Retro Device Elective

Retro Device Elective

At first, I could not think of what device to create, let alone what era I would place it in. after brainstorming for a bit. I decided on the Ming dynasty, as it has a very distinct style, and therefore would make for an interesting process. I thought about what the most useful invention would be to have been created in that era. Many of the paintings I found consisted of royalty being fanned by various servants, and so I chose a ceiling fan.

Of course, that meant I had to figure out how it would work, as electricity didn’t exist. However, one of the things that inspired this idea of a ceiling fan, were portable nonelectric fans, which relied on a pulley method to generate fan power. I made the decision to incorporate this in the final design.

Porcelain as that is one of the things the era is most famous for, so I created a porcelain design based on lots of research. I searched what materials were commonly used and found that the metal materials included bronze, which was mainly used for intricate objects, copper, mainly for coins, and iron, which was used for hidden objects like chains and screws. During my research I found that most inventions created in the Ming dynasty had incorporated wheels., so I wanted to incorporate a wooden wheel in the design. Modelling was simple as a ceiling fan consists of various shapes. The most interesting part was texturing as there are many different textures included.

My main criticisms are on the final animation. I struggled a lot with the pulley system as I wanted to include a rope being weighed down by a vase, however rigging the rope proved difficult. I decided on a revolving rope, which I got help for from my personal tutors. I would like to work on correctly rigging it, so there is more of a flowing motion of the rope. If I could change anything I would have animated the gears and wheels to be spinning along with the fan, so that there is some use for them being in the design, other than aesthetic purposes.

In the future I would like to work on creating more intricate designs as this was relatively simple. And would like to work on a more difficult rig to figure out how that should have worked.

Mood board:

After figuring out what device and era I wanted to create I did some research into the materials and devices used.

I then researched how a fan would work if it was non-electric

Some concept sketches:

The official design:

A 2 paragraph creative writing piece inspired by this device:

As the golden sun spilled its warm glow through the intricate lattice windows of the palace, an unexpected sight greeted the courtiers and dignitaries gathered within. Suspended from the high coffered ceiling, was a mesmerizing contraption. Its fans whirled around, casting shadows across the ornate tapestries adorning the walls. It was a ceiling fan, a marvel of craftsmanship and ingenuity that seemed to defy the boundaries of gravity. The cool breeze it emanated whispered secrets of distant lands, evoking a sense of wonder, and curiosity among the ancient dynasty’s inhabitants.

The Emperor was captivated by the sight. He marvelled at the fan’s delicate design, its blades curving gracefully like ribbons. With every gentle rotation, it seemed to carry with it a touch of modernity, an intangible connection to a world yet to be discovered. The courtiers, initially confused by this foreign invention, soon found peace in its gentle breeze, which offered respite from the sweltering heat of the summer days. Soon enough, the entire population was won over by the ceiling fan, leaving its permanent mark in history.

The final animation

The audio I used in the final animation: