Tile Kit Workshop

Repeating Tiles

Top matches bottom, left matches right.

patterns

Repeating Tiles with Alternates

Top matches bottom, left matches right. Alternate tiles used to break up pattern.

patterns

Rotatable Tiles

Top matches bottom, left matches right. Rotated tiles still match up.

truchet

Edge-matched Tile Sets

A set of tiles where the sides of each tile match up to the opposing side of another tile in the set.

set

One way to create a tile set is to consider each edge to be one of two states: occupied or empty. Since there are 4 sides, and each has two states, there will be 4² = 16 tiles in the set.

edge_full_shadow

Depending on the design, some of these tiles may be rotations of other tiles.

edge_full

In those cases, a smaller set will still work.

edge_5

With a set of tiles, you can start creating forms.

edge_form

A wide variety of looks can be created.

multi_comp_form

Corner-matched Tile Sets

You can also create a set by considering the corners to be empty or occupied.

corner_16

corner_form

Consider

How does this method impact design rhythm, complexity, concord, similarity, repetition?
How are these design different from/similar to patterns?
What kind of forms does this method lead to naturally? How can this be embraced/avoided?
What are the essential elements of this method?
How does a tile kit like this compare to building kits like lego blocks.
How does a tile kit compare to a font?
How does working within constraints impact creativity?
What are the advantages/disadvantaged to working by hand?
How would variations on the tile work? Staggered? Triangles? Rectangles?
What if each edge/corner had three states instead of two?
How could these tiles work in 3 dimensions?

Activity

Create and edge-matched tile kit. Use markers on paper squares. Make up a design that allows rotation,this is faster to draw out than a full set. Once you have made your kit, use it to create a variety of forms. Try building out each letter in the alphabet.

The image below shows which tiles you need to make, and how many to many to make of each.

edge_counts

Tile Kit Workshop

Repeating Tiles

Top matches bottom, left matches right.

Repeating Tiles with Alternates

Top matches bottom, left matches right. Alternate tiles used to break up pattern.

Rotatable Tiles

Top matches bottom, left matches right. Rotated tiles still match up.

Edge-matched Tile Sets

A set of tiles where the sides of each tile match up to the opposing side of another tile in the set.

One way to create a tile set is to consider each edge to be one of two states: occupied or empty. Since there are 4 sides, and each has two states, there will be 42 = 16 tiles in the set.

Depending on the design, some of these tiles may be rotations of other tiles.

In those cases, a smaller set will still work.

With a set of tiles, you can start creating forms.

A wide variety of looks can be created.

Corner-matched Tile Sets

You can also create a set by considering the corners to be empty or occupied.

Consider

Activity

Create and edge-matched tile kit. Use markers on paper squares. Make up a design that allows rotation,this is faster to draw out than a full set. Once you have made your kit, use it to create a variety of forms. Try building out each letter in the alphabet.

The image below shows which tiles you need to make, and how many to many to make of each.

After playing with your set, start experimenting however you wish. Before the end of the class take a picture of your work and post it the class blog.

One way to create a tile set is to consider each edge to be one of two states: occupied or empty. Since there are 4 sides, and each has two states, there will be 4² = 16 tiles in the set.