Opposite Upcycle Aesthetic: Artificial Over Natural

The opposite of my Upcycle project — entailing a topographic tissue box cover — in terms of aesthetics would likely entail less organic form and more artificial. These could be rigid, symmetrical shapes that would be impossible to see in a natural environment. It would also include the change of only having the bare minimum so only essential aspects are present.

Translating to my project, it would ultimately culminate in having a diorama cover that does not invoke the idea of nature, emphasizing sharp edges and symmetry, and removing the redundant layers as it only offered no utility aside from aesthetic visuals.

Below is a Blender rendition of what it would appear:

As seen in the model, all the layers representing the landscape and the exposed portions on the side panels were removed as they provided no utility. The opening on the top cover remains in the shape of a hexagon rather than an asymmetrical gap that somewhat resembles a landscape.

While this design retains having a tissue box slotted over it, two clamps were added to further secure the tissue box with small groves to prevent the clamps from obstructing the opening. Bevels — the angled bits around the top and bottom of the cover’s edges — can provide some safety by removing sharp corners when handling the cover.

Funnily enough, the cover inadvertently — I did not reference any images and just played around with geometry — resembled several game assets I noticed while playing a video game the other night.

 

The feasibility of fabricating and constructing the opposite aesthetic Upcycle project would be beyond my capabilities and current scope. The opposite aesthetic model would require more precise cuts/machining, including the bevel, groves, and clamps — ensuring that the clamps fit perfectly around the cover.

As mentioned in a previous post, my primary fabrication method does not require laser cutting as — aside from the overall dimensions — the cuts made to each layer would not impact the overall design. This theoretical model, however, would absolutely require laser cutting and more complex assembly that will take additional time and effort compared to the actual project. Furthermore, given the scope of this theoretical opposite aesthetic model, it would be more beneficial to utilize material other than cardboard, like plastic or metal. This would improve the cover’s appearance and have the added benefit of having better duration.

Overall, while the opposite aesthetic of the current Upcycle project does certainly have its appeal — inadvertently resembling various crates after the model was complete — it would not be feasible for me given the current scope and material I have at hand. Not only would this theoretical project necessitate equipment like laser cutting, but it would also benefit immensely if the current material were to be substituted with something else.

 

References

[1], [4], [5], [6]: Blender 4.0 – https://www.blender.org

 

[2] https://www.halopedia.org/List_of_UNSC_crates

 

[3] https://www.artstation.com/artwork/a4aXJ