Emad Al-Qattan Digital Technologies

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...

For the last three weeks we have been working with powercopies (smart cells), understanding the potential, behavior, advantage, and logic of such a digital element in the design process. In "Knowledge Patterns", which is the assignment for this week, we are scripting the instantiation process of the User Defined Feature (UDF) or "special powercopies". This process allows us to achieve the required complexity in a digital model (through increasing or reducing the use of powercopies on a surface). In addition, the automated - and parametrically driven - process also allows the possibility for adjusting and revising the work, unlike the previous attempts in using powercopies.  In this assignment, and after going through the "bigger picture" and goals of knowledge patterns, we first create the layout (framework) for the work that will follow. But, in knowledge patterns the process will be slightly different and a will include a level of procedural ...

In this assignment, the powercopy (smart cell) that we have been working with for the past three week is explored differently. Each powercopy post presents a unique character when using it, as for this post we will use an approach to display visual information; the behavior of the cell through its geometry and, given constraints and parameters. The visual information will be illustrated through color. The range color shades, and correspondence to the set of parameters are controlled through a rule (script). The powercopy used in this assignment is also presented in an earlier post "Unfolding" (http://dtbyemad.blogspot.com/2013/11/unfolding-from-digital-to-physical.html), but as mentioned, each assignment deals with a different approach to control and explore the powercopy's qualities.  Image 1: at the start of every powercopy, the framework is set, and then the powercopy is generated. In this assignment, there are couple of steps to be made before the cell ...

In this assignment the aim was to construct a powercopy (the same process that was shown in a previous post [http://dtbyemad.blogspot.com/2013/10/powercopy-debugged.html]) that unfolds from a three dimensional geometry to a two dimensional plane that could be fabricated afterwards. The process is a straight forward approach, but it requires deeper understanding of geometry. The constraints of geometry - especially in unfolding operations -  must be clear from the start. To be able to unfold, the surface of the geometry  has to be a developable surface or ruled surface (explained in http://dtbyemad.blogspot.com/2013/10/developable-geometry.html). What follows the unfolding operation is fabrication; the unfolded surface is then laser cut using "museum paper". The paper after it has be cut and etched, it is then assembled in the same sequencing as the digital model. An additional benefit of using powercopies in this project is that, when a single cell is manipulated the...

This post is another attempt to solve and create a powercopy (smart cell). The first post on powercopies  was posted on the 18th of October (http://dtbyemad.blogspot.com/2013/10/powercopy.html). After continuos struggle with the cell's geometry and the software's logic the powercopy finally started working. At the start the cell did not respond to any of the given parameters or constrains, and did not duplicate. The problem that was causing these issues were related to the cell's geometry; it required additional information to perform. After this problem was resolved, the powercopy started taking its place on the framework, but the parameters that controlled it's hight and other geometrical configuration did not work. So, I had to revisit the sketches and trace the problem. Nothing obvious appeared  to be causing any the problem, the only guess will be the parameters. The parameters were not copied during the duplication of the cells, that was one of the reaso...