Product Design
Process Journal
Urban planning is important in building and planning out the blueprint of cities around the world, helping plan out effective transportation and living systems to make living more sustainable inside a large city. Being a big project, I worked along my partner Reza, with one goal in common. To build a develop a sustainable and effective urban planning design to improve the quality of life in slum stricken areas of Jakarta, in particular those of North Jakarta. Though we had not formulated an official plan in the beginning, like the one below. We had created and produced an unofficial plan similar to the one below but with less detail and description. Despite not being an official plan and lacking most details at first. We were able to successfully follow it throughout the process, modifying and adding more details to it as we proceeded forming the eventual plan that is shown below. The unofficial plan was followed chronologically like the official plan. Starting with the preparation step, proceeding to the creating and finalizing step.
This applying of the plan is evident throughout the process, where at first we were required to do chose a location we wanted to improve in terms of urban planning in Indonesia, by opening Google Maps. Our main focus was to improve many of North Jakarta’s slum areas, by improving urban planning there through developing more effective transportation systems, and sustainable living environment. We took a screen shot of the area we chose, and analyzed it to identify the problem, and to know what our research should be directed to come with the solutions required to solve the problems. The research was mainly done to give my partner and I an insight and better understanding of the problem, as well know how urban planners around the world solve bad city planning, giving us ideas and inspiration to solve the bad urban planning problems from our chosen location in Northern Jakarta. Even after the research was done, we were far from starting to create our model, as we now had to create the scaled map based on the chosen location in Northern Jakarta. This map was the blueprint of our model we were about to build, and contained all its improved features, like apartment buildings to house tens of families to decrease residential zones, providing more areas for industrial and commercial zones, as well as provide bigger streets and walkways, making it easier to get from place to place by foot. Though we initially thought that it was easy and simple to complete, we greatly underestimated the challenge we faced. As the scaling and detail done on the map surprisingly consumed at least 4 Design Technology (DT) periods, equivalent to one and a half week of class, leaving us to only have one week to complete the model, finalize and present the entire product to our customers.
This shock also revealed how ambitious our eventual product was, and that it wasn’t as easy to complete as it seemed. Though we were still in the planning stages of our product, it did drag in at least 4 unofficial customers, which were our classmates that were interested or simply curious of our product and project. Though they were not our intended customers, they provided useful and reliable inputs in terms of the ACCESSFM especially for aesthetics, as they too are citizens and from their experiences provided inputs of describing a comfortable and nice environment. Eventually completing the plan, we still followed our plan chronologically now moving up to the next stage of creating the model.
Though we didn’t follow the plan in terms of time, as we were far behind in terms of progress then other classmates. We followed the map, which was the blueprint of our product as accurate and precise we could, scaling it down to the wooden board we used as the base of our model. There were only several modifications made in the initial plan intended shown by the map, as the board wasn’t in size scaled to the size of the map. Resulting in some of the building sizes to be altered, and some of the streets to become longer in terms of length. Never the less we both tried to make the model as accurate as possible to the map, to prevent any alters in its design specifications such as function that were present in the map. We followed the plan as accurate as we could, which is evident when comparing the map and the eventual model. Where its accuracy and precision is present and evident. Despite being very accurate and precise, it came at an expensive price time wise, consuming at least double to triple the amount of time we took to complete the preparation process. Leaving us with little time to complete finalizing the product with our clients.
We didn’t so much followed our initial plan in the finalizing step of the creation process of our product, as we weren’t able to contact the clients we required to assess our model, and didn’t have enough time to do that as well. This resulted us to modify our planning once again, and alter a bit of the plan to still get feedback required to see how well our product followed the design specs, by using our families and friends as our customers. Though we would still eventually present the model to our original clients, this would be done in the weeks that follow up to May the 30th, where we have the resources in terms of time to conduct a meeting with government officials that are experts in terms of urban planning. Never the less we used our families and friends as our clients to assess and see if we followed our design specs (ACCESSFM), as they are still reliable being citizens. This would allow them from their experiences such as traffic, to see if the urban planning is able to compensate and solve the problem. As well as providing inputs how we could improve our urban planning based on what they think is comfortable and sustainable living. Though they are not as reliable as the third party experts we originally wanted to test our product with in assessing the design specs. Their inputs could serve as a good alternative way to seek improvements for our product, to make the best out of it when we finally will submit it on May the 30th 2016.
