Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 162

Designers, like everyone else, have their own preferences and styles.

Among architectural designers, there are different preferences. One major difference is between sensory design and rational design.

Of course, the difference is not always clear-cut.

However, most designers lean towards one of these two approaches.

Sensory design can be described as a design method where designers use their own senses and feelings, based on their experiences.

In other words, designers who trust their feelings more than logic and reason are the ones who use sensory design.

Rational design, on the other hand, emphasizes logical and rational methods, rather than personal feelings, when creating a design.

Sensory designers rely on their feelings, while rational designers use a logical process to create their designs.

Woo-jin and Jayden were almost complete opposites in this regard.

Jayden valued his feelings, while Woo-jin designed based on a logical process.

So, even when working on the same organic sculpture, their design methods were completely different. Their preferred modeling tools also differed.

Woo-jin, take a look at this model I designed,” Jayden said.

“Oh, cool,” Woo-jin replied.

“That’s not a very enthusiastic reaction, but I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll let it go,” Jayden said.

“What are you talking about? I said it’s cool.”

“It’s much cooler than what Woo-jin is doing, still playing with those strange icons, don’t you think?”

“Yeah. So, if you’re done showing off, don’t bother me and go home.”

“What! This is my house!”

“Hmm, then go to your room.”

“This is my room!”

“Fine, just go somewhere else. I’m very busy right now.”

The theme of Jayden’s organic model was vitality. He expressed the abstract feeling of ‘vitality’ through dynamic forms in his 3D model.

Jayden’s 3D model twisted and turned on the screen, lines of bright blue and green like living vines reaching out. It seemed to pulse with energy, almost breathing. The design suited the theme very well, and even Woo-jin thought it was excellent.

Saying ‘cool’ was not just empty praise.

‘I said it was cool, what more do you want?’ Woo-jin wondered.

Woo-jin shook his head as he watched Jayden grumble and head out for a late-night snack.

Jayden’s work was impressive, but Woo-jin’s interest only went so far. He was now absorbed in his own modeling work, losing track of time.

With Seok-hyun’s help, Woo-jin had been learning Grasshopper function by function. He found its working method very appealing.

“The shape of a wave is determined by its wavelength and amplitude, right?” Woo-jin asked.

“That’s right,” Seok-hyun replied.

“And the amplitude decreases as the wave moves away from its origin.”

“Correct.”

“Let’s start by creating that as an algorithm.”

Even before his regression, Woo-jin liked to approach things logically. So, he was naturally drawn to the modeling method of designing an algorithm with specific rules and creating it exactly as planned.

‘Once I create an algorithm like this, I can use it for other designs, right?’ he thought.

Even with the same algorithm, you can get very different results. It depends on the input values you use. It was also possible to slightly modify the algorithm to create variations.

Creating the initial framework was the most difficult part, but Grasshopper’s modeling method was more efficient for generating various results by transforming the framework in different ways.

“Okay, so if we connect it like this here…”

Woo-jin completed one concentric wave algorithm and copied it to another coordinate. Then, he created another wave of the same shape.

“Oh…! Awesome!”

When the two wave coordinates were brought closer, the pattern Woo-jin wanted appeared where the waves met, like a living creature.

“Wow, it actually works?”

Seok-hyun, seeing Woo-jin’s wide eyes, replied with a pleased expression. “I know. I’ve never created a wave algorithm before, but it’s amazing that it works.”

Woo-jin was excited that the modeling was being created as he had imagined. He started exploring different functions.

The program, which had seemed difficult and overwhelming when he lacked motivation, became a fun toy as soon as he became interested.

Seok-hyun was also interested. He already liked this visual script modeling method, but it became even more enjoyable when he had someone to study with.

Jayden had also been studying the modeling tool with enthusiasm, but he hadn’t focused on the visual script side.

So, the two of them continued to experiment with the program in Jayden’s studio until almost dawn.

When they found a function they didn’t know, they accessed overseas sites and looked up explanations in English, studying Grasshopper with enthusiasm.

As a result, Woo-jin was able to complete a satisfactory work.

“Hey, this is pretty good?” Seok-hyun said.

“Right?” Woo-jin replied.

“Next time we have an interior construction project, we can use it as an art wall pattern.”

Woo-jin smiled and said, “Modeling and construction are different, my friend. How are you going to mold this by hand?”

