavilion, and since then, seven hundred art objects are displayed. The pavilion was named after Liliane and David M. Stewart, important donators who recently, in 2007, added over 900 American design objects to the collection.
I thought it was very interesting to have in Montreal something similar to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. For sure the collection is not as important, but still it is one of the most important in North America.
The whole collection is a mix of different kind of objects divided through time. They are all from different places, but you can easily associate the objects to the historical period they belong to. Also, I thought it was important for Montreal to have such a collection, since we have important design programs. There are many places where you can look at graphic design exhibitions, but not as many for object or furniture design in general.
There are many icons in this exhibitions, but also less successful (according to me) or maybe attracting designs. However, they still belong to the general history of design and are still quite interesting to look at.
The collection was first shown in 2001 with the opening of the pavilion, and since then, seven hundred art objects are displayed. The pavilion was named after Liliane and David M. Stewart, important donators who recently, in 2007, added over 900 American design objects to the collection.
I thought it was very interesting to have in Montreal something similar to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. For sure the collection is not as important, but still it is one of the most important in North America.
The whole collection is a mix of different kind of objects divided through time. They are all from different places, but you can easily associate the objects to the historical period they belong to. Also, I thought it was important for Montreal to have such a collection, since we have important design programs. There are many places where you can look at graphic design exhibitions, but not as many for object or furniture design in general.
There are many icons in this exhibitions, but also less successful (according to me) or maybe attracting designs. However, they still belong to the general history of design and are still quite interesting to look at.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Report 1: Tiffany Glass
This semester, I went to the exhibition at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts called Tiffany Glass. It was about Louis C. Tiffany, the son of Charles L. Tiffany, the fonder of Tiffany & Co. This company was more about jewelry and silverware and Tiffany (son) never worked with his father. He studied painting and was really good in interior design.
The exhibition was quite impressive. It was divided in categories of objects, like small bowls and vases, then the lamps and the stained glass windows. Actually, Tiffany was obsessed with glass since the beginning of his career and he had his own collection of glass artifacts from different places and time. He started his production with small objects, as I mentioned, like bowls, plates, coffee service, and vases, using very simple motifs as illustration. Then, you begin to see the lamps, which are really famous and I think are the best known art pieces from this artist. I really enjoyed these art pieces because, for most of them, the foot of the lamp was also fitting with the glass part that was covering the bulb itself. These lamps are built like small stained glass windows or little mosaics.
Then, you begin to see his famous stained glass widows. I thought it was very interesting to understand the whole process of production of such art pieces. In short, they started with a small-scale representation of their concept in watercolor. Then, once it was accepted by the client, the executed a full-scale representation of the window, called cartoon, that also indicated the leading between the glass parts. From this cartoon, another exact one was created and cut to use the different parts as templates for the glass pieces. Then, these separate pieces were fixed with wax on a large glass plate, called easel, and the leading lines were painted in black. After that, the glass pieces were chosen and cut according to the previous pattern, and then were placed on the same easel. Finally, the artists would paint the faces and skin/hands and would fix all the pieces together with the leading. I thought that the idea of pattern was really interesting, and much more important than I thought it could be. Finally, the exhibition was explaining different textures of glass and how to produce them.
While I was going through the exhibition, I was questioning the notions of glass that I used to know and how now I consider this medium as art, and not craft. It requires a lot of skills to produce such pieces and some artistic notions as well as some design notions. These artists need to be precise and expert of their art. The people looking at the different pieces also amused me. I realized glass working was even more popular than paintings or sculptures. I felt like people understood more this medium and also valued it more than the usual artworks presented in this museum.
The exhibition was quite impressive. It was divided in categories of objects, like small bowls and vases, then the lamps and the stained glass windows. Actually, Tiffany was obsessed with glass since the beginning of his career and he had his own collection of glass artifacts from different places and time. He started his production with small objects, as I mentioned, like bowls, plates, coffee service, and vases, using very simple motifs as illustration. Then, you begin to see the lamps, which are really famous and I think are the best known art pieces from this artist. I really enjoyed these art pieces because, for most of them, the foot of the lamp was also fitting with the glass part that was covering the bulb itself. These lamps are built like small stained glass windows or little mosaics.
Then, you begin to see his famous stained glass widows. I thought it was very interesting to understand the whole process of production of such art pieces. In short, they started with a small-scale representation of their concept in watercolor. Then, once it was accepted by the client, the executed a full-scale representation of the window, called cartoon, that also indicated the leading between the glass parts. From this cartoon, another exact one was created and cut to use the different parts as templates for the glass pieces. Then, these separate pieces were fixed with wax on a large glass plate, called easel, and the leading lines were painted in black. After that, the glass pieces were chosen and cut according to the previous pattern, and then were placed on the same easel. Finally, the artists would paint the faces and skin/hands and would fix all the pieces together with the leading. I thought that the idea of pattern was really interesting, and much more important than I thought it could be. Finally, the exhibition was explaining different textures of glass and how to produce them.
While I was going through the exhibition, I was questioning the notions of glass that I used to know and how now I consider this medium as art, and not craft. It requires a lot of skills to produce such pieces and some artistic notions as well as some design notions. These artists need to be precise and expert of their art. The people looking at the different pieces also amused me. I realized glass working was even more popular than paintings or sculptures. I felt like people understood more this medium and also valued it more than the usual artworks presented in this museum.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Project 2 - Onoga Kaku Hada (Proposal)
Onoga Kaku Hada ( My Second Skin)
Chantal Brière -9361871
c.briere@hotmail.com
My Second Skin?
My second skin protects me. It is strong and also thick. It is a shield that protects me from my environment, and a weapon to fight against the exterior. It is a skin that envelops my natural one. It responds to the pain I lived in my life. In a way to protect me, it is inert and does not sense anything. It protects me, the alive and sensitive inner layer. It is based on natural and organic elements to confuse my enemies. However, it is not a clone of my own person, it is an independent, autonomous organism. My second skin does not modify my physical skin, it adds to it. It is a symptom of my own phobias, and a cure to my lack of confidence.My second skin does not add anything to my person in term of time prevention or physical amelioration. It is more psychologically important and useful. It gives me strength and confidence. Even through age and time, it is still the same and provides the same fundamental function. It is a part of me, but does not try to change what I look like. It is a disguise, an illusion to the outside world, but underneath it, I am still the same. Every year.
The protective function of my second skin is based on the inertness of it on the outside. It is the dead part of me that protects what needs to be and keep it alive. It acts like a shell, and it is not technologic on the outside. However, it testifies my strength and life. It doesn’t rely on technology to be. It uses my own body to enhance technology.
Also, my second skin is opaque, hiding me from the outside world. It prohibits any interaction. It is not particularly dense; in fact it can be thin or thick, depending on how strong I need it. However, it is sharp and pointy. My second skin is beautiful, but changes quite often. It also allows me to feel like a chameleon and to feel comfortable in any situation. It does not have any color; it is virgin and pure.
My second skin is a shell, is paper, strong, weak, white, dark, thick, light, protective, jealous, possessive, sharp, pointy.It changes all the time, it accommodates to any situation.
