AUT - Props Team Explores Structural Possibility of Cardboard
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Props Team Explores Structural Possibility of Cardboard
A combination of diverse skills, talent and experience from various disciplines taught at AUT University contributed to the stage props on this year’s We Can Create stage.Michael Grobelny, Anthony Cribb and Nick Redwood designed and created a stage centre piece using X-Board, a new type of construction cardboard by Spicers Paper.
“Each of us come from different disciplines within AUT so this project was a great way to demonstrate how an interdisciplinary approach to design and creativity is a great way to maximise ideas and resources,” says Michael.
Their work for We Can Create consists of a series of four concentric spheres created by the interlocking of multiple planar components – the largest measuring 2.4 meters through to the smallest at 0.8 meters. Some are suspended while other sit on the ground and are internally illuminated with programmable LED lighting which works to showcase the structure of the objects. They can also create custom colour mixes and lighting effects for use during the event.
A prototype lamp was also designed using the same board – as a practical addition to provide lighting for the interview area – and to create a material connection between the spheres to the rest of the stage design.
“The spheres fed off We Can Create's existing use of a circular design element. This element provided impetus for material and structural investigations of the X board, beginning with an essentially 2D material which through a method of interlocking assembly inspired by contemporary architectural forms such as the Metropol Parasol in Seville became a three dimensional organic form.”
After initial concept and design consultation with the We Can Create team, the spheres and lamp were digitally modelled by Michael in AUT’s 3D Lab and then out put to the Lab’s CNC router and laser cutter where the components for the prototype scale models were produced and assembled.
Michael has just completed an honours year in product design and is overseeing the digital fabrication technologies within AUT’s School of Art and Design workshop. He designed a honeycomb surfboard which has caught the attention of many within the design community and which encouraged him to complete further post-graduate study while continuing to explore alternative clean manufacturing processes in product design and surfboard manufacture in particular.
Anthony, who completed his masters in art and design (visual arts) last year is now doing his PHD, and recently received the James Wallace annual award at AUT for outstanding achievement at postgraduate level in visual arts.
Nick who is in his second year of a Bachelor of Creative Technologies has done a raft of engineering jobs in the past seven years. This year he has been a part of various projects including interactive art installations, high precision robots and an open source prototype cell phone.
Last updated: 25 Aug 2011 10:30am