My initial design process starts with observations from the site, and I can depict and decipher the features and personality of Deptford through this. This involves going through photographs and picking out patterns that stand out to me, then drawing this on paper, extracting each scene and linking them together. Finding the connections this way allows me to visibly see what I can focus on in my projects that is a feature of Deptford. I noticed there was a pattern of many restaurants and food stalls of various types of cultures that existed in Deptford. Jerk chicken linking to the Caribbean demographic in Deptford, Pho and chinese with links to the asian culture. This was a feature that made Deptford so colourful and rich to me, which is something I want to extrapolate and explore further.
A mindmap collates all my ideas and keywords I have to consider for my project. It reminds me I have to encompass all these key elements in my design, and the function will follow. It also strengthens the purpose and allows me to design with purpose/intent. It hones in my ideas, and allows me to expand on them and create new branches which enhances my design. For example, growing mediums is a feature I have to consider to grow fresh produce, and I can explore the types of growing mediums in this mind map. The ones with more depth and branches is a clear indicator of the one I should explore.
Developing these sketches is an evolution from my initial observations, mindmaps and conceptual sketches. I realised I have to simplify the idea to fit the criteria of the pop-up so I minimized the form to a circle, and focused my design in the interior. Sketching shapes, I was drawn to the organic form and began drawing curved lines. The circle reminded me of the cycle of food: growing, eating, composting, re-growth. I then began to sketch the function inside. To add complexity to the structure, I sketched exterior ideas and naturally began drawing these organic columns. This visual instinctively shouted out the word “Cultivator” to me. The connotations of food growing and agriculture, created the link. I then googled and found it was a machinery with teeth, which resembled the columns I drew. I then re-worked the columns to look similar to a cultivator. The exploration of sketching allowed me to stumble upon new ideas and trust my instincts when I was having a creative block.
“Don’t think, just do”
Top Gun, Maverick
This then lead me to technical drawings, before I could construct my model. I did this simultaneously as this was a great way to see how I could work my design to scale realistically. Technical drawings in AutoCAD always allows flexibility in my decisions before I finalize them and I can visualise more easily how my space will function. It requires problem solving, and a lot of adjustments, but I still find it a great way for me to come up with a design that delivers my purpose.