Category: Spring 2018

Project Statement:Everyone has a pen holder on the desk. My project is to design a unique pen holder. Inspired by the shape of the Canton Tower, it is a hyperbolic shape formed by a number of straight pillars. I hope to create a uniquely shaped pen holder by twisting and controlling the direction of the pillar.

My model comes from a point,then generate a line that can control the height from this points. Then divide the line equally and generate a circle at each point. The radius of these circles is controlled by the graph mapper. Then divide the circle equally to generate points. Rotate these points to twist. The degree of rotation is also obtained by connecting these points in the vertical direction to get a vertical line. Inverted vertical lines are obtained by changing the order of the connection points.

So my model has four key parameters, height, density, shape, and direction of the structure line. Considering that it is a pen holder, set the height to 5 inches to reduce the number of models generated.

Finally I used Colibri to generate 2700 models. Then upload them to design explorer to screen 100 family models and the final 5 printed models.

Key Parameter: Height

Key Parameter: Density

Key Parameter: Profile Curve 1

Key Parameter: Profile Curve 2

Design Explorer

https://goo.gl/ZSy8R9

Project Statement: Inspired by Turkish “cesm-i bulbul” glassware which is created by inserting colored glass rods into the molten glass, then turning the rods to make twisting patterns, this product family seeks to emulate the visual twist of these patterns but in the structure of the vessels themselves.

The basic form of these vessels begins with a point and a line whose height can be determined with a slider. This line is then divided into equal lengths and a circle is created at each length to give the vessels their circular shape. The addition of the seam component connects the circle vertically, so the vessel’s surface is not solid but instead made up of a series of vertical lines or strands. These strands can then be twisted to give the illusion of the patterns on the Turkish glassware. Along with the degree of twist, the number of strands can be determined with the divide component a slider. This seam and divide sequence is then flipped and two interpolated curved are created so that one set of strands twists in one direction and another set twists in the opposite direction. Having two sets of strands that twist in opposite directions is necessary to ensure that the strands intersect to provide structural support for the vessel. All of these variables are funneled into the cocoon component, which essentially wraps all of these existing geometric elements and gives them thickness.

Using seven key design parameters, this grasshopper definition provides endless possibilities for vessel forms while maintaining the visual and structural twist. The 5 objects that I’ve chosen to print showcase how these variables can be manipulated to create objects that are very different in overall form with more subtle variation in their strand structure that makes them a cohesive collection.

DESIGN INTENT

KEY DESIGN DRIVERS

FAMILY MATRIX

FINAL FAMILY MEMBERS

Design Explorer

Parametrics Final_Charlotte Kirsten

This is a 3D project inspired by the twisting pattern which shows in my sketches. I tried to build a series of functional products like vase, cup and bowl by using different twisting strategies and different geometry patterns.

Design Explorer :  http://tt-acm.github.io/DesignExplorer/?ID=T9LuZi

PPT File :   Functional Products Family (2)

Candle holder

Statement: I purpose to create a twist vase at first. The curve and twist shape are very “parametric”. However, to make something different, instead of making pattern on the container, I decided to make some opening on it, turning a container to candle holders. Various openings change the light directions and form various light spots. For the progress of my project, I created a twist shape container and patched some pattern on it. Using parameter to control the shape, twist degrees, branches, even the thickness and the base. To make use of the feature of rhino and grasshopper and to make my project unique, the shape is a twist curve and some parts are missing. So, basically, there are several branches connected to the base. the patterns actually are leaf shape openings. Those make light could go through and follow different directions creating changing patterns. While printing them, I need to make the model fit to print, like changing the thickness of the body to make it stable.

Design Intent:

http://tt-acm.github.io/DesignExplorer/?ID=dX9fY3

Key Parameter: Height

Key Parameter: Density

Key Parameter: Profile Curve 1

Key Parameter: Profile Curve 1

Design Explorer

https://goo.gl/ZSy8R9

In the very beginning I was considering to make a light diffuser, hence I was researching different shapes of the diffuser. After I knew what I want to create, I build the model that would correspond to the initial function that I had in my head. It is noteworthy, that preliminary model showed me the other side of my structure and allowed me to look at it from another perspective. With that being said, I tried to apply the spotlight to the structure and I noticed that the shape of the shadows became more interesting than the light itself. The imperfection of shadows was so natural but not trivial. This pushed me to bring my model to a new level. I made the holes bigger and wider. The shape of the object was not stable anymore, it could be anything. Then I increased the thickness of the object, so the light can pass only through the holes (the first pre-model was made out of thin transparent plastic that would make it translucent).  In this project, I wanted to create a shadow diffuser that would allow the light pass through the holes and reflect on the surrounding of the object. None of the holes are the same which creates different shadow shapes.

DATA for DESIGN EXPLORER – https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NnOT0V1ZcWHcNgLNcuRMWgsJ6esDRv5Y

This time, I created a voronoi 3D system to build pen pots as my final project. I was inspired by the precedent images, which illustrate dedicated volumes.

First, I started to build a rectangle and extruded it as a cube. Then, I use the component voronoi 3D to divide the spaces. For this part, because the points are so random, I deconstruct them all into coordinates of x, y and z. I re-construct them by obtaining the value of z and resetting the values of x and y, so that the points with different heights could be all in line in the middle of the cube. Later, I use a component called series to make all the points rotate around the axis formed by all the original points. Once the value of division become larger and larger, more points will gather together in a specific panel decided by the start and the steps. I Boolean difference the cube to make a void volume. Last, I deconstruct the brep into lines; and I cocoon all these lines.

Above is my procedure of grasshopper. I 3D printed my projects with the materials of PLA, strong and flexible plastic and sandstone. I tried them in different sizes. I learned how to 3D print and also know the requirements of this technology.

The development of this product isn’t that smooth going, but I learn to control the variables of my project and design my projects in the specific forms instead of the random ones.

Design Explorer Link:

http://tt-acm.github.io/DesignExplorer/?ID=9m7Qwg