Prompt

 Analyze and explore patterns, shapes, and motifs from various sources of inspiration, including your favorite games, movies, art, nature, architecture, and cultural artifacts. Combine these influences to create unique abstract designs, then transform your ideas into cutouts on cardboard. Experiment with how light interacts with your designs to cast dynamic shadows.

Instructions 

1. Find Inspiration:

   • Look at the visual styles in your favorite games or movies. Focus on specific patterns or shapes—these could be from architecture, costumes, landscapes, or symbols.
   • For example:
     • In a sci-fi movie, you might be inspired by futuristic cityscapes, spacecraft, or digital interfaces.
     • In an adventure game, look at the patterns of ancient ruins, treasure maps, or nature.
     • From a fantasy film, focus on magical symbols, intricate jewelry, or the environment like forests and mountains.

2. Abstract the Patterns:

   • Take the recognizable patterns you found and make them more abstract. Instead of using literal symbols, break them down into shapes—circles, squares, triangles, and irregular forms.
   • Combine patterns from multiple sources to create a hybrid design that feels unique. For example, you could merge the geometric shapes from one movie with organic patterns from a game.

3. Cardboard Cutouts:

   • Once you have a design, sketch it out and transfer it onto cardboard. Cut out the shapes to create layers and depth.
   • Think about negative space: Where there are gaps in the cardboard, light can pass through, creating interesting shadow effects
   • Consider how the 2D shapes can be folded or assembled to create a 3D structure, adding dimension and complexity to your sculpture.
4. From 2D to 3D
   • Start by imagining what 3D object you want to create. Think about how different shapes can come together to form a cohesive design.
   • Incorporate tabs on the edges of your 2D stencils. These tabs will allow you to connect different pieces together. 
5. Shadow Experimentation:
   • Place your cutouts in front of a light source. Play around with different angles to see how the shadows evolve. Try combining multiple cutouts to create overlapping shadow patterns.
   • Use your design to tell a visual story or express a particular mood through the way the shadows interact.
   • Can you create a design where the shadow tells a story or reveals a hidden pattern when viewed from a certain angle? Experiment with layering multiple cutouts to create intricate and surprising shadow effects.
6. Document!
   • Use a simple background to keep the focus on your sculpture. A solid color or plain surface works well.
   • Take photos of the cutout from various angles to highlight its depth and details. Include close-ups of intricate designs and layers.
   • Take a video showing how the internal light source illuminates the cutouts and creates shadows. Move the sculpture to capture changing shadows as you adjust the light angle.

Deliverables and Summative Assessment

Once your prototype is complete, record your work with many photographs and videos of your project and upload them on your Design Journal and then on Managebac for Summative Assessment.  

Items to include in your Design Journal:

•  Inspiration (Patterns) Showcase the sources of inspiration, add images or examples of patterns and shapes.

• Sketch of the Patterns + Abstraction Display sketches of the identified patterns along with explanations of how they were 'abstracted into simpler shapes.

• 2D Cut-Out Cardboard Photos of the cut-out process and the 2D shapes created, highlighting layers and negative space.

• 3D Sculpture Assembled  Images of the completed 3D sculpture from different angles.

• Photos of the Object in the Dark  Photos of the illuminated sculpture in a dark setting, showcasing the intricate shadows and patterns.

• Your description of your design with as many details as possible.

• Reflections and personal evaluation of the Design of your lamp, any modifications you made and what you could have changed.

Summative Assessment on Criteria B+C+D