Designblog

Looking at the pictures on the website of Spacecollective I was fascinated by the pictures of patterns and structures. Most of these pictures where pictures with a high degree of symmetry. This started my research to look into the topic of symmetry.

Structures with symmetry most of the times seem to have something that is called visual esthetics. These structures have been a topic of study for centuries. It appeared that most structures consisted out of geometrical shapes that can be split into parts each of which is a reduced-sized copy of the whole. So the structure is build out of an infinite number of copies of the geometrical shape. Structures that have this quality are called fractals. The fractal is the perfect self symmetry. This perfect similarity can be described with a mathematical equation that undergoes iteration. So it seems that there is a language that can describe the perfect similarity to some extent.

To look more in to this language of similarity I researched one of the most fascinating fractals, the Mandelbrot fractal. Everywhere in the luminous area around the central Mandelbrot fractal you can find copies of the Mandelbrot figure. If you zoom in on the figure there are an endless number of copies, which get smaller and smaller.

In a more mathematical depiction of the Mandelbrot fractal the self symmetry be come even more clear. With the enlargement of the picture new small spots appear. Which appear to be new Mandelbrot figures if you look closely. When this detail of the Mandelbrot fractal is colored it becomes visible that all fragment are connected via a complex network of curls and spirals to the biggest depiction of the fractal. So there is cohesion is the most perfect example of self symmetry!

Fractals seemed to have an important function in the description of things that appear as chaotic systems. It brings structure in messy looking systems like particles with an extreme rough surface, the leaf shape of plant or the branches structure of trees.

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Transparent

 Deformed letters and symbols when you look through the glass

Reflections

Another object that fascinates me is a lamp.

Today I came to realize that they actually are brother and sister.

Two elements:  Shiny transparent fragile glass - vs - Strong non transparent cap/top

Symmetry    -    yrtemmyS

As less as possible. Form follows function. No extra’s.

A Sketch

Product Follows Form

No extra's: Lamp and switch are now one
Reflections are now replaced by light

Balance


Logical symmetrical system

(Eventually) two elements: Plastic and Glass

Or four? Lamp and Switch included

For me sound is something mysterious, because I’m deaf. during my childhood I was fascinated by music cassettes (casette-bandjes). People love these things. For me it was hard to imagine.
Something coming out of the cassette that I couldn’t see.
some more interesting elements:
– gold/black – variety volume of lines – symmetrical holes – two hole with teeth – rectangle with round corners – easy to put in pocket – parallel lines–

scale drawing “make invisible visible”

final presentation

Exploring the possibilities for translating the idea into a product brought me to a new space for viewing the designwork. I fell in love with the PET-foamboard material and thin woods. I could change the shape and lines (movement).
During the translating I solved the technical problems/errors that I couldn’t see in my scale drawing. I had to wear the showmodel glasses in order to solve these problems and find the right shape (nose-holding, hinge and degree angles).
I’m happy with my first design product translation from the (inaudible) cassette-band and I don’t mind wearing it.

A task to dissect the aesthetics of my object.
A little machine with rumbling boilers and brass fittings.
A clumsy black rubber knob and sharp metallic lines.
A repetition of lines that make a symmetry of circles, hexagons and octagons.
A simplistic and minimal ripped off design for the shape.
A mass-produced iconic object within the field of industrial design.
A constant repetition of form.

Waking up, brushing our teeth, our morning cup of coffee.
It’s all part of a daily routine.
The constant repetition of the same shape in every element of this espresso machine fascinated me.
I took that concept and applied it to another object.
The design of the toothbrush is simplistic yet intriguing because of its peculiar hexagonal form.
A form that came into being by a constant repetition of a similar shape.