Unity Project

Unity implies oneness or singularity of purpose, but the interesting thing is that it also implies that there is more than one element in the unifying process and that the elements are different in some way. Designing entails seeking strategies for unifying elements into a whole, while at the same time celebrating the differences that help us to identify the parts of the whole. In this project we were asked to assemble anything we would like with 12 rods made of bamboo (fondue skewers) and 12 planes of Bristol board, 4" x 6". We could use glue as a binding agent. The paper could be folded, punctured but not cut. We were to explore unities of opposites such as linear/planar, solid/void, up/down, thin/thick. Develop vocabularies of rhythm, construction, grouping, and form with your kit of parts.

In unifying twelve bamboo skewers and twelve rods of bristol paper, I experimented with folding of the paper in different directions. shapes, and ways of attaching the skewer. What I found was the suggestion of single musical notes. In this musical association I found my inspiration for this project. By carefully folding the papers to form quarter, half and whole notes in a range of tones from low base to high notes, I created a musical jazz ensemble by grouping a musical note per skewer in a unified way. The skewers are attached to a crafted base at a 25 degree angle, in a well ordered and unified fashion. As the sound of music grows the order becomes interrupted to suggest improvisational rhythms. The base is the result of joining 12 pieces of matt board cut in the proportion of 4 to 6 with a 25 degree slant in the front (cut by band saw) to mimic the angle of the composition. The angle arrangement to allow to suggest a relaxed, flowing movement to the sound. The natural color of the matt board complements the bamboo skewers.

Plan drawing of top view in full scale

Elevation drawing in full scale

Presentation graphic

Contour drawing

Gestural drawing

Sketch models - days were spent creating several models experimenting in ways of shaping the papers, attaching paper to skewer by hole punching techniques, exploring base ideas, etc.

I started puncturing the paper by carefully using an ice pick but the holes were not clean enough. Luckily I was able to find a 1/16" hole punch at a specialty store that worked better. I tried gluing different positions on the paper to suggest different musical notes - quarter, half and whole. Learning how to bend the paper but not bending too far making a crease or line was challenging. I wanted to keep the paper pure looking.

The most unified point in the composition is where all the skewers come together and pass through the first plane. Two planes are positioned low to suggest base tones.

This photo shows my challenge in designing a base for the skewers and papers. After determining that the project would show best vertically, a base comes a necessity. Using a natural color paper that complements the skewers seems like the best idea. I decided to create a base using twelve layers of matt board glued together, in the dimension relating to the proportion of 4 to 6. I carefully punctured the base down three layers of the matt board to make 12 perfectly spaced openings for the skewers. I created the openings so the skewers would stand at a 25 degree angle to suggest a loose flow of energy. As a last detail the front of the base is cut using a band saw at a 25 degree angle to mimic the angle of the composition.

First sketch model - I did not accomplish a high level of unity and creativity in this attempt and so decided that this model did not work well and returned to experimenting/brainstorming.

This was my first moment of inspiration in a particular shape for this project. It was a launching point for my first sketch model.