Aesthetics in Design Portfolio

When exploring the CU course search engine looking for technical electives I could take this semester, I was fortunate enough to stumble upon MCEN 4279 (Aesthetics in Design). Thinking it would be like any other projects class, I was excited to get my hands dirty working on some fun projects. This class did that and more. This semester, I was given the freedom to create without restriction, and leave my ideas up to my imagination. I was introduced to the intricacies and history of things I’ve previously thought of as both mundane or ornate, and enabling me to walk away with a deeper appreciation of art. Although I knew, I could coast through the semester and still get an “A”, I chose to put both the time and energy into my projects and class.

Upcycle Project

                                         [2] Upcycle Project Lamp Off                                       [3] Upcycle Project Lamp On

For my upcycle project, I chose to create a lampshade inspired after a strangler fig tree. Based on my inspiration, I thought an aesthetic of Beauty in Death was well suited. Besides minor craft projects, this may have been my first project where I solely focused on the appearance the design. Functionally, I simply wanted the lamp to work as expected, but aesthetically, I challenged myself to design something that would project an intricate pattern throughout the room, and also appear as a realistic rendition of the strangler fig tree. I used creative resources like aluminum foil, hangers, and floral wire, as well as trying a modeling method I had little experience with, papier mâché. Although I encountered my fair share of problems, I’m very happy with how the final design turned out. When the lamp is off, it’s realistic to the strangler fig tree’s look, but when the lamp is on, it casts a beautiful yet eerie pattern throughout the room.

See my upcycle project posts for more details:

Beauty in Death: Strangler Fig Lampshade Concept

Progress Update: Strangler Fig Lampshade

Opposite to Beauty in Death: Y2K Futurism

Beauty in Death: Strangler Fig Lampshade

Main Project

[4] Artistic Vinyl Speaker

For my main project this semester, I created an artistic vinyl speaker with a Modernisme (or Catalan Art Nouveau) aesthetic. The only requirements for this project were to have it completed in time for presentations and include a dynamic component. With that in mind, I settled on the idea of creating a record player look-alike that simulates the natural feel of listening to vinyl, while playing audio from an embedded Bluetooth speaker. Going into this project, I knew I wanted to do some fun, unique style, and looked to Antoni Gaudí‘s work for inspiration. Functionally, I wanted my project to spin like a real record player and play audio. Aesthetically, I wanted to follow the organic shaping similar to Gaudí’s Casa Batlló, and include a painted record to be placed on top of my finished project. This came with many challenges. I used SolidWorks for the 3D modeling, but struggled to get the shaping I wanted using the features included with this software. I also encountered issues during fabrication. I ended up needing to reprint many of my parts due to surface finish issues, breakage, or the need for redesign. Lastly, I had issues with the initial electrical parts I had ordered. I realized pretty late on that the motor I had purchased wouldn’t work as I needed it to. To rectify this, I ordered a replacement, all the while pursuing a back up plan in case that fell through. Through it all, I learned many valuable lessons, gained valuable engineering experience, and had a lot of fun. I think I satisfied the functional and aesthetic goals for this project and am excited to show it off!

See my main project posts for more details:

Adventurecore and Vinyl Art Speaker

Modernisme or Minimalism, an Artistic Record Player

Design Preview: Artistic Vinyl Speaker

Artistic Vinyl Speaker: Specifications and Constraints

Artistic Vinyl Speaker Progress Update

Artistic Vinyl Speaker: Part 1

Artistic Vinyl Speaker: Part 2

This semester has been fun, challenging, and insightful. It’s been eye opening exploring the realm of design and engineering beyond the functional side of things, and I’ve really grown to appreciate the artistic styles incorporated into our everyday lives. I’m confident that the things I learned as part of this class will stick with me throughout the rest of my life.

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