This applying of the plan is evident throughout the process, where at first we were required to do chose a location we wanted to improve in terms of urban planning in Indonesia, by opening Google Maps. Our main focus was to improve many of North Jakarta’s slum areas, by improving urban planning there through developing more effective transportation systems, and sustainable living environment. We took a screen shot of the area we chose, and analyzed it to identify the problem, and to know what our research should be directed to come with the solutions required to solve the problems. The research was mainly done to give my partner and I an insight and better understanding of the problem, as well know how urban planners around the world solve bad city planning, giving us ideas and inspiration to solve the bad urban planning problems from our chosen location in Northern Jakarta. Even after the research was done, we were far from starting to create our model, as we now had to create the scaled map based on the chosen location in Northern Jakarta. This map was the blueprint of our model we were about to build, and contained all its improved features, like apartment buildings to house tens of families to decrease residential zones, providing more areas for industrial and commercial zones, as well as provide bigger streets and walkways, making it easier to get from place to place by foot. Though we initially thought that it was easy and simple to complete, we greatly underestimated the challenge we faced. As the scaling and detail done on the map surprisingly consumed at least 4 Design Technology (DT) periods, equivalent to one and a half week of class, leaving us to only have one week to complete the model, finalize and present the entire product to our customers.
This shock also revealed how ambitious our eventual product was, and that it wasn’t as easy to complete as it seemed. Though we were still in the planning stages of our product, it did drag in at least 4 unofficial customers, which were our classmates that were interested or simply curious of our product and project. Though they were not our intended customers, they provided useful and reliable inputs in terms of the ACCESSFM especially for aesthetics, as they too are citizens and from their experiences provided inputs of describing a comfortable and nice environment. Eventually completing the plan, we still followed our plan chronologically now moving up to the next stage of creating the model.
Though we didn’t follow the plan in terms of time, as we were far behind in terms of progress then other classmates. We followed the map, which was the blueprint of our product as accurate and precise we could, scaling it down to the wooden board we used as the base of our model. There were only several modifications made in the initial plan intended shown by the map, as the board wasn’t in size scaled to the size of the map. Resulting in some of the building sizes to be altered, and some of the streets to become longer in terms of length. Never the less we both tried to make the model as accurate as possible to the map, to prevent any alters in its design specifications such as function that were present in the map. We followed the plan as accurate as we could, which is evident when comparing the map and the eventual model. Where its accuracy and precision is present and evident. Despite being very accurate and precise, it came at an expensive price time wise, consuming at least double to triple the amount of time we took to complete the preparation process. Leaving us with little time to complete finalizing the product with our clients.
We didn’t so much followed our initial plan in the finalizing step of the creation process of our product, as we weren’t able to contact the clients we required to assess our model, and didn’t have enough time to do that as well. This resulted us to modify our planning once again, and alter a bit of the plan to still get feedback required to see how well our product followed the design specs, by using our families and friends as our customers. Though we would still eventually present the model to our original clients, this would be done in the weeks that follow up to May the 30th, where we have the resources in terms of time to conduct a meeting with government officials that are experts in terms of urban planning. Never the less we used our families and friends as our clients to assess and see if we followed our design specs (ACCESSFM), as they are still reliable being citizens. This would allow them from their experiences such as traffic, to see if the urban planning is able to compensate and solve the problem. As well as providing inputs how we could improve our urban planning based on what they think is comfortable and sustainable living. Though they are not as reliable as the third party experts we originally wanted to test our product with in assessing the design specs. Their inputs could serve as a good alternative way to seek improvements for our product, to make the best out of it when we finally will submit it on May the 30th 2016.
Final Plan
Is my plan logical and easy to understand?
The plan is very logical and easy to understand, as it is made in chronological order with detail following each step that takes place. The plan is made in chronological order in order to make it easier for people to follow, starting from the preparation of materials and planning of the product, to creating the product, and eventually evaluating it in the end based on the impact on the clients and their feedbacks. This would also prevent the reader to become less confused. As if the step would not be presented and explained in chronological order, it would look more like a gigantic mess and statements on how to complete the product, without any effective links between the steps. This makes it more difficult for following the plan, and would confuse the reader, as they do not know where to start and where to end. The plan is furthermore detailed as it explains each step in terms of equipment, materials, skills, and time required for each step. That gives the reader the idea and information required to know what is needed and has to be prepared to complete each step. Though the step isn’t supported unlike most of my previous product design planning, having nothing to visualize the steps that makes it easier for the reader to understand how they should conduct each step. The simplicity of the format of this planning, consisting out of three main steps being preparing, creating, and evaluating, furthermore explaining the equipment, material, skill, and time required to complete each step. Give more then enough information for the reader to understand and follow the procedure in creating the product.
