Inflatable Poncho

Haidee LimStudent No. : 617093 Semester 2/2013 Group 7

Module 1_IdeationStudied object: FloatieScale Diagram:

Through studying the floatie, it shows how an inflatable is able to function. For the floatie to be able inflate , it has to have a cavity, air tight seam, made from a material that does not allow much air to pass through and an air flow.

As seen from the diagram above, a high pressure of air flows from the nozzle of the floatie into the cavity. Due to the large amount of air particlles that enters the cavity, the air particles starts to push the walls of the chamber as more air enters causing the floatie to expand.

Air

Inflated Deflated

Module 1_IdeationModel Making

To fully understand how the infaltable work, a replica of the floatie was made. By making the model of it, I was able to undertand better on how an infaltable should be constructed. For example, it has to have an air tight seam and membrane and must have a cavity that is big enough for air to be filled in so that in can expand.

Module 1_IdeationReflective Reading

Personal Space: the behavioral basis of design (1969) by Robert Sommer In the reading by Sommer (1969) discusses about defining and types of personal space. In is mentioned on how diverse the meaning of persoal space can be to different individuals. One of the things that Sommer (1969) mentioned that strike me was “A considerable similarity between personal space and physical distance”. This tells us on how someone’s physical space can be invaded. Furthermore, personal space can also change depending on the person’s feeling or preference. Such as when two people are being intimate with one another, they will kiss or have a smaller spatial boundary between one another Somer (1969). By taking how personal space can be a distance from one individual to another, and how someone’s personal space can change is taken as the main part of personal space to include in the second skin design.

300 years of industrial design (2000) by Heath, A, Heath, D & Jensen, A

The reading by Heath,Heath & Jensen (2000), mainly discusses on how important it is to study an object carefully and understand how it is created. To understand a certain craft or creation, we must understand how the object is build and identify its structure. Therefore the reading tells us on ways how we are able to do this which we can apply in our drawings and understanding of the item we are supposed to study. The ways which were mentioned that I applied was using photography and measured drawing. Through photography, the shape and certain mechanism of the object are identifiable. Moreover when doing measured drawings, dismantling or looking through sections of the objects are required. Hence by looking through every section and every part of the object, we are able to infer on how the parts could work together for the object to function.

Module 2_DesignDefining Personal Space

According to Sommer (1998), there is no proper or right definition for personal space. However, personal space can be commonly define as a spatial space that an individual wants or is comfortable with. The amount of space for an individual varies based on their personal preference as well as how they feel.

Based on experience and others, the change of personal space is mainly on how the person feels. For example:

Happy- short distance or close to other individual (small)Neutral- a certain or maderate amount of distanceAngry or sad- A further or larger physical distance as well as the need to be not seen or interacted with others

HappyNeutral Angry or Sad

Module 2_DesignPrecendence studies

The Inflatable heart created by KAte Hartman is used as way for someone to express themselves. THerefore, if the user wants to show whether is feeling happy or sad, they would either inflate or deflate the heart.

The inflatable skirt is able to create a personal space for the user by completely encasing the user in a yellow bubble. It offers physical and visual protection from the waist up as well as covering the upper body the skirt also provides a protective circumference around the ouser. The design incorporates bright colors that not only makes the skirt more practical to wear but also attracts a lot of attention when deployed. Aesthetically the skirt is very practically appealing, it appears to be only a skirt until the user hits the switch to deploy her private, portable space. When deployed the skirt inverts on itself covering the upper body leaving the entire lower body exposed with no visual or physical protection. The practical-ity of the skirt could also be improved, as when deployed the user has no visual perception outside the yellow bubble, this limits the use the skirt to being stationary only.

Image source: Youtube 2013, Inflatable Skirt, viewed 10 August 2013, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEOD6xJNR1k>

Image source: Kate Hartman 2011, The art of Wearable Communication, viewed 20 August 2013, <http://www.ted.com/talks/kate_hartman_the_art_of_wearable_com-munication.html>

Karchedon, WallE, 2013

In the Disney animation film WallE, the character Eva who is a robot is able to express herself through the lights which makes up her face. Furthermore, the usage of coloured lights as used to show different states of her. Such as in the movie, at her normal state, the lights or her eyes are blue in colour. However when she turned ‘evil’, her eyes turned red indicating that she is in her ‘evil’ state.

