#studio v

Representation of Emotion

Bam, another idea that I thought I could work with is having a Tamagotchi style installation, where the “pet” thrives off the likes it receives from the audience. I want to make my project a bit more metaphorical though, not in a literal “here is social media” kind of thing. I thought about how else I could represent the emotion one may go through with social media, without using facial/human features. 

I tried to find some research on representations of emotion, but found an interesting one on facial features.

Universal Facial Expressions of Emotion (Paul Ekman, 1997)

It is thought that facial expressions can represent different emotions within different cultures. There is common ground between cultures, we all have a universal “angry” face, or “sad” face. However the meanings behind such could be different.

Different cultures experience events differently from each other. For example, a funeral may be a somber, sad event, while other cultures may see it as a celebration of ones life. 

And then there’s the whole, “how much emotion should I show?”, or “how do I cover up how I feel?”. When people feel emotions, there is a tendency to cover up or exaggerate the emotion, depending on the situation.

There were some experiments conducted to see what facial expressions were associated with what emotions, with participants being of different cultures. The findings were basically that there are universal facial expressions, but there is slight differences in interpretation, caused by the above reasons.

I found it interesting that facial expressions can actually be interpreted differently, although there are the classic expressions that everyone recognises. I think emojis are a good example of how we have these facial expressions to show our emotion through text, however even then, they can be read differently person to person.

I thought it would be good to ask some people to show me how they would represent happiness and sadness without using human features. These were what they gave me:

I really like the two images of the sky, the simple changes of colour scheme changes the mood of the image. This is also the same for the rose images at the top. 

The flowers work well with the idea of having a “pet” to look after, it can change between the happy and sad phases. 

Revisiting the original idea, I thought it would be cool to create a physical flower which will droop down when ignored, and bloom when given attention. Giving it a physical form would also show how the digital affects the real. To symbolise social media, I could use the interactive point for the user as a “like” button, as on Facebook. Facebook is the most popular social media, therefore it would be most familiar to a large audience. 

More consideration is needed for this idea. 

References:

Biophilia for Wellbeing: A Photographic Observation

by Emily Dixon

    Biophilic design studies the direct impact of environmental qualities including light, colour, space, shape, air, material and vegetation on human psychology and physiology. It applies the idea of Biophilia - the innate biological need for affinity with nature and its measurable impact on our health, well-being and performance. The term ‘Biophilia’ was first introduced by social psychologist Eric Fromm in his 1964 text The Heart of Man, and later popularized by biologist Edward Wilson in the mid-eighties.

The shift towards biophilia as a design hypothesis has increased in the last decade, as outlined in the well known Stephen Kellert text The Theory of Biophilic Design, there are three main classifications of a user experience’s in the Landscape: Nature in the Space, Natural Analogues, and Nature of the Space.

Experience of Nature in the Space. This may refer to direct, physical and ephemeral presence of nature in a space. Physical qualities such as vegetation, water, fauna as well as wind, sound and scent are examples of natural elements in the space. This may include potted plants, flowerbeds, bird feeders and baths, other water features such as fountains, aquariums and water features, or green walls and green roofs.

Experience of Natural Analogues addresses organic, non-living and indirect evocations of nature. This can be represented through objects, materials and colour, and shapes and sequences of pattern in space. Mimicry of nautiloid patterns, fractal patterns of leaves, and organically shaped furniture, for example can all provide indirect connection with nature as natural analogues for the user. 

Experience of Nature of the Space addresses the spatial configurations found in nature. This can be achieved through implementing opportunities to express our innate desire to see beyond our immediate surroundings, explore and experience fascination with natural stimuli. 

Studio V 

Rover Two - The Tank

I’ve finished modeling the rover for now, although things might change slightly. I ended up changing the neck and ditching the side supports entirely, which made the rover looked tidier and more stream-lined. 

I was having an issue with the poly count, which initially was around 18,500 faces. I’m still learning the balance between modeling details and leaving them to be textured in, and a couple of times I’ve had to backtrack and delete a large part of the model to leave it for the textures, like the camera’s lens cap. I got rid of about 8000 faces by taking out a bunch of cylinders in the treads. I was trying to make it look more realistic, but the detail is rather small and mostly hidden, so I just hid the cylinders entirely and then deleted them. 

There is currently 11,500 faces, most of which are still in the treads, but hopefully I’ve cut out enough of them for now. Apparently, most mid-level games have between 5,000 - 15,000 polys per character model. I’ve parented all the different objects together, and currently can move them all in a logical way, but I’m about to start animating. I’m trying to figure out if I can get away without using an armature, as currently all the center points for each object is in the right spot. I’d have to recenter the bones, which would take more time and I might not be able to line them up perfectly. I’d also have to probably combine all the separate objects into one object, which then makes it difficult to select individual components. 

I also realised, at some point, I’d managed to create literally a thousand materials. Creating the wheels meant a lot of copying and pasting, and I think each pasted section created a new material as well as keeping the old one. Fortunately this was pretty easy to fix, if somewhat tedious. 

Studio V: Texturing progress update

Student:           João Bicudo (BLA candidate, 4th year)

Course:             LARC 3070 Landscape Architecture III (2017)

Instructors:       Nadia Amoroso and Shirley Hall

East Bayfront (Toronto) Revitalization Proposal

This 4th year BLA studio project looked at developing an urban design community masterplan for the eastern area of the East Bayfront in Toronto, Ontario. The existing site is an underutilized industrial port area. The following proposal includes mixed use, commercial and residential properties, provides an open space systems, and considers social, ecological, aesthetic factors.

The proposal seeks to create a sustainable, human scaled neighborhood where people of all ages and a wide range of incomes are offered opportunity to live, work and play. This design follows five main principals:  

1)     In order to create equity amongst mobility networks, the use of automobiles is deemphasized; this, in turn, creates opportunity for public transit and pedestrian oriented blocks and streets.