Survey Client Feedback (Compiled)
Aesthetics
Is it easy to understand what is presented in the urban planning model? Why or why not?
Yes because I can clearly see the houses and the apartment, however it would have been better if it was painted to understand the model more: II
Yes because the design is nice and logical: I
Do you think the design of the urban planning model is logical in ensuring effective transportation systems that support a sustainable neighborhood?
Logical in terms of transport that is easy to follow: II
Logical in terms of sustainable neighborhood: I
Customer
If the government would apply the product in building more sustainable neighbor hoods would you want to live there?
Maybe. Though the design is simple, it provides easy access to anything needed by the citizen for example a school can be easily reached by walking which provides a heathier environment by decreasing the use of oil and gas. However the neighborhood does not provide safety signs, for example a stop sign, or a zebra path: III
What would be something you like from the urban planning?
That the citizen can easily access go to work, home, supermarket, and school: III
What would be something you dislike from the urban planning?
That the factory creates pollution and is near schools and homes: II
The roads don’t make any sense: I
Cost
What do you think the cost would be for the government to apply this product in creating more sustainable neighborhoods and effective transport systems?
Depends. It depends on what kind of materials the government will use and how much space they are going to use, and where they plan to put it: III
Ergonomics
What are the models strengths in terms of ergonomics?
Simple and easy to follow: I
Convenient in terms of relating public transport and promoting people to walk: II
What are the models weaknesses in terms of ergonomics?
??? : I
Roads systems are inconvenient: I
Zone placement is inconvenient: I
Safety
Does the model contain any dangerous or hazardous features that could threathen ones safety? For example: sharp pieces, choke able pieces, poisonous materials, bad smell.
Nope all is safe and good: III
Size
Is the size of the urban planning appropriate for its intended purpose? For example: Is it too big or too small?
It needs to create a sign or some way to inform the customer the scale of the model: III
Function
Does the urban planning model serve its purpose in providing a effective system of transport and sustainable neighborhood? Why?
Yes because it finds a way to decrease the use of cars because everything is so close. It also saves up space as the model provides apartments instead of houses: III
Materials
What are the advantages from the materials?
It seems easy to cut and glue which makes it easier for the customer to understand the product.: III
What are the disadvantages from the materials?
The material can be easily burned or destroyed because it is weak and is flammable: II
Fragile: I
Manufacturing
Is the quality of manufacturing present in the product?
Very neat and detailed, made with high quality: III
Are the methods (gluing, cutting, measuring) used suitable for manufacturing the product?
Yes because it allows the product to become more accurate in shape and size, neat in terms of cutting, and easier to create and put together in terms of gluing: III
What could have been improved in the manufacturing process to improve the models quality?
Neatness especially in terms of glue: II
Neatness in terms of cutting: I
Aesthetics
Is it easy to understand what is presented in the urban planning model? Why or why not?
Yes because I can clearly see the houses and the apartment, however it would have been better if it was painted to understand the model more: II
Yes because the design is nice and logical: I
Do you think the design of the urban planning model is logical in ensuring effective transportation systems that support a sustainable neighborhood?
Logical in terms of transport that is easy to follow: II
Logical in terms of sustainable neighborhood: I
Customer
If the government would apply the product in building more sustainable neighbor hoods would you want to live there?
Maybe. Though the design is simple, it provides easy access to anything needed by the citizen for example a school can be easily reached by walking which provides a heathier environment by decreasing the use of oil and gas. However the neighborhood does not provide safety signs, for example a stop sign, or a zebra path: III
What would be something you like from the urban planning?
That the citizen can easily access go to work, home, supermarket, and school: III
What would be something you dislike from the urban planning?
That the factory creates pollution and is near schools and homes: II
The roads don’t make any sense: I
Cost
What do you think the cost would be for the government to apply this product in creating more sustainable neighborhoods and effective transport systems?
Depends. It depends on what kind of materials the government will use and how much space they are going to use, and where they plan to put it: III
Ergonomics
What are the models strengths in terms of ergonomics?
Simple and easy to follow: I
Convenient in terms of relating public transport and promoting people to walk: II
What are the models weaknesses in terms of ergonomics?
