Lesson video

Hi, I'm Miss Blue, and I'm really excited to be learning with you today.

I hope you find our lesson as interesting as I do.

Let's get started.

The outcome of today's lesson is: I can experiment with 3D materials and techniques to refine my artistic voice.

Here are our key words: Experiments, which means to try out new materials, techniques, or ideas; refine, which means making small improvements while working towards a goal; technique, the method and skills used to express and create.

Today we are refining your 3D style through experimentation.

We want to A, be playful of materials and techniques, and B, refine your experimentation into a design.

So in today's lesson, I'm encouraging you to be as playful with materials and techniques as you can be.

Here are what some of the outcomes could look like.

You can see how from the original drawing in the middle, they've come to life in the pop-up paper way.

So what does being playful of materials and techniques actually mean to you? Have a think about that for a few moments.

Here's one idea from Izzy.

"I play my drums and guitar without really knowing what I'm trying to play.

I am just experimenting with the sounds." Keyword is "experimenting." Alex says, "I used to play an experiment of things in nursery school.

Sometimes I use sand or water to see what happens when I pour it." Now let's have a look at these paper models.

What might you learn from making these experiments with paper? Have a think for a few moments.

Experimentation in arts involves trying out new materials, techniques, or ideas without any fixed outcome in mind.

We can see it as an opportunity to be playful, which is one of our key words of the lesson.

So with that last slide in mind, let's have a think on what experimenting means.

Is it A: making art of someone else's idea of your outcome? B: trying out new materials, techniques, or ideas without a fixed outcome in mind? Or C: using materials of a clear idea of your outcome? Pause the video here and take a few moments to think of your answer.

If you selected B, you would be correct.

When you experiment, you try out new techniques, materials, and ideas.

Now, experimentation is a vital part of your creative process and essential in the creative industries.

They're a huge part of our national economy and makes our culture exciting.

Artists, designers, and craftspeople throughout history have experimented in their work.

For example, the Beaker people were a group of early humans who experimented with pottery 4,400 years ago to create a new shape: the beaker.

Another example is the Inca people of modern day Peru.

They experimented with gold embossing and casting to produce intricately designed jewellery and ceremonial pieces, constructed alongside traded elements such as precious stones and shells.

Then there's the Bauhaus.

They were a German design school that experimented with the relationship between form and function whilst engaging with the social and technological challenges of the time, between 1919 and 1933.

Now, open-ended experimentation is purposeful when we combine it with reflection and make improvements by refining our techniques.

Here's one idea from Izzy.

"First, I play the drums making sounds for fun.

Later, I go back to the successful rhythms and refine them, combining them with other elements into something I can share with my band." Now, I'm also a musician, and that's something I do a lot of the time, experimenting and then refining until you get the right melody.

Refining your 3D style through experimentation means: making bold creative choices, reflecting on outcomes to strengthen your artistic voice.

Experimenting with techniques helps you to refine your ideas.

Let's have a look at what these students are doing in the diagram.

It's always helpful to be open-minded when experimenting and not be afraid to try new things.

Even "failed" experiments help you to refine your style and can often be used at a later date.

This is why I always say "never throw anything away." You never know when it might come in handy.

Look, that's what she said, "I'm not going to throw anything away.

Instead, I'll ask, what worked? What can I do next time and why?" Let's test your knowledge.

Which approach would be best to develop your 3D design style? Is it A: following instructions exactly? B: trying new ideas even if they fail? Or C: always using traditional materials? Pause the video here and take a few moments to think of your answer.

If you selected B, trying new ideas, even if they fail, you would be correct.

You should always see failure as part of the process.

Embrace it.

Designers often use an iterative design process.

They first review the brief or design problem, experiment and explore initial ideas, reflect on what's working well, and ask the question "Why?" Then finally, experiment by adding new materials or techniques to refine successful work.

Let's have a look at this example page here.

Open-ended experimentation can be recorded, reflected upon, and kept to help you in the future.

A sketchbook is a really good place for this.

Let's check your understanding.

Open-ended experimentation is purposeful when.

A: you reflect on what is working well.

B: you carry forward the successful elements.

C: you can buy new elements with it to begin a new stage of experimentation.

Select all that apply.

Take a few moments and pause the video.

If you selected all three, you would be correct.

All of these things make experimentation purposeful.

What kind of paper techniques can you see here? These look really interesting.

Yeah, we've got cuts.

Bold, twist, glue, slot, wrap.

Let's see another example.

Even at an early stage, Aisha generates new ideas from her experimentation.

Let's have a look.

She says, "I liked this simple coil, so I made another experimenting with a thicker strip." Then I tried with torn edges." Which one do you think is the most effective? Aisha has generated lots of new ideas while experimenting.

She says, "As I experimented, I thought about types of paper and realised I could use book pages or magazines instead." That's a good idea.

"I found the scissors hard for cutting some shapes, and I realised that I should use a craft knife in the future." Thinking through doing or experiential learning is key as a component in 3D design process.

Here's some more paper examples.