Description of the project
As a starting point for this project, I looked again at the notion of second skin. What does it mean to me? How do I perceive my second skin? My second skin is something that protects me. It is also a part of myself. It is a shield to the exterior, and a weapon at the same time. It knows how to show off, impress, because it is beautiful and admirable. Even if it protects me, sometimes it also hurts. It changes my body, or the perceptions others have form it. It is a costume, and when I’m wearing it, I metamorphose, I change, evolve, and it gives me the strength to do anything I need to. My second skin or onoga kaku hada consists of shoes. They are platforms so they change my posture, my height and my status towards the others. They protect my feet, but also hurt them. They are covered by origami, so they really impress, but they also costume me, metamorphose my feet into weapons, and show off objects. By using a simple mechanism inside the sole, they light up LED at the back of my foot. By doing this, they give me strength and confidence; they show off my power and assurance. Also, the origami itself is beautiful but sharp, like a terrible weapon, available only to myself. When I will be wearing these shoes, the persons surrounding me will be able to see my importance and will respect me more (concept). They will be worn as usual shoes, and I would like to be able to still see the skin of the foot. So I’ll be working with open shoes.
The mechanism will be based on the one presented in the tutorial of my research. It consists of a spring that activates gear mechanism inside the sole when you walk. The gear parts come from basic rechargeable flashlights (the type that you turn a crank to recharge it). So basically, while walking you will compress the spring and slacken it. This movement will move a big gear, activating the two smallest generators. These generators will be connected to the LED. The whole mechanism is hidden inside the sole of the platform. I wish I could use basic high heels, but since I never did this mechanism before, I think I should do it in an easier way and fix it on the inside.
Circuit of a crank flashlight
Here is a list of the materials I will need for this project:
- Shoes
- Paper
- Thread
- 2 crank flashlight generators
- 3 to 5 LEDs
- Wire
- Wood
- Spring
- Piece of re-bar- Screws
- Drill
- Band saw
I still need to figure out exactly how to do it. I’ll probably need some help for the circuit and where to fix what, to make sure my circuit is close and the LED will light up. I’m not that good with electricity so that’s what I should work on. I also need to figure out which origami pieces I want to produce to create a dynamic pattern.
References
1-How to Make Electricity When You Run Tutorial
Another tutorial that could have been useful, however it uses the part of the body behind the knee instead of a shoe.
2-LED eyelashes
Artist's website
3- The Swing Skirt4- Human Antenna
5- The Human Synthesizer
6- Touched by Strangers Wearable Art Performance
7- DIY Power Generating Shoe
This is actually the tutorial I will follow to create the mechanism inside the shoes. Instead of using a charging wire for a cellphone, I’ll just place the LEDs.
8- Human Generated Power Device – Firefly
9- Piezoelectric Tiles
Another source
10- Generating Electricity by Walking
11- Power from fabrics
12- Origami dress
In her previous collections, in the Blank Page, Sandra Backlund uses origami to create a dress. Very inspiring. Here are the pictures.
Chantal Brière -9361871
c.briere@hotmail.com
My Second Skin?
My second skin protects me. It is strong and also thick. It is a shield that protects me from my environment, and a weapon to fight against the exterior. It is a skin that envelops my natural one. It responds to the pain I lived in my life. In a way to protect me, it is inert and does not sense anything. It protects me, the alive and sensitive inner layer. It is based on natural and organic elements to confuse my enemies. However, it is not a clone of my own person, it is an independent, autonomous organism. My second skin does not modify my physical skin, it adds to it. It is a symptom of my own phobias, and a cure to my lack of confidence.My second skin does not add anything to my person in term of time prevention or physical amelioration. It is more psychologically important and useful. It gives me strength and confidence. Even through age and time, it is still the same and provides the same fundamental function. It is a part of me, but does not try to change what I look like. It is a disguise, an illusion to the outside world, but underneath it, I am still the same. Every year.
The protective function of my second skin is based on the inertness of it on the outside. It is the dead part of me that protects what needs to be and keep it alive. It acts like a shell, and it is not technologic on the outside. However, it testifies my strength and life. It doesn’t rely on technology to be. It uses my own body to enhance technology.
Also, my second skin is opaque, hiding me from the outside world. It prohibits any interaction. It is not particularly dense; in fact it can be thin or thick, depending on how strong I need it. However, it is sharp and pointy. My second skin is beautiful, but changes quite often. It also allows me to feel like a chameleon and to feel comfortable in any situation. It does not have any color; it is virgin and pure.
My second skin is a shell, is paper, strong, weak, white, dark, thick, light, protective, jealous, possessive, sharp, pointy.It changes all the time, it accommodates to any situation.
Description of the project
As a starting point for this project, I looked again at the notion of second skin. What does it mean to me? How do I perceive my second skin? My second skin is something that protects me. It is also a part of myself. It is a shield to the exterior, and a weapon at the same time. It knows how to show off, impress, because it is beautiful and admirable. Even if it protects me, sometimes it also hurts. It changes my body, or the perceptions others have form it. It is a costume, and when I’m wearing it, I metamorphose, I change, evolve, and it gives me the strength to do anything I need to. My second skin or onoga kaku hada consists of shoes. They are platforms so they change my posture, my height and my status towards the others. They protect my feet, but also hurt them. They are covered by origami, so they really impress, but they also costume me, metamorphose my feet into weapons, and show off objects. By using a simple mechanism inside the sole, they light up LED at the back of my foot. By doing this, they give me strength and confidence; they show off my power and assurance. Also, the origami itself is beautiful but sharp, like a terrible weapon, available only to myself. When I will be wearing these shoes, the persons surrounding me will be able to see my importance and will respect me more (concept). They will be worn as usual shoes, and I would like to be able to still see the skin of the foot. So I’ll be working with open shoes.
The mechanism will be based on the one presented in the tutorial of my research. It consists of a spring that activates gear mechanism inside the sole when you walk. The gear parts come from basic rechargeable flashlights (the type that you turn a crank to recharge it). So basically, while walking you will compress the spring and slacken it. This movement will move a big gear, activating the two smallest generators. These generators will be connected to the LED. The whole mechanism is hidden inside the sole of the platform. I wish I could use basic high heels, but since I never did this mechanism before, I think I should do it in an easier way and fix it on the inside.
Circuit of a crank flashlightHere is a list of the materials I will need for this project:
- Shoes
- Paper
- Thread
- 2 crank flashlight generators
- 3 to 5 LEDs
- Wire
- Wood
- Spring
- Piece of re-bar- Screws
- Drill
- Band saw
I still need to figure out exactly how to do it. I’ll probably need some help for the circuit and where to fix what, to make sure my circuit is close and the LED will light up. I’m not that good with electricity so that’s what I should work on. I also need to figure out which origami pieces I want to produce to create a dynamic pattern.
References
1-How to Make Electricity When You Run Tutorial
Another tutorial that could have been useful, however it uses the part of the body behind the knee instead of a shoe.
2-LED eyelashes
Artist's website
3- The Swing Skirt4- Human Antenna
5- The Human Synthesizer
6- Touched by Strangers Wearable Art Performance
7- DIY Power Generating Shoe
This is actually the tutorial I will follow to create the mechanism inside the shoes. Instead of using a charging wire for a cellphone, I’ll just place the LEDs.
8- Human Generated Power Device – Firefly
9- Piezoelectric Tiles
Another source
10- Generating Electricity by Walking
11- Power from fabrics
12- Origami dress
In her previous collections, in the Blank Page, Sandra Backlund uses origami to create a dress. Very inspiring. Here are the pictures.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Research Presentation (annotated bibliography)
Chantal Brière
9361871
c.briere@hotmail.com
1- How to Make Electricity When You Run Tutorial
Here is a tutorial based on an article of the Daily Planet. It consists of a elastic band around the knee (or just below).
You can make one using an elastic, glue, a piece of plastic, scissors and a squeeze-kind of crank flashlight.
So you glue the plastic piece on the crank of the flashlight, and you fix the flashlight to the elastic in a circular way. You just need to put it on and you'll be generating energy while you run!
The only thing I don't really like about this project is how they use the whole flashlight and not only it's components. These kind of flashlights are the one we used last class, so it's pretty easy to found how to break them apart and use their components instead of the whole thing.