??? : I
Roads systems are inconvenient: I
Zone placement is inconvenient: I
Safety
Does the model contain any dangerous or hazardous features that could threathen ones safety? For example: sharp pieces, choke able pieces, poisonous materials, bad smell.
Nope all is safe and good: III
Size
Is the size of the urban planning appropriate for its intended purpose? For example: Is it too big or too small?
It needs to create a sign or some way to inform the customer the scale of the model: III
Function
Does the urban planning model serve its purpose in providing a effective system of transport and sustainable neighborhood? Why?
Yes because it finds a way to decrease the use of cars because everything is so close. It also saves up space as the model provides apartments instead of houses: III
Materials
What are the advantages from the materials?
It seems easy to cut and glue which makes it easier for the customer to understand the product.: III
What are the disadvantages from the materials?
The material can be easily burned or destroyed because it is weak and is flammable: II
Fragile: I
Manufacturing
Is the quality of manufacturing present in the product?
Very neat and detailed, made with high quality: III
Are the methods (gluing, cutting, measuring) used suitable for manufacturing the product?
Yes because it allows the product to become more accurate in shape and size, neat in terms of cutting, and easier to create and put together in terms of gluing: III
What could have been improved in the manufacturing process to improve the models quality?
Neatness especially in terms of glue: II
Neatness in terms of cutting: I
Pictures of Procedure
Journal of Creating the Final Product
Week 1
16 May - 20 May
This week in product design class, my partner Reza and I started to working on the final product of our urban planning project this quarter. We did this through first reviewing and evaluating our customer feedback, and then outline the three main improvements we wanted to conduct on our model in the following weeks to come. These improvements were to color paint the buildings, to make it more easier to differentiate, adding more detailed accessories to make it look more realistic, and make it more neater to make it look better. Through achieving and improving these main improvements in the weeks to come, the model would look better, and be easier to understand for our customers, and therefore also be more suitable for its delivering its purpose. Prior to the project before painting had begun, Reza and I decided to only buy five of the main colors often used, which are red, blue, yellow, white, and black. Making it more cost efficient, as with the three primary colors red, blue, and yellow we could create any color in the spectrum, while white and black were used to brighten or darken the color created. Though we could have bought other colors as well, we preferred to not, as we didn't need to much paint to finish the project, and preferred not to waste any paint we had bought. In addition we also bought a yellow highlight color, that was to be useful for painting our roads to create the yellow markings.
In the first week of creating the improved model, my partner Reza and I started painting the layout of the map, as well as paint the buildings. To add color differentiation to the map, making it easier for our customers to understand. We decided to paint the roads black, as that would resemble it to make it look like asphalt, from which most roads are made out of through the cities. We as well as paint the pedestrians and sidewalks red, as that resembles any main sidewalk in the city of Jakarta, where most major roads such as the Sudirman have red painted sidewalks, making it furthermore easier for our target audience, the citizens of Jakarta to know what it suppose to resemble in the map, and understand what its function is. We also started to paint the zones with green paint, in order to resemble grass from empty land slots, and to describe where trees could later be planted with the green spaces left, after the finished buildings have been placed on the once empty slots. We decided to paint the layout of the map first, such as the pedestrians, roads, slots, and grass prior to adding accessories and buildings to the map. In order to prevent the likeliness of overlapping paint on buildings and map accessories during the painting process. As if we placed the buildings and accessories first, the paint of the road, pedestrian or grass could accidentally overlap that of the building, making it look not as neat as it suppose to. It as well would create blind painting spots, that cannot be painted as a part of the building could block the paint brush from reaching it, or making it look like a mess as it would hit the building.
Throughout the week we also started painting buildings, before attaching them to the map. As this would make it easier for us to paint the buildings, as well as make it look neater, with the paint brush used to paint the buildings not having to touch any other part of the map that might be in the way. I having more buildings then Reza, took longer to paint the buildings then he did, hence resulting in me having to bring some of the buildings home to paint over through the weekend, and catch up with the schedule. I was in charge of painting both the residential and commercial zones, in where painting shops and houses, as well as a school was my main objective. I painted the shops white for the walls and red for the roofs to resemble real shops, while painting the markets with blue roofs to differentiate the buildings from one another. I painted the parking area grey, to resemble its concrete structure. Painted the apartments olive green and cream, to make them not look to similar and boring, while still being painted with a color that matched. The school was painted light green and brown for its roof, that made it look more like a military barracks, which isn't its purpose. Therefore I would add further details to make it resemble a school, in order for my target audience to get a clearer understanding of what it is.
