Week 3: 2D

This week sees us trying our hand at a creative thinking exercise.
After choosing two words, and then thinking of all the possible representations for each, we had to combine them by trying to relate them in some way. From this we then had to come up with two 2D design options.

The two words our group chose were: bottle and flower.

Bottle: Glass; plastic; recycle; colour, red, green, brown, clear; shape, tall, small, fat bottom thin top; heavy; light; lid; used for liquid-like contents: drinks, sauces, jams, makeup, perfume; vase; storage (holding, carrying & pouring liquids); bottleneck; bottle up (restrain); hit the bottle (to drink alcoholic beverages).

Flower: Colour; smell; shape; nature; small; big; symmetrical; sun; life; water, stalk/ leaves; dried; pressed; oils; ingredients; edible; garden; fresh; seeds; bloom (full development); florist; (flour); flora; organ of reproduction; blossom; brightest, best part; floral; spray; cluster; shoot; posy; herb; vine; green thumb; annual; perennial; plant; flowery (elaborate ornament, ornate); decoration.

Here are some of the combination I came up with based on the brainstorming above:

Combos:

·      Bottlebrush – Australian tree/shrub with dense spikes of flowers that resemble a brush

·      Bottle tree - Aust tree with a bottle shaped trunk

·      Using a bottle for a vase of flowers/decoration/to propagate 

·      Using a bottle to store flowers (preserved, oils, in water, dried, etc)

·      A flower shaped bottle

·      A flower on a bottle
      Bottling the smell/colour of a flower

·      A bunch/posy of bottles

·      Bottleneck of flowers

·      A blossoming bottle

·      Recycled bottle flowers

·      A bottle made of flowers

My designs based on two of these combo's are as follows: 

A Bouquet of Bottles

Bottle Flower 

(looking at the bottle from the base)

PRACTICAL
These three design explorations are written up in detail in my visual diary, so this information is merely a summary of my ideas:

Design Option 1: Lanterns
Basically, I began brain storming ideas that would allow easy integration between 2D and 3D designs. My idea is to design a 2D pattern for something that can be assembled into a 3D object - packaging, giftboxes...lanterns! The idea that they can also be potentially reused appeals to me.
Shape: As can be seen in my sketches below, my first thought for lantern shapes is a tetrahedral shape. One of the main challenges would be coming up with effective templates.

Media: At this stage, I am thinking of using paper, a bit stronger than the average type used. This medium would allow me to print on it and assemble it without too much expense. Of course there are other mediums that can be explored, such as fabric, however experiments with printing and assembly would need to take place.
Style: I need to think about the look of these lanterns. Are they going to be colourful and party-like? Are they going to be simple and classic? Are they going to be soft and feminine?


Design Option 2: Badges
This idea is on a slightly larger scale: I would like to use a pig picture or design and then create lots of badges from it. I would then reassemble it to make a more abstract piece of design. I was actually inspired by the pushpin art for this idea.

Above, I started to recreate the look I am wanting to achieve on a smaller scale, with a hole punch. This task proved a bit too tedious and time consuming, so a bit of imagination is required! 

Shape: Because the content will be somewhat abstract (embodying the Gestalt Theory in that people will automatically piece together the absent parts to create a whole picture), I think it would be best to keep the overall shape simple. I.e. by using a square or rectangular pin board.

Media: I would create the 2D design first on a program such as Illustrator, print it out and then cut it out into many small circles to then assemble into badges.

*Sourcing the materials for badge making may prove to be a challenge.

Style: I'm not sure if a pattern would look as effective, overall as a picture or even a photo. Black and white would look effective.

Design Option 3: Labels

Again, thinking along the lines of something 2D that I can integrate into a 3D form, I came up with the idea of packaging - something I've always been interested in. In particular, I have always enjoyed and appreciated a good wine label!

I found a great website called Designer Daily, and on that I found some amazing wine label designs for inspiration! http://www.designer-daily.com/25-brilliant-wine-label-bottle-package-designs-1808 

Shape: The typical wine label is a rectangular shape, but because bottles are generally the same recognisable shape, the sky is the limit for the shape of a label.

 

Media: If I am to design a label and then print it out, ideally it would be easiest to print it straight onto a blank sheet with sticky backing. The thinner the material used, the more likely it will stick to the shape of the bottle.

Style: There are already so many amazing wine labels out there, so to differentiate is a challenge. I think it would be good to pick a theme, i.e. comic book, vintage, girly, cheeky, and brainstorm the possibilities!