• Write an Introduction to this assignment describing both seminar and studio assignments

The objective for bridge 3, we are creating a garment or a sculpture with patterns that represents our own live and/or experiences. We started off the bridge by visiting The MET to see Kimono Style, in the muesuem, we studied many different forms and pattern of the Kimono. We also explored the relationship between patterns, forms, and status. The museum visit interlinks with our final product. To create my piece, I need to create patterns that represents my identity, I chose to depict my third-culture background and my experience as an first-year international student. For seminar class, we have to complete a design process journal which we will have to record our process of coming up with ideas and receiving feedbacks from our peers.

• Process: Develop Solutions and Build a Test Model (use Part 4 of your seminar assignment)

I wanted to incorporate nature into my piece. Therefore, I created this DNA-looking spiral to represent DNA, and while folding many prototypes, I realized that when the wind blows on the spiral, it spins. It’s very satisfying to watch it turn repeatedly. The project gave me the idea of creating a wind catcher, which led to this Japanese glass-globe wind chime. I wanted to make a wind catcher because it’s all-natural. Wind influences how the piece will spin and moves, which is like maturity. When the times come, you will know what you have to do. I then explored different paper types: soft newspaper, standard printing, card, and drawing. The soft paper was much easier to manipulate and mold through this experiment, but the final product looks very draft-like and not structural. The whole piece was just too light that it did not interact with the wind.
On the other hand, card paper was challenging to manipulate and create a clean edge. It was also too heavy for the wind to blow and move. Lastly, drawing paper was the most successful one. The weight of the paper weighs down the piece when hanging, so it doesn’t curl upwards and interacts with the wind perfectly. For the pattern, I will be printing it onto the paper directly and folding it. I intend to fold printed paper because the folding process will wash away some ink on the paper and give it an age-washed finish. That will enhance my intention and expression.

• Feedback (Part 5-6 of seminar assignment)

Present ideas and receive feedback

 I presented my ideas and concept to my peers while waiting for my professor. Most of my peers recognized my idea and symbolism since most of them were international students like me. Naturally, it will be easier for them to understand my point of view. However, some of my peers think my concept could’ve been more substantial and concrete. They thought my project idea was a bit too overwhelming and distracting, and they recommended that I stay focused on one area and expand from there. When I discussed my idea with my professor, she seemed to like my idea. She thinks I could make more replicas of the same piece to enhance the strength of my piece. She also recommended I make this piece more interactive. I was able to make adjustments to my piece. I ended up making three wind catchers in different sizes. 

Improve and finalize the design

While folding the designs, I have to choose between a very structured stiff paper that is more aesthetically pleasing and functional but difficult to fold and get the exact form or softer paper that is easier to fold and achieve that exact edge but its lighter and doesn’t look as good as stiff paper. After trial and error, I’ve decided to use stiff paper, I like the form stiff paper creates, and despite the clean edges, it works well as a wind catcher, its heavy enough to weigh the whole lotus pieces down and turns gracefully. I also experimented with different papers for my lotus. I tried folding the lotus (I knew that I would need thin paper for this) with vellum paper, tracing paper, and newsprint paper (the thickest of them all). Newsprint was an immediate no because of its thickness. Tracing paper is glossier and wouldn’t hold the lotus’s form. The vellum paper worked amazingly. 

For my final piece, I made a triangular structure out of a plywood stick and attached my wind-catcher to each corner. Each strand of the wind catcher has three lotuses (small lotus, big lotus, and small lotus) I attached them to beading strings and used tape to attach them to the spiral. Each wind catcher has different sizes and lengths.

• Reflection (Part 7 of the seminar assignment)

My strength for this piece is the structure, size, and pattern. My structure was solid and bold, and the scale of this piece also heightened the boldness of the piece. The prints were intimate and meaningful, and at the same time, the piece as a whole was aesthetic and functional. On the contrary, I would change how I attach the lotuses. It was the most challenging part of the whole process. Despite using vellum paper to make the lotus, it was still heavy, and it was hard to balance the lotuses onto the beading string.
Consequently, the lotus would tilt to one side rather than sitting upright. Even though I tried to make the lotus stand upright using tape, the tape’s appearance made the piece look less aesthetically pleasing. If I were to do this again, I would plan a more holistic experiment and prototype to pre-see the challenges and solve them earlier. I want to try changing the attachment method to make the final design more fruitful.

• also include photos of inspiration, process, and final project