Though we came with a lot of success in the first week of creating our model, there were still difficulties that we faced. One of these difficulties was that we sometimes found it difficult to know the right combinations to get to the right color. Though we didn't face this difficulty when creating simple colors as green, where we just had to mix blue and yellow. It did come when I had to create cream for painting the apartment buildings, where the absence of brown made it difficult to create the color. Since brown is a color that is created through mixing an already existing mixture of colors. This process was complicated and confusing. Furthermore not knowing how to create cream, made the eventual color become olive green instead. Though the it wasn't the color initially wanted, I made use of this to color the other apartments, giving them a different color. Making the apartments look different and less boring. I also throughout the weekend solved the problem of color mixing, through buying brown paint, making it easier to create cream, and as well as researching color mixtures on the web, to know what colors to mix in order to come with the right color wanted.
In the following week to come I would start creating the accessories needed to produce the detail required for the map, to make it look more realistic and understandable for the audience. I would do this through the use of stencil paper, and paperclips, which would help add details to the buildings, and streets, as well as other detailed properties of the map. I would also continue to paint the things I wasn't able to complete this week in the following week to come, in order to catch up with the schedule and meet with the projects dead line.
In the first week of creating the improved model, my partner Reza and I started painting the layout of the map, as well as paint the buildings. To add color differentiation to the map, making it easier for our customers to understand. We decided to paint the roads black, as that would resemble it to make it look like asphalt, from which most roads are made out of through the cities. We as well as paint the pedestrians and sidewalks red, as that resembles any main sidewalk in the city of Jakarta, where most major roads such as the Sudirman have red painted sidewalks, making it furthermore easier for our target audience, the citizens of Jakarta to know what it suppose to resemble in the map, and understand what its function is. We also started to paint the zones with green paint, in order to resemble grass from empty land slots, and to describe where trees could later be planted with the green spaces left, after the finished buildings have been placed on the once empty slots. We decided to paint the layout of the map first, such as the pedestrians, roads, slots, and grass prior to adding accessories and buildings to the map. In order to prevent the likeliness of overlapping paint on buildings and map accessories during the painting process. As if we placed the buildings and accessories first, the paint of the road, pedestrian or grass could accidentally overlap that of the building, making it look not as neat as it suppose to. It as well would create blind painting spots, that cannot be painted as a part of the building could block the paint brush from reaching it, or making it look like a mess as it would hit the building.
Throughout the week we also started painting buildings, before attaching them to the map. As this would make it easier for us to paint the buildings, as well as make it look neater, with the paint brush used to paint the buildings not having to touch any other part of the map that might be in the way. I having more buildings then Reza, took longer to paint the buildings then he did, hence resulting in me having to bring some of the buildings home to paint over through the weekend, and catch up with the schedule. I was in charge of painting both the residential and commercial zones, in where painting shops and houses, as well as a school was my main objective. I painted the shops white for the walls and red for the roofs to resemble real shops, while painting the markets with blue roofs to differentiate the buildings from one another. I painted the parking area grey, to resemble its concrete structure. Painted the apartments olive green and cream, to make them not look to similar and boring, while still being painted with a color that matched. The school was painted light green and brown for its roof, that made it look more like a military barracks, which isn't its purpose. Therefore I would add further details to make it resemble a school, in order for my target audience to get a clearer understanding of what it is.
Though we came with a lot of success in the first week of creating our model, there were still difficulties that we faced. One of these difficulties was that we sometimes found it difficult to know the right combinations to get to the right color. Though we didn't face this difficulty when creating simple colors as green, where we just had to mix blue and yellow. It did come when I had to create cream for painting the apartment buildings, where the absence of brown made it difficult to create the color. Since brown is a color that is created through mixing an already existing mixture of colors. This process was complicated and confusing. Furthermore not knowing how to create cream, made the eventual color become olive green instead. Though the it wasn't the color initially wanted, I made use of this to color the other apartments, giving them a different color. Making the apartments look different and less boring. I also throughout the weekend solved the problem of color mixing, through buying brown paint, making it easier to create cream, and as well as researching color mixtures on the web, to know what colors to mix in order to come with the right color wanted.
In the following week to come I would start creating the accessories needed to produce the detail required for the map, to make it look more realistic and understandable for the audience. I would do this through the use of stencil paper, and paperclips, which would help add details to the buildings, and streets, as well as other detailed properties of the map. I would also continue to paint the things I wasn't able to complete this week in the following week to come, in order to catch up with the schedule and meet with the projects dead line.
