re look at design. Simplify! Simplify! Simplify!

Reagan and I have decided to only use one material and simple geometric forms to capture the essence of the negative space of a tree in a the 2 x 2 x 8 box.

old concept models by Reagan

Inverse / negative of a tree model 2nd attempt....

Latest Inverse sketching

The underlining meaning behind the inverse of a tree is to show how the boy thinks the tree is there, but in reality the tree is dead and gone.

Me Playing with wood.

Playing with materials

I have been playing with materials at a 1:1 scale. A sponsor i found is willing to give me all his scraps from his furniture company. This has given me ideas develop my development. I will try to get reagan to adopt this idea as well.

Yusef's Development sketches.

day one of new development ~ playing around with concept models

day one of new development ~ playing around with concept models

Design 4 Jury, Tuesday 10 August

Here are some images we presented at the Jury, there was a time restriction of 3 minutes per group, so we didnt have a lot of time and lots to get through

Full Project Story: Based on "The Giving Tree"

author: Shel Silverstein
re-created by: Ken and Yusef

Once there was a tree...

and she loved a little boy.

And the little boy would come everyday to play with her.

He would climb up her trunk, swing from her branches, eat apples, and play hide-and-go-seek.

And the boy loved the tree...very much, and the tree was happy.

But the time went by, the boy grew older.

The tree was often alone.

Then one day the boy said to the tree ‘I want to buy things and have fun, can I have some money?’

‘ I’m sorry, I have no money,’ said the tree, but you can sell my apples in the city, then you will have money and will be happy.

And the tree was happy.

But the boy stayed away for a long time...

‘i want a wife and i want children and so i need a house.’ The boy said to the tree.

‘i have no house, but you may cut off my branches and build a house. Then you will be happy.’

And the tree was happy.

But the boy stayed away for a long time...

‘i want a boat that will take me far away from here. Can you give me a boat?’ the boy asks the tree.

‘i have no boat, but you may cut down my trunk and make a boat. Then you can sail away and be happy.’

The boy stayed away for a long time...

‘i’m sorry boy, but i have nothing left to give you’ said by the tree.

‘i don’t need very much now, just a quiet place to sit and rest. I’m very tired.’

‘well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come boy, sit down. Sit down and rest.

The end.

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inspiration for our project

The book describes a tree, abundant and giving. This tree serves the boy, providing him with everything it can for all its life, slowly deteriorating away.

The Giving Tree is always present, tall and strong in the boy's heart, but in reality the tree is dead and gone!

Confusion in design development.

We went over the top with the design for the design Jury. We had to many themes and ideas in the latest design development.

The themes and idea's are:

1. the idea of the inverse of a tree

2. the idea of framing moments between the tree and the boy

3. showing the idea of complexity of a tree

4 the idea of the aging of the tree and boy (through the layering of the frames to mimic the rings of a tree)

5. the relationship between the tree and boy.

Since then we have steped back and have tried to simplify design. We decided that it is best to select the best theme that relates best to the story we wish to convey. This is the idea of the inverse of the tree.

Key Ideas From nature

Ideas from observing a tree we wish to show in our design

- the rings that are formed when the tree is growing
- the complex network of leaves and branches
- the transparent nature of a tree
- A controled orgnaic form a tree produces (plants grow towards the sun)

inspiration pictures from Dezeen Magazine