Responding to the wishes of most of the respondents, the first prototype of my hat collection proposes the "mutation of color" as a manifestation.
- Input: when another person speaks loudly or if you are exposed to a loud volume of sound a vibration sensor integrated by an electronic circuit to the hat, detects, reads and reacts to these values.
- Output: After receiving the signal from the sensor, by heating system, the wire sewn into the helmet of the hat, which runs through the surface thereof, warms up and generates the color mutation of the thermochromic ink (going from Black to Transparent) .
The idea is to build the hat by mixing different techniques and materials:
- Helmet: replacement of the felt with egg carton, bio molded material (vacuum machine) on a mold of its own design milled on the CNC machine. Subsequently sanding and varnishing with alginate + thermochromic ink.
- Wing of the hat: acrylic laser cut
- Union of pieces: by stitching.
> Moodboard / sketches
> Process
- I start modeling 3D shapes in Rhino, both for the volume of the helmet and for the modular and removable wing.
- For the last, I used a block of cork, since it is a resistant but lightweight material at the same time, what allows to reduce the hours of milling (in comparison with the wood). This process corresponds to that used in the traditional headgear, including new tools and softwares for the creation of lasts and components, where after can be molded an infinity of materials.
- For the wing, I printed in 3D stepped demountable modules.
- After experimenting with several recipes, always taking the paper or cardboard as the base material, I came to the conclusion that to mold the best result was with cardboard and a more solid and viscous mixture, using potato starch as a binder.
- To achieve a uniform finish I used the vacuum machine, this process allows the material to adapt faithfully copying the shape.
- Image of the first sample of the molded and dry material ... I must continue working on the finish, but functionally the material complies with the stiffness characteristics necessary to be used as a support, to which the electrical circuit and conductive wire weft will be applied- resistive to achieve color mutation. Therefore, this material should not be conductive and at the same time isolate the head.
## 2° Prototype / Cap whit luminescent cape
> Moodboard / sketches
This prototype responds to more visual and aesthetic characteristics, using optical fiber as a luminescent resource. This would be the evolution in terms of morphological and electronic design my modular cap (previous work assigment Computational Couture).
> Process
In this case the process corresponds to a job (for the time being) of exploration and search of alternatives in terms of the design itself and its subsequent compatibility with the printing machines available in the Lab.
- First alternative: design of plot in plane, for later printing in flexible filament. While the pattern resembles my initial idea, getting to a good finish with this filament is more difficult. For which I have decided to continue with alternatives to reach a single piece (helmet) printed on rigid filament.
- Second Alternative: Aesthetically, this design is very similar to that proposed in my sketches. It would be necessary to polish the base form.
- Third Alternative: Parametric design made with Grasshopper, although the spherical shape would facilitate the correct impression, aesthetically I have not yet achieved a final result that I like.
