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Welcome to the Aesthetics of Design Website. This site displays student work in the Aesthetics of Design class at CU Boulder. This site serves as an archive for current and past student projects, and for current students to develop their portfolio and documenting skills. It is also an Open Educational Resource, for anybody interested in how to make these projects, and for educators who might like to teach a course like this: all lecture notes and videos are available, as well as syllabus, schedule assignments etc..

This year’s12th post, where students present Part 2 of their final report, the How

Final Report Part 2

The creation of art is often a protracted dance between vision and execution, a meticulous process of translating abstract concepts into tangible realities. The brutalist fountain that took shape over several days was no exception, its construction a testament to both the initial design aspirations and the pragmatic adjustments necessitated by material constraints and technical…

Post 12 – Hidden Compartment Fantasy Aesthetic

Creating my fantasy-inspired hidden compartment was a journey of creative exploration, technical challenge, and aesthetic evolution. What started as a Lord of the Rings-inspired art piece became a compact minimalist artifact, and built through trial, error, and eventual refinement. Fabrication Process Unfortunately, I did not take nearly enough photos of my fabrication process, however, you…

Space Theme Keyboard – Final Report Part 2

Introduction This post is the complete fabrication and process behind the project. In my last post, I walked through the journey of creating a custom space-themed keyboard for my Aesthetics of Design final project. I explored the inspiration behind the aesthetic—drawing from cosmic elements like stars, nebulae, and spacecraft—and discussed the iterative design process. Timeline…

Magnetic Shoe Display – Fabrication and Construction

After developing the aesthetic direction and functional goals for my magnetic shoe display, the next phase of the project focused on physically building the piece. This stage was where ideas on paper were translated into tangible form through sketching, cutting, gluing, carving, wiring, and assembly. My goal was to bring together all aspects of the…

Dual-Perspective 3D Sculpture: Final Report – Part 2

Project Timeline This section documents the full journey from idea to final artifact. It outlines the actual design process through a week-by-week timeline, describes how the sculptures were modeled, fabricated, and assembled, and ends with a reflection comparing the original vision with the final outcome. While function played a role, the focus remained on aesthetics,…

CyberCrystal Vest: Final Report Part 2 – The How

Timeline of the CyberCrystal Vest Project Week Phase Developments 1 Ideation & Aesthetic Definition Brainstormed cyberpunk-inspired designs, sketched early vest concepts, defined goal for movement-reactive wearable tech 2 Component Exploration & Research Researched Neopixel LED chains, vibration sensors, microcontrollers, and 3D-printed wearable components 3 CAD Modeling & Prototyping Designed three sizes of crystal spikes in…

Final Project: Classic Hollywood Clapperboard

  Timeline of the Design Process Creating my final artifact—a handmade clapperboard inspired by Classic Hollywood—wasn’t a strictly linear process. It involved a lot of back-and-forth between exploration, trial, and hands-on learning. Here’s a breakdown of my design timeline: Phase Dates Key Activities Exploration Feb 20 – Mar 3 Researched vintage film equipment, gathered inspiration…

Record Player Stand and Vinyl Storage – Final Report Part 2

Project Timeline During my design preview, I presented the following steps with “done by” dates that would give ample time for troubleshooting and experimentation. When starting the actual process, I decided to skip redesigning the CAD model, as I figured it’d be near impossible for me to match the dimensions exactly when using hand tools.…

Vintage Sports Framed Picture Report Pt. 2: How

Final Project Report Part 2: How Project Timeline Overview To complete my vintage sports-themed framed picture with integrated LED backlighting, I went through several phases, including research, skill development, material acquisition, design iteration, and fabrication. The following timeline breaks down the key stages, which can also be seen below in image [2]:   [2] Timeline…

Fabrication and Final Reflections on the Rugged Camp Table Project

Timeline of the Design Process The creation of this project followed a non-linear but intentional design process. My timeline included exploration, ideation, material acquisition, prototyping, and several iterations of design adjustments. Much of the time was spent adapting existing parts to work in harmony with the newly added elements. Below is a description of each…

Final Report Part 2 – Retro 80s Ski Boot Warmer

Timeline: The timeline above outlines the five-week process behind designing and building my retro ski boot warmer. In Week 1, I purchased all necessary materials—including a 12V PTC heater/fan, plywood, PVC, and a power converter—and began preliminary sketches to size the enclosure for portability and proper boot fit. Week 2 focused on fabrication, where I…

Part 2: How

My design process for the river environment project was anything but linear. It unfolded through continuous exploration, trial and error, conceptual pivots, and a steep learning curve as I navigated unfamiliar materials and techniques. Creating a slice of nature that could function as a self-contained unit proved to be challenging yet rewarding. This project demanded…

Skateboard Deck Project | The How (Photos Coming Soon, Issues Uploading)

Building My Custom Cruiser: The Hands-On Process Behind the Design I want to walk through the technical process of building my custom skateboard deck from raw veneers to a fully finished cruiser. This project wasn’t just about making something that rides well; it was about learning new tools, trying new workflows, and combining both digital…

Almost the Look

1. Timeline: The Making of the Hexagonal Bookshelf Below is a visual timeline representing my build process, highlighting the cyclical and non-linear nature of design:  Week 1–2: Exploration & Planning Brainstorming 1970s-inspired aesthetics Sketching geometries Defining functional requirements (book storage, compact corner fit, modular potential) Week 3: CAD Design & Dimensioning Modeled in SolidWorks Solved…

Building a Steampunk Strandbeest: Assembly and Aesthetic Focus

Timeline of the Design Process When I started this project, my goal was to bring a popular kinetic sculpture to life by blending the famous Strandbeest mechanism with the popular aesthetic of steampunk. This creation would celebrate both motion and artistry and become a sculpture where every gear and linkage wasn’t hidden, but proudly displayed.…

The Journey from Concept to Creation: Origami Inspired Floor Chair

Fabrication Process: Bringing the Origami Chair to Life Research & Inspiration My journey began with immersing myself in the world of origami and furniture design. I spent considerable time exploring the intersection of these disciplines, studying how folding techniques could translate into functional, weight-bearing structures. I was particularly inspired by designers who had successfully merged…

Retro-Futuristic Robot Can Crusher: Part 2 – How

While the aesthetic direction of my retro-futuristic robot head can crusher was driven by mid-century sci-fi, the actual construction process was far more iterative, mechanical, and at times, experimental. In this second part of the report, I’ll walk through the real-world process of turning a sketch into a functional, wall-mounted robot. This post documents my…

Final Report Part 2: Chocolate Packaging Process

Timeline Graphic The following graphic documents my actual design process over the course of the semester. The process has been split into the following stages: Figure 2: Timeline Fabrication Process Phase 1: Exploration & Concept Refinement The semester began with momentum from my Upcycle project proposal: a vertically integrated chocolate brand inspired by my internship…

From Concept to Completion: Aesthetic Fabrication Journey for my Tree Frame

Figure 1. Final Outcome Introduction The creation of my final project, the layered laser cut tree wall art piece with a hidden photo frame, was more than just a build. It was a journey of aesthetic exploration, emotional connection, trial and error, and iterative design. From the earliest sketches to the final stain and screw,…

Actual Design Process, Fabrication, and Reflection

Introduction Starting this project, I was originally inspired by a longstanding argument I’ve made: “no flat tables in space.” While this might sound ridiculous at first, the point is simple—space demands a different approach to design due to its vastly different environment. Much of our current crew systems hardware simply retrofits terrestrial solutions for this…

Mid Century Modern Bookshelf – Part 2: How

Project Timeline Timeline Overview: Ideation (Weeks 1–3): Explored inspirations, designed three separate CAD files: A spinal column shelf with movable shelves An entryway table with kerf-cut corners Final iteration: a hip-height, mid-century modern inspired bookshelf Prototyping (Weeks 3–8): Built cardboard and 3D printed prototypes to test proportions, joinery, and leg designs. Material Shopping (Week 8):…

Hex – The Final Product Pt2

In part 1 of this final report, I covered: The Intention: To make a clock representative of personal identity The Aesthetic: Art Nouveau  Inspiration: The human eye/iris Modeling: Modeled in Rhino to be laser cut Materials: Acrylic + MDF   In this part, I will be covering the prototyping process, final fabrication process and the…

Neon-Inspired 3D Printed LED Sign Final Report part 2

Introduction  For my final project, I set out to create a neon light-inspired 3D printed sign. This idea was born from a desire to add personalized decor to my home office—something that felt both unique and reflective of my interests. As a big fan of Marvel and DC comics, I wanted to incorporate elements of…