Portfolio

This semester I decided to enroll in Aesthetics of Design. As a mechanical engineering student, there are many opportunities at school to develop my “make something from nothing” skills. But due to functionality and time constraints, aesthetics are usually the last thing anyone is thinking about. This class drew me in because I wanted to learn about how to be a designer and develop my artistic abilities using mechanical engineering as my medium, and I think this class did well in delivering that.

Our first project was to take something that would otherwise be trash (like cardboard, or some other cheep material), and upcycle it into something with an intentional aesthetic. I took inspiration from a fantasy leather helmet, and tried to recreate a similar design out of cardboard. See below for a picture and link to my main post about this creation.

Figure 1: [Left] Inspiration helmet [Right] Cardboard upcycled helmet

Cardboard Fantasy Helmet

After this project, we focused on our main project. I had the idea to create a “magical crystal lamp” that has much more functionality built in than just a bedside lamp with an on/off switch. I wanted to include a variety of features that allowed it to be wireless, useful, and feel magical when you used it, while looking like a beautiful glassy magical crystal.

I was unable to finish this design in time for the expo, but I spend a lot of research and development time building prototype circuitry, and experimenting with different materials. I am currently set on making it out of resin, which will involve manufacturing silicon casts, and then experimenting with dyes and powders to give the final resin casts the right balance of transparency and opacity that I am looking for.

When these are completed, my goal is to sell them on my Etsy store and at maker fairs and art markets.

See below my final post for this project:

Magic Crystal Bedside Lamp