Modular Stairs - Vinyl Design

Modular stairs are hard to climb, but I finally got to the top. 

To build my theoretical cubic stairs posed a lot of challenges that I didn't anticipate. The process became a lot of trial and error in the software, and the result is not exact to my sketches. I used a lot of construction lines to get it working and relied on offset, array,  trim and join. Oh! and I learned about group - what a great command! 


My approach from last week was not working... or thats what I thought. I think the reality of it was I was getting confused thinking about keeping construction lines and understanding what to trim away. In hindsight, this could have worked. 


This approach was working but the woven look wasn't lining up and keeping consistent line thickness. It also felt too simple. Later I realized that polar array with the hexagon in this orientation (point on top) was confusing me. 



Then I started to think about Hexagons in terms of trapezoids. It took me a while to figure it out. 







After I understood how to construct what I wanted, I realized the importance of construction lines. Offset was also very useful to create even spacing around each trapezoid. 



 



Playing with different types of array created a more complex pattern that could be repeated and 'trimmed' in different ways. This created a modular system that could create an evolving pattern. 


This became my base pattern. I would then trim and build it in different ways to get different patterns within the hexagon, with the intention to rotate the work back to the cubic orientation (point on top) after completing the design. 



The four patterns I used (ignore the far left). I tried to create a step in the complexity of each to continue the idea of stairs and a journey. 


I tiled them with array and copy onto a scale outline of my notebook (in white).


I also learned a cool trick with copy: if you move the originals, all the others move with it! This is how I moved the shapes over when I realized I needed to increase their scale. 


Scale was a saviour. 


Same with group! 

I wanted to try and create a pattern that dissolved or used the spine in a different way but It never looked good...



I thought the pattern above was my final, but it was too small. 


Perspective view always looked cool. 



 I ended up scaling also also simplifying because when I measured it out, I knew it would cause a lot of headache and cover the book a bit too much. It will still take a while to weed but I'm kind of looking forward to it. I think the reveal as I go will be pretty satisfying. 


 The Final Result:





Rotated, ready to be cut  (illustrator file). This is a more accurate view of how will appear on the notebook: 



 -SP

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Summit - Vinyl Production

Image
Producing this presented me with both more and fewer challenges than I expected. I suppose that's just a way to say it could have gone worse. Here it is: This notebook that I carry with me every day now represents me. It's a nice feeling. The design is reminiscent of an islamic pattern, organized and abstract. I see it as a set of interesting stairs, representing the hurdles I have overcome and also the ones that still lie ahead.  The emotional-rollercoaster-process:  Step 1: Enter Thing Tank. Turn on this mac.... It took me FOREVER to figure out there was a small button at the back in the bottom left corner.  Step 2: Set up SureCutsALot and load file, press cut.  Step 3: Panic. Everything was peeling up when it was being cut. I re-started and made sure to slow down the cutting speed on the machine.    Step 4: Chill.  The beginning was still catching but things started to work themselves out Ste...
Read more

The Process Is A Processs - Vinyl Design

Image
Designing a Vinyl Object Tattoo: Step 2 The reality of designing something real that will exist beyond the ephemeral digital universe feels a bit paralyzing - and I wasn't expecting that. Where I left of last week was with my top 3 approaches shown below: (unfolding cube, typographic play, and woven islamic patterns) Continuing from my last post I also explored what I didn't pursue last week: abstracted architectural lines from architects that inspire me. But, I found these to be too illustrative and not shapes that utilize the tools we are working with in a powerful way.      I went back to the geometric approach that could become a pattern, and I thought it would be cool to use the vinyl and incorporate the quality of light and how it plays with the pattern when casting shadow. Two ways I thought of doing this: a lampshade and a window.  The critique from peers in the class was encouraging and they felt a patterned geometric approach ...
Read more

The Eudaimonia Castle - Building in Rhino

Image
Welcome to my first post for CAD and Digital Fabrication! I've been listening to Cal Newport's book, Deep Work, intermittently for the past few months as I felt it would help me prepare for the increased workload that would hit me in September. It turns out, I started listening to part two at the perfect time. Cal begins this section by explaining the Eudaimonia Machine, a theoretical place specifically designed to facilitate a state of maximum human potential. One such place was designed by architecture professor David Dewane and described in the book. So, naturally, I thought I could have some fun with this castle and turn it into the ideal place for working deeply. I began by researching castles and looking for inspiration while trying to consider the sort of forms I learned how to build in Rhino during class.          I was inspired by the use of a site with cliffs - isolated yet prominent, and the simple, striking geometry of islamic architec...
Read more