Emad Al-Qattan Digital Technologies

Coral is a project that merges between both the Virtual Engagement and Materials Engagement classes. The goals of this project are: first, to translate the design from the digital environment into a physical object using knowledge and skills that we have developed in both classes during the past 14 weeks, and using state-of-the-art fabrication tools. Second, is to create a unit - part - that could be replicated and then put together  in an assembly - product. The assembly's dynamic nature was delivered through its parts that could be rearranged in various ways to produce different assembly configurations, and the ability to adapt to its context. The overall effect is similar to how a coral - organically - grows contextualizing its environment. As mentioned, the project will highlight some of the skills that were gained throughout the term required to complete this project, and are organized below as the project's development phases:  1. Digital Environment: 1.1. ...

This post is the third on the series of "folding" assignments. The earlier attempt of this project (http://dtbyemad.blogspot.com/2013/10/folding.html) did not show satisfying results. The form was controlled through a number of constraints and parameters that were not correctly assigned to the geometry, and the geometry itself in terms of its relationship - between one geometry and another - was not very well understood. So, in this post, the process of creating a "part" and a product was further investigated to achieve the required geometrical form and behavior.  Image 1: shows the intended form. The photos is from Paul Jackson's book "Folding Techniques For Designers From Sheet to Form".  Image 2: to be able to construct this form, first we will have to breakdown the geometry into individual  unit (a complete set of surfaces). Then this unit will be even broken down to individual surfaces, each surface will be separately placed ...

This post includes a modified version of the first Folding assignment (http://dtbyemad.blogspot.com/2013/10/folding.html), but with an influence of natural forms. This Biomimetic approach was inspired by the Mimosa Pudica "shy Plant". The basic principles of folding geometry are the same in this project and the previous one, and will consist of two main phases: first, the part, which is the design element (e.g. surface, curve, etc.). Second, is the assembly or "product", which is the mood of organizing all the parts together.    Image 1: this image shows the Mimosa Pudica (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimosa_pudica), notice how the leaves are folding. The plant itself reveals the information required to successfully complete this project. The leaves are organized on a central spine that helps one side of the leaf to be - if we use DP terminologies - constrained to it. As for the other side, which will respond to the preceding leaf (either throu...