It is also close to what I would like to do, using the action of walking to produce energy. I was mostly considering shoes, but it reminds me that other parts of the body actually move while walking.
Here is a link to the tutorial
2-LED eyelashes
This "product" is designed by artist Soomi Park as a "product that speaks to many Asian women’s desire for bigger eyes." It comments a social behavior by exaggerating it. The lashes are in fact hooked to a tilt sensor with mercury so when you tilt your head or perhaps whole body in specific directions, the lashes light up.
So in this case, it's the movement of the head or of the body that activates the sensor.
I found more information about sensors here.
I think it is pretty funny how this "product" fulfills woman's need of having bigger eyes. It do not necessarily encourages the idea of self-confidence and the appreciation of our differences.
The artist website
The blog post on fashioning technology
3- The Swing Skirt
This garment is a skirt that can be used as a swing. It has an influence on stressed people. The skirt shows the heartbeats of the wearer. The lights shows the changes in the heartbeat of the wearer while he/she is swinging. The skirt can be used anywhere where it can be hung. It is also made by the artist Soomi Park. I don't have much information about this piece and the materials used to produce it.
This also fulfills another human need, the one of being comforted by someone, or in this case, something. The movement of the swing relaxes the wearer and remind him/her good moments in their life, even maybe their mother or something familiar like that.
The artist website
4- Human Antenna
The Human Antenna is a project by the artist/designer Florian Kräutli (Swiss). It consists of a white carpet interwoven with conductive thread. So when someone steps barefoot on this lush surface, it transforms the person into a living antenna. The body of the person will receive radio waves and the caret uses these waves and make them possible to hear. Also, by walking on the carpet, you can tune the "radio" to a certain frequency, exactly like you would do with a regular radio tuner.
It is really interesting to see how the whole body can be the last element needed for a switch. In this case, the body is way more than just another component, it is also the main element of the project, the antenna.
In such a case, the body could also be used as power generating like in my other example with the piezoelectric tiles (number 9-10).
Here is a link to the designer's website
5- The Human Synthesizer
This human synthesizer is a project from the musician Calvin Harris in collaboration with some masters students from the Royal College of Art's Industrial Design Engineering program. It as been made with arduinos, conductive paint and the use of bare skin .
The paint used in this project is called Bare, a non-toxic ink/p aint developed by Royal College of Art students. It can be applied directly to the skin and transforms it into a highly conductive surface.
In the human synthesizer project, Calvin Harris painted 15 dancers/performers to transform them into switches to play musical notes by doing high-fives or tapping with their feet on large disks on the floor. These disks (34) are connected to the computer via Arduinos and uses the graphical audio programming tool Max MSP.
The different combination of switches' use create different sounds to play the song they want to. All these combined to a MIDI controller which is used to create music sequenced and quantized with Ableton Live.
This kind of project uses a lot the choreographic idea of our project by stepping on tiles and clapping hands, etc. It could be also used by moving hands, shaking feet.
Here is a link to the blog post on fashioning technology
6- Touched by Strangers Wearable Art Performance
Touched by Strangers is a performance art piece by two students, ALexander Reeder and Yutaka Kitamura. The piece presents two actors dressed in white with hand prints made of conductive fabric. When the to actors embrace or caress each other or by passerby, a video animate.
The piece as been exhibited at Greylock Arts as a part of the Wearable Expressions Exhibit in 2009.
This project could also use the idea of the movement of the body if the wearer would be dancing, the movement of the feet or the arms.
Here is the video projected
Here is another link about the project itself
Here is a link to the blog post on fashioning technology
7- DIY Power Generating Shoe
This is a simple step-by-step tutorial on how to create po wer generating shoes using flashlight pieces, just like we've learned. However, this is the kind of system you can use only to turn on an LED, not to store energy. The tutorial even suggests you can charge your cellphone with it.
Here is a list of the materials you need:
- Shoes with the thickest sole possible because all the components will go inside it
- Two generators from flashlights
- A spring
- some wood
- a piece of re-bar
- some thick wire
- some small screws
- a cellphone charger (for this tutorial example)
- a drill
- a band saw
- electrical tape
Then the steps are really simple and well explained;
1- Hollow out the shoe (using a utility knife + pliers) and drill a hole on the back or side of the shoe to let the charger out.
2- Get the two generators out of the flashlights (keep them attached to the gears and keep the screws of the flashlight)
3- Assembly the generators to wood pieces and screw this wood piece to another one separating the two first. These are the base of the mechanism.
4- Take the two biggest gears that came with the flashlights to create the axle that will turn both sets of gears and place it between the two first sets.
5- Do a back block to hold the other side of the generator assemblies and to hold the spring (it consists of one piece of wood)
6- Cut a small piece of re-bar and drill a hole into it to place the wires into it. This part will go in the middle of the back block and the spring will go over the re-bar.
7- Put all the pieces together and pass the charger wire through the hole in the sole. Connect the charger wires to the wires of the generators
8- Then you do the lever and install it with the other parts.
You're done!
This project present another alternative to what interests me, generating power while walking. It also uses flashlights, like we saw last class, but in another way. I think it is really helpful to see these kind of generating power objects, but not the mechanism.
Here is a link to the tutorial with more detailed explanations than mine.
8- Human Generated Power Device - Firefly
Firefly is a human generated system on a bicycle. The author/designer is hard to establish, but it has been used in India. The system accumulates the energy from cycling through the day in a country where bicycle are over-used. The electricity is stored and used in the evening as light source and allows people to do their basic activities.
The system contains a dynamo (electrical generator), a safety lamp for the bike and a battery with a simple circuit. It also contains a switch to power it on and off. The battery can be removed from the bike at the end of the day to power, in this case, a hand-made LED lamp (built of an old CD and plastic container)
The whole video is very inspiring about what we can do with very simple circuit, tools and materials.
9- Piezoelectric Tiles
Thi project has been developed by POWERleap and it consists in tiles (flooring system) that lights up with every step on its surface. It uses piezoelectric materials, which generates electricity when it is compressed or bent. The energy generated from it are stored in a battery which is used to power the LED tiles.
The project uses the urban foot traffic to generate its power.
Here is a link to the company/brand which developed it
Here is a link to the blog post on fashioning technology
10- Generating Electricity by Walking
Another artist, Kohei Hayamizu, used the piezoelectric tiles to generate electricity from the vibrations produced by cars and the steps of the pedestrians.
He placed his work in the Shibuya train station, one of the most crowded places in the world.
This project only stores energy and use it somewhere else (or only record it).
Here is more information about the piezoelectricity
Here is the article on OurWorld 2.0
11- Power form fabrics
This article talks about piezoelectric textiles. It is basically the same idea than the tiles, however it seems to be way more sensitive. It can generate power from people's walking, breathings, and even heartbeats.
It is a flexible fiber with zinc oxide nanowires that convert mechanical energy (like from our body) into electricity. The fibers should be able to record any kind of movement or vibration.
It could be very interesting to use, since it is very sensitive. I will look further to see where you can buy some and what is the price.
Here is a link to the article
9361871
c.briere@hotmail.com
1- How to Make Electricity When You Run Tutorial
Here is a tutorial based on an article of the Daily Planet. It consists of a elastic band around the knee (or just below).You can make one using an elastic, glue, a piece of plastic, scissors and a squeeze-kind of crank flashlight.
So you glue the plastic piece on the crank of the flashlight, and you fix the flashlight to the elastic in a circular way. You just need to put it on and you'll be generating energy while you run!
The only thing I don't really like about this project is how they use the whole flashlight and not only it's components. These kind of flashlights are the one we used last class, so it's pretty easy to found how to break them apart and use their components instead of the whole thing.
