Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
2016 - 2017
Photograms
My first experiment with photograms which I created by placing random objects on a sheet of photosensitized paper and then exposed it to light so that the paper darkens.
Still Life
I chose a Pomegranate, cut it in half with a scalpel and studied the inside. There are many interesting parts that make up a Pomegranate and I wanted to show these in my painting. I used a watercolour wash, watercolour paints applied with a brush and watercolour pencils dipped into water for the detailed parts i.e., the seeds.
Cell Lamp
This lamp was designed and produced after researching microscopic cells and organic forms. I made the frame from withy, zip ties, a lamp shade and ModRoc. I made the bottom of the lamp first, using the lamp shade as the base. I zip tied the withy together and to the lampshade and used ModRoc at the end of each point to maintain the shape.
Left: I designed the surface pattern using Photoshop and based it on one of my cell drawings. Right: I created a screen print of the design on tissue paper to cover my lamp.
I covered my lamp with white tissue paper and fixed it with PVA glue mixed with water. Once dried, I covered the lamp with the design from my screen print using PVA glue.
Cell Pod
My design for a pod (dwelling) based on my cell lamp.
Above: Pod prototype made from cardboard and fabric. The fabric is fixed inside the frame so the shape of the frame, which is the main design feature, can be seen outside.
The shape of the pod frame is aesthetically pleasing, and the design can be recreated using many different materials. I created these ornamental pieces using a laser cutter to reproduce the design in wood and in plastic.
Wearable Technology
I chose the 3D pathway for my final major project and due to my love of technology I started by researching wearable technology. After looking at all kinds of wearable tech I decided to create a T-shirt that lights up in rhythm with your heartbeat via a monitor.
Each triangle in my design is cut from red Perspex and is fixed to the front of the T-shirt. I tested different thickness of Perspex to ensure that the light inside the T-shirt would shine through. The lights are sewn onto a panel that is fixed inside the T-shirt via Velcro. The reason I chose a removable panel is so the T-shirt can be washed.
Heartbeat Monitor (above)
Design Sketches
When I painted the design, I left a space where the red Perspex tiled heart will be added. The tiles will be added inside the T-shirt and will only show through on the front when backlit by the pixel board lights behind each tile.
Left: Pixel cells attached to the front of the inner panel, with one pixel cell aligned to each tile. Right: Capacitors attached to the back of the panel with the control board at the base.
The red tiled heart appears as part of the design on the outside of the T-shirt when the pixel cells behind them are lit via the heartbeat monitor.
