Jennifer Lee

Mechanical Wheels

Class of: 2025

Major: Communication Design BFA

Medium: Foam core artifact with aluminium wire and elastic string

Faculty: Alison McNulty

Prompt: Make an abstract artifact/architectural model of your cultural identity.

For this project, I chose my double-sided tape roller as my cultural object. Taking inspirations from the utilitarian aspect of my reference object, I created a futuristic and mechanical piece that symbolised the busy, fast-paced culture that we live in now. I directly referenced the mechanical wheels and disc shapes inside the body of the tape roller to come up with a sleek yet intricate design. The outer layer of the artifact is a series of smooth and flat discs which embody the sophisticated design of the object. However, inside it is a self-spinning, complex tensegrity model that resembles the motion of the roller inside.