It is also close to what I would like to do, using the action of walking to produce energy. I was mostly considering shoes, but it reminds me that other parts of the body actually move while walking.
Here is a link to the tutorial
2-LED eyelashes
This "product" is designed by artist Soomi Park as a "product that speaks to many Asian women’s desire for bigger eyes." It comments a social behavior by exaggerating it. The lashes are in fact hooked to a tilt sensor with mercury so when you tilt your head or perhaps whole body in specific directions, the lashes light up.
So in this case, it's the movement of the head or of the body that activates the sensor.
I found more information about sensors here.
I think it is pretty funny how this "product" fulfills woman's need of having bigger eyes. It do not necessarily encourages the idea of self-confidence and the appreciation of our differences.
The artist website
The blog post on fashioning technology
3- The Swing Skirt
This garment is a skirt that can be used as a swing. It has an influence on stressed people. The skirt shows the heartbeats of the wearer. The lights shows the changes in the heartbeat of the wearer while he/she is swinging. The skirt can be used anywhere where it can be hung. It is also made by the artist Soomi Park. I don't have much information about this piece and the materials used to produce it.
This also fulfills another human need, the one of being comforted by someone, or in this case, something. The movement of the swing relaxes the wearer and remind him/her good moments in their life, even maybe their mother or something familiar like that.
The artist website
4- Human Antenna
It is really interesting to see how the whole body can be the last element needed for a switch. In this case, the body is way more than just another component, it is also the main element of the project, the antenna.
In such a case, the body could also be used as power generating like in my other example with the piezoelectric tiles (number 9-10).
Human Antenna from Florian Kräutli on Vimeo.
Here is the post on fashioning technologyHere is a link to the designer's website
5- The Human Synthesizer
This human synthesizer is a project from the musician Calvin Harris in collaboration with some masters students from the Royal College of Art's Industrial Design Engineering program. It as been made with arduinos, conductive paint and the use of bare skin .
The paint used in this project is called Bare, a non-toxic ink/p aint developed by Royal College of Art students. It can be applied directly to the skin and transforms it into a highly conductive surface.
In the human synthesizer project, Calvin Harris painted 15 dancers/performers to transform them into switches to play musical notes by doing high-fives or tapping with their feet on large disks on the floor. These disks (34) are connected to the computer via Arduinos and uses the graphical audio programming tool Max MSP.
The different combination of switches' use create different sounds to play the song they want to. All these combined to a MIDI controller which is used to create music sequenced and quantized with Ableton Live.
This kind of project uses a lot the choreographic idea of our project by stepping on tiles and clapping hands, etc. It could be also used by moving hands, shaking feet.
Here is a link to the blog post on fashioning technology
Here is a link to a blog on fashioning technology about "Bare" paint
6- Touched by Strangers Wearable Art Performance
Touched by Strangers is a performance art piece by two students, ALexander Reeder and Yutaka Kitamura. The piece presents two actors dressed in white with hand prints made of conductive fabric. When the to actors embrace or caress each other or by passerby, a video animate.
The piece as been exhibited at Greylock Arts as a part of the Wearable Expressions Exhibit in 2009.
This project could also use the idea of the movement of the body if the wearer would be dancing, the movement of the feet or the arms.
Here is the video projected
Here is another link about the project itself
Here is a link to the blog post on fashioning technology
7- DIY Power Generating Shoe
This is a simple step-by-step tutorial on how to create po wer generating shoes using flashlight pieces, just like we've learned. However, this is the kind of system you can use only to turn on an LED, not to store energy. The tutorial even suggests you can charge your cellphone with it.
Here is a list of the materials you need:
- Shoes with the thickest sole possible because all the components will go inside it
- Two generators from flashlights
- A spring
- some wood
- a piece of re-bar
- some thick wire
- some small screws
- a cellphone charger (for this tutorial example)
- a drill
- a band saw
- electrical tape
Then the steps are really simple and well explained;
1- Hollow out the shoe (using a utility knife + pliers) and drill a hole on the back or side of the shoe to let the charger out.
2- Get the two generators out of the flashlights (keep them attached to the gears and keep the screws of the flashlight)
3- Assembly the generators to wood pieces and screw this wood piece to another one separating the two first. These are the base of the mechanism.
4- Take the two biggest gears that came with the flashlights to create the axle that will turn both sets of gears and place it between the two first sets.
5- Do a back block to hold the other side of the generator assemblies and to hold the spring (it consists of one piece of wood)
6- Cut a small piece of re-bar and drill a hole into it to place the wires into it. This part will go in the middle of the back block and the spring will go over the re-bar.
7- Put all the pieces together and pass the charger wire through the hole in the sole. Connect the charger wires to the wires of the generators
8- Then you do the lever and install it with the other parts.
You're done!
This project present another alternative to what interests me, generating power while walking. It also uses flashlights, like we saw last class, but in another way. I think it is really helpful to see these kind of generating power objects, but not the mechanism.
Here is a link to the tutorial with more detailed explanations than mine.
8- Human Generated Power Device - Firefly
Firefly is a human generated system on a bicycle. The author/designer is hard to establish, but it has been used in India. The system accumulates the energy from cycling through the day in a country where bicycle are over-used. The electricity is stored and used in the evening as light source and allows people to do their basic activities.
The system contains a dynamo (electrical generator), a safety lamp for the bike and a battery with a simple circuit. It also contains a switch to power it on and off. The battery can be removed from the bike at the end of the day to power, in this case, a hand-made LED lamp (built of an old CD and plastic container)
9- Piezoelectric Tiles
Thi project has been developed by POWERleap and it consists in tiles (flooring system) that lights up with every step on its surface. It uses piezoelectric materials, which generates electricity when it is compressed or bent. The energy generated from it are stored in a battery which is used to power the LED tiles.
The project uses the urban foot traffic to generate its power.
Here is a link to the company/brand which developed it
Here is a link to the blog post on fashioning technology
10- Generating Electricity by Walking
Another artist, Kohei Hayamizu, used the piezoelectric tiles to generate electricity from the vibrations produced by cars and the steps of the pedestrians.
He placed his work in the Shibuya train station, one of the most crowded places in the world.
This project only stores energy and use it somewhere else (or only record it).
Here is more information about the piezoelectricity
Here is the article on OurWorld 2.0
11- Power form fabrics
This article talks about piezoelectric textiles. It is basically the same idea than the tiles, however it seems to be way more sensitive. It can generate power from people's walking, breathings, and even heartbeats.
It is a flexible fiber with zinc oxide nanowires that convert mechanical energy (like from our body) into electricity. The fibers should be able to record any kind of movement or vibration.
It could be very interesting to use, since it is very sensitive. I will look further to see where you can buy some and what is the price.
Here is a link to the article
Friday, February 12, 2010
Project 1 Proposal
Wear is comfort?
For my main project, I decided to explore the thematic of comfort.
As a starting point, I looked at my strongest memories. I tried to analyze them, and brainstorm what I could remember of these moments. I realized it wasn't the action itself that was important to me, but the comfort I felt at these particular moments. I found interesting to see how I group totally different memories together.
Then, I questioned myself; What is comfort? What gesture do we use to comfort? What parts of our bodies do we like, and feel comfortable to be touch?
To comfort someone, we often caress or softly touch the shoulders, the back, the neck and the head of the other person. We want to be soft, protect this person and wrap it with our body. By doing this, the person feels closeness, feels our body tight to his/her, feels a warm presence and often a soft contact on his/her skin.
