Biomimicry Project

 
A self-proclaimed nature nerd, Janine Benyus' concept of biomimicry has galvanized scientists, architects, designers and engineers into exploring new ways in which nature's successes can inspire humanity.

An inconvinent truth

An inconvinent truth is a doctumentary made in 2006 about Al Gore and his campaign to raise awareness about global warming. Although perhaps 6years old the issues and points raised are still relevant and have shaped much of government policies and our lives. The terms "global warming, "climate change" and "greenhouse gases" beckon us to rethink our actions and previous methods, in order to save the environment and its depleting resources.

 Humans have depleted the natural resources at such a rapid rate, which has taken the Earth millions of years to preserve. The years of Industrilization resulted in massive amounts of Greenhouse gases being released, causing a hole in the ozone. The rate at which we use our natural resources means we will at least 12 earth's to provide our wants. The statistics and graph presented in the documentary are shocking and reveals alot of unseen reality. Evidence of high temperatures, rises in sea levels, melting ice caps, and increase in natural disaster have caused polar bears to die and beaching the coral reefs.

As Industrial Designers we should revise and rethink ways of production to reduce our ecological footprint and provide a sustainable standard of living. Through reducing materials, recycling, upcylcing, reusing and investing in renewable energy.

Tsunami Light design

 

Rationale

The aim was create a light out of recycled polyproplyene JCDecaux poster. In order to best express the materials ability to be flexible, creating a 3D layer effect through cutting and folding best showed this ability. For efficient use of the material concentric heart shape was used as the base template. From this I experimented used different size cuts, shapes, then used pins to make prototype models. After creating different size and shaped  models, I created a interesting wave shaped model, that reminded me of a wave about the crash. It became the main inspiration for my light and then a refined model was created.    

Interesting wave design

Peer comments project 2

http://toishanchung.blogspot.com/2011/10/project-2-upcycled-utility.html#comments

http://kevinpeng3373311.blogspot.com/2011/10/blossom-light-shade.html#comments

http://vindustriald.blogspot.com/2011/10/lighting-project.html#comments

http://dennisdolee.blogspot.com/2011/10/project-2-upcycling-utility-zen-light.html?showComment=1318939832285#c2259940695473991245

http://ginnykwok.blogspot.com/2011/10/glamour-hanging-light-upcycled.html?showComment=1318940361627#c5120303452599210014

Upcycling Project 2

Rationale

 The reinvention of the archetypal lamp shade was inspired by the continuing releveance of the form coupled with the desire to update it for today. The result; Pleasure Bloom

Initial concepts were to express the material's paper-like qualities through origami folding techniques. However while the paper prototype was able to hold its form, the polypropylene sheet material tended to "pop" back due to it thickness.

I began exploring ways to use the material's ability to turn rigid through bending to my advantage. Inspired by Toshiyuki Tani PP flower Shade, circle ring bending gave an interesting 'C' curve and when coupled with layering gave flower like impression. The same technique was also used for HSC lighting design called Luzism seen below.

With the aim to create a archetypal lamp shade, Through several prototypes I discovered the effect of circle ring widths effected the curvature. The more thicker the ring the more bended the curve and the point of bending was also a determining factor.



Exploration of material

 

some of my prototypes