Too many ideas!! Oh no!!!
I have been having way too many ideas for a final project. I’ve narrowed it down to 2, “[a super safe] motorbike for a 2 year old” and “a dress that uncovers”.
It’s important for me to work with the final project from the beginning in the weekly assignments.
I spent some time working on the idea of an interactive book, inspired by Jie Qi’s work, but ended up more excited with the other two.
[a super safe] motorbike for a 2 year old
The idea with this project is to design a 3 wheel bike, powered by an engine, for a 2 year old. The engine would start if safety inputs could be verified, and allow for higher speed the more safe the child is (based on inputs like seat belt fasten, weight on the seat, handles covered, feet at the right place, etc.) It’s an easy project to work throughout the weekly assignments, f.x. 3d modelling the main frame parametrically, so overall shape can be tested in a scaled lasercutted model and later on, on 1:1 using the large milling machine, use casting and moulding for the handles, composites for the seat, etc.)
a dress that uncovers
Clothes are used to cover us, to express ourselves, to identify us with a social group, class, inform others about our lifestyle, job, etc. But do they send a true message?
What if they truly uncovered part of us instead?
The idea of this project is to create a dress (or other piece of clothes) that gets inputs from our body (f.x. heart beat, temperature, other?), processes them, and generates a visible output for others. It could f.x. be underwear that shows when a kid as fever and sends a message to the educators/parents. It could be a dress that highlights/hides different illustrations according to a person feeling happy, nervous, anxious, according to analysis of heart beat.
The motivation I got for this project was thinking about all examples of soft circuits and finding them only visual and flashy, without a function. Even though there has been a great development in its expression. (see pictures underneath)
I got very inspired (and surprised!!) by Studio XO, see videos below.
This project can also be well integrated throughout the weekly assignments by f.x. start by 3d modelling a parametric mannequin, testing its overall shape through laser cutting a scaled model, 3d scanning myself and re-design the mannequin, etc.
So…
I guess I have a hard time deciding, because the projects have a complete different approach to the course. “[a super safe] motorbike for a 2 year old” is a framed prompt, where function and user group are well defined and steer the process. Fab Academy is a demanding education, having it framed might be helpful in terms of time management!
On the other hand, the fact of having a semi-framed prompt like in “a dress that uncovers”, where exploration and experimentation steer the process, seems way more interesting… is it too dangerous?