Module 2_DesignDesign

The main concept of the design decipded upon is how and infaltable is able to create differnet types of physical distance as well as showing the other individuals based on thier personal preference.

To incorporate displaying emotions while creating a spatial distance by using shapes.

Neutral

Angry

Happy

When the person feels happy or does not mind to have a closer physical distance with others, the poncho stays deflated.

Module 2_DesignProposed design

A poncho was proposed because it is easily wearable and is able to create take up space when inflated.The poncho inflates based on the amount of air pressure blown into it which creates the different amount of volume it takes. It uses colours to exhibit the users emotion so that the surroundign individuals are able to take note on the users feeling and provide them with their personal space.

However, when the person feels they need a certain amount of spatial distance that is not to much, they can always inflate a fan which creates a partially inflated poncho.

When the user feels provoked, more fans are turned on to increase the amount of air flow into the poncho creating afully inflated garment that is able to create a larger barrier between the users and the surrounding.

When an inflatable is at its deflated stage, it possesses the features of a fabric. Hence, the idea to create a garment that can inflate came to light as well from the precedence study of the inflatable skirt.

Module 2_DesignRhino Model Sketch Prototype

Module 2_DesignReflective Readings

Surfaces can be built by paper (2007) by H.Pottmann,A.Asperl,M.Hofer, A.Kilian (eds) In the reading by Pottman, Asperl and Kilian (2007), features a variety of ways paper can be used to make different types of geometric shapes such as a cylinder, pyramid and ob¬jects that takes in an organic form. Furthermore, the reading explains how in order to cre¬ate those shapes a template is needed. In order to succeed making those shapes using a template, the measurements are crucial in order for the paper to create the right shapes for it. Even if the shape seems unachievable or difficult to make but by breaking it down into several parts, it is able to create a template that can build the shape. wanted Hence a developable surface is something that can be made manually into the desired or designed shape.

Lost in parameter space? (2011) by Scheurer, F. and Stehling, H.

Based on the reading by Stehling & Scheurer (2011), they discussed about creating 3D models from different software primarily the CAD software. Making a model using programs requires a variety of steps and they are abstraction, reduction, algorithm and quality. The two main steps that are important in making a basic 3D model in my opinion is reduction and abstraction. This is because the models that we make require the basic shape of the object that we are modelling and as long as it is identifiable. Unlike abstraction, reduction requires using enough information from the object we are creating into the object. While doing my model for mod-ule 1, it was initially really difficult to create an exact replica of an inflated flaatie. Therefore, I tried to cut down details such as the creases and irregular volume of it at certain area and create the basic shape of the floatie. By doing this, I found it really helpful as a beginner.

Building the seed cathedral (2011) by Thomas Heatherwick

I found the Ted Talk by Thomas Heatherwick really amusing and interesting at the same time. Many of his designs incorporated the usage and materials to create effects that are creative and innovative. One of the designs that I found really intriguing is his Rolling Bridge. Instead of designing a bridge that opens up like most bridges, his bridge instead rolls up into how a worm or a millipede would. The materials he used played an important role in achieving this. It uses a folding and framed system instead of a rigid structure. Therefore, this shows how to make a design more unique, innovation in how it works is required. Hence, for my second skin design

Module 3_FabricationProblems and Solutions

From the first prototype, the problems that we realised were:The types of material used were too thin - which makes it over infalte causing the main body to rise as it inflates moreThe shape of the poncho when inflated- it looks too much of a giant cloud or bubble that can look too simple and may be unappealingThe seam - using masking tape to create the seam of the poncho made it unappealing and it is also not durable

Solutions:- use a heavier material- use a better seam and material- try to replicate the bumps seen on other infaltables such as a bouncy castle

Sketch

Happy Dayz, Inflatables, 2013

Module 3_FabricationFabrication Plan

To create the bumps seen on the bouncy castle a pleating pattern was use on the fabric.

