Materials sourcing

Yesterday while surfing some china websites to look for the distiller, and the failure to make an order because of the terrifying shipping fee of $180 for products worth only $70, I decided to try out with another alternative. I was able to source out the exact distillers on taobao, the popular china webstore that sells almost everything and anything. I've placed my order and crossing my fingers for it to arrive within 2 weeks. I know 2 weeks sounds like a really long duration, with the fact that I am only left with 8 weeks till the real deal. But I have no other choices and this is definitely one big challenge I have faced for this project.

 My plan is to work on the app and other necessary changes to the previous outcomes while I wait for the products to arrive. Also, I'll plan out a list to experiment with after they have arrived. And I can design a scent machine out of what I have bought through sketching them out first. Meanwhile if I happen to spot better materials or decide to custom made, I can always use the distillers that I have bought to be experiments for this project. 

Ups and downs

This week, I have faced some difficulties and challenges in trying to get hold of some laboratory apparatus. Some basic apparatus such as flask, beakers and test tubes are readily available at art friend or local warehouses. However some other glasswares such as the condensers and adapters are slightly difficult to purchase. 

Although I managed to source down a local company that has a wide range of chemistry laboratory supplies ranging from chemicals to apparatus to labortary equipments, the process of purchasing takes a long time. Yesterday I received the quotation from the company and those apparatus they listed down from my request were very pricey. Most probably they were trying to rip me off because my purchase is so small compared to purchases from big companies or local schools. I am still sourcing for other alternatives from that company because I am aware that they have the same kind of apparatus that functions the same but might not be as high quality. 

This morning I decided to search on taobao, a china website that sells almost everything in the world and some other china supply websites. And yes they do sell what I am looking for, and I was so excited! They sold the distiller which I have been hunting up and down, and it comes in a whole setup plus it was way cheaper than the lot I sourced for yesterday. Then only down side to purchasing from the china website was that if it was trustable and it would most slightly take 2 weeks to reach singapore. So I thought to myself that it's always better that I get the materials I need even if I have to wait for a long period. After adding everything needed for not just this outcome but other first few outcomes in the cart with a reasonable price of $63, I got a shock when the delivery charge was a total of $200. Goodness me, after spending almost have a day deciding what to purchase, the total amount scared me. I feel like i am on a roller coaster ride, all I need to do now is pull myself together and keep on sourcing via other alternatives. Right?

The clock is ticking

I took some time to plan and figure out what are the outcomes and things I want to achieve by this semester. So I can have a clearer overview and work according to plan. I was clueless during the first couple of weeks in school this semester when asked to write down my plans according to weeks. And these are the couple of works I am planning to complete this semester :

• Build and design distiller / scent machine
• Build an offline app
• Video for function of : Distiller, Offline App, Scanner, Experience library 
• Build a box for experience library 
• Logo redesign
• Take photographs of all outcomes
• Polish up Outcome 1, 2 & 3

CPJ will be documented on a daily basis and I will post online and offline once I get my research or any development done. I am aware that time is running short and I am pushing myself to go the extra mile because of the precious time wasted in the first couple of weeks. This means everything to me and my FYP would be the main focus in my life right now, despite having some distracting matters that are out of school context. I will push myself to all limits even if all else fails. I can do it

Experiment 01

After planning out the steps and things needed for the first experiment, I made a trip down to Art friend and see what materials I can get to build the set up for the distiller. I got some cork stoppers and a acrylic hollow tube and did some DIY since I have not gotten hold of the professional apparatus.

I drilled a hole into the cork stopper which was quite difficult because the drill is too strong for the cork and it might break if too much force is applied on it. Also, it was hard to cut the acrylic tube and when they break into two pieces, the ends are not sharp and in a weird angle and shape. 

The few things needed before I started out with the distillation experiment. I used some dried lavender flowers to test out because they have quite a strong smell and I would just like to try if this glassware I bought would work. I also prepared a candle and candle holder to be the supporting heat source. Also, an extra regeant jar at the end of the hollow tube to collect the liquid. And I began with the experiment. 

