seems like most people, at least the old timers appear to think that virtual 3D and wood are safer working materials. There are quite a number of people already using other 'scraps' to make rough models years ago.

Sometimes the conventional process of making models are just one way of retricting the mind to venture into other design methods. But that is natural.

The computer model making is just a way of communicating it over the internet. Well personally to me it is. It does not give you the actual tactile feel and neither does it really give you the exact spatial experience. Besides prolonged usage of the PC isn't exactly healthy
too.

Thinking about it, ID can be quite health-harzardous itself. : )

Elfinic me,
Karen Fu

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.....

Am really busy with work all around but if I do get round to dig out the references, there are people who indeed are using different materials / even scrap to work on draft models before using formal materials/3d printing etc for the final.

I too believe in inventing methods to innovate. I do not rigidly believe in that conventional few, especially if the team or the designer is able to adapt and see different perspectives.

Cheers,
Karen Fu


... if you stick to the standard way of thinking.
But I think even in the process that you've stated, if you look into it, that is not exactly 'a tiny fraction' (refering to the conventional method of model making using not a lot of materials). If you are really good at it (visualisations, investigating forms etc), you don't exactly need a lot of mockups. I often see people making far more mock ups than they really need. They don't improvise. Once finished, they just add on to another mockup and so on. It is a waste of materials. When you know how to see and note your investigations, you don't need that much materials.

Research and findings is a must. But I do encourage improvision. And smart improvision doesn't eat up design quality. Its the quality of thinking that makes the cut. You can do a lot of experimentaions of forms and functions, user interactions; and do not utilise lots and lots of foam or 'harmless' jelutongs. Many other materials from so-called scraps can be utilised too.

Probably out of the usual, but I do believe there are others who do the similar. Just that its not that many. They still get their things in -- regardless patented or not.

Karen Fu
ps: its like people who think they buy environmental friendly reusable bags are good for sustainabilty. It does help but the actual way to sustain envirponment is to actually use what you really need to use
and cut off what you don't need. I don't think these bags make a dramatic difference because consumerism to the brim is very real.