LookingOutwards-03 – Page 7 – [OLD FALL 2020] 15-104 • Introduction to Computing for Creative Practice

LO 03 – Computational Fabrication

John Edmark

Blooms: Strobe-Animated Sculptures

Today, I will be taking a look at John Edmark’s 3D printed sculpture, Bloom. These sculptures are designed to animate when spun under a strobe light. The animation is achieved by progressive rotations of the golden ratio. This project caught my attention because it is mostly inspired by nature, through his use of the golden ratio which can be found in pinecones and sunflowers. The sculpture is satisfying to look at, but also very discomforting at the same time. The movement and flexibility from a plastic object is very provocative and unexpected. I believe that the author used some sort of an intricate variable system to map out the shapes before 3D printing. The creator’s artistic sensibilities are present in the final form not only through the visually appealing outcome, but also his careful and intentional use of scale, and proportions to create these kinetic sculptures.

View portfolio here

Blooms: Strobe Animated Sculptures

Looking Outwards 03: Computational Fabrication, SectionC

A project I found to be inspirational was a project done by ALLAN ZHAO, JIE XU, MINA KONAKOVIĆ-LUKOVIĆ, JOSEPHINE HUGHES, ANDREW SPIELBERG, DANIELA RUS, and WOJCIECH MATUSIK, called RoboGrammar. This project is an approach to generate different robot structures that is able to move along various terrains. This project is admirable because they were able to come up with a small set of rules that can describe the hundreds and thousands arrangements of physical robot assemblies. While the rules or grammar supports many types of physical arrangements, it also limits the design space to designs that can be physically produced. I thought this related to programming because through assembling a code that supports the randomness of the variations while also setting limitations, a rule is formed that the project follows.

https://cdfg.mit.edu/publications/robogrammar-graph-grammar-for-terrain-optimized-robot-design

Looking Outwards 3: Computational Fabrication

The project that I chose to highlight actually belongs to another CMU student –David Perry. It was interesting being able to see his project come to fruition throughout the Lunar Gala preparation process. More recently, I was able to interview him about the details and craftsmanship behind his line. During the interview, David talked about how his background in physics was able to help him develop the algorithms to laser cut the various materials and fabrics he used to construct his clothing line.

David Perry’s Scuba Helmet for Lunar Gala 2020

His most famous piece is this scuba diving helmet shown below. The whole product was visualized in CAD before each piece was individually laser cut and eventually put together (systematically) by hand. What I think is so amazing about this clothing line is how he draws together 2 disciplines to create wearable art inspired by the patterns of sea life.

Project 3-Many Squares

yeung-squares Download

var x;
var y;
var r=0;
var g=0;
var b=0;
var xtrans=300;
var ytrans=225;

function setup() {
    createCanvas(600, 450);
    background(0);
}

function draw() {
    var dir=mouseX * 1.5;
    x=mouseX;
    y=mouseY;
    translate(xtrans, ytrans);
    r=mouseY; //makes color change with mouse movements
    g=255-mouseY;
    b=mouseX;
    fill(r, g, b);
    var m = max(min(mouseX, 400), 0);
    var size = m * 350.0/400.0;
    rotate(radians(dir));
    rectMode(CENTER);
    var n = max(mouseX, 400);
    rect(x + m * 190.0/400.0, y + m * 190.0/400.0, m, m); //the two rectangles are opposites, one is big when the other is small
    rect(-(x + n * 190.0/400.0), -(y + n * 190.0/400.0), n, n); //both sizes of rectangles depend on mouse
    if (mouseIsPressed) { //moves the origin to mouseX and mouseY when mouse is pressed
        xtrans = mouseX;
        ytrans= mouseY;

    }
}

I like squares.

Looking Outwards 03: Computational Fabrication

Iris Van Herpen is an innovative fashion designer who has dressed some of the biggest stars in Hollywood, including Lady Gaga, Solange, and Katy Perry. Her designs are unique because she is constantly creating new materials and pushing the boundary of what fashion is. The collection I’m looking at is “Shift Souls,” which she unveiled in January, 2019 during Paris Fashion Week. The specific piece I’ll be talking about is “Cellchemy” face jewelry that was created in collaboration with Delft University of Technology.

I admire this piece because Van Herpen is constantly trying to reinvent the definition of fashion, and the piece is not only beautiful, but extremely intriguing when you realize what’s behind it. They used Grasshopper 3D to develop a generative design process based off of a 3D face scan, which was then combined with color information. This mapped a structure which resembled the face and worn as a mask. Van Herpen’s vision for this collection was based around advancements in DNA engineering which created the first human/animal hybrid. She confronts the unclear implications of the reality that we now have to address. The idea is manifested in “Cellchemy,” because the mask represents hybridity by creating lace-like masks of the human face that look animalistic.

Looking Outwards-03

Generating a New Balance 3D-printed midsole from pressure data from Nervous System on Vimeo.

This collaboration between footwear brand New Balance and 3D printing company Nervous System uses code to generate a 3D printed lattice for a sneaker midsole. I think the algorithm that they used relies on taking various weight inputs and understanding how different thicknesses of strands and densities of the lattice can be combined to allow for structural support as well as enough flex and bounce needed in a shoe midsole. The creator’s artistic sensibilities are shown in the final form through the type of lattice used, the overall form of the midsole, and the color and properties of the material used. Due to the fact that most of the structure and density are automatically generated, there isn’t as much room for creative expression.

New Balance and Nervous System for the Zante Generate
https://vimeo.com/146938134