Firstly, I placed a spoonful of lavender flowers into the right smaller boiling flask shape inside. And I capped it back with the cork stopper what is attached to the hollow tube so that no gas would escape.

After that, I added boiling hot water into the left opening of the glassware, which will fill up and surround the inner glass compartment and heat up the lavender flowers and create vapour. And I quickly covered the opening with a rubber stopper so that heat will not escape.

I then lighted up the candle and placed into the candle holder, and placed the flask onto the candle holder. The candle here will be a supporting heat source because the boiling water in the flask will surely decrease in temperature as it is exposed to the room temperature. However, the flame keep extinguishing after a few tries. Which I realised that the candle holder has no opening for air to pass through hence no oxygen and the candle keeps extinguishing. Its good to realise it now through my mistakes. 

The experiment did not work as the water was not a a boiling temperature which is not hot enough to produce vapour. So I moved the whole set up to the stove. I poured out most of the water inside so that it will not take so long to boil. The water droplets on the top of the surface was really formed so much faster. They were formed not only in the inner flask but also on the outer flask.

During the process, I turned up the fire so that it would not take so long. I forgot about the pressure and the rubber stopper on the left actually flew out and hit the ceiling. Thank goodness the glass did not explode although it was heat resistant. Also it was quite dangerous, I might need to wear googles next time doing my experiments that includes fire. So I continued to boil the flask but this time with the rubber stopper taken away, steam was constantly running out through the left opening and the top of the inner glass gathered plenty of vapour drops. It crept out into the hollow tube but did not come out and into the jar. 

The reason was because the material of the hollow tube is not a surface that is cold enough to allow the vapour to change into liquid state. Moreover, the angle was too sharp and not tilted thats why it was hard for the water collected to flow downwards. 

At the end, I managed to collect the scent but not in the correct way. As seen in the small bottle above, the colour of the liquid is wrong. Because the liquid should be colourless and pure. This experiment and set up was not a success but I guess at least now I know that this method is strike out the list and more can be improved. 

Tomorrow, I will be checking with a supplier about the stocks for the real chemistry glasswares and equipments. So that I can start on another experiment. I guess sometimes it is alright to fail.

Saturday sourcing

Saturday was such an adventure, I made a trip down to a warehouse that sells chemistry glasswares and apparatus. Also to figure out what are the things needed for the basic set up of a fractional distiller. I met up with a friend who has chemistry knowledge and we visited the shop with intentions to purchase some apparatus so I can start experimenting during project week. 

This are the few glasswares the store offers, more towards the chemistry side and they are all usable in laboratories. However they did not offer some other apparatus required to build the distiller. Moreover the store was quite messy and some of the stocks that are available on the website might not be available in the store. So the both of us decided to discuss further in the cafe with what we can build out of the available glasswares in the store. 

So we happened to be nearby Chye seng huat cafe and we dropped by to discuss how to build the distiller. In the cafe, I noticed the barista using some coffee dripping method which got me curious. The coffee dripping method includes filtration and distillation, so I decided to learn more about these few machines and how they function. I spoke to the boss who was tending the shop and he explained to me how these machines work.And hopefully extract something and maybe place into the design out my scent machine. 

This set up could be a working distiller because it has a steady clamp that is able to probably hold a conical flask or boiling flask. Plus, the space at the bottom allows the placement of a heat source which might be a candle or small fire. Also, we can remove the top section of the machine and replace with a stopper that is attached to a condenser.  It works in a very creative way as well, the water heated in the flask will become vapour and rise into the top section where coffee powder will be placed. The H20 will be trapped and the water molecules will interact with the coffee. After removing the heat source, the coffee will flow back into the flask. Perhaps we could build a distiller out of a coffee machine.

To me, the cold water dripper machine which works in a wonderful and peaceful way. It also makes the process slow and enjoyable. This machine looks amazing on its own too. The ice in the top container will melt and drip down into the middle section where the coffee powder is. Using the compressor, push the contents downwards and the distilled coffee will pass through the filter and collected at the bottom flask.