Creating the pleating pattern for the skin of the poncho:

01The facric is measured and then folded.

02 The folded area is then stiched together via sewing

stacking

Seam attachment

Module 3_FabricationRhino model

Module 3_FabricationMaterials

Different types of materials were sourced based on certain characteristics that is suitable to cre-ate and inflatable.The types of fabric that were required are:- waterproof- does not allow much air to pass through it- made from synthethic materials- durable

Material palette

Shot Taffeta55 % Nylon, 45% polyester

Stretch Weave Suiting100% Polyester

Party Satin100% Polyester

‘Table cloth’100% polyethelyne

The Shot Taffeta was the material chosen as it exhibits the required charactereristics of the type of material required

Module 3_FabricationSeams

TapingThe use of a better quality and longer lasting tape were used. The test of using electric tape was used on the polyproplene(table cloth fabric). It manged to give a sturdy joint however it is not able to create the desired pleated pattern desired.

WeldingUsing the polyproplene fabric, the soldering iron was used to weld the fabric together when creating hte seam. It managed to give a neat seam however it is not able to create the pleated patterned desired and if the seam is not properly welded it can easily tear which can be difficult to be fixed.

SewingThe shot Taffeta fabric was sewn un-der the sewing machine to create the seam. It manages to create a neat seam as well as achieving the required pleated pattern. Hence this method was decided to be use to create the seams of the final prototype.

Chosen Method

Image taken by Mohammad Farsakh

Module 3_FabricationCreating the Poncho

01 The main body of the poncho was first sewed 02 Then the fans were incorporated creating cages made from basalt wood.

03 Red and white fairy lights were used as the ligth source to provide colour to the poncho

04 Tracing paper is wrapped around the lights to diffuse the light

01

02 0203

04

Image taken by Mohammad Farsakh

LightsModule 3_Fabrication

05 The lights are stuck on the seams of the poncho where the LEDs are facinf the cavity to help the diffusion of lights.

06 The white LEDS are stuck around the collar section where as the red LEDS are stuck around the bottom section of the poncho

07 The switch is then attached together with the fans creating the main electrical board

08 It is then attached to the poncho on the side that faces the user.

04 05 06

07

Image taken by Mohammad Farsakh

Final PrototypeModule 3_Fabrication

Images taken by Mohammad Farsakh

Module 3_FabricationReflective Reading

Digital Fabrication by Iwamoto L. (2009)

In the reading by Iwamoto (2009), she mainly discusses on how digital fabrication is widely used in today’s modern form of architecture, building and construction. In the reading Iwamoto (2009), mentioned using digital practices, enables the designer to create a closer representation of the design to the product that is being made. By using digital design, architects are able to fully concentrate not just on the aesthetics but also how the structure or the making of it would work. Hence with this understanding, architects and the builders are able to create a much closer representation of the design as the knowledge of how it is built can be obtained using digital methods. Furthermore, Iwamoto mentions a list of ways on how digital fabrication can be used and they are sectioning, tessellating and folding which can be incorporated into our second skin design. With sectioning, we are able to understand and concentrate on what is on the inside rather than the outside or appearance which is paramount for the ability of for the second skin to work. With tessellating, enables us to understand how to create the seams or joints for the second skin. Folding lets us know how certain folds or creases that can be formed can help to create patterns that help in the aesthetics of the second skin. These were incorporated in or fabrication of the second skin since with the understanding of sections we are able to create the main cavity where the air would flow into and with the folding we are able to create the desired pleated pattern to our inflatable.

