Lizzie Wa Design

• Plan and create PDF 
• Define each mechanism clearly – speak to engineer
• Work out materials 
• Show all expressions 
• Further promotional items
• Animation? 

PDF

Most of my time over these weeks has been focused on planning and bringing together my PDF. I want to ensure it tells the story of my project as concisely and clearly as possible, but also contains all the important sections along the way.

I created a rough outline of what I plan to include and how I want to structure it.

I decided to keep the branding in line with the branding I created for my installation and used within my critical report. 

Materials 

Deciding on materials that work for my installation but that are also sustainable has been proving a real challenge. There are so many considerations and complications that make it hard to know if a material is really that sustainable. I think to do this well I would need to speak to an expert in sustainable materials or creating sustainable installations, however, I have been unable to find anyone to speak with. 

I explored the material connection database to find some sustainable materials that could work for my installation. Ideally I want the materials used to be low impact and either readily available or repurposed. After the installation has run its course, I also want to ensure that the materials used can be repurposed in some way, or left to biodegrade without any negative impacts. 

RiceHouse Construction Materials

Decorative and functional wall plaster made from the agricultural waste of rice production. The company has developed new use for the secondary materials of rice cultivation that are typically considered waste materials.

• Abundant Materials
• Durable
• Low Carbon Footprint
• Low/Non Toxic
• Renewable Content
• Waste Material Content

Mixcycling® organic material bends – MC 1049502

A family of composite blends made using natural organic waste, coming from industrial processing, mixed with a patent-pending special seaming additive.

Can be used in additive manufacturing 

• Easily Recyclable
• Low Carbon Footprint
• Recycled Content (Pre- or Post-Consumer)
• Waste Material Content

Made of Air – MC 8493-01

A carbon-negative building material made of 90% atmospheric CO2. The material is made from waste biomass that has absorbed CO2 during its lifetime, such as plants that naturally absorb CO2 by photosynthesis.

Can be used with injection moulding

• Abundant Materials
• Low Carbon Footprint
• Renewable Content

Hemp Lightweight Concrete

Lightweight concrete that incorporates hemp hurd. Hemp hurd is harvested locally as agricultural waste from the company’s own farm in Tak Thailand. This is then mixed with concrete and plaster for a lightweight, yet strong building admix. Size, thickness, and material composition can be customized, as size is not restricted beyond the dimensions of the mold used.

• Durable
• Easily Recyclable
• Lightweight
• Low Carbon Footprint
• Waste Material Content

I also explored the idea of using plywood made from bamboo – it can be recycled or used as a bio fuel. 

Another option is reusing plastic waste to create my installation 

https://thegoodplasticcompany.com/polygood-panels/

https://www.onearmy.earth/news/furniture

Precious plastic community to form colourful plastic sections for my installation https://preciousplastic.com/universe/how-does-it-work.html 

To keep my installation as low impact as possible, each section could be lightweight and hollow.

After reviewing all options I think making the installation out of bamboo would be the best way to go. Bamboo is fast growing and naturally renewable. It is super strong and absorbs carbon dioxide from the environment. It doesnt need pesticides to grow and requires alot less water than wood. 

The supply chain however isnt always completely sustainable and bamboo is mostly grown in china so involves shipping across the world. 

https://www.ecoandbeyond.co/articles/is-bamboo-sustainable/

However, it is a more sustainable option that most and still a good option for my installation. The bamboo can then be painted with chalk paint to achieve the colours I want for each section. 

For the moving parts that would be difficult to make in bamboo I would use recycled plastic waste to create these.

Another option is using recycled plastic waste to create the whole installation. Using technology such as the stuff used by the precious plastics community, i could form each section in colourful plastic using the natural specks to add texture and interest to the installation.

When it comes to choosing the right material for this project, I would need to test out the options and speak with an expert to find the most sustainable and best solution for what I need. 

Further Promotion

I created some more designs to further promote my installation in the surrounding area. Signs nearby would be used to point people towards the installation. 

Instead of saying where it is located however, I decided to use What3Words to show the location. I think the random combination of words created by What3Words is a very playful approach to location which fits well with my project idea. It also makes finding the installation a little bit like a game in itself.

I chose the location I would like to place my installation and got the tag of ///candy.divisions.frock.

I made a sign that could hang within the station to point people out the correct exit towards the installation and a sign that would be used on nearby streets, using the what3words location tag. 

I also created some stickers that could be printed on compostable paper and stuck around to advertise the installation.

Expressions

I drew out all the individual expressions that I would use on my installation and then mocked up how they would look on the face. 

I also created some gifs to show the installation moving.

Mechanisms 

I spoke with an engineer to work out whether my ideas for mechanism for my installation would work as I imagined. He explained that they were all very possible and my ideas were on the right lines, but just need some additional sections added to ensure they worked well. 

With the mouth section, I would need to add in some gears to connect the cogs. This would mean that the mouth would only rotate when both cogs are turned at the same time. 

For the eyes I would need to use a spring or band to keep the sections together so they would need to be continually pulled apart to allow them to spin.

He also explained how adding a small bit of plastic or similar into the mechanisms would allow me to make them click as they were turned.

Reflection and next steps 

Overall I am happy with how this project has turned out. I believe that my proposed outcome is fun, playful and will bring a bit of joy to those who see it. The subject matter I explored was rich and interesting and there was so much more I could have continued to research. However, the findings showed me what I had hoped would be true at the start of my project, that play is powerful and important for wellbeing throughout our lives and that play and casual connection are such similar activities in some ways, that at points it can be hard to find the line that separates them. 

I believe that my installation captures the fun and childlike nature of play, while retaining a slightly more adult level of sophistication. It gives adults permission to play and entices them in to enjoy a moment of freedom and enjoyment within their busy, fast paced lives. The use of a 2 person mechanism should inspire connection and collaboration, boosted further by the common ground created by undertaking the same task. How the installation would work in reality to bring people together is something that would have to be observed once the structure was created, but from a research perspective it fits every consideration I found to be important. It is hard to say for certain how successful the project is without being able to create the installation, but overall the feedback I received was positive.  

If I was to make this installation a reality, observing how people interact with it and the interactions that take place between people because of it would be a really integral part. Changes and evolutions could then be made to make the installation as successful as possible. My idea is that the installation could be the starting point to other similar structures that would be placed in towns and cities around the UK, or even potentially further afield, to ignite the forgotten passion for play within adults and help them feel more connected to those around them. 

Keeping momentum throughout such a long project has been difficult and my process has wavered throughout at points. However, looking back on it all now I stuck to the double diamond method and let myself be led by my research and development to come to my outcome organically. The finished product is not what I would have imagined at the start of this process, but I think that is what makes the project so interesting to me. The subject areas of play and connection are so broad and interesting that I could see myself working within this area for a long time without running out of potential avenues to explore.