Inspiration
One definition of labyrinth is a winding path with no branches, so if you keep walking in one direction, you cover the whole path and end up back where you started.
I like this aesthetic, and think it would be nice as an object designed for touching.
Previous work
╔══════╗╔╗╔╗╔════╗
╚═╗╔══╗║║║║║║╔═══╝
╔╗║║╔╗║╚╝╚╝║║╚═╗╔╗
║║╚╝║║║╔═══╝║╔═╝║║
║╚══╝║║╚═╗╔═╝║╔╗║║
╚═╗╔╗║╚═╗║║╔═╝║║║║
╔═╝║║║╔╗║║║╚══╝╚╝║
╚══╝║║║║║║║╔════╗║
╔╗╔═╝╚╝╚╝╚╝╚═══╗║║
║║╚═══╗╔╗╔╗╔╗╔═╝╚╝
║╚════╝║║║║║║║╔══╗
║╔╗╔══╗║║║╚╝║║║╔═╝
║║║║╔═╝║║╚═╗║╚╝╚═╗
║║╚╝║╔═╝╚═╗║║╔══╗║
║║╔═╝║╔═══╝║║║╔╗║║
╚╝╚═╗║║╔╗╔╗║╚╝║║╚╝
╔═══╝║║║║║║╚══╝╚═╗
╚════╝╚╝╚╝╚══════╝
"Wave Form Collapse" seeded random labyrinth, 2018.
"Folding powers of 2" labyrinth, pen plotting, 2021.
Snow Sierpiński curve labyrinth walking, 2022.
More Sierpiński curve projects: wall lamp, web animation, 3D print.
2D wooden labyrinth, 2018.
Sketch for a 3D wooden labyrinth.
Simulation
Ropes simulated in Blender. I have a Blender journal that documents that simulation.
With this simulation, I can grow irregular paths around any shape, with various paramters like center of gravity.
3D embed, union of simulated ropes and base icosahedron.
I've printed 3 versions of the same simulation result: ropes only, union with icosahedron, and difference (carving into the polyhedron). There is a pleasing contrast between the regular polyhedron and organic ropes.
Future iterations ꩜
Mirror image prints, to trace with fingers in each hand.
3D modeling: learn how to split shape to be printed as triangles flat on the bed.
CNC carving: translate that design to be carvable.
Electronics: make it possible to insert LED rope, design animations that fit the form.
Open questions
- What is the interaction?
- If I end up with an unconventional display, what will it show?
- Could it be the base of the "calm timer" idea?
- Can I keep the tactile inspiration while adding electronic interactivity, or are those exclusive?