This is what I would like to convey as a feeling. I wanted to create a garment that would convey this notion of comfort. I would like that the person that wears it feels its softness, and a certain presence on the shoulders, the chest and the neck. I want the person that wears it to feel wrap with softness. The main senses that will be activated are the touch (for the feeling of the wrap, the warmness, etc.), the sight (since spectators will be able to see how the other person is wrapped in soft fabric) and maybe the smell (depending on the textile I choose to use). Also, it will mostly communicate emotions, but could also communicate images, by bringing back memories to the person experiencing the garment.
This project will mostly be a wearable diary because it will convey my notion of comfort, the intensity in which I experienced it through my souvenirs. So it will be a one-to-one sharing experience. Basically, the person that will wear it will feel comfort and as if someone was comforting him/her and perhaps make him/her happier. However, the spectators won't be able to experience this feeling as well as the wearer.
This garment could be use to bring back memories to a person, or even to comfort him/her. It could be use to make him/her happier or just better. I’m sure though that some persons won’t like this wrapped/too close feeling.
I got my main visual inspirations from Sandra Backlund, a fashion designer using knitting in all of her garments.They are very structured and imposing.
For my main project, I decided to explore the thematic of comfort.
As a starting point, I looked at my strongest memories. I tried to analyze them, and brainstorm what I could remember of these moments. I realized it wasn't the action itself that was important to me, but the comfort I felt at these particular moments. I found interesting to see how I group totally different memories together.
Then, I questioned myself; What is comfort? What gesture do we use to comfort? What parts of our bodies do we like, and feel comfortable to be touch?
To comfort someone, we often caress or softly touch the shoulders, the back, the neck and the head of the other person. We want to be soft, protect this person and wrap it with our body. By doing this, the person feels closeness, feels our body tight to his/her, feels a warm presence and often a soft contact on his/her skin.
This is what I would like to convey as a feeling. I wanted to create a garment that would convey this notion of comfort. I would like that the person that wears it feels its softness, and a certain presence on the shoulders, the chest and the neck. I want the person that wears it to feel wrap with softness. The main senses that will be activated are the touch (for the feeling of the wrap, the warmness, etc.), the sight (since spectators will be able to see how the other person is wrapped in soft fabric) and maybe the smell (depending on the textile I choose to use). Also, it will mostly communicate emotions, but could also communicate images, by bringing back memories to the person experiencing the garment.
This project will mostly be a wearable diary because it will convey my notion of comfort, the intensity in which I experienced it through my souvenirs. So it will be a one-to-one sharing experience. Basically, the person that will wear it will feel comfort and as if someone was comforting him/her and perhaps make him/her happier. However, the spectators won't be able to experience this feeling as well as the wearer.
This garment could be use to bring back memories to a person, or even to comfort him/her. It could be use to make him/her happier or just better. I’m sure though that some persons won’t like this wrapped/too close feeling.
I got my main visual inspirations from Sandra Backlund, a fashion designer using knitting in all of her garments.They are very structured and imposing.
All pictures from the designer's website.
This project is very important to me because I will be able to wear it and feel as comfortable as I used to in my memories. It will point out a feeling I used to fell when I was a child and will also point out the relations I had with many persons in my life. It also situates me through time because I will remember, just be seeing it, the events of my past, when I feel comfort today and how this feeling is important to me. Also, it will fulfill a strong need we all have, being comfort and appreciated.
I'll use recycled wool garments to produce this piece. I'm not skilled enough to knit it myself. However, I'll still have to work on my sewing skills. I'll use several pieces of knit, hopefully of the same color. I'll create shapes by sewing these pieces in specific places. I still give some place to randomness in the construction of the shapes.
References:
Sandra Backlund My main source of inspiration. Her first collection is produced for the spring/summer 2010 collection.
Lalla Wandavi Is also working with wool, but in a very different approach. She is more into small knitting and more conventional.
I was looking at architectural fashion and found this cool designer, that might be sometimes a little bit spooky; Gareth Pugh.
This website is a webzine called Egodesign, and it is dedicated to global design. There was an interesting article on a past exhibition showing the connections between fashion and architecture. It was hosted by the MOCA in LA.
It was called Skin+Bones: Parallel Practices in Fashion and Architecture. You can find more pictures out there.
Finally, a great website where I always find inspiration or references is deviantart. It is a website where artists in all domains can show their works and even sell them. It is a good image database to brainstorm and explore different paths.
Interaction scenario
This project is very important to me because I will be able to wear it and feel as comfortable as I used to in my memories. It will point out a feeling I used to fell when I was a child and will also point out the relations I had with many persons in my life. It also situates me through time because I will remember, just be seeing it, the events of my past, when I feel comfort today and how this feeling is important to me. Also, it will fulfill a strong need we all have, being comfort and appreciated.
I'll use recycled wool garments to produce this piece. I'm not skilled enough to knit it myself. However, I'll still have to work on my sewing skills. I'll use several pieces of knit, hopefully of the same color. I'll create shapes by sewing these pieces in specific places. I still give some place to randomness in the construction of the shapes.
References:
Sandra Backlund My main source of inspiration. Her first collection is produced for the spring/summer 2010 collection.
Lalla Wandavi Is also working with wool, but in a very different approach. She is more into small knitting and more conventional.
I was looking at architectural fashion and found this cool designer, that might be sometimes a little bit spooky; Gareth Pugh.
This website is a webzine called Egodesign, and it is dedicated to global design. There was an interesting article on a past exhibition showing the connections between fashion and architecture. It was hosted by the MOCA in LA.
It was called Skin+Bones: Parallel Practices in Fashion and Architecture. You can find more pictures out there.
Finally, a great website where I always find inspiration or references is deviantart. It is a website where artists in all domains can show their works and even sell them. It is a good image database to brainstorm and explore different paths.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Memory Map 1
Ok so here are the pictures of my first trial for the memory map.
It is also a short preview (really poor i know) of what my main project will be.
I'm sorry for the quality of the sewing, I had a lot of trouble with my machine AND the type of fabric I used.
My idea for the main project is to create a garment with inside pockets. In every pocket, there would be a symbol sewed. Also, in some of them, there would be weight to remember the person wearing the garment specific moments in his/her life and their importance/weight in his/her life.
It is also a short preview (really poor i know) of what my main project will be.
I'm sorry for the quality of the sewing, I had a lot of trouble with my machine AND the type of fabric I used.
My idea for the main project is to create a garment with inside pockets. In every pocket, there would be a symbol sewed. Also, in some of them, there would be weight to remember the person wearing the garment specific moments in his/her life and their importance/weight in his/her life.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Switches
Ok my teammate is Courtney Clarke, and she has the videos.
However, they do not seems to work even on her blog.
Here's a link to her blog: Courtney Clarke
The 3 videos are there with explanations.
I tried to download them and post them on my own blog, but I failed actually.
So I hope she fixes the problem.
However, they do not seems to work even on her blog.
Here's a link to her blog: Courtney Clarke
The 3 videos are there with explanations.
I tried to download them and post them on my own blog, but I failed actually.
So I hope she fixes the problem.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Complex Artifact
One complex artifact that I would like to see or even have, would be a door (front door or any type of door) that would remember every person that would pass through it and could tell you or even show you who it was, the relationship you have/had with this person and bring back the souvenirs linked with this person. It could also affect your emotions by remembering you some special events or persons. It could greet you, comfort you or protect you from any person or feeling. It would also be a great companion.
It could be great to remember feelings link with specific persons, or moments. This door could also be useful if any robbery occur while you are away and so on. The door would be kind of a confident or guardian of your home and memories.
However, it could become a certain problem about privacy. Imagine if the door starts speaking while you're with somebody or if it starts speaking to someone else than you. Anyone could know your life, your memories or relationships with others.
