FMP Project sheets

The Sickle Cell Highway

Throughout my final major project, it involved a lot of development. From the beginning when concentrating on research and finding imagery that related to sickle cell anemia, I was forced to develop the imagery to make it into my own design. I looked at many different ways that I could develop a sickle cell haemoglobin molecule. I also looked at ways that could develop sickle cell red blood cells. I looked at different ways that I could combine them together. I achieved this by using the laser cutter to cut out different shapes, in different sizes and materials. I looked at ways that I could interlock them together so create a structure and all is recorded on my sketchbook.

Group reviews and one-to-one tutorials really helped within the progression of my final design. As my structure is for the public, it was good to get advice as to what people are attracted to. This made it easier for me to design a successful design. There are a few things that I would change about my approach to my final major project. The main thing I would change is time management. During the final two weeks of completing my project. Throughout the final major project, everything didn’t go to plan which made me worry about my final design. I found it difficult to work with hardly any imagery to convey sickle cell anaemia. This meant that I was restricted. However I was able to play around with the imagery that I did have to develop it into a final design idea. I feel like this made my project a little more challenging however it allowed me to think outside the box. Overall I feel that my outcome was very successful however there was still room for improvement. If given extra time I could have experimented a few different ways to construct the final design.

I also thought it would be interesting to include some facts and figures about sickle cell anemia on the top of my first sheep to grab the readers attentions also to help educate the about it. I found some very interesting statistics in the UK. There are estimated to be between 12,500 and 15,000 people in the UK with the disease and more than one in nine of the population are carriers. In the main, sickle cell is found in people whose families come from the Caribbean, Africa, the eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East and Asia, but carriers are also being found in the white population as a result of intermixing many generations ago. Although numbers are very low, they indicate that sickle cell disease can no longer be regarded as confined to specific sections of the population and highlight the importance of antenatal and newborn screening. The NHS's newborn screening programme, which has covered the whole of England since 2006, shows that sickle cell is increasingly present anywhere in the country and not just confined to areas of London and the West Midlands, where Afro-Caribbean families have traditionally settled. There are, however, still high concentrations in certain London boroughs such as Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark where there are an estimated 3,000 cases, 600 of them children.  

  

Review

REVIEW OF FINAL MAJOR PROJECT (FMP)

 

Student Name: Gillian Nsianguana                               Pathway: 3DD

 

Final Major Project Title: Sickle Cell Awareness



For my final outcome I designed a structure that promotes sickle cell awareness. Throughout my final, major project I researched what sickle cell anemia is to get a clearer idea of it. I looked at sickle cell red blood cells and sickle cell haemoglobin molecules. Using all of my research I was able to come up with a design whereby I combined all of the research that I had collected. I then looked at imagery of the blood flow within a sickle cell patient. This really interested me to find out that Sickle cells are stiff and sticky. They tend to block blood flow in the blood vessels of the limbs and organs. This really interested me as I wanted to visually convey this movement. Looking at the works of Carston Holler helped support my idea. Through my structure I wanted to create an experience for the people in the same way Carston holler did with the slide in the TATE Modern Art Gallery.

Through this project I have been exploring sickle cell. I have been using imagery of cells and have recorded it throughout my sketchbook how I have developed it and experimented with different machines like the laser cutter. The final major project plan has helped me stay on track with everything. My blog has made it easier for me to look back at what I have done as it is much clearer than my sketchbook.

I was able to visit art galleries and exhibitions during my spare time. I was able to carry out a sickle cell survey, and the facts and figures were very interesting. More people were un aware as to what sickle cell actually was and the people that did know only knew because a member of their family has it.

Throughout my final major project, it involved a lot of development. From the beginning when concentrating on research and finding imagery that related to sickle cell anemia, I was forced to develop the imagery to make it into my own design. I looked at many different ways that I could develop a sickle cell haemoglobin molecule. I also looked at ways that could develop sickle cell red blood cells. I looked at different ways that I could combine them together. I achieved this by using the laser cutter to cut out different shapes, in different sizes and materials. I looked at ways that I could interlock them together so create a structure and all is recorded on my sketchbook.

