Thanks to Everyone

Thanks to everyone from Ryerson University, FCAD, the Design Fabrication Zone, our generous hosts, the Bata Shoe Museum, and of course all the great volunteers who were instrumental in literally putting this project together! It proved to be a great success and we look forward to more initiatives like this in the future.

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And of course the requisite selfie from the First Year volunteers...

Parametricism, Physical Computing, and Lots of Plastic: Stomata Production

Despite what the final outcome will be of the Stomata Project, it is worth taking a look at some of the digital modeling and parametric workflows that developed the geometry of the installation.

Additionally, it is important to keep in mind the logistics and oversight of the physical computing required to make such installation work responsive.

Though all of the previous two components are critical in developing a strong design, the end result has to be fabricated, and in this case using a great deal of plastic and laser cutting...

TODO 2014: The People's Choice Award

Though it seems like ages ago, a couple of [R]ed[U]x Lab team members recently picked up the 2014 Toronto Design Offsite People's Choice Award for "Eyes on the Street" earlier in February. We graciously accept the elegant Herman Miller limited edition plate... but now the question is how do we divide it among the team members (if at all)...

Restaurant Visits

Once again the [R]ed[U]x Lab team went out to meet the various restaurants they were paired with for the Stop Night Market event. This year the team was matched with (old friends) Woodlot and Table 17. We appreciate the time we were able to spend with these two restaurants as the team got to understand the perspectives of their chefs as they approached the cart design.

Expanding their student palettes beyond (the staples of a student diet) mac & cheese and canned food, some of the [R]ed[U]x Lab team enjoyed new experiences such as their first forays into oysters at the Woodlot. Special thanks go to Dave Haman once again for his continued support of [R]ed[U]x Lab and treating the team to an unforgetable dinner!

And here's the other half of the [R]ed[U]x Lab team which had the unfortunately placed signage in the banquet...

[R]ed[U]x Lab at Grow Op 2014

Once again the [R]ed[U]x Lab returns to the Gladstone Hotel for another installation opportunity, Grow Op 2014 with their project entitled "Chlorophytum". Though the initial Come Up To My Room project in 2012 stands as one of the group's prominent and early projects (merely two years ago!), the current roster of the [R]ed[U]x Lab endeavors to push themselves even further in this piece. 

The original intention was presented as:

"Hybridizing plant life within a digitally fabricated matrix, the Chlorophytum project explores synthetic methods to augment and showcase physiological processes within plants including capillary action, phototropism, thigmotropism, and diurnal behaviours.  This room installation suspends an acrylic matrix containing a series of nutrient reservoirs which sustain a latticework of modest planting.  By day, the constrained nutrient reservoirs and light from the room’s window will alter the organization of the hovering matrix. During the evening hours within this environment, the plants’ responses to the various stimuli in the room are highlighted via the use of black light. The tessellation of plant and fabricated components atop visitors will prove to be an engaging piece that draws attention the self-organizing systems at play in plant growth, but also questions the nature of interior vegetation as art."

This was a very conceptual proposal and allowed the [R]ed[U]x Lab to investigate the use of not only plant life but also UV light and motors... at least that is the intention. As one can see, the design evolved over time...

Opticianado Installation Coming Together

This weekend the [R]ed[U]x Lab team working on the Opticianado installation, "Eyes on the Street", had a chance to assemble the main matrix on site. Within the next day the storefront will open up to a new, interactive piece that will provide a fine balance between display and spectacle. 

It was a good installation over the weekend as Matt and Rachel were fortunate enough to have some assistance from other [R]ed[U]x Lab members from other projects including Fil and Jason. More to come soon enough!

 

The Technology Behind the Opticianado Installation

As a joint effort with students enrolled in the Biomedical Engineering program at Ryerson University, the [R]ed[U]x Lab team has been able to develop more robust explorations between physical computing and digital fabrication.  The team of Mashal, Abed, and Sara, overseen by Professor James Smith, have been working with the design team in developing an investigation of LED light sequencing with a Kinect sensor (typically used in the Xbox 360 gaming console).  Here is a hint of what is developing behind the scenes for the upcoming TODO installation at Opticianado.

TODO: Opticianado Prototyping Commences

Given the complexity and ambition of the design for the TODO Festival, members of the [R]ed[U]x Lab began prototyping the components of the display for Opticianado. Unlike previous projects the group has worked on, this storefront installation must not compromise the retail program of the store. Rather than solely showcasing the art piece itself, the designers opted to create a visually engaging form that would serve as a matrix for parametrically-driven conical diffusers. Proving to be a spectacular piece both in and out of the storefront, the design reinforces the showcasing of eye wear.

TODO Festival: [R]ed[U]x Lab + Opticianado

In parallel with the display of installation prototype work at Ryerson University's Department of Architectural Science at this year's TODO Festival, [R]ed[U]x Lab are proud to have an opportunity to participate in the TODO Junction Kick-off Weekend at Opticianado with a window installation entitled Eyes on the Street.  Not only is this yet again another great opportunity for [R]ed[U]x lab to engage not only the wider Toronto community, but also to collaborate with colleagues at Ryerson University from biomedical engineering.

As described in the brief:

"This modest installation plays on one of Jane Jacob’s three characteristics of successful neighborhoods, notably the need for “Eyes on the Street.” A playful take on Jacob’s tenet for safe and engaged communities, this installation activates and calls for interaction with the public. By day the installation serves as an engaging matrix supporting stylish eyewear, while in the evening the once static form comes to life with sunset. In the evening, the matrix’s array of lights illuminate behind the eyewear in response to the activity on the street and sidewalk outside the storefront."

Here are some renderings of the design as it evolved from the initial stages.