Shibui 渋い
Shibui is a construction game designed and executed by myself, David Truong, and Daniel Adams, as the final project known as the Construction Toy Design for Jeremy Petrus’ class Process/Materiality Objects.
The project criteria included paying tribute to a designer or architect — Japanese Architect Tadao Ando in our case — using at least 20% recycled or reclaimed materials, and relying on DFD (Design for Disassembly) principles.
Components
Square pine wood platform ( 8” x 8” x 2“ ), and 3 ( 7 3/8” x 6 5/8“ x 1/8” ) mirrors held by 3 ( 5/8” x 8 3/8” ) pinewood dowel pegs at right angles creating a corner of reflective surfaces.
Platform
Building blocks made out of reclaimed pine wood designed to create 9 different assemblies with a selection of 4 basic shapes x 4 of each (16 pieces total).
Blocks
Comprised of 9 cards, showing;
1- The title of the assembly,
2- QR code linked to a video tutorial for the assembly,
3- The outline of one famous Japanese memorial, monument or landscape, in an abstracted form, to be recreated using the blocks provided, in front and side views,
4- Number of blocks it’s possible to recreate the form with the lesser the more difficult,
5- The circle colour indicates the difficulty level.
Cue Cards
Showing; the materials used in the project, the installation instructions, play modes, cue cards explanation, tips and tricks, and a QR code linked to the solutions videos channel.
Instruction Manual
( 11” x 11” x 4 3/4” ) packaging created using folds without any glue, with stickers indicating what’s in the box.
Cardboard Package
Inspiration
Our research of Ando’s work showed us that the influence of Japanese culture on his works was not simply that of physical characteristics, but of the ethereal opposing aspects of light vs shade, inside and outside, part and whole, history and the present, abstract and concrete.
The sensuality in his works is not only found in the material of his structures but also in the textures, of time, history and space. (Tadao Ando’s Conversations with Students)
Research
We decided to use mirrors in the design of Shibui to re-create that aspect of inside and outside, part and whole, and to commit to material uniformity and minimalism in the creation of the assemblies.
Shibui(渋い), is a Japanese word which refers to a subtle, and unobtrusive aesthetic, much like Ando’s works.
The selection of the assemblies as Japanese monuments, memorials and landscapes is also with respect to Ando’s works in relation to history.
Design
AWARDS
Unexpected Design Award, Concordia’s 2019 Focal Points Year End Show
Shibui(渋い) received this award for reflecting Concordia’s commitment to sustainability to an advanced level for a first-year student project, from its materiality to its conceptualization showed a deep understanding of respectful design.