2)     Pedestrian oriented blocks and streets offer spaces for community building and connection by means of art, markets, squares, courtyards and public parks.

3)     Natural areas enhance the features of the community; large parks incorporate on-site storm water management

4)     Connection to nature and Lake Ontario plays a crucial role in recreational and aesthetic value for both residents and visitors.

5)     Local colors, forms, culture and history are integrated into the character of blocks, streets, buildings and public spaces.

The outcome is a compact, ordered and unique location, bustling with life. It is a community that balances culture and modernity providing an exclusive experience specific to the city of Toronto.

Studio V: Small status update for 09/05/17

New direction for the ship’s graphic design. No more black (or rather, very little) and smoother blue speed lines rather than the rough lightning of before. I’ve moved the writing on the intake forward, and added panels to the middle engine cowling, as well as logos to there and the wings. I think this is enough for today, tomorrow I will finish it with a couple more logos, and weathering: soot streaks and crosshatching to add to the cell shades style while also breaking up the flat areas. 

We are all storytellers

Exercise 1: Expressing memories

The days before I left Europe, around one month ago, were a little emotional, but in some ways I was glad to finally be in the home stretch of my lengthy stay. I went with a close friend Emmi to Munich, and had one hell of a night out, right before one hell of a hungover day of exploration. Soon we left for his hometown of Tettnang, which is right by Lake Constance - from there I was able to see my second homeland, Switzerland. It was a shame that I was unable to go there again before I left. I spent a pleasant couple of days at Emmi’s, and was able to practice my first language a little. But all good things had to come to an end, and I had to say my goodbyes.

From there, I took a train to Brussels, to once more meet with my Flatmate and closest friend in Tilburg, Augustin. We’d said goodbye two weeks before, as we were uncertain if there’d be time to catch up before that flight home - that time, after I left, was the first time I cried in those whole six months. There wasn’t any crying this time on my part. I had dinner with Gus and and stayed the night at his place, once again meeting his family, who were some of the most welcoming people I’ve ever met, even if their English was very limited. Early the next morning I left Brussels for what I most certainly hope is not the last time.

From there, I traveled back to Tilburg, the city where I’d spent six months making friends from the world over and having a good time. The place felt different from when I’d left it - the people I’d met from around the world were mostly gone. It’s streets were familiar, but the place didn’t feel like home without the dozens of people I’d met, or the constant WhatsApp notifications from said friends. I retrieved the two suitcases full of stuff I’d acquired over my stay, and headed to the train station with Frennie, meeting with a friend from my class, Julie when we arrived. I said my goodbyes to Julie, but felt somewhat optimistic - I’m sure that’s not the last I’ve seen over her, or Tilburg for that matter.

Frennie and I took a crowded train from there to Amsterdam Schiphol airport. I didn’t know how to feel: last time it was her leaving my country, not the other way around. Before too long it was time to say goodbye, and I headed through security to encounter the typical long line of tired passengers. What better time to ues those headphones that had served me so well throughout the trip -

*Snap*

Oh.

Exercise 2: Your three favorite films

Were I trapped on a desert Island with some means of watching only three movies of my choice, I guess I’d be wondering how such a situation would come about on a desert island. But to pick some favourites...

Blade Runner - I just can’t get over the philosophical drama, the rain soaked neon, and the quintessential cyberpunk-ness of this film.

Star Wars Episode V - No escaping my favourite franchise. The original trilogy as a whole is a story about redemption and - you know what, I’m not really sure what the deep connection I have with Star Wars is. I think I’m just a nerd.

It’s cheating, but the book the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - a story about approaching any situation with humour, and being able to have a positive outlook as a whole.

The similarities:

They’re obviously all scifi.

All of them are about the protagonist going through some pretty trying circumstances.

They’re all from some time before I was born.

Exercise 3: What if...

The films above could be described as:

What if the your greatest enemy was your own father?

What if Machines could think with a mind like a human’s?

What if earth really just was an experiment in a perplexing universe?

The “what if” ideas I’ve had are:

What if weapons could think - how would they feel about their purpose?

What if there is no greater truth?

What if humans truly became one civilisation?

pretentious questions I guess...

Exercise 4: Characters & Worlds

A -Returning to the three “films”

Who are the main characters?

Is there a character you identify with most?

Where does the movie take place? Is it one world or multiple worlds?

Blade Runner - Deckard, Rachel, Roy

I’m not sure if there is really a character I identify with...

It takes place in one world, that of dystopian Los Angeles.

Star Wars V - Luke, Leia, Han, Vader

In some ways I identify as Luke’s frustration that he doesn’t feel like he’s learning fast enough.

Literally speaking, it does take place on multiple planets so...

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Arthur, Ford, Trillian, Zaphod, Marvin

I find Arthur relatable, as he navigates a universe that makes less and less sense as time goes on.

Again, multiple “worlds.” (planets) Maybe I’m being a bit literal here.

B - I feel like the characters here aren’t especially compatible with those from other films (or books), as each has a distinct tone - tragic philosophy, faith and redemption, and that the world doesn’t make much sense, might as well roll with it respectively.

C - A favourite “what if”

What if weapons could think - how would they feel about their purpose?

It’s the distant future, and humanity is living in a world they did not create, but most certainly did destroy. Corporations rule supreme, and the teeming billions of humanity live in a world rife with injustice and corruption.

Terminal illnesses are more and more frequent, but one corporation offers a second chance - have your consciousness severed from you body, and live in their service for 25 years.

Cyborgs exist in many different forms, but for those who rebel, their consciousness is made to serve only one purpose - operating a weapon to crush any resistance.