We’ve already demonstrated that the Victorians knew how to have a good time. And that the fun doesn’t have to remain in the 19th century, but they have been improved upon. The stereoscopic viewer, for example, that was once created from wood is now a collapsible 3D printed device that fits into an Altoids tin.
The rest of the Victorian day wasn’t all whalebone corsets and repressed sexuality either. The zoetrope, a rotating cylinder with images on the inside gave the illusion of movement when viewed through a slit. We’ve covered these before as they are too enjoyable to resist.
It’s cool, plain and simple. Right?
“We modeled the design by using a web based 3D object software and 3D scanner in order to design the theme. Then, we started from scratch on a piece of paperweight concentric circle and tagged models from the center dot outwards. Through interactions and storyboard brainstorming we decided on the final model to use on each concentric circle. Once the decisions were made regarding the individual figurine, we started to design and print them and then glue them to the real plate.”
“Singapore is an island surrounded by the sea. What better than to have a sea theme and use dolphins, something everybody likes. The corals evolved from the Fibonacci pattern concept. Illustrating Singapore, our little red dot at the center as being the source of colorful, vibrant, and fun life,” said Toh.
Watching the whirling dance it’s possible for just a moment to recapture some of the wide-eyed wonder of childhood, even if the voice in the back of your head keeps trying to nag you into recognizing that there is a trick. This is one of those tricks that doesn’t become less amazing just because you know how it’s done.