It could be great to remember feelings link with specific persons, or moments. This door could also be useful if any robbery occur while you are away and so on. The door would be kind of a confident or guardian of your home and memories.
However, it could become a certain problem about privacy. Imagine if the door starts speaking while you're with somebody or if it starts speaking to someone else than you. Anyone could know your life, your memories or relationships with others.
Intimacy
This dress is a project from the Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde in collaboration with the fashion designer Maartje Dijkstra. The concept is all about "technology becoming intimate extensions of our skins." It's a high-tech garment that becomes transparent depending on the distance between the garments. It plays with the idea of intimacy, sensuality and disclosure. The garments are made of wireless, interactive technologies and smart foils which can become transparent. These foils are a material that the artist worked to develop further. It can changes from white to transparent. In the neck of the dress, there is also a globe that is illuminated and which contains a wireless device which communicates with another globe using RF transmissions. When both globes are getting closer, or more "intimate", the dress slowly becomes transparent.
I really like this design because it plays with the idea of intimacy and human kind with electronic. It is also a great aesthetic design, very fashionable, very simple.
Here is a link to the Fashioning Technology post
Here is a link to an interview with the artist
The Fibonacci Purse
The Fibonacci Purse, developed by Interactive Telecommunications Program student Elizabeth Fuller is actually a purse crossed with an online game. The bag is embedded with LEDs displays the game. The players can change the colors of the purse by playing online with their wi-fi device.
The online game, which is called Parasite, is a multiplayer game where players need to dominate the game board with their own color to win. In this case, the purse becomes the playing board.
I really like this design, because by joining fashion and games together, it affects a lot more people. It is also pretty fun and enjoyable.
Here you can see the article on Fashioning Technology
Here you can get more information about the game Parasite
Here is the blog of the student and designer Elizabeth Fuller
CO2-dress
This very fashinable dress is a visualizing garment with pollution sensors. It is designed by Hanne-Louise Johannesen in association with diffus.dk, Alexandra Institute, The Danish Design School and embroidery company Forster Rohner. Hanne-Louise wanted to create a garment that changes through time and patterns according to the level of CO2 in the environment where the garment is located. The evolving patterns are made of LEDs powered by soft circuits (made of conductive textiles and yarns).I really enjoy this project, because it is fashionable AND interactive AND electronic AND fun AND also represents a articular aspect of ecology. I love how the lights patterns are composed with the initial design of the dress. I also enjoy how it reacts to the amount of CO2 in a room or environment.
Here you can see more pictures: Pictures
Here you can read the designer's blog about the dress: Blog
Hermit: An Interactive Kinetic Shelter
This is quite similar to what Anne-Marie showed last class. This is an experimental project from Kerry Jia Yi Lin which consists in a private space for one person only in a public area. It was designed to be use on a table, and it isolates its user temporarily so its user can nap. The design is based on the nautilus shell's shape and it is made from felt. The user wear an armband, a wrist band and another one on the elbow. These armbands are embedded with RFID sensors, which indicates to the shell when to open (touch the wrist band) and close (touch the elbow band). The private space has also an ambient warning system to indicate to the people surrounding not to disturb.
I really enjoy this prototype because it would be great to be able to use this frequently. However, it would need to be adjustable to different sizes because it seems a little bit tight, and it would also be important to consider the way we could carry it along (folding, bag or something).
You can find her whole process here: The Hermit
or look at her other designs and projects on : Her Portfolio Site
Also, here's a video of herself using it: Video
Lits In Between the Folds
This is a classic coat with folds and tucks on the back, created by the fabric itself. They create some darker areas, more shadowed, and allows the designer, Wendy Legro, to insert LEDs. It is really well done and seems almost a paint illusion or something. The designer, Wendy Legro, is a graduate student from the Design Academy of Eindhoven. I chose it because it's a design that seems quite simple to do, but that also has a terrific look and it is also tightly connected to fashion in a very natural way.
You can look at the designer blog here: Wendy Legro
Lits In Between the Folds on Fashioning Technology
Monday, January 18, 2010
The 3 Objects of my Life
I chose 3 objects that I cherish in my life and I'll explain what they are and how the reading of Why We Need Things affected my perception of these objects.
1- My "diamond" earrings: These earrings are really important to me because they come from my boyfriend, but also because I love everything that glitters, shines, that have gems on it and so on. So I love diamonds. Now that I've read the reading, i realize that I love these earrings for two reasons: they point out my relation with my boyfriend that i love, so everytime I see them or wear them, it reminds me of him. Also, the fact that it shines and have a diamond look make people react. They give positive comments and approbations. This way, I feel I have more power on myself, but also on them. I feel superior I guess, and I can also have a sense of femininity.
2- My book called Trois carrés rouges sur fond noir from Tonino Benaquista: This book is really important to me first of all because it reminds me of my sister. She is the one that lend it to me at first, knowing I would love it. Also, this book reminds me art and when I was in Fine Arts in college. Finally, I find the story very captivating and I love this author. Now that I've read the reading, I realize that it is an object that points out the relationship I have with my sister, it is also situating me through time, remembering me souvenirs of my DEC, but also how I've change from then and how the skills I've mastered in college will be useful to me in the future.
3- A picture of a trip I did with my mother: This picture is showing me during a trip with my mother. It was in Gaspésie, and we spent 3 days on horses in trails. It was my present for my 18th anniversary. The picture is situating me in a grain field, on a sunny day. It is really important to me because it is also for my mother. The reading made me realize that I love this picture because it is a strong link to my mother. Also, it situates me through time because it points out a good souvenir of my life, at a particular time, but also the relationship I have with my mother today.
1- My "diamond" earrings: These earrings are really important to me because they come from my boyfriend, but also because I love everything that glitters, shines, that have gems on it and so on. So I love diamonds. Now that I've read the reading, i realize that I love these earrings for two reasons: they point out my relation with my boyfriend that i love, so everytime I see them or wear them, it reminds me of him. Also, the fact that it shines and have a diamond look make people react. They give positive comments and approbations. This way, I feel I have more power on myself, but also on them. I feel superior I guess, and I can also have a sense of femininity.
2- My book called Trois carrés rouges sur fond noir from Tonino Benaquista: This book is really important to me first of all because it reminds me of my sister. She is the one that lend it to me at first, knowing I would love it. Also, this book reminds me art and when I was in Fine Arts in college. Finally, I find the story very captivating and I love this author. Now that I've read the reading, I realize that it is an object that points out the relationship I have with my sister, it is also situating me through time, remembering me souvenirs of my DEC, but also how I've change from then and how the skills I've mastered in college will be useful to me in the future.
3- A picture of a trip I did with my mother: This picture is showing me during a trip with my mother. It was in Gaspésie, and we spent 3 days on horses in trails. It was my present for my 18th anniversary. The picture is situating me in a grain field, on a sunny day. It is really important to me because it is also for my mother. The reading made me realize that I love this picture because it is a strong link to my mother. Also, it situates me through time because it points out a good souvenir of my life, at a particular time, but also the relationship I have with my mother today.
Why We Need Things
Summary of Why We Need Things by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
First of all, I found this reading really easy to understand, it was very clear and the author explained elaborate things in such a way that even French speakers can get through the whole text easily.
At first, the author explains how we depend on things for survival and comfort. That's why we keep on consuming a lot of artifacts even if, in a long-term vision, it destroys our planet. Also, some of the objects we create are dangerous for us, such as cars and military weapons, or plastic containers and aerosol.
The author also explains that the evolution of these artifacts is based on the one that existed before. I mean that we won’t create a brand new type of car tomorrow based on nothing that we didn’t already know. We will use the cars we have today as a base and then bring new points to it. It’s the same thing for weapons, like the author explains, or musical instruments. We like to think that we create greater things every time, because we make them ourselves and we like the idea of having them under our control.
