3D Design Piece Process / Results - Project Development

This is my process of creating the first 3D piece.

First, I created the outlines of my design digitally using AutoCAD and created a DFX  document.

Then I visited the laser cutting workshop, where I laser cut the pieces. I chose pulpboard for the material, 1mm for the curving parts because it bends easily, and then 3mm for the rest of the pieces. 

After all the pieces were cut I brought everything back to the studio. 

I noticed some pieces were ruined during the cutting because of a cutting malfunction so for that reason I took the rest of the material that remained and tried to replace the ruined pieces by cutting it as carefully and precisely as possible with a craft knife. I also sandpapered the edges to be more smooth. 

After all the extra pieces were cut, I tested out different techniques in which I would try to recreate the exterior. In this picture, I tried to colour the triangles with markers which left a messy result but helped me decide on the colours shades better. I decided to proceed with acrylic paint.

Following that, I started drawing the triangles with a pencil and ruler.

Then I mixed shades of blue, grey, and white with acrylic paint and started painting the triangles.

Then did the same with the wave parts, this time using white paint for the base and then selecting light blues and greys to create a marble effect using sponges, smudging it with my finger, and creating lines with a paintbrush.

Then I started gluing the parts with PVA by applying it on the edges.

I was a bit worried that it wouldn't hold, so while it was drying with the placed objects around it to hold it in place, I started adding pieces of tape from the interior to give some extra support. 

After painting the curved wall in greyish tones, I started bending it a bit first to take shape, and after I started placing some glue from the bottom of the curved sides and slowly started placing the wall on top until it dried a little and then proceeded with the rest of the way using the same technique. 

 Here there was a bit of an issue with the curved wall. While applying it previously I saw the edge extending a bit on both sides but at the time I liked the dimension it gave to the structure so I didn't fix it.  While gluing the wave piece on I noticed it wasn't sticking quite well the on just the edge of the curved wall so I was worried I'd have to remove and reapply the wall.  In the end, it ended up working out after I tried to glue it again using wood glue this time and letting it dry until the next day.

Then I did the same with the opposite side, trying to line it with the previous one by using a ruler to each point. 

After that, it was time to stick the columns. Here there were a few issues. First, the sizing wasn't matching well, because of the error in the process of cutting the pieces, some of the pieces weren't cut at all. So I had to use the sticks that were cut for the 2 sides of just one edge of the wave.  I separate them into four for each side on each edge, which made the sizes not match perfectly to the design. I decided to proceed with sticking them and I would figure out a way later to add to them.

Then the second issue was the sticking. For this, I used wood glue as well thinking that it would stick better but even after leaving them for some time to dry they were still falling off and I needed to stick the next parts on so there wasn't enough time to redo them. I decided to use double-sided tape, I cut the tape into thinner lines and placed them on the columns and the wave part to hold them together, inwards and outwards and then removed the white protective side and painted it on top creating the same marble effect as previously.

Next, when the columns were done, I moved on to the wave walls. I had some trouble sticking this one as well because my plan of using the same technique as the curved wall wasn't working out here. So I used the same tape for it as well, sticking it from inside and outside and then using paint for the visible parts. 

I also added some tape on the top points and the wall because they kept sticking off as well, but the tape helped keep them in place. 

Then I stuck the other side as well.

After I added the white painted terrace on top, placing it in between the point instead for better support. 

 This was the result before fixing the details and small issues at the end, which will be shown in the final design at the bottom. 

Next, I started creating the base land. 

I got a wooden base and decided to start painting it first creating the landscape/environment the same way as in the digital design. I started creating the paving stone floor, the grass around it, and then adding the ocean.

I tried to create some dimension with the shades on the water, on the paving stone floor, and also added some grass texture with darker green tones.

After receiving feedback, I decided to make it more 3 dimensional so I took the advice given to me by my tutor to create the pavement with foam board.  I took a tracing paper and sketched the same shape.

Then I cut the shape on the foam board with the tracing paper, I trimming the edges of it with a craft knife to have a smoother rise from the ground, and glued it on the surface on top of the painted version. 

Then I started painting it with acrylic paint using a different pattern that matches the digital design better. I added some fake grass and decided not to add the trees since they looked too small when I tried them on with the building placement. 

This is the result of the landscape. 

This is the result of the final 3D piece. Following the process, I decided to fix the size issue of the columns by placing the building a little off the edge so they could reach the ground. After that, I decided to use Photoshop as well to drag down a few of the columns that looked a lot off-matching. I used studio lights and my phone to photograph it. 

For the second picture which I will use for my boards, I removed the background with Photoshop and replaced it with a complete black one so the design would show more clearly. 

I was a little disappointed that I didn't think of a few of the issues beforehand and be more prepared to have fixed them better. Overall, I was proud that I was able to complete this as my first model maquette and the design still looked really close to my digital one.