Lantern
Lantern design based on an abstract graphic
The first step in this project was to choose a graphic for inspiration. I was drawn to Bora III by Victor Vasarely, as the nested squares, line patterns, and contrast of dark and light were all design elements that I could use to play with light in the lantern.
After selecting this graphic, I broke it down, or "decoded," its basic design elements. This was the starting point for the lantern design process.
After decoding, I took a few elements and did some rough sketching to visualize in 3D. I liked the idea of nested shapes, as well as this spiral pattern that I found within the graphic, and wanted to encode these themes into my design.
I then did some light studies with printer paper and tracing paper to see how bright the provided LED light was, as well as to see how the light interacted with my idea of nesting.
I liked the nested half-cube design. It flowed freely as it was suspended on the string, and it gave me room to add more detail. I created a sketch of the final before starting the model.
I was limited to a set amount of bamboo sticks in assorted sizes, string, craft glue, and an LED tap light.
The final uses the design elements that I found in Bora III: nested shapes, and the idea of moving dark to light from outside in.
