dsdn104

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DSDN 104 project 3 summary

For this project my aim was to create a form the tended to the hands natural way of gripping, grabbing and grasping that I had researched. The final form was a dynamic triangular shape that had a clear direction in order to communicate how it is to be held. A central whole indicated where thumb and finger are to meet and rest how a comfortable, natural hold. The shape is constructed of prominently organic faces, but also defined lines of direction. My real aim was for the form to be comfortable for all hands, not just specifically my size of hand, or restricted to right handers. This is why I created a generalised shape that utilizes how the hand sits naturally. The process I went through was explored in turn though both the physical and digital world so I could develop a balance between feeling how the form fit with the hand, and being able to visualize a refined, finished product.

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Presentation poster

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Final form images

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In the process of making my final model, the first photo is after the filler has been applied and sanded back smooth, the second while being spray painted. 

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experimenting with this triangular form in foam again to see how it feels in the hand, the indent in the sides direct how it is to be held, while still leaving an unspecified place for fingers to sit as everyone's hand are different sizes. I also liked how the hole helped with the grip, and directing you where to place fingers, so I think i'll integrate all the ideas into my final form. 

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Back into solidworks I started to make some more purposeful shapes now that I have more direction in what i'm after. I'm going to go into foam again with the bottom form, the shape is dynamic and shows where the front and the back are which will hopefully direct the user how to hold it, with the point away from the body. It's shape isn't specific so should fit many different sized hands, and also left or right handed people.  I also looked at the idea of a hole that punctures through the whole form, which would give the user a place for the fingertips to rest on each side. 

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More clay models in a more realistic scale.  These two both experimenting with finger groove, but I still want to avoid the model becoming to specific to my hand.

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Starting to move into solid works to test out what forms I can make

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Presentation slide for tutorial, 

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Initial clay models testing shape created from how the hand naturally bends and grips.

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Next I wanted to look at objects that had a specific way of holding them but with less importance on needing a firm grip like the tools did, so I looked at how hand interact with remotes. These have a fairly standard way of holding them so that you have the best ability to press the buttons, so their forms often suggests the way they should be held, but because you only need a loose grip for them it is quite generalized and less specific. Like how the underside of the remote often have soft curve to them so that they rest comfortably in the palm of the hand. The top of the remote however in often flatter and more geometric because the purpose of the top is to hold all the controls, and the hand doesn't need to be in contact with the top in the same way as it does with the bottom.  I like the idea that the remote uses in have ergonomic forms only where necessary, and might adapt this idea into my form. Having organic forms that suggest where the hand should rest, and become more geometric in the spaces that your hand doesn't hold. 

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Here I looked at the designs of things like tools, that are used with more force so therefore need more grip. objects like saws and knives that need to be gripped tighter because they are used with more strength and momentum often have more consideration into the ergonomics of where and how you hold them. They are often shaped to fit the hand in quite a specific way, and direct you into holding in the safest and most practical way it function. Things like notches for fingers are included so that you have better grip on the object. 

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Exploration into how our hands interact with cups, glasses, mugs etc. These are all objects specifically designed to be held in the hand, but don't have many specific qualities that imply how your hand is meant to interact with them, like finger groves etc. Which means there are various ways to hold them, as shown in the sketches. Instead these objects are designed with more focus on function, to hold liquid, and to sit on a flat surface. Its they are objects you could figure out its function without knowing what it was. Some do have handles but that is again more for purpose that ergonomics, as they are only on mugs and teacups, because they are designed to be filled with hot fluids so the handles are so you can hold them without touching the hot vessel. 

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Initial research looking into how the hand naturally grips, grabs and grasps without any objects 

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Presentation slides for tutorial

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Summary - project 2

Project 2 - summary

  This project I have developed my form and ideas from project one, but with the extended possibilities that laser cutting provides. I wanted my form to exploit the qualities of the material and the process of laser cutting; using clear plastic meant that you could see into the form, so I used this to my advantage by integrating the patterned element into the core of my design, rather than simply as a decorative element. The limitation of having to work with planar shapes meant that the form was to be created by suggesting the form rather than just framing it like in the last project, this provided the opportunity to create not only the physical shape that you can hold; in my case triangle based geometric shape, but also suggest a form within this. In creating an internal shape I have continued on the idea of curiosity that I was exploring in my last project. The inside oval is most visible when the object is rotated and viewed from different angles, and light hitting in different ways, which relates to the initial inspiration of a party light or candle holder. The etchings relevance is in the creation of the inside shape, which is a repetition of circles to create a texture that is visible through the clear acrylic, the round shapes on the inside in contrast to the geometric outer form.

Unfortunately I misread the brief and thought that it was due by 12am rather than midday, and realized this after 12. So my hand ins on the R-drive are in the late folder being 20 minutes late, even though it was finished and ready before hand, Bummer. 

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Final form - Overall I am happy with the outcome of my object, mainly because the connections are sturdy without needing any adhesive. I think the idea of curiosity came through successfully, more so than in my last project. One thing I may have altered would be making the shape slightly more defined, but in saying that I do like how the internal form is more visible as you turn it around and view from different angles, as that strongly stimulates a sense of curiosity.