*Sensory Exploration

The Home Stretch

2007-06-03T14:38:00.000-07:00

I have begun varnishing. The chair, currently situated between a lathe and a band-saw (not ideal), will need around 7 or 8 coats of the stuff, so i'd better start getting used to the nauseating fumes. Here's to plastic gloves and face masks!

Under Pressure

2007-06-01T11:04:00.001-07:00

Today i spent the day making a shelf for my exhibition space, taking photographs of my models and varnishing the full scale piece. Who knew woodfiller could stand out so much when varnished... Below are a couple of the afformentioned photographs - hopefully i'll be able to get these printed and mounted at the beginning of next week.

Full-Scale Progress

2007-05-30T14:48:00.000-07:00

The full size chair has been masked and burned. I'll spend the next few days giving it a light sanding and a few coats of varnish. As soon as it's finished and i've had a spare couple of minutes to take some shots, i'll post them. For now here are a couple taken earlier today;

Action Stations

2007-05-30T14:18:00.000-07:00

I've been really busy trying to get everything finished for the degree show and hand-in. I've managed to both mask and burn the scale models, varnishing should be complete in the next couple of days. On friday morning i intend to take some studio shots of the scale models that will be exhibited along side the full size chair.

Masking

2007-05-25T10:55:00.003-07:00

I spent the day masking my environment with aluminium tape - not tremendously exciting, but necessary.

Scale Model

2007-05-24T11:51:00.000-07:00

The past few days i've been working on my scale model and exhibition graphics. I still have lots left to do and with the final hand in on the 6th of June, things are getting very busy. This afternoon i projected and recorded the concentric circles onto the scale model. Though i'm sure it'll be worth it in the end, this process is becoming very, very tedious.

Assembly

2007-05-19T06:12:00.001-07:00

Progress Update

2007-05-17T14:43:00.000-07:00

Ashes, Mayonnaise and Toothpaste

2007-05-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

I've been looking at different ways of removing watermarks left by the waterjet-cutting process. Apparently, applying a mix of mayonnaise / ashes to the stain and heating with a hair-dryer works. I've also been told to try using white toothpaste. Both solutions sound really odd, but i'm more than willing to give them a go...

Birch-Ply Profile Curves

2007-05-11T13:38:00.000-07:00

Today i picked up my waterjet-cut profile curves for the full scale piece. Despite some watermarks, they seem fine. Next step, assembley.

Public Projections

2007-05-07T16:34:00.000-07:00

Earlier tonight i drove around stonehaven with a petrol generator, my laptop and a digital projector - finding interesting places and buildings to project onto. Taking these 2d graphics i've been working on and realizing them in a public context helped me evaluate their possible impact when used in the furniture installation.

Furniture Ctn.

2007-05-04T05:35:00.000-07:00

Furniture

2007-05-02T10:52:00.001-07:00

Hello. Apologies for the lack of updates - i've been snowed under by design reports, CAD models and costings. The furniture design aspect of my solution is nearing completion (form wise), here are couple of pictures of a scale model...

Form Analysis

2007-04-09T11:50:00.000-07:00

I've started making cardboard maquettes of my furniture concepts to figure out final forms and dimentions. I've got another 3 versions of the piece below to make, but it seems to be helping a lot. The wooden template standing on the end isn't attached, i just thought i'd better include it, being that i'm making the chairs and bench out of plywood and not cardboard... does that make sense? no? ok.

Aluminium Foil Tape Ctn.

2007-04-04T10:00:00.000-07:00

Using around 4 layers of Aluminium tape, i managed to burn a pretty accurate line into a piece of birch ply. Once varnished the contrast should prove quite effective.

Projection Tests

2007-04-03T08:07:00.000-07:00

I spent this morning projecting a few different geometric graphics to get a better idea of how they might be affected when stretched across 3d objects.

Aluminium Foil Tape

2007-04-02T07:08:00.000-07:00

Earlier today i bought a role of aluminium foil adhesive tape (for an extortionate amount of money) and did a couple of scorch/burn tests. I've been thinking about recording the 2d graphic on each piece by masking the outlines and then burning in the graphic.

Small Actions Ctn.

2007-03-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

pictured below; more form possibilities and resin tests.