Digital Production by Kolarevic B, (2003)

The reading by Kolarevic (2003) mainly discusses on how using digital methods is done in the current digital age in architecture. One of the methods that he mention was how using three dimensional modelling using digital aid is able to create certain geometry that will be difficult to achieve if done traditionally. There are a few things that were mentioned that could be incorporated into the making of our second. By trying to fabricate it digitally such as using rhino, we are able to understand the method, methodology and shapes and patterns on how to make the model. By using programs such as rhino, we are able to create the templates needed to create two-dimensional fabrication can be done by using the card cutter or laser cutter supplied in the university Kolaveric (2003).

Module 4_ReflectionCritcal Analysis

At the beginning of the course we were introduce 4 different systems which were, panel and fold, section and profiling, skin and bones and inflatables. All four systems exhibits interesting features that could be implemented in our second skin design however I chose to work with the inflatable system because it is a unique system and is not commonly seen in architecture and other designs. Hence in the process of coming up with a way to incorporate it to a second skin was generally difficult due to the fact that there was not much ways to create certain patterns and shapes as well as figuring out ways on how to inflate the system.

Moving to module 2, we were required to come up with a design based on our opinion on personal space. As diverse as the term personal space could be, the physical space of a person’s space was chosen as the preferred way of defining personal space as in the reading it was mentioned that“A considerable similarity between personal space and physical distance” Sommer (1996). This method of personal space could be incorporated in an inflatable since based on module 1

an inflatable takes up air for it to expand which increases its size which increases its volume and it was also mentioned in the second lecture that a volume is the amount of space that an object is able to occupy (Ox-ford).

Hence the way on how the inflatable is able to expand and take up space was considered. To develop our design, we took inspiration from our precedence studies. Furthermore, the TED talk by Thomas Heatherwick where he mentioned about his design the ‘Rolling bridge’ where instead of opening up like any other bridge, he created a bridge that will opens up by rolling instead. Therefore, this tells us how we can change how something would generally work and come up with something a bit more innovative instead. Therefore, instead of coming up with an inflatable that is just meant to work by inflating it fully, we decided to incorporate how the different amount air flow in an inflatable is able to create an effect on the different volume of space the inflatable is able to take. Since it was mentioned on how personal space can also vary (Somer, 1996), we started to base our perspective on how our emotions can create the variation of desired spatial space around us. Hence, to further develop our design, precedence were further studied where we looked at other types of inflatable and wearable products and came up with the design that me and my partner think that was most suitable to be used as our inflatable second skin.

Image taken by Mohammad Farsakh

“A considerable similarity between personal space and physical distance” Sommer (1996).

Module 4_ReflectionCritical Analysis

With results from the testing we were able to create the main body of the inflatable. Even with the main body completed the ability of whether the poncho would inflate. However with testing with different fans we were able to get the poncho to inflate the way we want to. Even though we were able to achieve most of the things that were planned, they still were things that was not accomplished such as using lights as a source to display colors as it can only work at dimly lit rooms and the attachment and effect of using the lights wasn’t what I expected it to be.

Concluding my experience in Virtual Environments, I have learned many new skills that I find really useful not just for my future studies but on how I could preceive other things in a whole new perspective. It has taught me ways on not just in the design aspect but also on the building aspects. One of the things I learned is using fabrication in building or making. With the current high-end technology provided in this modern era, we are able to create and fabricate shapes and patterns desired. Therefore by learning and using the software Rhino plays a huge role throughout the process in this course.

As It not only teaches me on how to use a modeling software but it gives us the ability to tell how our second skin would work as we are able to look through the sections and shapes of the model via rhino. It was a similar procedure to how Marbles (2003) discussed on how using human minds to create the design having humans to input he required information into the computer for it to be made. This was mentioned in the reading by Iwamoto (2009) where she mentioned that with the understanding of sectioning using modeling software, architects are able to come up with ways to create their design. Therefore, by understanding this, I was able to digest the possibilities of how our model could work as well look like. There were times where changes had to be made to improve the second skin even though it might affect the prototype. As a result the ‘risk’ did pay off although we were unable to create the same look that was original plan due to the fluid nature of the inflatable, we still managed to obtain new skills and a better understanding on how our second skin would work.

