Master of Architecture Thesis Rice University 
system design


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A collection of transformations. This exercise of visualizing different transformations onto a box was a step after having made critical decisions, and helped push the design system even more. After the pencil sketch, these transformations among others were experimented with digitally as well. The most provocative were selected to move forward with.
The first parameter determined was where the design starts. As the objective of this thesis was decided to focus on formal qualities and effects, the starting point selected was a box. Every object designed would start as a solid box with the same dimensional ratios. Naturally to go through a design process would mean that this box gets altered. The means of which this happens was restricted to singleword transformations. Push, pull, twist, stretch, drop, inflate, shear, torque, rotate, squeeze, squish, bend, pinch, poke, punch, drop, split, cut, knot, spiral…

The box was not defined to be a specific material type, but rather to have a soft material quality allowing these transformations to take place. The exercise started with sketching what these transformations might look like. As the sketches were satisfactory in consistency while also maintaining variability, the single-word transformations were decided to be the main step of the design strategy. The collection of objects resulting from a singular transformation verb is considered a series.  

The next parameter determined was the frequency and degree that the box would undergo each transformation. In theory, the system can be repeated endlessly, resulting in infinite objects. However, for the sake of representation and producibility, a scale and frequency had to be implemented. As a scale with a relative end, the intervals defined by a circle were chosen. The box underwent each transformation 36 times, each stage a ten degree change. Of the aforementioned transformations, six were selected and the strategy was executed. Six boxes were transformed 36 times resulting in 216 unique designs. The design decisions were contained within designing the strategy, as opposed to unique conditions affecting each object. Opposed to the previous approaches, this designed strategy proved itself successful in generating a multiplicity of designs.


Six transformations were selected to apply the process. Each transformation was colored distinctly for easy association. The left set shows stage one of each transformation, where the boxes have already started to go through change, but are still almost identical to each other. Each box was subjected to the transformation with increasing intensity 36 times. The right set shows stage 36 of each transformation. The objects are no longer identified as boxes, yet there is still a remnant of the starting point tying all of the objects together.
Blue Series Transformation: Twist
Orange Series Transformation: Bend
Green Series Transformation: Twist
Red Series Transformation: Squeeze
Yellow Series Transformation: Pull
Purple Series Transformation: Stretch