Small Actions

2007-03-27T10:03:00.000-07:00

I've been testing routing patterns and making little profile shapes and maquettes. Hopefully by the end of this week i'll have settled on final shapes/forms - then it'll be a case of drawing each piece to scale (might need some help with that), buying materials and making them.

Thoughts

2007-03-26T13:38:00.000-07:00

I've spent most of today thinking about how i'm going to build/paint/stain/varnish/put together the furniture concept i've settled on. I'm basically intending to challenge perception/increase sensory awareness and engage people in a public environment by building a collection of public furniture. Skewed across the furniture will be a projected 2 dimentional graphic - from a specific position/angle (where the projector is) the viewer will be able to see a geometric 2 dimentional shape in a 3 dimentional space. Difficult to explain, even harder to realize full size.

My plan is to make a 1/4 scale version of the idea using specific materials and techniques. To accompany this mock-up - a full scale version of one of the chairs. Baring in mind we only have 8 or so weeks left, i have lots to do - too much, you could say. Anyway, here are a couple of camera-phone photos from todays going's on.

Decisions Decisions

2007-03-23T18:04:00.000-07:00

As we only have around 11 weeks left to complete our honours year projects, i've had to make a few decisions. The interactive public art direction has been put on the back burner for now - i may return to it in the future, but i didn't feel it was relevant enough.

Instead i've taken on the optical illusion angle (2d images in 3d spaces) and plan on applying it to a series of furniture. Though there's still a lot to work out, i'm confident it'll both address the issue of sensory stimulation in a public context and function as both product design and sculpture. Over the next couple of weeks i plan to both decide on final forms, materials and routing patterns - i'll keep the 'ol blog updated with any interesting developments/results.

Teleo

2007-03-14T10:50:00.000-07:00

With the help of Jim Hamlyn and Jon Pengelly, i've been looking at ways of using a 'Teleo' in the development of some flash based interactive concepts. The teleo is able to communicate with and control flash animations via analogue and digital inputs (sensors etc). A relay module can also be used as a digital output; below is a short video of me turning a desk lamp on and off with a pressure sensitive mat. Very very simple, but fun!

Op Art Experiment

2007-03-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

I spent yesterday afternoon painting my own op art graphic in our studio. I've been looking at perspective and ways of subtly challenging perception. This graphic is more of a test run of something i'm planning on doing full scale somewhere at Grays.

Today

2007-03-07T13:46:00.000-08:00

Animated Environments

2007-03-01T06:44:00.002-08:00

Here are a few graphic ideas i've been testing over the past few days;

Cubicle Experiment - Results

2007-02-21T07:50:00.000-08:00

Today i took down 'cubicle' - the second of my experience probes. The experiment ran for 2 weeks and though the results arn't quite what i'd expected, i'm happy people were willing to participate. Shown below are pictures of the mdf boards that covered the walls of the cubicle.

Interactive Audio Grid

2007-02-13T04:12:00.000-08:00

Since the end of last week i've been working on a few product ideas. Due to the practicle impossibility of producing some of them full scale - i've been making a few in flash. Here is a preliminary version of an audio grid i've been developing.
Each section of the grid will be divided into different notes and ambient instruments.
All notes used harmonize with eachother creating a C major chord.
The grid is to be set into the ground and operated with the feet like a dance mat.

Interim Exhibition

2007-02-08T06:39:00.001-08:00

Here are some studio shots of the box i made for the interim exhibition. The surface design is an extention of my research into autostereograms and contained within the box are 5 cards, each detailing an experience probe or method of investigation.

Experience Probe B

2007-02-08T04:42:00.000-08:00

'Cubicle Experiment'
Yesterday afternoon i set up the second of my Grays-based experience probes. Shown below are pictures from the cubicle. This experiment was devised in order to investigate the affects of sound in a creative context. Taking the taboo issue of grafiti in school toilet cubicles, and turning it into a positive creative activity seemed like an interesting way to approach the subject. For audio, visit http://www.myspace.com/thecasualtyclub

-Fixed in one corener of the cubicle is a speaker with built in amplifier.
-Covering the walls of the cubicle are two large sheets of MDF - these protect the cubicles actual walls, and can later be taken down and analyzed in great detail.
-Attached to each board hang black marker pens to be used by the participant
-A trail of multi-coloured tape (representing the full colour spectrum), starting in the corridor lures passers by in.

