This document provides instructions for a foam board project where students will observe an object, reproportion it, and construct a simplified 3D model of it using foam board. Students must find an industrial product to observe, measure, and sketch from multiple angles. They will then resize the object, create templates, and cut foam board pieces to assemble into a sculpture using only flat pieces and joints. The goal is for students to practice observing and analyzing 3D forms, simplifying designs, and constructing scaled structural models with limited materials. Examples of previous student works are provided.

1. Economy/ Mass / Form
Foam Board Project
3D Design
Manami Ishimura

2. Purpose
Students will learn the skill of observation of an object 3 Dimensionally.
Students will be able to re-proportion an object.
Students will be able to economize a 3D form.
Students will be able to understand a structural form.

3. Objective
• Find an found object: Industrial Product ( ex. Lamp, spray bottle, but not
fruit, stone)
Requirements
1. The object must occupy a space 3D dimensionally; can’t be flat such as scissors,
book,
2. The object must consist of two different elements of form (cubic, columnar,
conical, etc..); can’t be too simple geometric or completely cubic or sphere such as
book, ball, can.
• Observe the object following the direction:
1. Measure three dimensions (height, width, and depth)
2. Sketch capturing features of the object
3. simplify the form and design the armature
• Build a foamboard following the steps:
1. Draw a provisional form – You cannot pile foam board, you can only build jointing
techniques
2. Create a maquette to scale the object, economize the form, and finalize the design
3. Cut foamboards into all flat forms (pieces)
4. Build joining pieces

4. You Can Only Use Jointing techniques
* You may use a tape or white glue to attach pieces together but try to avoid as much as possible

5. DO NOT Pile Foam Board!

6. No Bending / Full Covered
These objects are cool, but this project is to practice to build a 3D form with flat forms. All pieces are
supposed to be flat.
Economizing the form is also an objective of this project, Understand the feature of the form of the object,
and design the structural form of the object.

7. Student Examples (Foamboard Works)

8. Student Examples (Foamboard Works)

9. agenda
Group A Group B
29-Oct
Online
Proj. Economy/Proportion/Form
Day1: Find an object and Observe
(measuring, any information about
the object) 15-Sep
Online
Proj. Economy/Proportion/Form
Day1: Find an object and Observe
(measuring, any information about the
object)
3-Nov
Online WebEX Meeting
Day 2: Re-Size, Develop the Design,
Make the second maquette 17-Sep
Online WebEX Meeting
Day 2: Re-Size, Develop the Design,
Make the second maquette
5-Nov
Online WebEX Meeting
Day 3: Making a revised maquette
and make templates 22-Sep
Online WebEX Meeting
Day 3: Making a revised maquette and
make templates
5-Nov
Online WebEX Meeting
Day 4: Start Cutting Foamboard
24-Sep
Online WebEX Meeting
Day 4: Start Cutting Foamboard
10-Nov
Online
Day 5: Build Foamboard sculpture! 29-Sep
Online WebEX Meeting
Day 5: Cutting Foamboard
12-Nov
In-class
Critique (bring both the object and
your project)
Submit images on the BB 1-Oct
In-Class
Critique (bring both the object and
your project)
Submit images on the BB

10. Day 1: Observation & Planning
• Find an Industrial Product (found object) around you
Requirements
1. The object must occupy a space 3D dimensionally; can’t be flat such as scissors,
book,
2. The object must consist of two different elements of form (cubic, columnar, conical,
etc..); can’t be too simple geometric or completely cubic or sphere such as book,
ball, can.
• Observe the object following the direction:
1. Take pictures of the object from three different angles (front, side, top)
2. Sketch the object from different angles
3. Measure three dimensions (height, width, and depth), write down on your sketch
4. Make a simple maquette (can be smaller) suing normal paper and tape
5. Sketch planning for a design

11. Measure the object using Caliper
Example: Spray Bottle

12. How to use a Caliper to measure a object
Use Metric System!!!!!!
Not Inch!
*Metric system is easy to calculate when
you re-size the object proportion.
Adjust arms of a caliper to just fit on the dimension
Try not to move the arms and bring it to ruler
If the caliper is too loose, fasten the bolt

13. Sketch – Write down all
details with its dimensions
Of course with Metric system!!!!
The sketch does not have to be a precise
proportion but write down all details
with its dimensions.

14. Make a maquette – can be smaller and simple

15. Sketch Designs to Plan
After making a small maquette, you will
see how to make the object self-stand.
Do not forget the foam board has a
thickness (5mm) Especially joint parts need
an attention. Is it too small to actually
make a joint?
You may enlarge the size if it makes easy to
joint pieces.
Keep Editing!!! You will not make a perfect
design at once.

16. Day 2: Re-size, Develop the Design of Form
Make a small maquette
1. Draw a revised design form on your sketch book. Keep editing your design.
*See instructor’s comment/feedback before you start
2. The highest dimension must be between 10 - 15 inches.
3. Calculate resizing the dimensions of the object (if the object is too small or too big)
4. Create a maquette one more time to finalize the design

17. Day3: Make a Revised Maquette &
Make Templates for Cutting Formboards
1. Make a template using normal paper
2. Cut the templates off
3. Trace on a foam board
* Draw the template using ruler and compass as neat as you can!!!!

18. Day4 Cut Foam Board
• DO NOT Cut the joint portions until
actually you joint them!!!
• Cut into the shapes with X-Acto
knife
• Keep the blade sharp (change blade
frequently)
• DO NOT try to cut through in once,
but twice or three time
• Cut clean edges

19. Day 5: Build Foam Board Sculpture!
• Cut the joint portions making sure each pieces fit perfectly!
• Glue with hot glue or white glue or tape if needed
• Clean joint (DO NOT apply glue too much!!!)
• Try to avoid using tape as much as you can

20. Critique:
• Bring Both the actual object and your foam board piece
• Submit more than four images of your project (Front, Side, Top, and
Details) on the BB
• On the comment blank on the BB, write the three dimensions
(H”xW”xD”)

21. Supplies from School
• Paper
• Foamboards
• X-ACTO knife with spare blade (Return after the project)
• Cutting board (Return after the project)
• Caliper (Return after the project)
• Ruler
• White Glue

22. Tutorial How to Draw Oval
How to Draw Oval
Click the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GyWNVFQ6I4
How to Cut a foam board (Foam Core)
Click the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuq-pT8ww9Y

23. Student Examples (Foamboard Works)

24. Student Examples (Foamboard Works)