Group reviews and one-to-one tutorials really helped within the progression of my final design. As my structure is for the public, it was good to get advice as to what people are attracted to. This made it easier for me to design a successful design. There are a few things that I would change about my approach to my final major project. The main thing I would change is time management. During the final two weeks of completing my project. Throughout the final major project, everything didn’t go to plan which made me worry about my final design. I found it difficult to work with hardly any imagery to convey sickle cell anaemia. This meant that I was restricted. However I was able to play around with the imagery that I did have to develop it into a final design idea. I feel like this made my project a little more challenging however it allowed me to think outside the box. Overall I feel that my outcome was very successful however there was still room for improvement. If given extra time I could have experimented a few different ways to construct the final design.

 

  

Final design

Final outcome.

 

I feel that my final outcome was extremely successful because with all the information that I gathered about sickle cell anemia, the design was a combination of that. however I do believe that there is room for improvement. For the reason that in researching sickle cell anemia there wasn’t enough imagery to represent sickle cell and that it was I planned to focus on the most. This made it a little bit difficult for me to come up with any design ideas.

 

 

I got a lot  useful feedback from my tutors and peers about the way I should go about designing it before I constructed it. I constructed my model with wood because however it was difficult to think of material I would use in the real world. My final design was far too complicated and difficult to construct in real life, so I asked my tutor for advice. He advised me to just make it and experiment using different materials. I was able to experiment on Cardboard, Hardboard and Polypropylene. He also told me to look at existing structures that are similar to mine. A lot of decorative structures outside of shops like B&Q or Homebase have a few structures in from of it made out of plywood. so plywood is an option. My tutor also showed me some stone sheets. These looked very interesting. I was lucky that my tutor had a few samples so I was able to feel the texture of it, however I was not able to use it to experiment on it.

 

I began to play around on Photoshop to bring my model to life. using the colours of the haemoglobin molecule, I was able  to colour the molecules in. This makes the structure much more striking and attractive to the eye. A lot of my peers advised me to include bright colours and within researching about sickle cell anemia and coming across these haemoglobin molecules, I was able to directly use the for and colours to create this! I feel that this is successful. however what does bother me is that I didn't incorporate the shape of the sickle cell red blood cells and I feel that that design is much more obvious in relation to sickle cell anemia. However my tutors are very pleased with my final outcome and feel that it demonstrates my concept very well!

 

Final design ideas

 

Queens Hospital - Romford

 

The architect found the semi-circular layout offered more advantages than a square, triangular, cruciform or Y-shaped plan. This building was complete in 2007, and is viewed as modern architecture. I decided to use this location for my final outcome. why? Because the outer circular glass panel structured walkway offers me a frame for my structure. I intend to cover the whole section with this structure.

 

I looked at this pavilion in Hong Kong. this is the type of thing I would like to achieve using the sickle cell molecules. I want to look at ways in which I can create some sort of pavilion to reflect the blood vessel of sickle cell anaemia.

 

Looking at the works of Cartson Holler in particular the slide, I would like to create a journey within my structure to create the idea of how the blood flows within the body. instead of the red blood cells flowing firmly and consistently Sickle cells are stiff and sticky. They tend to block blood flow in the blood vessels of the limbs and organs. Blocked blood flow can cause pain and organ damage. It can also raise the risk for infection.

 

within my structure I would like to visually create this. using the main entrance of the building, people must walk through this structure. I looked at way in which I can create a bridge type structure that represents the blood vessel.

 

Figure A shows normal red blood cells flowing freely in a blood vessel. The inset image shows a cross-section of a normal red blood cell with normal hemoglobin. Figure B shows abnormal, sickled red blood cells blocking blood flow in a blood vessel. The inset image shows a cross-section of a sickle cell with abnormal (sickle) hemoglobin forming abnormal strands.

Below is a rough idea of what I intend to construct. sadly I am not able to draw exactly what I would like to construct so I used all of research as a guide. With this type of project my tutor advised me to continuously construct things, this made it easier for me to construct my final outcome as it allowed me to see what worked as opposed to what didn't work.

More Research

 

This is an image of Melbourne's Webb Bridge. As you approach the south bank, the hoops regain their intensity and evolve into a filigree cocoon. This gradation of pattern was intended to create a life, a moment in time.

The existing remnant Webb Dock Rail Bridge and its new connection to the south bank, become a unified sculptural form. The resulting structure suggests a new connection, or a knot, between the old and new, past and future. From afar, it is perceived as an object that becomes, in turn, a place of action and transition as one uses it. The new Webb Bridge allows users to appreciate the surrounding views and activities along the river and can be used as a destination in its own right, as well as a meeting point, or simply, a place of leisurely contemplation. As an object, it appears as a delineated structure, a sensuous volume, light and linear. Space is seen as atmospheric, dynamic and transitional.

As I was looking at this structure it instantly reminded me of a sickle cell blood cell. I intend to develop my design into something similar to this, the webbed structure allowed me to visualise sickle cell red blood cells and or haemoglobin molecules attached on to it.

 

Goldsmiths university

 

The new Ben Pimlott Building, named after the former Warden of Goldsmiths. it was designed by Alsop & Partners, the flagship seven-storey structure, provides purpose-built teaching space within the New Cross campus. One of my peers, when in a group tutorial advised me look at this structure on top of Goldsmiths university as she felt that the design linked very well with what I would like to do. This was really helpful as it made me look at the design as a who and how the architect successfully placed this design on top of the building. at first I intended to create something like this however as I began to research further about sickle cell anemia my idea began to broaden.

This is a haemoglobin sickle cell molecule. Sickle cell disease is a group of disorders that affects hemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to cells throughout the body. People with this disorder have atypical hemoglobin molecules called hemoglobin S, which can distort red blood cells into a sickle, or crescent, shape.

This alone looks already like a design idea that can easily be developed. its colourful and a unique shape that when multiplied or slightly transformed a structure can easily be made out of it.

Experiments and Developments

I have been looking at ways in which I can portray sickle cell anaemia through imagery. I have been looking at cells and molecules that relate to sickle cell. looking at as sickle cell haemoglobin I thought that it was everything I was looking for. its colourful and very eye catching. so I decided to break up the molecules and rearrange them to crate a structure. I looked at ways in which I can join these molecules together to still give off the same affect.

 

using the laser cutter I was able to cut out multiple haemoglobin sickle cells. these alone were joint together to create some form of structure.

at this moment in time I'm still stuck with deciding what my final outcome would be. what king of structure and how will I convey sickle cell.

 

I have been taking pictures from different angles and view points to help me think of different ways in which I can form a structure.

I was forced to develop the imagery to make it into my own design because of the limited imagery given that relates to sickle cell anemia. I looked at many different ways that I could develop a sickle cell haemoglobin molecule. I also looked at ways that could develop sickle cell red blood cells. I looked at different ways that I could combine them together. I achieved this by using the laser cutter to cut out different shapes, in different sizes and materials. I looked at ways that I could interlock them together so create a structure and all is recorded on my sketchbook.

 

 

I began to do some rough sketches as to what I would like to design. I got the idea of some sort of tunnel because of the sickle cell blood vessel. Sickle cells are stiff and sticky. They tend to block blood flow in the blood vessels of the limbs and organs. I would like to visually express this through my final design.

I was able to get cheap materials like cardboard and paper to construct little models. However the models didn’t turn out as planned but it was a good experiment to get an idea of what I would like my final outcome to look like. I was able to consider what material I would like to use in the real world. I would like to use tactile material. For the final outcome I was able to buy MDF wood which was a reasonable price. I was able to develop and finalise my most successful design. At this point I knew exactly what I was doing.

 

 

I was given constructive feedback throughout my develop stages in order to make my designs better. I was advised my teacher to play around with multiple shapes and just by simply scanning it in and playing around with it on Photoshop, I could look at ways of manually duplicating them. I was then advised to begin constructing something so I used the laser cutter to cut out several molecules and cells.