External Examination / Progress

2007-02-01T14:16:00.000-08:00

On the 8th of this month an external examiner from St. Martins (london) is coming up to look at what we've been up to. We're having to show/exhibit our work on the first floor of the Grays building - each person is restricted to a small square box and can decorate/fill it in whichever way they like. Shown below is a scaled down, black and white mock up i made of my box to check a few graphic measurements out in 3D (apologies for the poor quality camera phone picture). The box will be filled with a number of square cards detailing some of my experience probes and research work. Other than that, i've been spending this week sorting out the toilet cubicle experiement i intend to have up and running by the start of next week. Having no money has made buying materials etc quite difficult, but i'm struggling on, slowly (wipes brow dramatically). When i've had the chance to take some video/photos of it all in situe i'll devote a whole post to it.

Audio Interactions

2007-01-29T08:31:00.000-08:00

I've been spending the last month or so developing a number of concepts for this project. Most are publically situated interactive sculptures that utilise sound and light. In the past couple of days i've been learning about the theremin, for various project related reasons (that i'm not going to give away just yet). Here's a video explaining how they work, where they come from and how they were used in late 50's sci-fi cinema.

Also, here's the first-person perspective video research i did, but forgot to post;

Experience Probe A

2007-01-21T04:39:00.003-08:00

'The Effects of Selected Frequencies'
Last month i set up a frequency experiment to investigate how sound affects mood. Each participant listened to a selection of frequencies (ranging from 30hz-15khz) and, using a scale of 1-10, marked their like/dislike for the noise and any other relevant information - such as where they may have experienced that sound before. I intend to use the results of this experiment in the development of sound specific concepts that both comfort and irritate the participant.

Semester 1 Hand-In

2007-01-19T10:20:00.006-08:00

On the 15th of January (this past Monday) we handed in/presented our first semesters work. This included all investigation and research and the bulk of our concepts. Being that a lot of my research looks at interactive multimedia and public art, i opted to present my work as a multi-sensory interactive experience. I first built a large white tent to isolate my workspace from the rest of the room (like they do in 'MASH') - this would block outside sensory stimuli and allow me to control the environment. I filled the tent with a variety of sense related activities, including a DVD playing some of the first person perspective video research I’d done, a wall mounted speaker playing the DVD’s audio, smell box - a small scent dispensing prototype, and two bowls of sweets (one sweet, the other sour).

Interviews

2007-01-19T03:48:00.000-08:00

You may be wondering why i've only just started posting here - well, up until the end of the first semester (oct-jan) i had been posting project related goings-on in my regular blog (over at http://talkbook.blogspot.com). However, in order to make sense of what i'm doing, i (and a couple of other people) thought it would be best to seperate things out. Ok..?

Right then. Primary research/Interviews (tbu);

Interview/Visit at Duncan & Todd Opticians;
When looking at the biological workings of each sense i thought it might be interesting to visit my local optician and ask a few questions. Although the visit resulted in an awkward silence, and then a phone call from the police, it did give me a better understanding of how our eyes work. I have another visit scheduled this month, this time to take some photographs - so as soon as i have them, i'll stick them up here.

Interview with Jim Buckley;
Jim Buckley is a Sculpture Lecturer at Grays. When i started looking at public art and interactive sculpture i needed to know more about the whole commissioning/funding process. As a practicing artist, Jim Buckley was able to walk me through the whole thing, explaining in great detail the role go-beween organisations like PACE and Art In Partnership play and explaining the benifits of working to contracts that cover everything from intellectual property/reproduction rites to face payment.

Introduction/Research

2007-01-18T16:14:00.000-08:00

Hello, all (who?)

My name is Joe Hearty - i'm a fourth year product design student studying at Grays School of Art in Aberdeen, Scotland. This blog has been set up to document the progress of my honours year project, entitled 'Sensory Exploration'. To give you an idea of what i've been looking at, here's a brief summary of secondary research sources;

Senses/General
- biology
- sense related medical conditions

Senses/Technology
- Haptics
- Digital Scent Generators
- Organic Light Emitting Diodes

Interactive Design
- Greyworld(.org)
- Haque Design + Research
- Toshio Iwai

Audio Artists
- Maryanne Amacher
- Magik Markers
- Fennesz
- Double Leopards
- Wolf Eyes
- Autechre

Public Art/Sculpture
- Pace Projects
- Art in Partnership
- Aberdeen Royal Childrens Hospital