Abstract
The relevance of Gestalt theory to art and design has been well documented, from the primary texts on the Gestalt concept of perception to subsequent works from Arnheim, Gombrich, and Dondis which apply those notions to art, aesthetics, and visual design. Lesser known is Kurt Koffka’s 1940 essay on the psychology of art, in which he expands the concept of perceptual space and discusses the role of both creator and observer in the experience of the phenomenal object. The research presented here takes as its basis the examination of perceptual space in the context of designed objects: specifically origami tessellations, which are dynamic, three-dimensional structures created by technical folding (origami sekkei). Making as part of the design process provides a medium for conceptual and literal exploration of perceptual space, in which a dialogic process unfolds between the designer-maker and object. The physical act of folding, unfolding, creasing, and collapsing the paper structure for a tessellation is an immersive, sensory experience that uniquely captures the thoughts and actions involved in practice-led design research. Material itself plays a vital role in this research process, in which object agency and the conversation between designer and material become apparent—concepts originally proposed by Koffka in his aforementioned essay. My research includes multimedia documentation of the making process—video and audio recordings, sketches, photographs, and written diaries—in order to analyze how the mediation of technique and materials provides a unique investigation of perceptual space, yielding insights for both designers and researchers in medium-designated practices.
Presenters
Laureen MahlerDoctoral Researcher, School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Aalto University, Finland
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Visual-Design, Designer-Maker, Making, Materials, Perception
