Metamorphosis Conceptual Design Idea and Research

13 May, 202330 July, 2023 by ward2021

What is Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis is the process of undergoing a profound transformation, transitioning from one form to another. In the realm of design, it evolves into the captivating art of shape-shifting, enabling an artist to convert a shape that originally symbolises one entity into a comparable form representing something entirely different.

Initial Idea

Originally, my concept revolved around animating an industrial machine to visually showcase the process of creating a particular item.

Having a background in engineering, I am reasonably familiar with various modern industrial machines. However, I decided to delve into the world of ancient industrial machinery, taking a step back in time by several centuries. In particular, I became intrigued by the process of producing wine and set out to recreate a method that was commonly used during medieval times.

Where did the idea originate

The spark of inspiration ignited as I reminisced about my journey to the southern region of France. During that memorable trip, I had the opportunity to explore the renowned Château de Crémat vineyard, which happens to be owned by the French designer Coco Chanel. This historic vineyard holds a significant place in France’s viticultural heritage, standing as one of the country’s oldest and most revered vineyards.

Figure 1: Original images taken during my visit to the Château de Crémat vineyard.

Upon returning from my trip, I paid a visit to my grandma and eagerly shared the pictures I had captured during my unforgettable experience. To my delight, this sparked a conversation that led her to reveal the cherished collection she and my late grandad had amassed, consisting of wines from various countries worldwide. As my desire to animate an industrial machine solidified, it became evident that incorporating a wine bottle or glass in some form would be a fitting and meaningful choice.

Why I chose this idea

While the concept holds personal significance, I also find great enthusiasm in the idea from a graphic design perspective. It is an ideal chance to merge 3D modelling with a potential marketing approach by crafting a concise advertisement for a wine brand. This creative endeavour resonates with my connection to wine and allows me to explore the realms of visual storytelling and brand promotion.

Research

In medieval times, during the summer months, as the vines flourished, they became laden with fruit. It was in September that the grapes were carefully handpicked, marking the beginning of their arduous journey towards vinification. Once the grapes were harvested, the subsequent step involved crushing.

Intriguingly, medieval manuscripts offer compelling evidence of this practice. Many depictions illustrating winemaking from that era portray the act of crushing grapes in some manner. Typically, this involved individuals treading on the grapes within a large tub, serving as a model for the enduring image of medieval vinification: winemakers joyfully stomping on grapes, allowing the juice to flow and collect in a waiting basin.

Figure 2: In this medieval illustration, we witness the fascinating winemaking process during that era. The centrepiece of the image is a large barrel, flanked by two individuals on each side, delicately carrying baskets filled with ripe grapes. Inside the barrel, two figures stand, actively engaged in the task of crushing the grapes with their feet. This traditional method of grape stomping was a common practice in medieval vinification, as depicted in this captivating illustration.

Conceptual design idea

The conceptual design idea I envision is an animated depiction of the wine production process, focusing on critical elements due to the animation’s short duration. The animation would commence with ripe grapes falling from the vines and rolling into a barrel, symbolizing the start of the process.

The animation would showcase a modern mechanical method rather than depicting people stomping on grapes. A manual crusher would be featured, visually demonstrating the crushing of grapes efficiently and precisely.

After a brief sequence, the animation transitions to the sight of wine elegantly dripping into a glass bottle. This visual would be completed by a scene featuring the bottle gracefully positioned a top of a barrel alongside a wine glass and a bowl of grapes, symbolising the final product.

References

British Library. 2019. Wine-making, medieval-style. [ONLINE] Available at: https://blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/2019/09/wine-making-medieval-style.html#:~:text=The%20ancient%20Greeks%20and%20the,an%20essential%20part%20of%20Communion.. [Accessed 10 May 2023].
EPPH. Unknown. Visual Metamorphosis. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.everypainterpaintshimself.com/theme/visual_metamorphosis#:~:text=Visual%20metamorphosis%20is%20the%20term,similar%20shape%20representing%20something%20else.. [Accessed 10 May 2023].

O-I. 2023. How Glass Bottles and Jars are Made. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.o-i.com/our-story/how-glass-bottles-and-jars-are-made/. [Accessed 10 May 2023].