16/11/10 - HERE!
I WILL POST THIRD YEAR WORK PROCESSES HERE AND ONLY HERE.
HERE is here> http://5din5.net/category/final-year-projects/
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10/11/10 - H-O-K-A-Y
Okay, so I see that we have to somehow continue using this blog? I like this idea, that we share our ideas and work process on a platform anyone can access at their own time. I just find that it isn’t simply about blogging but the preparations/extra work you need to do before you can put up a decent blog post, and that’s slightly intruding and affecting my work process. I sometimes update on my website> http://5din5.net and tweet daily(but that includes things outside of college, if you are interested) > www.twitter.com/paomaster
I’ll see if I can keep up with blogging on two blogs. I don’t want to flood my web site with daily details on my design work because life encompasses much more, although design work is a large part. minus the details please, they belong to a blog like this. (hmmm…)
Food for thought. Can’t be eaten, can be consumed.
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20/06/10 - dishonest boy vs. honest boy
Fast Tube by Casper
turn down the volume
Always the honest boy we all know.
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28/05/10 - In conclusion…
For this project, I kept with the idea of using the form of a toy as a platform for social commentary or to insert a certain message into a toy figure. I worked on the theme of fast food and how the influence of MacDonald’s around the world is such a phenomenon. Ronald MacDonald, the mascot of MacDonald’s, I will like to say, has become more than just a simple mascot or brand spokesperson but over time, has grown to become a likeable and trustworthy character, especially amongst children, whether he is worthy of it or not. Here, I portrayed Ronald as having the elevated status of an idol, referencing religious statues and their various postures. Incorporating the elements of the fast food restaurant, my figure is of Ronald posing like an idol, somewhat powerful yet calm in nature, as alike to idols people pray to.
There were certain changes made to the design in the manufacturing stages as there were restrictions in terms of process and time. Ronald now has two intstead of four hands extending from behind his back. I also removed the need for the golden arches logo which was supposed to sit on his left palm as everybody I asked could recognise Ronald from the figure.
I wanted to try out different treatments to the figure thus made use of spray paints to coat them in different but appropriate colors. It was also in the later stages that I thought of little detour off making a toy figure. Thus I have included as part of my 21 objects, 5 drawings of Ronald. These five drawings are drawn by hand, front and back individually, and then put together(double sides), with an actual Ronald idol figure as reference. Each drawing of Ronald turned out different though.
I intend to sell these drawings alongside my figures but at different prices, these definitely much cheaper. the idea of comparing labour, material used and presentation of object, I think, can bring across an additional message at the display shelve itself. I am also thinking of tagging different prices according to the color of the figure. At the start of this project when I first presented this idea, I was asked if this was just another useless object amongst the sea of existing purposeless things. that made me wonder if it was really going to be so. I think by selling these drawings alongside the figures (say 1 pound vs. 8 pounds), it questions the audience about the value of things and ultimately, they may agree that my toy figure is indeed purposeless.
Well, it has been a trying journey and being able to see the finishing line is a relief. I chose to do a sculpt because I wanted to right from the start and by really doing it and going through it all I will say it has been a good learning process. Thanks to Simon from plastics and my new-found product design friends. oh yes, I will definitely be inviting them to the shop 
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28/05/10 - Wear the mask everyday
okay. so I was in the plastics workshop the whole of last two weeks. spent a few days doing the mold ( as in previous entries), and started casting on monday till thurs when I finally completed what I could (I mean, it can definitely be better in terms of quality). I had to convince myself to work smart because of the super tight dateline and stop being fussy over certain things :l
booth where I casted the parts
from fast cast resin. used clear resin at first but the curing time (time it takes to be properly cured/done) is too long(1 1/2 hours) so I switched to fast cast resin(30mins)
my hiding place after the plastics workshop closed at 6pm. yes it’s the makeshift sink area at DS3.
this is the fast cast resin. it is not cheap. zzzzz
THURSDAY: crunch time lah… have to finish priming, sanding and spray painting and of course glueing the parts to complete the figure. fortunately the workshop opened till 9pm. heh. anyway I had to follow a very disciplined plan today. I worked 3 tasks one after another so as to have everything I need at the end of the day and minimised time wasting (other than lunch time).
1. Cast 6 more pairs of hands (insufficient from previous days) + 1 pair of clear resin hands
2. Prime figures and parts by their final colors
3. Sand figures while the next batch of figures are being primed OR Sand figures while the next batch of figures are being spray painted. this was crucial so that I do not waste time doing one task and leave nothing happening at the spray area. so while I waited for the spray paint to dry, I sanded the next batch of figures for the next round of spray painting.
