Wi2

Concept: Epiphany explored through…

 LIGHT

As you enter the space, you enter in darkness, and navigate through the space being guided towards the light. However, there is a moment of light peering in between the curvilinear wall and the interior wall creating a mystical element as you first enter the space. As you make your way around the curvilinear wall being guided through the darkness you reach a bend in the wall that transitions you into a flooding of light (experienced in both daylight and night hours).  You follow a moment of light beaconing you into the rest of the space. As you near it you see what is exhibiting the light and its grandeur. You enter the space it is guarding. Just then you are overcome with light. You have entered the kitchen.  Once exiting the kitchen you make your way into the bedroom where there is an explosion of light from the wall of windows. You have completed your journey from darkness into light. You have experienced the epiphany.

UNVEILING

As you enter the space you are forced to follow the lines of the structures in order to reveal what is behind them, as well as within them. Each space unveils another use, and experience. Functions are carved from the structures themselves leaving you to explore every nook and cranny. You feel encapsulated by the structures, yet safe and secure. The passageways are left between each carving giving you a tunnel effect transitioning you between each space. This heightens your curiosity as you turn each corner. Within the two structures enclosed in the overall space you will find a kitchen, bedroom, resting area, and bathroom. You will find the bed hidden with the wall in the bedroom, and closet carved out facing the bathroom. Within the bathroom a space has a custom design for the toilet as well as the shower. Be careful not to overlook what is hidden within each space. Your mind will be intrigued, and what was once hidden will be unveiled and you will have your epiphany.

REAL vs. SURREAL

Be prepared for a surrealistic experience as you enter this space. You first approach an upside down ionic column leading you to transition into the space in search of calm and reality. You find this behind the thought provoking, unexpected things within.  A funhouse mirror wall that reaches from floor to ceiling encloses the kitchen. It continues into an undulating ceiling mirroring what is below twisting, and transforming your outlook. Behind the wall is the bathroom. You reach a sense of normalcy and reality within that enclosure.  However, the adjacent wall is comprised of stairs leading to nowhere. While at an extreme size it makes you want to embark upwards, but you see they meet the ceiling, and you begin your search again for reality. Behind wall of stairs you find the bedroom, again in place of relief you find some sanctuary. The opposite side of the wall of stairs facing into the bedroom is hallowed out, and has shelves to allow for extra storage within the space. Each part of your journey transitions you between reality and the unknown, a surreal experience much like the path from uncertainty to final point where you reach your epiphany.

Design Bio Update...

After the challenge of creating and committing to the designs of three spaces in 1.5 days I surprised myself in what I was able to accomplish. It took me a large portion of that time to commit to an idea, but once I did I was able to hit the ground running and produce models. While I was frustrated with the process and the time crunch I recognized it to be an important tool. Had I not been forced to commit in such a short period of time I may have drawn the process out for up to a week.

I have learned that I quickly generate ideas, and put pen to page the instant a project is presented to me, but it takes me a long time to actually combine my ideas and produce what has been asked of me. This is something I will have to overcome as a designer. I have noticed the way I formulate designs is very similar to the way I begin to write...I have to have a gut feeling, an emotion almost, an inspiration...without it nothing comes out. My objective for this semester as my design career continues to be shaped is to master obtaining that "feeling" at a quicker pace, and be able to commit speedily, and focus my immediate ideas into something fruitful.

I accept the challenges ahead of me this semester, and the ones beyond that. I welcome the changes, and the experiences that will mold me into the designer I am meant to be. I aim to push past the struggles, and come out on the other side stronger, more confident, and with a better way to cultivate and mold my ideas, processes, and designs. 

Narrative

When I think about the word “epiphany” I think about emphasis, divine intervention, manifestation, inspiration, unveiling, state of amazement, curiosity, sudden insight into reality verses surreal, and totality of the experience.

In each of the three spaces it is my desire to incorporate several of these influences into each. Pairing similar intentions for the individual spaces.

The space is 22’x32’-4”. As you enter you can either move to your left and be in the kitchen/dining area, or move to the right and enter the sleeping/bathing/personal reflection area. The two areas are dived by a curvilinear, floor to ceiling structure. As you follow the lines of the structure it bends around in a coil formation separating the bathing area from the sleeping/reflective area. It allows for privacy as well as a sense of mystery, and provides a mystic experience. At the beginning of the curvilinear structure the cabinets/food preparation units are built into the structure, as well as on the opposing side the murphy bed that folds both up and out to either sleep on or use as a couch.

Designer Bio + Goals...

A new semester…a new post…a new outlook?