 

 

FMP - Research

 

Final Major Project - Research

 

It's one of the most under researched diseases prevalent in the UK and it is spreading throughout the country. Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited, lifelong disease. People who have the disease are born with it. They inherit two genes for sickle haemoglobin; one from each parent. Sickle cell anaemia is the most common form of sickle cell disease. Sickle Cell Disease is a serious disorder in which the body makes sickle-shaped red blood cells. “Sickle-shaped” means that the red blood cells are shaped like a crescent.

 

I have been researching sickle cell anaemia and mainly been focusing on visuals that represent this. I typed in sickle cell on Google and image like this came up. the image below shows what a sickle cell looks like compared to what a normal red blood cell looks like. as you can see from, the image below sickle cells look like a crescent moon. I would like to look at ways in which  can develop this cell into a series of design ideas that represent sickle cell disease.

 

however what I did realise is that a lot of people may bot understand why and what this is without an explanation. so I intend to look at ways in which I can explain what sickle cell is as well as portray it.

 

this shape alone can be multiplied and developed into a series of designs. throughout my sketchbook I have looked at ways in which I can use portraits as well to represent sickle cello anaemia. self portraits was an idea I thought I would be able to develop however it may be hard to create a structure out of it. instead I looked at ways in which I can use it as a floor pattern piece or a wall pattern piece.

 

I wanted to carry out a survey on Sickle Cell Anaemia and I was able to do so. The facts and figures were very interesting. More people were un aware as to what sickle cell actually was and the people that did know only knew because a member of their family has it.

 

 

 

 

I have also been looking at existing organisation that support sickle cell anaemia. looking at existing logo designs to help support my design ideas. I would like to design something that can also be converted into a logo design so looking at different organisations are really beneficial.

I want to also look at ways in which people have tried to promote sickle cell not only through images but through media too. like any videos or advertisements.

looking at these have not helped me come up with design s but also helps to see the what is out there already!

I want my design to be original and unique and of course better than what anybody else has attempted to do.

 

 

 

 

Red blood cells contain an iron-rich protein called hemoglobin. This protein carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Sickle cells contain abnormal hemoglobin called sickle hemoglobin or hemoglobin S. Sickle hemoglobin causes the cells to develop a sickle, or crescent, shape.

throughout my sketchbook I looked at ways I which I can develop this design. As soon as I looked at it, I felt that it already looked like a structure. Throughout my sketchbook I would like to practise way in which I could design a structure.

I really like the colours used, it makes it much more attractive to the eye. I intend to use colour in my design to make it stand out more. I looked at a building in Australia called Melbourne's Pixel building.

 

This crazy building is a real live structure and it's also Australia's very first carbon neutral building. Recently completed, the Pixel Building is an office building located on the former CUB Brewery site in Melbourne. Scoring a perfect 105 points on the Australia's Green Star rating system, the office building designed by Studio505 is an amazing example of what is possible in terms of energy efficiency, renewable energy, water collection, waste reduction and green roofs. Capable of collecting all of its own water and generating all of its own energy, the funky, colourful pixelated building is totally self-sustaining.

The Pixel Building’s vibrant facade gives it a unique identity and sets it apart from the neighboring structures, and its super sustainable strategies set it above most buildings in the world.

Project sheets

 

Project 1

 

On the first sheet I presented my initial design ideas. From these designs I was able to choose which one I would like to develop into a real building. I liked number two the most so I duplicated the image and enlarged in to show the readers that I would like to develop this particular design further. I also included another image of the structure from a different angle point.

 

At the bottom of the page I put some research there. As you can see I looked into the Guggenheim Art Gallery in New York and the Turner Contemporary Gallery in Margate.

On the second sheet I put the materials I am going to use to create the structure, a detailed floor plan of the Art Gallery and a drawing of the Gallery in context.

