ZHENLIAN WU
As a 3D designer/Maker, I was intrigued to collaborate with others from different disciplines as part of Unit X; it removes me from my comfort zone helping to explore new working ways. The project 'Closed Loop' is a live breif that put me in a commercial scenario, helped me to gain a new perspective in the art and design future profession.
INITIAL IDEAS
The first time seeing the restaurant, I recall my first impression strongest in the open kitchen and dining space. Though my group mention the entrance felt like something missing and after agreeing with restaurant owner space is open to anything. We were excited about the endless possibility for the entrance.
'WASTE NOT WANT' CHALLENGE
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At the beginning of a project, I like to explore various material alongside a range of words to work towards a design. When I have brief inspiration, I research designer and artists that relate to the theme.
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The challenge ‘Waste Not Want’ fitted ideally the way I work, but I wanted to push myself and use new material. This is where I explored oyster shells, by smashing the shell to see its layers, I was fascinated by the transparency of the material. Later, the opalescent shine inside of shell I wanted it on the outside and by removing the outer shell top layer it reveals the opalescent shine that shown better using light.
MATERIAL
Later, we chose glass as it allows us to have more control over the design outcome.
Unfortunately, due to lockdown, I couldn’t explore into the material properties of glass but from the glass inductions I knew the basic knowledge of glass. For the sign idea, I explore into metal, wood and glass to see how they enhance the aesthetic with light, using parts of material available at home.
IDEA DEVELOPMENT
When we had feedback from both tutors and the restaurant, we concluded that the idea lack of excitement and simple. So, we explore more into the material glass and light, where we set ourselves a challenge to do a transparency material testing using things in our household. I used a glass cup, glass with colour, cartridge paper, tracing paper.
CREATING AN INSTALLATION
As I developed the pulling system of the installation model, we investigate in household food and packaging waste to create art on the glass panels. It was inspired by the restaurant how they create as less waste possible. We each did our own experiments as we no longer can meet up in person and communicated through skype to the group.
REFINMENT
My group, we decided one panel was better for Installation art piece function instead of five panels and agreed on the size of the panel. This allows me to create the final design of pully system, I sketch out the measurements and different views, so it allows me to know the step by step making entirely and if it functions correctly if it’s been made. The measurement of all material is based on online material that available and in MSoA workshops.
FINAL DIGITAL OUTCOME
Since we can’t make the final design of our light garden, I began to explore an unfamiliar software called Fusion 360 to create a realistic 3D outcome of our idea.