After leaving the cafe, we made a trip down to Tott where they sell mostly kitchen wares. They also carry some coffee machines and a wide range of glasswares that I can consider to use for the design of the scent machine with these made do glasswares. We also thought of ways of using the glass wares and figure out if we can build out something that allows distillation to happen. They had a few glasswares that were designed to look like chemistry glass wares, with the idea of a condenser which has two layers. 

We tried to visualise if we could make a distillator out of the coffee machine and tea warmer which was also a candle holder, and other possible chemistry apparatus. The height is perfect but we worry that the heat source might not be strong enough for the water to boil. There are many things to put into consideration. However if I needed to experiment, I now know where to purchase the materials needed and have a rough idea on how to build the distiller. 

The tea pot warmer that has a candle inside and placed under the tea pot to keep the tea warm.

I brought one of the glassware home, the one with two layers and tried to think of a way to make distillation happen with the design of the glassware. Let's hope the experiment works, if not at least provide me with an idea on how to improve. Today was a tiring day, with all the discussions, thinking thoughts and running from places to places. But it was fruitful and interesting. Happy with all these information and ideas brewing right now.

Pre-planning

In order to begin experimenting, I have to study and understand how a fractional distiller works so that I can redesign a prototype in the few weeks to come and having the function understood will make it easier for me to design and of cause it having to function. 

Also, I need to know what are the apparatus needed to put up the basic set up of a distiller so that it will be easier for me to purchase the apparatus as well.

Also, I learned about how the condenser works and what materials and placement would work the best in order to retrieve the smell in liquid form. The condenser needs to have water running so that the gas from the object with smell will turn into liquid due to evaporation. Also, the condenser needs to be titled at a 45 degrees for easy flowing of the liquid into the flask or any container at the bottom. 

On saturday, I bought a boiling flask looking kitchen glassware that has two compartments and two outlets. So I designed a distillation set up according to its design. I would need to improvise and add some other parts which are sold separately. This would be my first experiment that will be conducted once I get hold of all the supplies needed. 

This might be a draft plan for experiment two, even if the first experiment succeeds. So that I would have a few try outs and see which set up will be the best for my final outcome. As for this setup, it will partially be parts of a coffee distiller and a tea warmer. Also, I included other different glasswares as alternatives in case some might not work best such as some glasswares having too small opening which will be a trouble for users to place the objects inside.

Distillation & co

Other than just looking at fractional distillation, or other ways of extracting smell in a chemistry way, I looked up into methods that are for other purpose or similar methods for other functions. Because I thought that it would be good that I don't just concentrate on the chemistry method and look beyond that might help me gain new perspective and hopefully taking that approach and blending it with another method.

I looked into the distillation method to extract a flower's scent or to retrieve fragrance. The idea and method is almost the same as fractional distillation, using heat to turn solid into gas and then evaporate to achieve the liquid form. The methods were quite straight forward and easy which can be done diy. 

I studied and analysed those creative and clever products that takes the idea of distillation to another use. I sketched them out so to better understand how it functions and I try to use the design of the product and place into another function. These are actually products or prototypes that are functional but redesigned. They also used different heat source such as wired coils or candles other the raw fire used for fractional distiller.

Using the idea of distilling water, I studied the structure of the equipment and tried to sketch out a design of a prototype that can be designed with that idea. I was thinking of having three drawers : the upper one is a cold surface perhaps with ice or iced water. If not, cold water can be running through the first drawer as an alternative. The second one would be the drawer to place the object with smell that links to an output where the liquid will be collected. Lastly, the third drawer that is the heat source which will be hidden. 

Other methods of distillation with the use of heat were also used for getting coffee in cafes, or essential oil burners used at home to allow working people to relax after a long day at work. Distillation is also used to get different grades of wine or alcoholic drinks. Somehow, a study on these will be beneficial as they can or might be useful inputs and ideas for the design of my prototype. Glad to know that one method for many different uses. 

Am I ambitious?

Recently, I've been wondering if I am a little too ambitious. 

I get excited about what I am building for my final outcome but some times I can't help but feel that it might fail. I am not a chemist, I don't have a wide knowledge about chemistry, although I can always study the basic functions. 

