Project 4: Solid Model of Pattern

The objective of this project was to use the geometric and spatial logic of the 2D pattern synthesized from Project 3 to create a solid three dimensional object that dealt with spatial condition.

The pattern created for last project was created around the idea of modularity. For this project, the unit (created in Project 3) was brought into FormZ and manipulated. Since the unit was comprised of the unification and intersection of different letters in two dimensional space, this project is based around the unification and intersection of the unit in three dimensional space.

First, I began by duplicating the unit and extruding different letters or objects within the unit sets to highlight different geometric characteristics I had studied in the previous exercises. After creating a grid composed of 6 three dimensional units, I rotated another unit (so the base was now on the X-Z plane) and extruded the unit through the solids I had created. Below are the "ghosted" process images describing this process:

"Ghosted" Axon View

"Ghosted" Plan View

Finally, I intersected the two extruded objects. The four images below are the final FormZ renderings:

Rendered Axon:

In the rendered axonometric drawing above, you can see the materiality changes from grey to purple. The unit extruded from the X-Z axis was turned purple and the units extruded from the X-Y plane were grey. When the two solids were intersected, the planes that had been cut by the purple object turned purple. Because of this feature, you can see just how the geometry of the unit interacts with itself in three dimensional space. 

Wireframe Axon:

Rendered Plan:

Wireframe Plan:

Project 3: Synthesis + Modularity + Pattern

The objective of the project was to create a two dimensional pattern that reanalyzed a typeface we studied in the previous two assignments. The typeface I have chosen to analyze is a San Serif font. In this blog, I will present my process first and then the final pattern.

Process 1: Synthesis

In my previous project, I analyzed how the design of specific letters had informed the design of others. From that, I was able to conjecture what a new letter would look like based on the information I had gathered.

In this project, I used the same font and stuck with the idea of how certain design principles informed the design of others. The two letters I chose to focus on were the letters "o" and "k. The image above depicts the synthesis of my base unit in my final pattern. The synthesis began by mirroring the "k". When placed right next to each other, the space seems to suggest the form and design of the letter "o". Finally, the shear angle of the form was taken from the angle of the legs of the "k".

This analysis was used in my final board.

Process 2: Modularity

After establishing a base unit for the pattern, I began playing around with the different angles of shear based on the form of the "k". Ultimately, this lead to a three dimensional cubic pattern. The idea of treating the synthesized pattern as a modular unit was formed here.

Synthesis + Modularity + Pattern:

Final Pattern: Fill + Grayscale

Final Pattern: Line + Line Weight

The final boards were ultimately reliant on the process and the ideas of synthesis and modularity. The pattern analyzes how the modular unit fits together to make a perfect square. This idea could be extrapolated and suggest that all characters within this typeface are synthesized and designed according to this perfect square. The idea of modularity is also shown in the background. The modular unit is used to reproduce the "k". This finally begins to suggest a modular design strategy to the typeface as well. 

Project 2: Analyzing Sans Serif Type

The studies below are part of Project 2. The intent for the board is located directly below the image.

The first study of sans serif type was an investigation in how spacing occurs between characters and how different proportions between the characters inform their designs. The project shows a flurry of letters storming down to the bottom of the page where they collect in between the forms at the bottom. These letters are used as modular units to visually describe the spacing between each form. The forms at the bottom are another study within the project. They are a combination of the letters “O” and “E” to show how the proportions of the “O” are almost identical to that of an “E”. By using the counter of the “O” to help subtract portions of the “E”, a new letter is postulated: the letter “C”.

The second study explores the idea of datum and width within the typeface. The project shows how the heights of many of the lower case letters are the same all while playing with the idea of figure and ground. Vertical datum is also explored to the left hand side by comparing the different stems, legs and hairlines of the different letters. Finally, by mirroring and flipping the “W”, an “M” begins to be implied.

Serif Font

The final portion of the first font project is the Serif Font images. These images were also from studying for the GRE. Who knew all that material would be so relevant to architecture. This time the image is a photo of my flash card box. Below are the clean and raw images.

Clean:

Raw:

Sans Serif Font

The Sans Serif portion of this project was collected from the side of my GRE book. Cutting out curves were especially difficult because of how fuzzy the image is. Below are the raw and clean images.

Clean:

Raw:

Gothic Font

Below is the Gothic portion of the "Font Scavenger Hunt". It was found on the side of a box my roommate uses.

Clean Version:

Raw Version: