Project 2:
Form Follows Function
3D Object Within a Space
Expanded Object
Technical Build Plan
Conceptual Design and Form:
The functions that prompted my decisions regarding my physical form comes from my interest in sensory stimulation, as well as how that impacts what a person feels at a given time. I wanted to look into how a persons’ emotions could be affected by the different senses when there is purposeful or forced sensory stimulation, or even a deprivation of the senses. Although my original ideas were different to the final form I produced, my research focused on some of the effects of different sensory experience, be it singular or multi sensory stimulations. I wanted to focus both on modernity and naturalism in its design, with the different forms of sensory stimulation being created through technology and the external structure being formed out of wood. Making my maquette allowed me to determine my measurements in a physical structure, while Sketchup allowed me to make my form more precise and show how the structure is built.
Visual and Physical Design:
The physical structure of my form relates to my content by being the source of the sensory stimulation that affects the audience or person in question. The form of the chair allows it to be more accessible to the general public, with it being placed in a more public and open environment as well. I used more bulky and straight edged structures for the external form of the chair, which would be made out of wood, and includes dowel joints, mortise and tenon joints, and finger/wedge joints. The top rounded structure is made out of metal, and the entire object has a more simple and muted color pallet, so that when colors or visual stimulations are being displayed it isn't affected as much by the colors of the chair itself. There is also a speaker, air dispenser, and possible heater or cooling system resting behind the seat, with the speaker being located near where an average head would rest. The seat itself is more curved and doesn't have a distinct junction between the seat itself and its backing, but is still cushioned to prevent discomfort or sliding.
Form Follows Function Relationship:
My definition of Form Follows Function views form mainly as the solid structure or object that is being produced, but also sees form as the space that the object is presented in or located at, if there is one, while function is viewed as the task an object accomplishes or does, whether that be movement, influence, or a definitive task. I believe that form has as much precedence as the function does within an object, with the form allowing the function to take place and the function building off of the form to make it more complete. For my object, my function is to mainly provide sensory stimulation within a smaller space, but also is impacting the movements of people around it, which could be seen if someone came over to observe the chair, even if they don't use the chair for its main purpose. When designing both my maquette and my 3D model as structures, I focused mainly on how the form would present the function, and put more effort into the aesthetics of the piece as well. However, there is also the option to allow the function to have the most presence in a piece, meaning that the form can be less distinguished, although that is not the route I went for in my project.
Maquettes:
