Art + Design Challenge: Deployable Structures

The third, and final, Super Art + Design Challenge was waged by fashion designer and fairytalefashion.org founder, Diana Eng. Diana descended on Q2L with lights, construction paper and a photo back-drop for her "Superhero Costume Design using Crazy-Cool Paper-Folding Techniques" workshop. After showing students examples from her fashion collection and her weekly online research videos, Diana launched into the intricacies of paper-folding and the importance of paper prototyping. After explaining that deployable structures were constructions that change easily, students brainstormed and came up with some ideas for some wearable deployable items.
As Diana and a band of crafty helpers worked with students, a complicated sequence of folds and a motley cast of superheros emerged. Creations included a hat that transforms into a mask, a shield for a squirrel's tale and a tie that deploys into a shield. With names like Squirreloo and Dyno-man, Q2L students created a range of superheros, with accompanying costumes and gestures. After explaining their ideas and fashion choices, the students spent the remainder of the afternoon drawing superheros and photographing their new creations. After the superheros were put to rest, the third art+design challenge was complete. Three weeks, three challenges! Special thanks to all of the great volunteers and the fellows, resident artists and folks at Eyebeam for making Super Art + Design Challenge Wednesdays such a great success!