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Practical knowledge (Tools & Materials)


Paper and card are genuinely used to make sketch models as they can tell a story and communicate a message quickly, they are both quick and easy to manipulate with the modelmaker’s most basic tools.

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Card is great at representing solid structures, textures and flat planes due to its built-up layers, when paper is good for repeating pattens, crisp edges and complex curves due to its flexibleness. The accuracy to which these two materials are employed with vary upon what they will be used for. The intended outcome of a sketch model would be to represent initial ideas and then develop on these ideas with the foundation put in place, which doesn’t always require a great deal of accuracy.

Card and paper can also be used as a substitute material to reduce waist and cost. Its recyclable qualities and accessibility make it ideal for the start of a project when fast thinking and sketch modeling is key. However, if used correctly paper and card can reach the bench marking of an architectural model such as a representational or development model.

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Apple use paper and card for their packaging and present these materials in a new light by replicating other material qualities in card and paper. New processes have been created and experimented with to manipulate paper and card. Moulded pulp which egg cartons are made from is what makes up 95% of the iPhone box today. Other materials are infused with moulded pulp to achieve the characteristics of plastic such as durability and that sheen when it catches the light. Laminated turn edge fiberboard is what the outer box is made from, like plywood different types and densities of card, paper and moulded pulp have been laminated together, printed and embossed on to create that sleek finish. Simple but affective techniques are used within the manufacturing such as V cuts along the edges of the card to achieve a 90° angle and a wet press for moulding the pulp as opposed to the cold press which doesn’t achieve the same consistent finish.

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