Transforming Geometric Form (due after four class periods -excluding the Pre-Project)

Anna_Sargent_TGF_in-progress.jpg
Work in progress by Anna Sargent, Spring 2008.
Iteration #6, derived from a perfect cube.

Link to student projects.

GOAL

ou are doing this project for a loftier goal than just making interesting forms. TGF is designed to broaden your creative process and dexterity. Here is how it happens: before the actual TGF project begins, you will be lectured on how to make simple, basic paper forms and patterns (Pre-Project). At this stage, allow yourself to make mistakes and be messy! By Pre-Project end , you will have garnered some useful skills. When TGF officially starts, visulalize a small evolutionary change to one of the basic forms you made. Implement this change in a new physical model. Don't worry about the future. Instead, allow your latest experience to inform you of new possibilities. Each step of the way, you will gain a deeper understanding... By project end, something beautiful that earlier seemed impossible to visualize/understand/construct will be in your hands.

The final goal is to have 6 neatly constructed and evolved paper forms.

AVOID

s you work, you will entertain many thoughts to be avoided. Common among them are: frustration and the desire to quit; fixating on a "final" form (diluting the creative process); and a desire to "fill in the gaps" when you think you skipped too far ahead or are too far behind in time. All of these problems can be avoided by freeing yourself from fear of failure. How do you do this? Just take baby steps! Ask lots of questions. Look at what others are making. Don't worry, someone just like you has already done this project successfully.

For some, it is possible to get through the project without much creative thought. You may be a person who has a creative mind and can make 6 forms with little effort. If this is true, just think of the possibilities if you really apply yourself! If you have a vision of a finished series, ignore the impulse to simply follow through with that. In a way, if you have already visualized the steps, you have already done them. Again, allow yourself to make small changes, which lead you to new possibilities.

LET GO OF INTENTION.

RULES:

  1. You are to create 6 three-dimensional paper forms.
  2. Each form must appear as a solid, with no areas composed of only one paper thickness.
  3. The forms can contain open-through spaces.
  4. They are to be neatly constructed.
  5. The first form may be a design similar to the basic geometric forms created in Project 1.
  6. Subsequent forms must be modifications of the first in this way:
    • Make a single transformation in each subsequent form.
    • The single transformation must be complete; don't indent one corner on a tetrahedron in one step and then another on the next. (You can, however, indent just one corner in a move if you like!)
    • Do not design beyond the next form in the series!
  7. In the end, you must have 6 crisp forms able to be lined up in a row according to the order they were produced. You must be able to list the unique simple transformations from piece to piece without repeating a transformation. Here is a student example:

Original Cube--- Truncate--- Remove Edge--- Stellate--- Curve--- Anti-Stellate
By Tamao Nakayama, Fall 2002

Some of the manipulations possible:
Add Sides Remove Sides Edge Indent Edge Partial Indent Full Notch
Notch Truncate Corner Remove Edge Corner Indent Corner Step
Stretch Squish Curve Full Distort Pseudo-Scallop
Pseudo-Partial Scallop True Scallop True Partial Scallop Anti-Stellate (Side Indent) Stellate
Step Parallel Twist Wave Truncate Edge Radial Twist

GRADING If you fall behind or are not the neatest craftsperson: it is far better to have 6 almost-clean forms than 5 perfect ones; it's much better to show 4 completed forms than none at all.

Grades are figured this way:
Grade
Qualification 1
Qualification 2
Qualification 3
A (100 points)
All 6 shapes, neatly constructed, with all unique and logical transformations
A- (90 points)
All 6 shapes, not quite neatly constructed, with all unique and logical transformations
B (80 points)
All 6 shapes, neatly constructed or not, but with almost all unique and logical transformations
5 shapes, neatly constructed, with all unique and logical transformations
C (70 points)
All 6 shapes, neatly constructed or not, with few unique and logical transformations
5 shapes, not quite neatly constructed, with almost all unique and logical transformations
4 shapes, neatly constructed, with all unique and logical transformations
D (60 points)
5 shapes, neatly constructed or not, with few unique and logical transformations
4 shapes, neatly constructed or not, but with almost all unique and logical transformations
3 shapes, neatly constructed, with all unique and logical transformations

Download this document without the images (PDF) here: tgf.pdf
Open a print-worthy "Single Transformations" drawing here: transformations.jpg

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