Casting of each pair of hands took 30mins, I gave it 35mins and the rest of the time was split among priming, sanding and spray painting. the proper procedure was this: prime, sand, spray paint, sand(if necessary) for each batch of figures
AND YES, I managed to complete everything by the end of the day. wooh. then it’s down to the final step of glueing the parts together.
after casting done, sanding done, it’s time to prime and spray some colors
1st step: have to prime first before spraying color. grey primer from Halfords as recommended (all product students use Halfords)
2nd step: sand
3rd step: spray paint
the previous clear resin figure
at the end of the day(and more…)
this is the super smelly (and I believe bad for health) glue I have to use
it was difficult pasting the hands at the back of the figure… srsly.
awaiting their turn…
some done. the glue really stinks. but I don’t wanna wear a mask in my room. hurh????
ok. so right now I’m taking break from glueing by blogging. looking back, I wondered what went into my head when I first decided to sculpt and cast 21 figures, not forgetting that it is a detail figure, I have to make a few molds, I have to buy all the materials($$$$$$$), I think 20 is a small figure (oh no actually I did not even consider the difficulty of the multiples), I have to wear a mask everyday!!!!, I have to risk my health zzzzzzzz, I have to sand so many hands!!!!!, I have to climb this steep learning curve (to quote someone) etc. well, I guess I just wanted to sculpt something. it’s the first step that is the hardest and most necessary to take. then the rest will be slightly easier. the term’s gonna be over soon huh. that’s kinda fast but I’m glad. it has been a whirlwind. THIS IS NOT MY FINAL POST. erm, I will put up that photo and summarise things. laterss~
P.S. the finishing of the figures is the main thing I’m not satisfied with. it requires a lot of sanding, and repeated process of sand, color (repeat) until you get a good professional finish. no I can’t achieve that at this stage yet, and with this timeline, which somewhat despairs me. one thing I’m happy about, is that people can recognise it’s Ronald. oh well~ and I learnt stuff 
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26/05/10 - SPATIAL SCHEDULE
EVERYONE, HERE’S THE SPATIAL TEAM SCHEDULE.
WE NEED AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO HELP OUT ON THESE DAYS.
PLEASE GIVE ME A REPLY TO CONFIRM THAT YOU CAN MAKE IT ON THESE DAYS OR ONLY CERTAIN DAYS. BUT PLEASE TRY TO BE PRESENT ON ALL DAYS FROM FRI-MON.
REPLY ME BY END THURSDAY.
Spatial schedule:
Friday 5pm(after submission) – bring boxes to shop and start painting
Sat – continue with painting + set up proper
Sunday – continue with set up (morning) + groups to bring objects in (late morning) + start display proper
group timings:
Amanda: 11pm
Sheena: 12pm
David:1pm
Val: 2pm
Rathna: 3pm
Joshua: 4pm
Rebecca:5pm
Monday – continue with display proper
Tues – OPEN
* we will need Retail’s help in setting up on Sunday.
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22/05/10 - working images
trying out possible positions of hands. think option 1 is best.
sanding in the toilet
ronald waiting patiently to get into the box while I stuff plasticine in…
covered half of ronald with plasticine. that marks the split line of the two-part mold.
the edges where the object and plasticine meet has to be neat & clean and all the small ins and outs have to be well-covered by the plasticine
a mold box made out of lego for every pair of hands
so that’s 4 mold boxes. not to forget the ‘M’ logo which will be done by press mold as it is too delicate
my small area in the PD workshop
more images of the molding process to come…
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21/05/10 - Day 5: Making the mold
OKAY like finally. I get to pour the rubbery silicone into the mold box. I mean 4 mold boxes. in total, I used 3kg of silicone rubber and that’s worth much more than 3kg of 2 pound coins in my pocket. it’s disturbing to have to take photos while you are in the process of getting things going and focus is all you need in this damn process where all you have to do is ignore everyone else and do your own job. I sing to myself to keep the concentration at 100% +-
It took longer than I thought. had to wait for 2 1/2 hours twice, and I can’t bring the molds home for the weekend to start casting because right now it is still in college (but it should have set by now all thanks to the CATALYST BOOSTER!!!) so I will have to wait till monday to start my first cast oh man this is putting me on the edge. well I guess it’s good as well. I should spend the weekend working on the rest of the stuff and CONTEXT. shit. I realised making this object has taken so much of my time I have not quite considered the other things are have to go along with it or rather, the other areas I can work on which can complement it, or rather, the other essentials I have to prepare for submission and sale. shit again. anyway I gave it some thought today. the other stuff: packaging, namecards, title ( I decided it did not need one), storage (those hands sticking out are really troublesome), the hands-on thingyyy, how to display… I concluded > Less is more. no, it is not to console myself or save myself the effort of doing less BUT when it comes to selling my stuff, it is about not trying so hard. I’d rather let people notice it because they happen to notice it/are intrigued by it/whatever, not because I put a huge poster explaining my concept, process, why they should buy it blah blah… no, it’s kinda quiet. it’s a statue isn’t it? Please refrain from speaking too loudly, thank you.
All the photos latersssss…
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20/05/10 - Day 4: Squeezing plasticine into the mold box
ok. I have not officially made the silicone mold. I spent the whole of today doing 4 mold boxes. cause it is a two part mold, i had to cover about half of the mold box in plasticine, with half of the object pressed in. 1 mold box for the main body, 3 other mold boxes for the 6 hands. I must start pouring the silicone rubber in tmr! plus, Simon was busy today. pai seh to disrupt him. well, at least everyone around me were busy sanding their objects! no mac in sight. awesome. can I put up all the photos latersss… bought all the mold and cast materials at Tiranti today and they have no student discounts.zzzzzz… worked from 1030 till 8 today. it was a satisfying feeling at the end and although it was tiring, physically, it wasn’t the kind of tired feeling you get like from working on your mac the whole day. the former kind of ‘tiring’ is a ‘I-don’t-mind-being-tired’ kind, while the later is, ‘I-really-need-to-sleep-now’ kind. see the harm technology is doing to our bodies? it’s our mental and physical health I’m talking about! although we can’t see it, it does exist!
I really need to make the mold and start casting. had a ’small’ idea for the packaging. he he