PHASE 3: IDD -1

ITERATIVE PROCESS is an approach that designers and problem solvers use to develop a design, product or solution through continuous improvement.

In order to develop an idea, this phase requires us to use two ways of thinking- Divergent and Convergent.

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BRIEF: Based on our study, we have to create a wide range of 2D and 3D interpretations of our chosen subject.

To start the Ideation, we first had to list down at least 5 threads (aspects) of our subject that we further wanted to explore (what fascinates us)

Explaining my threads:

1. Veins of the leaf: It was not just the vein that intrigued me but the irregular spaces between them were what caught my eye. I wanted to further explore these as it kind of reminded me of Jali work.

2. The cool & calming shade of the tree: Having a personal association with the tree, its shade is not only calm but also is an emotional space for me. So I wanted to capture that essence and feeling.

3. Contour of the leaf: The toothed contour is something very specific to a neem leaf and it kind of reminded me of sharpness.

4. Color of the bark: It was interesting to know that how the bark of the tree with dull and dark shades in the front has various shades of red, brown and ochre at the back.

5. Healing property: Another intangible aspect as this tree has always healed me not just physically but also emotionally and I wanted to create that essence of an emotional space.

FEEDBACK:

My threads were approved and were really appreciated by the tutors as they were aligning with my future discipline which is interior-architect.

REALISATION:

While presenting my threads I was asked to record my presentation as there were a lot of keywords that I was speaking and hadn't written it. So this made me realize that whenever I'm speaking, words tend to come out of my mouth very easily which I cannot write about before giving at least an hour's thought.

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VISUAL BOARDS:

After identifying the threads the next step was to make visual boards for each thread in such a way that it includes our point of emphasis, keywords describing the intangible aspects and connection with other things in our surrounding.

PURPOSE: To not let our focus shift from the main thread and to be able to use this as an helping agent when we are stuck

Link to slides for visual board: here

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MAKING IDEATIONS:

For detailed ideations, visit my google slide: link

FIRST ROUND OF ITERATIONS:

I started my ideations with the objective of manipulating the threads in such a way that I could make a 3D installation out of it.

FEEDBACK:

Though the objective was aligning to my chosen discipline (IAD), talking about 3D installation at this point was not necessary as this was a stage of messy ideations. Also, I needed to challenge the norms especially in case of the veins.

REALISATION:

I realized that I do not need to define a boundary to everything right now. My thoughts need to be more free as only then I would be able to generate new fresh ideas.

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SECOND ROUND OF ITERATIONS:

This time I tried to apply my learnings of FVL 1&2, and sense & sensitivity to it. I did not think about the final form/ installation rather just created 2D patterns.

FEEDBACK:

My quantity of explorations was appreciated. However, while making the ideations with a free mind, the essence of my Neem Tree somehow got lost. Also, I was asked to keep the explorations on the color of the bark aside for a while as it wasn't going well in isolation.

MY FEELINGS:

I was a little disappointed as I had been working on those explorations all the time but I soon realized their importance. I was a little confused and irritated with myself, and felt stuck but my friends helped me get out of my mind.

After this, I took a tour of my garden once again and not only observed the Neem leaf but also other leaves so as to understand "what's that one thing which is unique to a neem leaf?". I realized that it was the proportion which was not very evident in my previous explorations.

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THIRD ROUND OF ITERATIONS:

This time all of my explorations had the same proportion to that of the neem leaf.

FEEDBACK:

This time the essence was there but as an inspiring interior architect, my 3D explorations were too flat. They needed to have a 3D structure or form and not look like logos. Also, in order to help me a little, I was asked to look for metaphors in nature like a cocoon and try to make a hybrid between them and Neem.

REALISATION:

After listening to the cocoon example, many ideas came in my mind and I took a sigh of relief as I now knew what I had to do.

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FOURTH ROUND OF ITERATIONS:

Incorporated the previous feedback and even though I had limited material, I tried to do as much as I could.

FEEDBACK:

This time I was much closer to the concept and was able to bring out the essence of the neem tree. However, my focus shifted at times

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FORMATIVE ASSESMENT CRIT

For the presentation, I arranged all of my work sequentially in google slides: link to slides

FEEDBACK RECIEVED:

Being persistent was the one thing that everybody was appreciated for. My critical evaluation of my design opportunities were also appreciated by the tutors. However, there was one thing that I was asked to be sure about which was my future specialism. The tutors felt that my ideations did not reflect an interior-architect's approach, so I was asked to write the design opportunities in all the three disciplines in order to have clarity so that I can choose the specialism which best suits me.

PERSONAL REALIZATION AND FEELINGS:

I was happy that my presentation went well and that I did my best in PPD. However, when asked to look into other disciplines, I was a little confused as I always wanted to pursue interior-architect. My fondness for 3D installations was one of the reasons I chose that discipline.

But I also knew that my tutors concerns have always been genuine. So I decided to give other disciplines a thought.

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PERSONAL REFLECTION (IDD-1)

IDD-1 was my struggling period of the capstone. It taught me a lot of things, one of them is being patient. I realized that this struggling phase for me was like a swamp; the harder I tried to get out of it, the deeper I was getting sucked into it. But once I decided to let go and stay calm, everything became clearer.

Staying persistent combined with my determination to overcome this struggle was the one thing that helped me .

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