Now, what properties does paper have? Understanding the properties of different materials and how they might be used can help you make effective choices in your design work.

The choice of materials and techniques will directly affect the style of your work.

These tools look interesting.

What tools can we use? Recognising the advantages and effects of different tools helps you make informed decision.

Many tools require safety measures.

For example, if you're using a scalpel, cut away from yourself.

Use a sharp blade and cutting mat.

I myself have been victim to a scalpel cut, and it's really not fun.

Now, why don't you have a go at creating an open-ended series of experiments using only paper.

You could, of course, cut, bold, twist, glue, slot, or wrap.

Let's see what this student has to say.

"I've produce lots of mini experiments to see what I can make the paper do, how it reacts as a material, and what I like.

I have also generated lots of new ideas to take forward." That's great.

Now, let's focus on refining our experimentation into a design.

How do we do that? What experiments and improvements might the artist need for this final result? This very sophisticated, I think.

What do you think? What experiments and improvements might the artist need for the final result that they've achieved? Take a few moments here to have a think.

Laura says, "They might have needed to explore shape and form.

Maybe they experimented through photographing fabric and watching how it fell and curved." Andeep says, "Perhaps they drew design ideas or tested techniques in clay or plasticine?" These are both great ideas.

Do you agree with them? In 3D design, you might need to experiment in order to: Test techniques, shapes, forms for your final product, design or structure; to explore alternative ways to present your ideas to a client.

Consider a product that you have wanted recently.

What alternatives might they have tested? Now, let's decide if this is true or false.

In 3D design, you might need to experiment to find the best ways to present your ideas to a client.

Is this true or false? Please pause the video to think of your answer.

The correct answer is true, you might experiment to explore alternative ways to best represent your ideas.

This could be in the form of maquettes, models, drawings, or design boards.

3D designers use experimentation to develop original designs.

For example: Imogen Bright Moon experiments with large textile-based installations, using tapestry weaving and cloth weaving techniques.

Karim Rashid has a huge collection of designs in his portfolio.

Each one of these is a combination of experimenting and responding to a client brief.

Asif Khan designs buildings, landscapes, installations, and objects.

He says, "Each experimental project creates bridges leading to a new world." Liz West experiments with light and colour to create immersive art installation.

Aisha has been given a brief and is going to refine her work.

To refine means to make small improvements towards a goal.

She asks herself some key questions.

What are the key considerations after reading the brief? What worked well before and why? What new ideas have I generated? What are the key considerations after reading the brief? The brief is to design an iconic building to fit within a modern cityscape.

What worked well before and why? The paper that was cut into geometric forms created modern interesting patterns and reflected shapes.

What new ideas have I generated? "I want to explore magazine and book pages as well as plain paper," she says.

Let's have a think.

What does refining your work mean? Select A, B, or C.

A: Making small improvements towards a goal.

B: Adding new elements without ever discarding anything.

Or C: Recording ideas in a sketchbook using a pencil.

Take a moment to pause the video here and think of your answer.

The correct answer is A, refining is all about the process of improving your work towards the end goal.

Create three experimental maquettes for an outdoor sculpture using paper techniques.

You should: respond to the brief; use the key words to influence your maquettes; select paper techniques for your design.

The brief is to create an engaging sculpture for the centre of a green space in a modern new community housing area.

The key words are: engaging, sculpture, green, modern, community.

To recap, we want to create three experimental maquettes for an outdoor sculpture using paper techniques.

Jacob says, "I experimented with using different types of paper and developed my work by cutting, looping, folding, and making hinged openings." These pictures look really interesting.

Next, we want to reflect on your three experimental paper maquettes and identify what is working well and why.

How does your maquette respond to the brief? What's working well? What isn't working well? The brief is to create an engaging sculpture for the centre of a green space in a modern new community housing area.

You might have something like this.

Jacob says, "The book pages were aesthetically pleasing and the modern repeat pattern made by curving multiple loops worked really well.

I used a coloured base for contrast.

This could fit the brief as an engaging structure you walk through." Here's another example.

Sophia says, "I like the magazine page as it reflects the green space, but the form feels a bit unintentional.

The curve loops worked well, they create negative space.

The curve feels a little like an entrance.

Maybe it could be a community space?" Some ways we could refine our work could be: refining and recreating our maquette with improvements.

Begin a new stage of experimentation by sketching and annotating improved design ideas.

Let's see how this becomes this becomes this.

Jacob says, "I experimented of using different types of papers and developed my work by cutting, looping, folding, and making hinged openings." He goes on to say, "I refined my work through drawing to make a new design ready for my next experiments.

I recorded ideas and added new elements." Let's summarise what we've learned.

Experimenting of new techniques expands artistic possibilities.

Experimenting your techniques helps you decide what suits your own 3D style.

Refining your style is a process of trial, error and reflection.

Reflecting and reviewing your use of materials and techniques build skill and creative confidence.

Thank you so much for paying attention and listening in today's lesson.

I hope you've learned a lot and had fun along the way.

See you next time.