MODULE 3: FABRICATION

INFLATABLEAfifah Ahmad Shamsudin, Michelle Xu, Isaac Xavier Mercado

VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS, SEMESTER 2 2013

Personal Space

Collectively, within the topic of personal space we really tried to emphasise two main factors, the individual we were around and the scenario or space we were in.

We were inspired by our cultural influences toward our own personal space and the level of comfort we had around our large families. We found that due to the nature of growing up with large families and having new people constantly around us we had to adapt to our surroundings at an early age.

We also explored situations such as when on is on a packed train and the comfort levels an individuals has when they are practically pushed up against an individual. We then chose to focus on ‘the first date’ concept.

We felt that this helped exhibit these two factors well. We found that on a first date, there were certain physical areas around a female that would be deemed inappropri-ate to go near. These areas would be around the pelvic area, the bust and neck. In contemplating what personal space also meant to use, we looked into how our internal thoughts and emotions have a level of control of over our immediate personal space according to that specific situa-tion. Thus, to physically represent this we chose the back of the head.

Objective:Our main objective is to create an inflatable system thatrepresents a female’s changing views and emotions on a first date.

Elements:~ The whole system is inflatable~ Open system~ Certain elements will have aspects of moveability~ Targeted at females, have feminine qualities~ Personal Space

Brief

The Pufferfish

The first precedence that we drew on was the puffer fish. There were two ideas that were taken from this idea and they were aspects of the inflatable system, and the thought of personal space.

The puffer fish can be seen as a natural inflatable that is dynamic. Though it is a closed system, it has the ability to control when it blows up and inflates. We took this idea of being able to inflate and deflate into our idea of a second skin, with the skin being able to inflate and deflate.

We also took the idea of having spikes to warn people to stay away from certain parts of our personal space. The spikes that would appear when inflated were a way of drawing a barrier or a boundary of a person’s own changing personal space.

A puffer fish inflates when it feels threatened, which usually occurs when they feel insecure about their surrounding environment. In a first date, there may be times, especially in the beginning where vulnerability is felt, and this lead to our development of having regions of our “second skin” inflating at the thought of threat.

In the “Personal Spaces” (Sommer)reading, there was a there was an interesting quote that said “the best way to learn the location of invisible boundaries is to keep walking until somebody complains” (pg 26).

In our scenario, we create an inflatable boundary that defines our personal space

The First Date

Another precedence that we explored was the concept of a “first date” and how the boy may bring roses for the girl.

The idea of rose petals as our predominate design of the second skin came from this precedent, but was not drawn on until further into our development. This idea of rose petals came with the thought that roses are not only something seen as a gift, but also a sign of femininity. We wanted to accentuate the idea of bring out the best and most beautiful side of a girl and the effort that goes into dressing up all nicely from both parties.

However, what is usually left out of the rose picture is people tend to forget that they have dangerous thorns that are found all along the stem. The thorns can be seen as a similar defence mechanism to the puffer fish, where a girl’s thoughts and emotions of being vulnerable and unsure are being protected in a defined personal space.The other interpretation we took from the rose thorns was how the beauty is repre-sented in the flower at the top of the stem.

In order to open up to someone, we must first get to know them step by step and overcome each little thorn. By climbing up to the top, our personal space is reduced as we become more comfortable around that person, or situation.

Perliminary Ideas

Component:In terms of components, we looked at our initial two designs of a puffer fish like and rose inspired design and the headpiece design and thought of merging them together to represent the different aspects of our theme of a “first date”.Through the use of plasticine, we were able to see how the second skin design would look if we were to make it, which was very beneficial visually.

Movement:With the concept of movement, we looked at keeping the arms of the headpiece as an open sys-tem so that it could generate the free and unpre-dictable movement of an inflatable system (open). This would also fit in with our theme of having dynamic feelings and emotions on a first date.

Volume:We trialled making inflatables that would hold the volume and shape of our design. We explored mak-ing different shapes and found that it was possible to make different shaped arms for our headpiece. We had to be careful however of our seams as they would be the determining factor of keeping our second skin inflated or not.

