2D Book
A coffee table book that consists of 100 original designs made using the traditional rule and compass principle developed in the Middle East 1000 years ago.
Decorative design has ranged in many forms and mediums through dozens of cultures and civilizations. Underneath the foundations of all these masterful works of art, the simple basics of math and Euclidean geometry is clearly visible, but probably not to those who don’t know how to look for it.
Through the development and evolution of decorative design and ornamentation, the most famed out of all cultures possibly and arguably belongs to Islam. With the use of a simple compass and a ruler, plus the understanding of how spatial geometry operates, the most intricate, meticulous and extraordinary works of skill, craftsmanship and artistry can be created with just the use of basic shapes and interweaving lines.
This book is a breakdown of one single concept and technique of decorative design that thrived in Islamic culture for over eleven centuries. The most important and monumental aspect of polygonal Euclidean design is the fact that an unlimited and infinite number of designs can manifest from this method. With a simple base outline, and organized repetition, anything can be achieved.
The book is a hybrid of perfect and stab binding . It is split into 10 chapters, with 10 different base outlines that provided the foundation for variation in colour and stroke. 100 designs in total were made. Each design is also named.
3D Lanterns
two very different modern takes on traditional metal lanterns through the combination of basic geometric shapes under mathematical rule into complex patterns.
The two lanterns take influences from historical Moroccan and Persian styles. The patterns on display for the taller design relies solely on the use of pathfinder tool in illustrator, while the other has a more distinct shape in the net-building aspect and includes freehand pen-tooled elements. Both are based off of 2 geometric shapes, the pentagon and the square.
With a harsh directional lighting, incredible results images could be achieved from almost every possible angle. This was a definite departure away from the design I am used to as it involved building and architecture. It was a fun and difficult challenge to myself and how I could apply an idea to another medium.
4 videos
An extension in the potentials of motion for the designs shown in the 2D book as well as end credits of geometric elegance to finish this series.
The video shifts around a dozen of the original visual symbols into a different setting. The addition of parameters that allowed the breaking of the 4 by 4 grid that was established earlier for the book. But the potential of motion lies under a framework that is much more different compared to flat graphics in a book. With time, patience and lots of tweaking, every still frame in the 2 minute piece has the power to be a composition itself including those in heavy transition.
For a long time I refused to use pre-existing design to make this project because it felt uncreative, as if I was even committing inappropriate cultural appropriation. But after 10 weeks of discipline and exploring and pushing the boundaries of this design technique, I thought it was time I went back to what inspired me in the first place.
The type summarizes in quick fashion what lessons from this project should be taken away after viewing and experiencing. The integrated visuals provide the most historically accurate example of this about this craft and what ancient masters set out to achieve.
2 Pages from my original project brainstorming and proposal, where I was organizing my thoughts and trying to find inspiration.
Not a single image was created by me in this animation. These are patterns that have proliferated Islamic art for centuries. 4 designs can easily make up a whole piece. Minimal design elements can equal to a striking effect. I simply added movement and effects.
