Post 8: Design Preview Report, Wooden Minimalist Light Fixture

Description:

My final project will be a simplistic, low profile wooden light fixture taking inspiration from the minimalist aesthetic. It will be constructed from a hallowed out 2×4 plank of wood, a 3/8th acrylic sheet and warm LED strip lights. The dynamic component of this project will be from the LED’s ability to change shades, so as the light is on it will periodically cast out different shades of warm light. 

Inspiration:

As you likely already know, the minimalist aesthetic is characterized by simplicity, cleanliness, and a focus on essential elements. It emphasizes functionality and purpose, often featuring clean lines, neutral colors, and uncluttered spaces. Minimalist design seeks to eliminate unnecessary details and decorations, resulting in a streamlined and understated look that prioritizes simplicity and clarity. It often draws inspiration from modernist art and architecture, promoting a sense of calm, balance, and harmony through its restrained approach to design.

I personally adopted the minimalist aesthetics and lifestyle a while back likely do to the household I grew up in leaning more towards maximalist. I have very little clutter in my current living space and I find the things that I wear to be simplistic. It is not that I don’t like more extravagant things, I just personally don’t like to overcomplicate things and I frequently seek out efficiencies in my life. Because of this, I am excited create something with this aesthetic so that I can actually make use of it and hang it in my home.

Comment on Alternative Ideas:

Below are two sketches of my final project in wildly different aesthetics followed by the design I plan to use.

RETRO FUTURISM:

Retrofuturism is an artistic and cultural movement that reimagines past visions of the future. It combines nostalgia for mid-20th-century aesthetics with futuristic concepts, exploring how earlier generations imagined how the future would look. Incorporating both sleek designs and space-age imagery, retrofuturism reflects an optimistic view of human progress and innovation. An example of this aesthetic you may already know is the old cartoon The Jetsons.”

BAUHAUS:

Bauhaus was a pioneering art school and design movement founded in Germany in 1919 by architect Walter Gropius. It aimed to unify art, craft, and technology, focusing on the integration of design principles into everyday life. The Bauhaus emphasized simplicity, functionality, and the use of industrial materials. Bauhaus style is characterized by clean lines, geometric shapes, and a minimalist aesthetic. While the Bauhaus moment then led to the minimalism movement I wanted to test my light design out with the contrasting shapes and primary color use of this aesthetic instead of the simple wood tones and single shape designs of my current aethetic.

Bill of Materials (Total Cost = $40)

• 2”x4”x8′ Red wood plank: https://www.homedepot.com/p/WeatherShield-2-in-x-4-in-x-8-ft-1-Redwood-Tone-Ground-Contact-Pressure-Treated-Southern-Yellow-Pine-Lumber-253906/206967725
• 12”x12”x3/8” Clear acrylic sheet: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Falken-Design-12-in-x-12-in-x-3-8-in-Thick-Acrylic-Clear-Sheet-Falken-Design-ACRYLIC-CL-3-8-1212/308669742
• Warm LED Strip: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07X3FLV9Y/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATZFNO0CG0RJB&psc=1

  

Manufacturing Process:

1. Cut wooden plank to size on bandsaw.
2. Use CNC router to cut bottom and side slots in wooden plank.
3. Use handheld router to cut fillets on wooden plank.
4. Laser cut acrylic pieces out of plate.
5. Sand all components, (stain wood?), and assemble.

CAD Model:

Concerns:

Overall I am confident that I will be able to construct this light fixture well and within the time constraint. That being said I do not have extensive woodworking experience so I will have to learn as I go. Also, I was unable get the dimensions of the LED light strip and battery pack so I may have to reevaluate the design once I get this component in and change some dimensions. I am excited to get the materials in and get started fabricating though!

Schedule:

• All materials in (3/29)
• Finished main body (4/12)
• Completely finished (4/24)