Critical Conversations: bridging pathways forward to greater understanding and creative solutions.

What kind of dialog is paper creating with us? a study of paper and technology.

By Nicole Liu

"What happens when creativity shifts from the tangible to the intangible? Back in architecture school, I witnessed a loss of creative touch when we shifted from the foundation practices on paper, to completely relying on digital modeling software. When we design for humans, whether it's a digital product or physical space, our users are naturally tactile.

The idea of a loss of nuance led me to this inquiry-driven project, where I sought ways to improve communications design by using paper tools to translate into digital technologies that are more attuned to human users. This installation features a paper ""domain"" with ""graspable"" interfaces that loop onto each other, above a sculpture I named ""paper impressions"", made with 1276 paper straws, which translate into haptics and networks - which can potentially shape a new realm of digital technology."

A tabletop arrangement of small paper sculptures made of rolled, curled, and folded white paper, creating various geometric forms including tubes, arcs, and sharp points.
A white square grid composed of evenly spaced vertical pegs protruding from a flat surface. The pegs create a soft, moiré-like texture across the panel.
Two physical models displayed in a gallery setting: one on a pedestal wrapped in white fabric and the other leaning against the wall, featuring a dense white peg grid. A paper wall installation drapes behind them.
A close-up side view of a sculptural model composed of densely packed horizontal paper tubes arranged between vertical white panels, creating a layered, bristle-like effect.
A miniature room model crafted entirely from white paper, featuring furniture such as a bed, wardrobe, and seating against a backdrop of a sculptural wall installation made of layered paper strips.
A top-down view of a white paper surface featuring six sculptural forms. Each form is made from paper, bent and cut into combinations of tubes, arches, and angular cuts, organized in a grid-like composition.