So now we get into the psychological aspect of the text. The author explains that we need objects to “stabilize and order the mind.” To understand how humans are dependent on objects, we first need to recognize that we are not naturally in control of our minds. The mind is not stable and it needs organization to keep track. Really often it consists of external order like television or anything that keep the mind busy. When the mind has nothing to do, people become anxious or depressed.Now the author points out that the artifacts help “objectify the self” in 3 major ways:
1-The objects of power
2-The objects and the continuity of the self
3-The objects and relationships
1-The objects of power are there to show the power of their owner in different ways. For men, it often means virile qualities such as endurance and strength.It shows their ability to control physical things. It can be cars, boats, tools, sport equipment or even furniture. For women it is more by symbolizing their feminine attributes such as seductiveness or fertility, such as jewelry dresses or fine furniture. The power comes from the reactions from the others.
2-The objects expressing continuity of the self are objects that represents continuity of life, but also the changes through it. It can be something that brings back old memories and a sense of depth to the owner. It can be auditory or visual stimulating objects to situate yourself in the present, some objects representing souvenirs situate you in the past, and some others are hopes for the future such as projects people would like to do. Those will situate you in the future. Also, men are more into active artifacts. And women into nurturance and conservation.
3-The objects that emphasize your relationships are giving permanence to these. These objects are important because of the person they represent for their owner. They also place the owner into a social network.
How it might be relevant to my design practice?
I think it is really useful to know these things because they also explains how to create something that will objectify the self of their owner. This way, the artifact will be cherished by people because it is more than just an object, it shows their power, or situate them through time or also remember them a certain relationship with someone they love. It shows to me how important it is to sell a story with your object, to give it a meaning that people will adopt and that will be the success of the artifact itself.
First of all, I found this reading really easy to understand, it was very clear and the author explained elaborate things in such a way that even French speakers can get through the whole text easily.
At first, the author explains how we depend on things for survival and comfort. That's why we keep on consuming a lot of artifacts even if, in a long-term vision, it destroys our planet. Also, some of the objects we create are dangerous for us, such as cars and military weapons, or plastic containers and aerosol.
The author also explains that the evolution of these artifacts is based on the one that existed before. I mean that we won’t create a brand new type of car tomorrow based on nothing that we didn’t already know. We will use the cars we have today as a base and then bring new points to it. It’s the same thing for weapons, like the author explains, or musical instruments. We like to think that we create greater things every time, because we make them ourselves and we like the idea of having them under our control.
So now we get into the psychological aspect of the text. The author explains that we need objects to “stabilize and order the mind.” To understand how humans are dependent on objects, we first need to recognize that we are not naturally in control of our minds. The mind is not stable and it needs organization to keep track. Really often it consists of external order like television or anything that keep the mind busy. When the mind has nothing to do, people become anxious or depressed.Now the author points out that the artifacts help “objectify the self” in 3 major ways:
1-The objects of power
2-The objects and the continuity of the self
3-The objects and relationships
1-The objects of power are there to show the power of their owner in different ways. For men, it often means virile qualities such as endurance and strength.It shows their ability to control physical things. It can be cars, boats, tools, sport equipment or even furniture. For women it is more by symbolizing their feminine attributes such as seductiveness or fertility, such as jewelry dresses or fine furniture. The power comes from the reactions from the others.
2-The objects expressing continuity of the self are objects that represents continuity of life, but also the changes through it. It can be something that brings back old memories and a sense of depth to the owner. It can be auditory or visual stimulating objects to situate yourself in the present, some objects representing souvenirs situate you in the past, and some others are hopes for the future such as projects people would like to do. Those will situate you in the future. Also, men are more into active artifacts. And women into nurturance and conservation.
3-The objects that emphasize your relationships are giving permanence to these. These objects are important because of the person they represent for their owner. They also place the owner into a social network.
How it might be relevant to my design practice?
I think it is really useful to know these things because they also explains how to create something that will objectify the self of their owner. This way, the artifact will be cherished by people because it is more than just an object, it shows their power, or situate them through time or also remember them a certain relationship with someone they love. It shows to me how important it is to sell a story with your object, to give it a meaning that people will adopt and that will be the success of the artifact itself.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Final - Conclusion
So after few weeks and many hours, this is it.
I'm finally done with it.
The drawings are really basics, the animations too.
I just made sure that every button and links were working.
I wish I had more time however.
And for the sound, I just looped an instrumental Christmas song.
At first I wanted to have many sounds, like ambient sounds and music, but I just didn't know how to use more than one track at the time.
Anyways.
I think it is pretty good, if we consider the fact that I didn't even know how to use Flash.
I'm finally done with it.
The drawings are really basics, the animations too.
I just made sure that every button and links were working.
I wish I had more time however.
And for the sound, I just looped an instrumental Christmas song.
At first I wanted to have many sounds, like ambient sounds and music, but I just didn't know how to use more than one track at the time.
Anyways.
I think it is pretty good, if we consider the fact that I didn't even know how to use Flash.
Final
Ok so my final project will be about an interactive story.
So I chose the Little Match Girl story by Hans Christian Andersen and I adapted it to adults.
So I'm going to do all the drawings on Illustrator and simply connect them one with the other.
And I'll do buttons to go from one scene to the other.
Soooo basically that's it.
So I chose the Little Match Girl story by Hans Christian Andersen and I adapted it to adults.
So I'm going to do all the drawings on Illustrator and simply connect them one with the other.
And I'll do buttons to go from one scene to the other.
Soooo basically that's it.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Animated characters
For my presentation, I focused on different type of animation and I was very interested in the characters.
Computer animation
2D animation figures are created and/or edited on the computer using 2D bitmap graphics or vector graphics.
Def.: Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement.It is an optical illusion of motion and can be created and demonstrated in a number of ways. The most common method of presenting animation is as a motion picture or video program, although several other forms of presenting animation also exist.
The animators' drawings are traced or photocopied onto transparent acetate sheets called cels, which are filled in with paints in specific colors or tones on the side opposite to the line drawings. Today, animators' drawings and the backgrounds are either scanned into or drawn directly into a computer system. Various software programs are used to color the drawings and simulate camera movement and effects.
Traditional Animation
- Full animation refers to high-quality traditionally animated films, which use detailed drawings and realistic movements. Realistic: Walt Disney studio ( Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Lion King, etc. Cartoon: Warner Bros. animation studio ( The Flinstones and Scooby Doo
- Limited animation involves the use of less detailed and/or more stylized drawings and methods of movement. Limited animation can be used as a method of stylized artistic expression, or as cost-effective animated content for television. Examples: Spongebob Squarepants, The Fairly OddParents
- Rotoscoping is a technique where animators trace live-action movement, frame by frame. The source film can be directly copied from actors' outlines into animated drawings, as in The Lord of the Rings (US, 1978), used as a basis and inspiration for character animation, as in most Disney films.
- Live-action/animation is a technique, when combining hand-drawn characters into live action shots. Examples: Space Jam and Osmosis Jones.
- Anime is a technique primarily used in Japan but originated in USA. It usually consists of detailed characters but more of a stiff animation. A lot of the time the eyes are very detailed, so sometimes instead of the animator drawing them over again in every frame, two eyes will be drawn in 5-6 angles and pasted on each frame(modern times uses computer for that). Some example of Anime films are; Sailermoon, Sakura the Card Captor and Princess Mononoke.
- You can also use another method called Flip books
Stop-motion animation is used to describe animation created by physically manipulating real-world objects and photographing them one frame of film at a time to create the illusion of movement. Computer software is widely available to create this type of animation.
