ADA LAB Pathways
3D Visualisation and Aesthetic Lab
The University of NSW

Photos
1-2. Motif of flower in VR.
3. Construction in VR.
4. Still of Video with student assistant Penny Zhang.

The ADA Labs Pathway project is an innovation pilot program initiated by the UNSW Innovation Hub. The Pilot offered 5 small research project through an EOI process. I put in a project proposal with the intention of offering opportunity to a student but also work collaboratively to test ideas between contemporary craft making and virtual reality. This project offers students the opportunity to experience the world-leading research labs across the faculty of ADA. I collaborated with Student Research Assistant: Penny Zhang and the 3D Visualisation Aesthetic Lab to render objects in virtual space.

To see the video series >> ADA Labs Pathway Project

About this Project

This project aims to reimagine and alter methods of contemporary craft design and hand production making by visualising the object in virtual space.

By working with ADA Labs, collaborating with student mentorship Penny Zhang and using one of the research outcomes established from my PhD dissertation as a base framework to situate the project.

The challenges of complex contemporary craft practice requires specialised skills and expert knowledge to develop and deliver an outcome. The most demanding factors are time and material expenses which impacts the creative and conceptualising stages. Traditionally inexpensive model making methods, including common materials like paper are prototyped to visualise the early development stages before making. By facilitating the object using virtual reality software, I see this technology in aiding the visualisation process for negating and problem-solving opportunities.

The metal objects translated are constructed from patterns made from floral motifs. These motifs are complex, layered and materialised through a process of casting. By presenting this through a virtual dimension, the challenges of design, material fabrication can be negated through the translation of the object in a virtual space.

The outcomes included drawing experimentation combing various digital software. The drawings are brought into the virtual spaces where elements of the design can be scaled, replicated, and supplemented with additional layers. High fidelity prototyping can be visually achieved and experienced.