Therefore, we decided to create an inflatable that does not just take up volume but also displays the user emotions to indicate to others on how they feel. Using shapes and colors were debated, however creat-ing an inflatable that changes color was chosen as we felt that it was more practical.

In module 3 where we had to create our prototype, finding a suitable way to create the second skin was sought out. By planning and figuring ways to put together the skin of the inflatable was done easily. However there were other challenges faced such as creating the effect and shape desired and countering the problems based on our first prototype. An example was to prevent the poncho to over inflate and looking like a cloud or bubble. Therefore, more precedence was looked at. The bumps on the bouncy castle were taken as it helps to create a more flat surface which we wanted to incorporate in our inflatable.To further tackle other problems and to improve our prototype, testing out of materials and methods of joining were done to ensure that the most suitable method and materials are used so that it could ensure that our inflatable would work just the way we want to.

“(T)he quality of result is continually at risk during the process of making Pye (cited in Marble 2008).

Module 4_ReflectionReflective Readings

The third industrial revolution (2011) by Rifkin J.In the reading by Rikin (2011), describes about how the change of energy and resources can impact the design and building in near future. The example given in the reading are how the uses of energy changed during cartain period of times such as the usage of coal, gas to fossil fuels (Rikin 2011) affected how transportation is changed during the different eras. With the main use of certain energy of products will affect how the ecoomy will work and also at a larger spatial scale where the lifestyle of the others will also be affected. However, according to Ritkin(2011), the way of how current industrialization can be changes by using manufacturing the form of 3d printing. With the advance technology used in 3d printing, the amount and types of products built are almost infinite as a 3d printer can create objects designed and made from computer into real life. This was also applied during the fabrication of the second skin as using rhino and paneling tools helps to create templates helps to reduce the workload done by hands/men. This is because, the templates created can be transferred into technologies such as the laser cutter and the card cutter to be cut thus we do not need to cut our templates manually and also creating a much neater cut.

Imagining Risk (2008) by Marble S.Marble mentioned on how craft can be done through humans and technology. However with digital technology, different systems of crafting and details can be done. Using human minds to create the design can be done by having humans to put in the required information into the computer for it to be made. In making the second skin, a lot of thoughts are put in to the making. As understanding how the skin would be created for it to function as well as to ensure the amount of wind from the fan enables the second skin to inflate. Other risks done were trying to incorporate colours into the skin. From this, LED lights were used as it was one of the most straightforward method to provide colour to the skin. However it came with the risks of having uneven distribution of colours and creating a more complex system to work with. This is due to the fact that there will be a lot of electrical systems to work with which might hinder the ability of the second skin to function properly.

Module 4_ReflectionBibliography

Heath, A, Heath, D & Jensen, A 2000, 300 years of industrial design : function, form, technique, 1700-2000 Watson-Guptill, New York, Selected Extracts

Heatherwick, T (March 2011) Thomas Heatherwick: Building the Seed Cathedral [Video file] retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/thomas_heatherwick.html

H.Pottmann,A.Asperl,M.Hofer, A.Kilian (eds) 2007 “Surfaces that can be built from paper” in Architectural Geometry, Bentley Institute Press, pp 534-561

Iwamoto, L 2009, Digital fabrications: architectural and material techniques, Princeton Architectural Press, New York, Selected Extracts additional

Kolarevic, B, 2003 “Digital Production” in Architecture in the Digital Age - Design and Manufacturing , Spon Press, London, pp30-54

Marble, S 2008 ‘Imagining Risk’ In P Bernstein, P Deamer (eds). Building the Future: Recasting Labor in Architecture/, Princeton Architectural Press, New York, pp 38-42 Rifkin, J 2011 “Distributed Capitalism’ in The third Industrial Revolution Palgrave Macmillan, New York pp107-126

Scheurer, F, Stehling, H 2011, “Lost in Parameter Space?” AD: Architectural Design, vol 81 pp. 70-79 Sommer, R 1969, ‘ Spatial invasion’ in Sommer, R, Personal space : the behavioral basis of design, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J, pp. 26-38