“Well, that’s true.”

“Anyway, thanks, Seok-hyun. Thanks to you, I succeeded.”

“If you’re thankful… You know what I want, right?”

“What, you…”

“I’m serious!”

“A company car?”

“I shouldn’t have to ask twice.”

“That’s… I’ll think about it.”

Woo-jin and Seok-hyun exchanged jokes. (Seok-hyun wasn’t really joking.) Woo-jin converted the modeling file into a 3DS file.

After sending Seok-hyun home, he worked alone to finish the assignment.

He moved the 3D file to a rendering program, applied materials, and decorated it to make it more realistic.

It was only when the sun had completely risen that Woo-jin finally finished the assignment.

“Hey, wake up, Jayden,” Woo-jin said.

“What? Woo-jin, why are you up so early?” Jayden asked.

“I didn’t wake up,” Woo-jin replied.

“(…) Don’t tell me you stayed up all night?”

“I’m going to school now. Do you want a ride? Or are you taking the subway later?”

“Of course, I want a ride! What are you talking about!”

“Then hurry up and get ready.”

“What about Seok-hyun?”

“Seok-hyun went home at dawn.”

“He was exploited by a wicked boss.”

“If you talk nonsense, I’ll leave you behind.”

“Damn it! You have no heart!”

While Jayden was getting ready, Woo-jin took a nap on the sofa. Then, he drove to school. He was tired, but his mind was clear.

Working on the modeling with Grasshopper and Seok-hyun, he felt like he had caught a glimpse of the digital architecture he had admired.

‘I wonder what the professor will say,’ he thought.

Woo-jin smiled, thinking about the work saved on his USB drive. He had been worried about the Digital Design presentation, but now he was looking forward to it.

The Digital Design class was popular among students from other departments.

It taught how to use various 3D tools that were only available in K University’s Department of Spatial Design.

Students in the Department of Industrial Design, who used 3D tools even more than the Spatial Design students, were especially interested.

Even though the workload was heavy, some students wanted to take the class.

Kang Se-jeong, a fourth-year student in the Department of Industrial Design, was one of them. She wanted to focus her graduation exhibition on product modeling, and she took this class to create a special modeling performance.

Her skills in programs like Alias and Rhino were better than most of the senior students in her department.

Before digital architecture became popular in 2011, organic modeling was mainly used in product design and car design.

So, Se-jeong never thought she would be inferior to the other students in the class. She believed her skills would give her an advantage, no matter how difficult the modeling techniques were.

Even while working on the mid-term assignment, she felt confident. She had worked hard all night, and the result was excellent.

Se-jeong confidently gave her presentation and listened to Professor Jo Woon-chan’s evaluation. She became even more convinced of her skills when he praised her.

“As expected, your modeling quality is excellent because you are a senior, Se-jeong,” Professor Woon-chan said.

“Thank you, Professor!”

“There are no broken seams on the curved surfaces. Despite being asymmetrical, it has a sense of balance. Good. Very excellent.”

Se-jeong returned to her seat and listened to the other students’ presentations with a relaxed expression. She felt a little sorry for the second-year students, as she, a graduating senior, was competing with them.

‘But I didn’t have time to take this class in my second year,’ she thought.

Another student from her department and grade had also applied for the class, but he wasn’t as skilled as Se-jeong. Even within the Department of Industrial Design, Se-jeong’s modeling skills were top-tier.

Of course, her work was better than the works of ordinary 2nd and 3rd grade students.

However, Se-jeong was surprised when a foreigner started his presentation.

‘Who is that?’ she wondered.

The foreigner spoke fluent Korean and presented a model that was as complete as her own.

“I thought that the form of organic curves stretching out is a very good way to express life and vitality,” he said.

“Jayden is quite good,” someone commented.

“Jayden is always great,” another added.

Jayden’s modeling showed admirable effort and skill, despite his boastful attitude and strange way of speaking.

‘What year is he in? Is he a graduating senior in the Department of Spatial Design? He looks young… maybe still an undergraduate? Or perhaps he hasn’t done his military service yet,’ Se-jeong wondered.

After a few more presentations, Se-jeong was shocked again.

“What, what…?” she exclaimed.

Woo-jin, a well-known figure at K University, presented a mid-term assignment that was even more shocking than Jayden’s.