Project Motivation Just like my upcycling project (a shoe rack made from old skateboards), I would like my main project to be a functional item that I will use in my day to day life. I have been looking to get a desk lamp for my room ever since I moved in August, but I…

My personal aesthetic depends a lot on context. For example, my favorite art aesthetic is going to be different from my favorite architecture aesthetic, which is different from how I dress or decorate my room. A precise personal aesthetic is hard to define in my personal experience. However, I tend to like aesthetics that were…

My upcycling project is a Shoe rack made out of used skateboard decks with a “Skatepark Graffiti” aesthetic. Fundamentally, I think this aesthetic is both postmodern and maximalist. The graffiti and skateboard elements of the shoe rack are loud and unnecessary, and have no actual function besides looking visually interesting. Graffiti and skateboards are also…

Skate shoes are an unusual type of footwear, as they are rapidly destroyed during the act of skateboarding. Abrasion with the grip tape during flip tricks and ollies wears through the upper, blows out stiches, and cuts through laces. Thin soles are preferred for better board feel, but at the same time impact protection must…