- Puppet animation involves puppets wich generally have an armature inside of them to keep them still and steady as well as constraining them to move at particular joints. Examples: Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, Coraline (Tim Burton).
- Puppetoon are puppet-animated films which use a different version of a puppet for different frames, rather than simply manipulating one existing puppet.
- Clay animation, or Plasticine animation or claymation, uses figures made of clay or a malleable material to create stop-motion animation. The figures may have an armature or wire frame inside of them, that can be manipulated in order to pose the figures. Examples: Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run.
- Cutout animation is a type of stop-motion animation produced by moving 2-dimensional pieces of material such as paper or cloth. Example: Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969).
- Silhouette animation the characters are backlit and only visible as silhouettes. Example: Princes et princesses (France, 2000).
- Model animation animation created to interact with a live-action world. Example: King Kong (1933 film).
- Go Motion uses various techniques to create motion blur between frames of film, which is not present in traditional stop-motion.
- Object animation uses regular inanimate objects in stop-motion, as opposed to specially created items. Example: Western Spaghetti
- Graphic animation uses non-drawn flat visual graphic material (photographs, newspaper clippings, magazines, etc.) which are sometimes manipulated frame-by-frame to create movement. At other times, the graphics remain stationary, while the stop-motion camera is moved to create on-screen action.
- Pixilation involves the use of live humans as stop motion characters. This allows for a number of surreal effects. Example
Computer animation
2D animation figures are created and/or edited on the computer using 2D bitmap graphics or vector graphics.
Examples: Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera
3D animation consists in digital models manipulated by an animator wearing a digital skeletal structure to control the mesh. Simulating effects is also use, such as fur or hair, fire and water. There is also Motion capture, which is used when live action actors wear special suites that allows computers to copy there movements. Many 3D animations are very realistic and frequently used as visual effects for recent movies.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Here are websites I find really interesting:
St-Francis is Happy in Greenville: the website of an hospital directed at the origin by Sisters. Love the childish animations, very simple. Also, they are never the same. Very fluid, not too long to load.
Christian Sparrow: the website of this new media/ website designer. Very talented, very creative. You can see is diversified portfolio.
Get the Glass: A website hosting a game. you need to help a family to get back the glass of milk. Good 3D animation. The whole screen becomes the playing board. However, it is sometimes longer to load.
Goblin Creatives:A website of a multimedia/website/interactive applications company. I LOVE the way we see the site through an iPod. It's amazing how the rooms are loaded and while you're waiting, you can even play games. Two thumbs up!
Lexus GS: Actually, on this one it's the video that I love. However, the way things are loading, the animations are nice and clean. The main page is amazing and I like how you can decide the opacity of the windows. Quite helpful to navigate through the website even if I don't get a word of what they say.
St-Francis is Happy in Greenville: the website of an hospital directed at the origin by Sisters. Love the childish animations, very simple. Also, they are never the same. Very fluid, not too long to load.
Christian Sparrow: the website of this new media/ website designer. Very talented, very creative. You can see is diversified portfolio.
Get the Glass: A website hosting a game. you need to help a family to get back the glass of milk. Good 3D animation. The whole screen becomes the playing board. However, it is sometimes longer to load.
Goblin Creatives:A website of a multimedia/website/interactive applications company. I LOVE the way we see the site through an iPod. It's amazing how the rooms are loaded and while you're waiting, you can even play games. Two thumbs up!
Lexus GS: Actually, on this one it's the video that I love. However, the way things are loading, the animations are nice and clean. The main page is amazing and I like how you can decide the opacity of the windows. Quite helpful to navigate through the website even if I don't get a word of what they say.
MOD3000
The beginning of the semester had been quite stressful.
Last semester, I realized I was interested in fashion accessories design. So I talked with Martin Racine and he suggested me to take fashion design courses at UQAM.
So that's what I did. Then, the first day of school, I received a phone call from UQAM saying I need to change my course for this semester. So I harassed the whole staff at student affairs to get this case done before the due date.
Anyways, now I'm registered to MOD3000, a course called: Recherche de matieres, de thematiques et de tendances. I had my first class this morning and that's what I realized:
Fashion design is tightly connected to furniture design and interior decoration.
One influence the other. At the end of the semester, I'll be able to identify the future musts of the next year seasons. How helpful is this!
Last semester, I realized I was interested in fashion accessories design. So I talked with Martin Racine and he suggested me to take fashion design courses at UQAM.
So that's what I did. Then, the first day of school, I received a phone call from UQAM saying I need to change my course for this semester. So I harassed the whole staff at student affairs to get this case done before the due date.
Anyways, now I'm registered to MOD3000, a course called: Recherche de matieres, de thematiques et de tendances. I had my first class this morning and that's what I realized:
Fashion design is tightly connected to furniture design and interior decoration.
One influence the other. At the end of the semester, I'll be able to identify the future musts of the next year seasons. How helpful is this!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Productive Interaction
I think this article is very interesting and clarifies a lot of things that were still vague in my mind.
Even if this article is much more adapted to websites, the whole research process can be adapted to all kind of design.
It's incredible to see how a website can be way more interesting only by how interactive it is. It is way more entertaining than a simple unidirectional website. Also, as Van Allen mentions, interaction implies that the audience actually make choices, take decisions and do the big part of the job. That's how you create a complete experience.
Also, I think it's much more difficult to create this kind of interaction online, because it is abstract, non-tangible. Interaction is so easier when you can touch and feel the object in your hands, or at least see it right in front of you. This way, it directly talks to you and have an effect on you. Websites need to go over this boundary and take their place. Also, another difficulty that might confront web designers is that they don't know who's going to see, read or simply visit their page. However, they still need to interact with all these different persons and create a special experience that will be meaningful for all of them.
I really like Van Allen's idea of Physical Music I. The whole process of creating music makes me think of a certain DJ which I forgot the name who creates whole songs with small pieces of music joined together. This guy also make these kind of songs live in after hours or big events. I mean, to me it's a big deal, so I really like how Physical Music makes it easier so anybody could use it.
I think this article is very helpful and provides a lot of solutions and different ways to be interactive. Before reading this article I thought that an interactive website consists more in a flash animated site where the users could decide what they would do in this flash-animated space. However, the article clarifies many things and is a kind of mix-and-match guide to a successful interactive experience. Thumbs up for Van Allen.
Even if this article is much more adapted to websites, the whole research process can be adapted to all kind of design.
It's incredible to see how a website can be way more interesting only by how interactive it is. It is way more entertaining than a simple unidirectional website. Also, as Van Allen mentions, interaction implies that the audience actually make choices, take decisions and do the big part of the job. That's how you create a complete experience.
Also, I think it's much more difficult to create this kind of interaction online, because it is abstract, non-tangible. Interaction is so easier when you can touch and feel the object in your hands, or at least see it right in front of you. This way, it directly talks to you and have an effect on you. Websites need to go over this boundary and take their place. Also, another difficulty that might confront web designers is that they don't know who's going to see, read or simply visit their page. However, they still need to interact with all these different persons and create a special experience that will be meaningful for all of them.
I really like Van Allen's idea of Physical Music I. The whole process of creating music makes me think of a certain DJ which I forgot the name who creates whole songs with small pieces of music joined together. This guy also make these kind of songs live in after hours or big events. I mean, to me it's a big deal, so I really like how Physical Music makes it easier so anybody could use it.
I think this article is very helpful and provides a lot of solutions and different ways to be interactive. Before reading this article I thought that an interactive website consists more in a flash animated site where the users could decide what they would do in this flash-animated space. However, the article clarifies many things and is a kind of mix-and-match guide to a successful interactive experience. Thumbs up for Van Allen.
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