Yesterday marked the first day of the spring 2011 semester. Patrick, my studio professor, presented us with the task of first choosing 3-5 goals for the upcoming semester, and then listing our personal strengths. Once listing a few strengths we were asked to pair ourselves with a few of our classmates that knew us well and have them list a few more…our group decided to take it a step further and also list some areas that we could grow as designers in….

First, the list of goals…

1.    1 .To think outside the box vs. being too literal (I struggle with this until I have my ideas pushed, and then I am able to expand, and branch out)

2.     2.To be more confident in my ideas as a designer. (I tend to offer multiple ideas after I have already chosen an idea to pursue, questioning my original idea instead of having confidence in them and continuing).

3.     3.To explore different approaches to the design process, and figure out which style is best for me.

4.     4.To become familiar with other designer’s work to expand on ideas, ways of thinking, and understanding.

Personal Strengths…

1.    1. Detail oriented

2.    2. Dedicated.

3.     3.Inquisitive and enjoy exploring various avenues.

4.    4. Several areas of interest that can be combined and incorporated into my designs.

5.     5.Adventurous and willing to take on new challenges.

6.   6.  Photography skills.

Those added by group members…

1.     1.Positive aura in life and in learning

2.     2.Skilled in color theory, and color palette choices for designs and rendering.

Areas of improvement and progress…

1.    1. Need to worry less about ideas, and become more confident in my own abilities.

2.    2. Need to broaden influences instead of relying solely on ideas I can conjure up from within.

The second exercise was to figure out which side of the scale we as designers, and individuals fell on in the “change style indicator” exercise. There were two sides to the scale “the conservers” and the “originator.” I fell on the “originator” side meaning that I traditionally challenge set rules and ideas, and advocate for change.  Some of the set backs however, are that we tend to focus on individual practices vs. others’, and we also tend to abandon ideas for new ones, instead of following through. The other end of the spectrum tended to be detail oriented, and fixated on one course.

This picture that I took of my dad speaks to the way I design. I think in photography angles, color, lighting, and textures. When I design I think of how these things are effected, and how they alter the over all feeling or experience of what I am designing. Having a bent for photography has helped me tremendously in my thought process as well as in my design process.  

More pictures?!

Pictures! Pictures! Pictures!

I thought it would an excellent use of my time on this snowy day to not only get ahead in my reading, but also my blogging...it has been quite some time since I have posted any of my photography so I'd like to take the opportunity to do so...

This may have to be broken up into a few posts...

Visual Communications Fall Semester 2010 Update

Hello, I'm still here...promise!

It's been forever. It's been one whirlwind of a year so far. Our first project last semester was to design and build a wall. We were split into two groups...the minimal wall and the rammed-earth wall. I was a part of the rammed-earth project, however, ours never got built due to zoning and other such reasons. We also designed a wellness center for recovering cancer patients located in Haw River, NC.

I'm going to use this post to update for last semester as much as possible, and post a later post to update for my visual communications class....

Ready?...Set?....Go!

Wall...
We first were instructed to think without concepts and design a wall, any wall of our choice as individuals...My choice? A wax wall. We only got as far as sketch models (you'll see those below), but I worked out the math and could have easily constructed the wall in a 4'x4' true scale. As you can see the model took many changes, including size (the largest did not work, the weight made it crack in half moments before our critique)...

Sadly, my idea was not chosen for the team wall. However, my team-member's wall, Audra, was chosen. And what an incredible idea it was...Rammed- Earth. I was fortunate enough to have my design for the wall chosen (you'll see the various iterations, and the final choice below), and we moved ahead to gain approval and materials. We unfortunately were not able to gain approval due to concerns that the structure(s) may collapse and harm the UNCG population. We instead moved forward with the minimal group's structure, and collaborated with them on the construction of the wall (pictures will follow later).

Wellness Center...

After this project, we were fortunate to receive a project that may later turn into an urban studio. The project was to design a wellness center for recovering cancer patients and their families. The intent was to include a multitude of programming ideas such a rock-climbing wall, gym, volley ball court, teaching kitchen, 3 suites for long-term stay, and the over-all structure to accommodate up to 12 occupants at any given time to visit the facility to be located in Haw River, NC. My team members (Caitlyn Lyle, and Nicole Ware) and I designed a structure that would appear to be modern and minimal from the outside, but to maintain a cozy, comforting feeling from within. As a cancer survivor, myself, I felt it important for the interior not to feel like a sterile environment, one similar to a hospital, but instead to have to feel like a home away from home.

Pictures will follow below shortly...