I draw, make, and test the materials I bring into research. From paper experiments to laser-cut wooden figures, preparation is part of understanding what people can hold, assemble, decorate, and share.
At the laser cutter in Swinburne ProtoLAB. Still from a preparation video, 2024.Preparing and trying out paper forms with the Cricut, August 2024.
From an idea to something people can use
How the materials take shape.
A look inside the preparation for the 2024 crafting study.
A Nativity cutting layout.01 / Draw & prepare
Work out the parts.
I prepare digital outlines for figures, animals, slots, and bases. The drawing connects the visual idea with practical decisions about how an object will be made and put together.
Wooden parts during laser cutting. Video still, 2024.02 / Make & prototype
Take it into the workshop.
At ProtoLAB, cutting turns a file into physical pieces. Alongside these wooden prototypes, I try paper shapes with the Cricut and prepare materials for the group activities.
The separate parts of an early sheep prototype. Video still, 2024.03 / Handle & test
See what assembly asks of us.
The early sheep used many interlocking pieces. Handling and trying the model helped reveal the demands of fitting, holding, and connecting those parts.
Then the activity changes the design.
Workshop observations and staff feedback informed a simpler sheep: a body shape and two leg pieces. Other figures used an outline and a base, leaving more room for decorating and personal choices.
Design material from the research practice.Garden maps
Making a place discussable
Illustrated maps bring places into a conversation. Pairing drawings with photographs offers several ways to recognise a garden area and talk about where to go.
Design material from the research practice.Between activities
Designing for what happens next
Care invitations and a flower diary explore how participation might continue between facilitated sessions. They remain part of an ongoing design inquiry.