Project 2

 

On the first page I put an image of the product I was given. Then around the page I put images of how I developed this product into a structure. I then included some research as to how I am going to go about designing this structure in the real world. However what I did realize is that my design would be impossible to design in the real world, so I had to come up with a new design.

 

On the second sheet I placed images of my final design all over the outside from different view points. I also included images of the material I would like to use, a detail floor plan and my final design in context. This particular house will be situated in Paris.

Project 3

 

On the first sheet I included starting points for my Olympic game. I used images that I have taken from the trip to Westfield. Below this I have an image of the game that I would like to develop and next to this I have a drawing of how I would like to develop the game.

 

On the right hand side I have a selection of design ideas as to how I would like my game to be viewed.  however my final design is not made clear at this point.

On the second sheet I have images of my final design designed on Google SketchUp. Beside I have a detail plan as to how I am going to make this structure. Below this I have the materials that I am going to use. I also have a plan of the interior and an explanation about this. Next to this I have taken a picture of the exact location of where I would like this to be.

 

Project 4

 

On the first sheet I included research about Modernism and architects that intrigued me. On the right hand side I have a series of design ideas and below this I have clearly enlarged the design idea that I would like to develop.

 

On the second sheet it shows a little extra research into the way that I am going to design my house and an example of an architect is given that is similar to what I am doing. I have a clear section on the exact materials that I would like to used. On the right hand side I have handmade models of my final design.

Project 5

On the first sheet I have the name of my client followed by her requirements. I have research into the specific requirements of my client. I also have large drawings of design ideas that were discussed with my client.

 

 

Around this page I have several images of my final design in different view points. I also have a design of the Brooklyn Apartment using Google SketchUp. I have also included a detailed plan and images of the materials I intend on using.

Project 6

 

On the left hand side I have images of Research that I have mainly looked at. On the right hand side I have large drawings of a series of design ideas. I have enlarged the design that I would like to focus on and develop.

 

On the second sheet I have a little more research on the purpose of creating this mobile home. I have images of the final design I made and a detailed floor plan. I also have images of the materials that I would like to used in order to construct this house in the real world.

 

Final Design

 

For my final design I decided to combine the ideas of designing a tiny house and  a duck vehicle. I liked the idea that the house will be able to sail in water as well as drive on land.

This design can be used for natural disasters like a flood.

 

I would like these houses to be located in places that are near a river. Looking at recent news updates of the flood in the River Thames, houses like this will be perfect. Many people complained about losing their homes and their valuable possession, however if they live in a mobile home like this, issues and concerns like this will not be a problem.

 

 

 

Looking at Jay Shafer's designs of tiny  houses, I considered using a similar floor plan in order to consider every main elements of the house. using the idea of having an open plan house apart from the bathroom fits well with this design and gives us more space for everything else.

 

Instead of having  wheels like the duck vehicle, I have only used three ion order to make my design more unique.

 

I personally feel that my final design was very successful and original, however I feel that I should of looked more into the creative aspect of it through the works of Atelier Van Lieshout.

 

I liked the look of his creative and unique approach to mobile homes and would like to look into that a little further in order to make my mobile home look more appealing. However overall I like my design, as it is plain and simple and fits its purpose which is to respond to floods.

Design ideas - Mobile home

Looking at the structure and form of the Dukw, I would like to combine this technique within my final design. I like the way that it is a combination of a boat and a car, this enables it to run on land and float in water. this would be useful for natural disasters like floods.

 

Looking into the tiny house project I decided to take on board some of the aspects. Many are stick-built homes permanently attached to trailers for mobility. Jay Shafer, founder of the tiny house movement believes that people should be allowed to live as simply as they choose. This is the same message I would like to put across. Tiny houses are luxurious, because they are easier to take care of and allow their owners to spend more money on pleasures.

Tiny houses are built on trailer platforms and typically, they are between a hundred and a hundred and thirty square feet.

 

I have been looking at combining a tent of some sort with the DUCW vehicle features.

I have been looking at combining these two techniques as I really think this will be a good design for a mobile home as it is unique.