Length: Tool — designbyjat.com

Describing, Quantifying And Analysing Space Using Length.

Investigating the Imperial systems Natural Units that can be found directly on the human body.

I have always been fascinated by the concept of space and its immensity. I find this notion of infinite space awe-inspiring, leaving me with a sense of insignificance due to its vast enormity. As a result, I am constantly finding ways to mentally make sense of my surrounding environment. By assigning boundaries to areas of space I am able to quantify and make tangible an otherwise formless expanse, allowing me to appreciate rather than be overwhelmed by it.

I created a tool that is a physical, interactive and a sensory object. The tool is made up of thirteen parts. Twelve of the thirteen parts each contain a cut-out denoting the length of a different Natural Unit varying from the smallest length, the Digit, to the longest, the Fathom. The twelve parts are placed on top of each other. The thirteenth part sits on the very top, it has seventy-two 1 inch cut-outs to give a total length of 72 inches equating to the largest Natural Unit used, the Fathom.

The tool simply shows the 12 Natural Unit lengths in comparison to one another. Also, by placing the thirteenth piece over any of the other pieces the user of the tool would be able to compare the two and therefore be able to give a numerical value to that particular Natural unit. The overall function of the tool is to give the user a device to interact with in order to make them aware of the Natural Units found on the body. From that the user would then be able to apply the knowledge gained about these units into their everyday lives when determining length.

‘Space is the hollow space bounded by a surrounding cover. And therefore it is necessarily exactly large as the thing that it takes up.’

(Aristotelian concept)

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