Based on experience and from watching romantic movies, there is an unwritten guideline on which area should men avoid touching on woman on the first date. For example, placing hand on a woman’s back is risky. Chances are man will give bad impression if his hand is placed too low or too high on the woman’s back. The area that is a total no go zone is from below the waist to the upper thigh.

We began by defining physical areas around females that would be deemed inappropriate to go near in a first date. They were:~ Bust~ Back~ Below the waist till upper thigh

The internal thoughts and emotions have a level of control over our immediate personal space. The protrusion repre-sents the thoughts and emotions playing in head during the first date.

Developing Ideas

With this design, we tried to experiment with constasting shapes and as well as col-ours. We really tried in incorporate all the various aspects with which we had previ-ously experimented with and felt that this encompassed what our aim was.

However, after some though we could re-ally tell that there was this serious lack of fluidity and coherence with the design.

The combination of shapes, though intriguing, were too complex and thus caused our overall concept to be over complicated.

Developing Ideas

Therefore, we felt that by focuing on one shape we tried to create a system that could both emphasise our chosen person-al space, as well as the feminine qualities that we wanted to have.

After our interim design and the feedback we receieved we could really see that our design lacked innovation and was too conventional.

Material System:During the analysis of our physical models and during the creation of the prototype, we came to realise the importance of materials and the different properties that exist with each different type, and also the seams the roles they play.

Our material needed to be something flexible, but at the same time be something sealed in order to hold volume.

The first models that we created were from garbage bags and tape.

Having a tape coating made the object created very rigid, especially if it was smaller in size.We then looked at the differences of having thin and slightly thicker plastic as our material to allow for flexibility and movement in our design. Both allowed for more movement and inflation.However, the thickness mattered when it came down to sealing them off and creating seams. Thinner material would hold together very well with tape, but that method was not as efficient in terms of time and being completely sealed. Thicker material did not hold as well with tape, but when using a welder to seal the seams, it was easier as it didn’t melt as quickly. There was less error in terms of specificity.

Prototyping

Above: Not inflated.The prototype was tested and it was suc-cessful in looking at the properties of the material and the effects of inflating it up.This material could hold in volumes of air, creating a different look in the second skin at different times.

Above: Inflated.It also allowed for movement as some of the air escapes form the unsealed tube (to create movement)Each of the petals inflate at different times due to having only one air source on one side, which represented the different emo-tions,

Developing Ideas

After making the prototype of the skirt, we were really intriguied by the extravagance that the skirt could potentially be. Thus, to rectify the issues we had with our initial de-sign, we wanted to simplify the overall design but make the simplest sections much more extravegant.

We went back to our very first idea of personal space and the shapes that we created with the diagram. We then extended this initial concept and using petals we wanted create the protrusions.

Refining Ideas - Rhino Models

Prototyping PetalsWith our petals we experimented with various shapes and sizes to provide us with the most affective look. We wanted to test how different shapes would ultimately look inflated as it was important that they resembled petals but also provided us with the ability to create various lengths that we needed.

We also found that the different shapes slightly inflated at at different times and that some were more prone to popping than others.

Thus, we settled with the longer petals with the curved edge. We felt that this resembled the petal shape adequately but also would provide us with the extrava-gance that we needed if it were blown up to a larger size.

Prototyping Process

Prototyping Process

Final Proposal

~ Creates a boundary around the sensitive areas around the female body~ The shapes we chose represent the rose, the ultimate sign of feminine beauty and elegance.~ The varying sizes represent the different focusing as each emo-tion or thought completely encompasses the mind.~ As there is a level of flexibility that comes along with an inflatable system, movement of the body whilst in the design is achievable.~ There will be slight holes within the system. ~ These represent the release of pressure as time goes on~ In relation to a first date, often at he beginning of the date there is this level of discomfort however, as the date continues relief sets in and the barriers an individual puts up slowly dissipate.

Assembly drawing showing how the petals are layered and connected to the tube

FRONT RIGHT

BOTTOM FRONT

Final Proposal