But I am also not a product designer, I've been studying products used for distillation, filtration. I've been studying different methods of archiving smell on edible and non edible things. Even if I am unable to design the product by my own hands, I can always send it to carpenters or product design houses but I am worried that time would not be on my side. 

I am not a developer to build my own offline app, no doubt I can learn and no doubt I know people who deals with apps and websites but will everything fall in place? 

 Am I being too ambitious?

Or what if I could be all of the above?

Project week

Time check, it is now week 8. Which happens to be project week too and here are the list of things I am aiming to complete by this week before time runs out. And I don't want to disappoint or be disappointed too. Week 8 let's go!

• Buy chemistry apparatus / glasswares for distillation 
• Experiment different ways of distillation with different apparatus
• Design and build prototype 
• Document experiments even if they success or fail
• Offline app check with developer
• Redesign outcome 2 : Travel journal
• Essay final work check, print and submission
• DANDAD work check

Sorry to disappoint

No doubt, for work check I've disappointed and was disappointed. I struggled with coming out with an outcome and sort of wasted six precious weeks before the work check. My studio work and cpj barely moved an inch. I was occupied with some personal problems and hence distracted, but I know it should not be an excuse.  My degree is important and I am not just doing it for myself but for some others who has high hopes for me. The very last thing I should do is to disappoint. No doubt it was a wake up call, although we all knew before hand that we were going to be called out at.

However, the feedback given after the work check was defiantely helpful and gave me a rough gauge on where I am right now. The comments given were :

• CPJ should be expanded to include all documentation of process from research through design developments, reflection and analysis.

• Really like the sketches of your ideas in the physical CPJ, seems like exciting thoughts, I would like to see you experiment and create them. Your reflections and musings are interesting in the CPJ. It makes it more personal and enjoyable. Progress on the studio work is slow. The app is a good start but it seems like right now you are just working with the art direction. I would like to see the actual concept, workflow and framework of how it will be used fleshed out more. At least that would give me an idea how the entire thing will work. Consider making also a geo-location tag with the app that users can tag locations that they have found inspiration. Then when you view the entire map, it then becomes interesting that there are so many places where people found inspiration. Disappointed with the progress, was looking to see more from you but hope that you will pick it up and make the most out of the 2nd term. 

Made Up Curiosity App Interface

For my final outcome, I've decided to build an app. After re-looking into my project, and considering that my outcomes should be spaces for designers to document their experiences and be inspired from there to produce more creative solutions. My previous outcomes were mostly spaces for experience but they are more tangible and physical, such as travel journals and notebooks. So this time I was looking into something that is towards the side of social media or web based. 

Also, given the fact that technology is so advanced now and most of the people in our society has at least a smart phone that can take pictures, forward them or linked to social media platforms. Phones are mobile and portable too, which makes it convenient for people to record down their experiences, be it through pictures, audio recordings, videos or text. 

The Made Up Curiosity app interface designs up for mid term work check. A rough idea of how the offline app will look like and basically the art direction of it. There are still a few functions and selections uncovered, and definitely more space for improvement. 

Overlays overload

Overlays of vectors over images that will be used in the app, a few drafts tested to see which works best. Each graphic overlay will indicate which sense the image is related to, and the experience documented down by the user. Very basic graphics to represent each different sense and also to allow users to know which square is for which sense. I designed the graphics to be simple and not complicated, and so users can tell which sense it is by the graphics almost immediately. I used white for the overlays because white stands out the most against images compared to black and other colours might blend into the images. Plus, each image consist of different framing and colour. Thus I decided to keep it simple and easy.

App + UI reference

Some ideal style and look which I intend to go for, these UI examples will serve as a guideline. For the Made Up Curiosity app, there are a few factors I am looking out for.

• Layout & design kept simple, user friendly and clean
• Colour choices : black / white / grey
• Contents speak for itself : Images, audio, text
• White background / black font or black background / white font
• Thin fonts : Hightide / monserrat
• Thin lines, boxes, grids
• Usage of box, squares 
• Overlay of text, vectors, graphics
• Usage of simple graphics / vectors