Material Exploration: Liquid Latex

This semester-long exploration class called Design Communication presented us with four materials to choose from: wood, paper, resin, and liquid latex. Not knowing anything about it, I chose latex. Over the course of the semester we were encouraged to push the material to its limit in whichever way we wanted and for my partner and I, that meant we would conduct tests to find out how thin and transparent we could make a sheet of latex. Along the way we also tested different methods for mixing the latex, using different tools to mix, various surfaces, multiple types of dye, and manipulation after the material dried. In the end, we presented a lightweight, transparent 2-by-4 foot sheet of origami latex which we had to bake in the oven in order to retain the shape. This exploration taught me the importance of prototyping which I have carried on throughout my years at IIT.