Week 2
23 May - 27 May
With all the buildings and map layout painted, my goal for the second week of the project was to work on the details of the map, through producing the small accessories and details needed for the map in order to make it look more realistic. I did this through the use of using paperclips, in which I bended outwards to create street accessories such as street lights, street signs, traffic lights, and direction boards. As the thin metals used to make paperclips makes it very easy to bend and cut the metals with the use of pliers, to form the shape of the poles and street lights needed to decorate the roads. I mainly used these paperclips rather then cardboard to create the street accessories, as the metal properties that shine make it resemble and look more like the metals used to create the traffic signs, direction boards, and traffic lights in real life. Therefore also making the model look more realistic, it furthermore also was easier then cardboard to suit its function and purpose. As though paperclips are bendable, they remain in the bended position, while cardboard doesn't and would collapse if not supported with something. Making the map look like it has floppy street lighting and road signs. It was also easier to use then cardboard, as it didn't require any additional paint, already resembling the color needed, therefore making it more paint and time efficient. As no additional paint and time is required to complete the step, in which would have been done when using cardboard.
In order to create the very small details such as the signs, and some of the details of the building which is to small for stenciling. I decided to print the pictures out from the internet, after measuring the sizes in real life, and then adjusting them in a word document. In order for me to get the right sign sizes needed to paste them to the metal poles previously made out of the paper clips, and for the signs to be to scale to the map. The printing process from the internet also made it look more detailed, and clear then if done with pencil, marker or paint, as the tools and materials I had in the smallest size couldn't compensate with the small size of the sign. Therefore I made printing an exception for very very small details.
Throughout this week the only difficulty I faced in the making of the small details was that of bending and cutting the metal pieces of the paperclips. As in certain situations the metal of the paper clip didn't want to bend or bent in the wrong way, that it wasn't straight anymore in the end. Also sometimes if it did bent correctly it left a small bump that made it not straight, and not look as nicely and smoothly made, that decreased its quality. In order to overcome these problems throughout the week, I used pliers, a tool to hold the paperclip. That made it easier for me to hold the paper clip on one side while bending the other. Making it easier to bend more straight and it to be cut, as the tools helped create pressure from the bending that helped cut the pieces in half. The pliers were also very useful when making small pieces, which could be bent with bare hands, as through still applying a bit of force on one part of the piece, the other part could easily be bent and be broken off. This was especially useful when facing very small non straight pieces from a long piece, that were difficult to bent of using hand. With the use of pliers these pieces could be broken off, making it look better, and as well become more efficient. As I didn't have to start of using another paperclip, to redo and improve the previously failed process.
Though I originally wanted to do stenciling this week as well, that step never came into action, because of the little time left after the producing of the metal accessories and painting of remaining buildings. I did however manage to create stenciling paper that I would use next week, which is by far the most difficult step of stenciling, as if the stencil paper is wrong, then so will the stenciling be in the end. I looked up different designs of buildings and their layout on the web to look up how the details were put into to place, and helped me inspire how to create my unique stenciling paper for each different building. In order to give it the necessary details needed to make it look more realistic and to detail. The stenciling I would conduct next week should be done as fast as possible, with the highest quality at the same time. As neatness and time at this very moment is at its essence, and I need to do my best in order for my efforts to pay off in finishing this project.
In order to create the very small details such as the signs, and some of the details of the building which is to small for stenciling. I decided to print the pictures out from the internet, after measuring the sizes in real life, and then adjusting them in a word document. In order for me to get the right sign sizes needed to paste them to the metal poles previously made out of the paper clips, and for the signs to be to scale to the map. The printing process from the internet also made it look more detailed, and clear then if done with pencil, marker or paint, as the tools and materials I had in the smallest size couldn't compensate with the small size of the sign. Therefore I made printing an exception for very very small details.
Throughout this week the only difficulty I faced in the making of the small details was that of bending and cutting the metal pieces of the paperclips. As in certain situations the metal of the paper clip didn't want to bend or bent in the wrong way, that it wasn't straight anymore in the end. Also sometimes if it did bent correctly it left a small bump that made it not straight, and not look as nicely and smoothly made, that decreased its quality. In order to overcome these problems throughout the week, I used pliers, a tool to hold the paperclip. That made it easier for me to hold the paper clip on one side while bending the other. Making it easier to bend more straight and it to be cut, as the tools helped create pressure from the bending that helped cut the pieces in half. The pliers were also very useful when making small pieces, which could be bent with bare hands, as through still applying a bit of force on one part of the piece, the other part could easily be bent and be broken off. This was especially useful when facing very small non straight pieces from a long piece, that were difficult to bent of using hand. With the use of pliers these pieces could be broken off, making it look better, and as well become more efficient. As I didn't have to start of using another paperclip, to redo and improve the previously failed process.
Though I originally wanted to do stenciling this week as well, that step never came into action, because of the little time left after the producing of the metal accessories and painting of remaining buildings. I did however manage to create stenciling paper that I would use next week, which is by far the most difficult step of stenciling, as if the stencil paper is wrong, then so will the stenciling be in the end. I looked up different designs of buildings and their layout on the web to look up how the details were put into to place, and helped me inspire how to create my unique stenciling paper for each different building. In order to give it the necessary details needed to make it look more realistic and to detail. The stenciling I would conduct next week should be done as fast as possible, with the highest quality at the same time. As neatness and time at this very moment is at its essence, and I need to do my best in order for my efforts to pay off in finishing this project.
Week 3
30 May - 3 June
This week I have completed my part of the model, finishing all the buildings, street decorations, and added all necessary detailed accessories to make the model look as realistic as possible. Though stencil paper was used in our original plan for adding decorations and details to the buildings, such as windows and doors. We didn’t use any stencil paper on the final design, when trying to apply it to the buildings. As when we applied it to our buildings, the stencil paper often broke, due to the wetness of the paint, and thinness of the paper. Causing the paint to spill, and make the once nicely painted buildings look messy. Though we wanted to use stamps for painting the windows, made out of potatoes. The time to create the stamps was limited, and eventually both Reza and I decided not to stencil or decorate any buildings with paint, and rather differentiate each building with the colors we painted them in general. Such as that houses were painted differently then shops, and that shops were painted differently then industrial zones. By coloring the buildings differently, we were able to give them color codes, that would make it easier for viewers to differentiate the buildings. Both Reza and I also added small details in the form of small stickers to make it more clear what each buildings purpose was. For example the police department had a police sticker, and apartments had house numbers. Therefore with these small details we sticked on the buildings, viewers would be less likely to be confused, and understand what each buildings purpose is.
For the street directions we originally wanted to use stencil as well, to paint the street lanes, dividers, and zebra cross. However due to stencil not working and being applied very messily on the road. With the street lanes being very long, not to scale, and not straight. We decided to use double tape instead, that was easy to make and apply to the road. Though we originally planned to paint the dividers yellow, as in most countries in the world, the use of double tape made them white instead. Each lane was as long as one curb that was on the side of the pedestrians, which were painted black and white. The curbs by far were the only things we were able to stencil successfully using double tape, and ruler. In order to keep the paint at the given area, and prevent it from spilling. Even though sometimes the stencil paper didn’t work, and spills of the curbs often went on the road or the pedestrian. I simply solved this problem through adding double tape on the curbs to prevent the re-painting of the roads and pedestrians to cause a mess. Double tape was used also for me to make the parking dividers in the market and commercial area, that showed parking spaces for cars, and wouldn’t make the entire parking space a mess, where everyone parks everywhere.
To make the model even more realistic then what it already was, I added the street lights, street signs, and traffic lights that I made the previous week on the pedestrians. The only problem was that it was difficult to attach the metal street details on the pedestrians, that kept falling of with the lack of grip created. I tried using clay and glue, but that didn’t work. So instead used a nail and a hammer, in where I created small enough holes that penetrated the wood from the board to make the street detail attach to the board and the pedestrians. This prevented the street lighting to fall of with ease, and be attached with a stronger grip to the board. For holes that I accidentally made with the hammer and nail, I filled them up with small amounts of clay that I then repainted with the color of what surrounded the holes. In order for it not to be seen, making it more neat and the pedestrians to look less like a mess full of holes.
Trees and greenery were also added to my part of the board, in order to make the model look more eco friendly and green to what it originally was. Which is a grey slum, with nearly no trees. Rather then making holes with nails to the board, which I did with the street decor, I used clay to attach the plastic trees and sticks to the board, which I furthermore attached with glue to the board to make it stick better. The clay when wet made it easy to put sticks and plastic trees in that would be held tightly as soon as the clay dries. To add the green leaves for the sticks attached to the clay. I used cotton shaped into a ball that I painted green, making it look like more realistic trees, and used some of the left over green cotton to make the bushes and small plants of the model. To add more detail to the model.
With the model being overall done, there are positives and negatives. The positive part to the model is that it is very detailed, and accurate to the map that we made prior to its creation. Making the model follow the original design of making a sustainable urban planning solution to areas in Jakarta that need better quality of life. Furthermore the high amount of detail made to the model made it also look more realistic. Making it more understandable for the audience to know what the model represents, and give a better visual to them how it would look in real life when the model would be applied to build a better North Jakarta. Negatively, due to the lack of time, we were not able to add all necessary details that would have been on the model if we had more time. These details would be those on the buildings, that would have made it even more realistic and clear to the viewers on what the model represents. Street lanes and painting was also a challenge throughout the process of creation, that took a long time to finish. As painting had to be done precise and accurately, using measurements, rulers and stencil tape to make it neat. Despite taking long on the painting process, and not being able to succesfully use stencil on the buildings, by abandoning the idea. I personally believe the model is good. Being accurate and precisely created to convey its message based on the planning to the viewers and my target audience.
For the street directions we originally wanted to use stencil as well, to paint the street lanes, dividers, and zebra cross. However due to stencil not working and being applied very messily on the road. With the street lanes being very long, not to scale, and not straight. We decided to use double tape instead, that was easy to make and apply to the road. Though we originally planned to paint the dividers yellow, as in most countries in the world, the use of double tape made them white instead. Each lane was as long as one curb that was on the side of the pedestrians, which were painted black and white. The curbs by far were the only things we were able to stencil successfully using double tape, and ruler. In order to keep the paint at the given area, and prevent it from spilling. Even though sometimes the stencil paper didn’t work, and spills of the curbs often went on the road or the pedestrian. I simply solved this problem through adding double tape on the curbs to prevent the re-painting of the roads and pedestrians to cause a mess. Double tape was used also for me to make the parking dividers in the market and commercial area, that showed parking spaces for cars, and wouldn’t make the entire parking space a mess, where everyone parks everywhere.
To make the model even more realistic then what it already was, I added the street lights, street signs, and traffic lights that I made the previous week on the pedestrians. The only problem was that it was difficult to attach the metal street details on the pedestrians, that kept falling of with the lack of grip created. I tried using clay and glue, but that didn’t work. So instead used a nail and a hammer, in where I created small enough holes that penetrated the wood from the board to make the street detail attach to the board and the pedestrians. This prevented the street lighting to fall of with ease, and be attached with a stronger grip to the board. For holes that I accidentally made with the hammer and nail, I filled them up with small amounts of clay that I then repainted with the color of what surrounded the holes. In order for it not to be seen, making it more neat and the pedestrians to look less like a mess full of holes.
Trees and greenery were also added to my part of the board, in order to make the model look more eco friendly and green to what it originally was. Which is a grey slum, with nearly no trees. Rather then making holes with nails to the board, which I did with the street decor, I used clay to attach the plastic trees and sticks to the board, which I furthermore attached with glue to the board to make it stick better. The clay when wet made it easy to put sticks and plastic trees in that would be held tightly as soon as the clay dries. To add the green leaves for the sticks attached to the clay. I used cotton shaped into a ball that I painted green, making it look like more realistic trees, and used some of the left over green cotton to make the bushes and small plants of the model. To add more detail to the model.
With the model being overall done, there are positives and negatives. The positive part to the model is that it is very detailed, and accurate to the map that we made prior to its creation. Making the model follow the original design of making a sustainable urban planning solution to areas in Jakarta that need better quality of life. Furthermore the high amount of detail made to the model made it also look more realistic. Making it more understandable for the audience to know what the model represents, and give a better visual to them how it would look in real life when the model would be applied to build a better North Jakarta. Negatively, due to the lack of time, we were not able to add all necessary details that would have been on the model if we had more time. These details would be those on the buildings, that would have made it even more realistic and clear to the viewers on what the model represents. Street lanes and painting was also a challenge throughout the process of creation, that took a long time to finish. As painting had to be done precise and accurately, using measurements, rulers and stencil tape to make it neat. Despite taking long on the painting process, and not being able to succesfully use stencil on the buildings, by abandoning the idea. I personally believe the model is good. Being accurate and precisely created to convey its message based on the planning to the viewers and my target audience.