Roger Carter

8 posts

5 Specifications 5 Constraints

March 20, 2023

Post 8: Top 5 specifications, top 5 constraints 2023, Student Work

I’m planning on building a mechanical drawing machine. I’ve been considering two general approaches, one is a motorized mechanical machine primarily made of metal while the other is a pendulum based, gravity driven device primarily made of wood. I’m currently leaning towards the motorized version. Examples of drawing machines at work Five Specifications: Adjustable drawing…

Drawing Machine Aesthetics

March 15, 2023

Roger Carter

Post 7: Main Project Aesthetics: Plans and Alternatives 2023, Student Work

I’m considering two different aesthetics for my drawing machine. The first is all metal parts mostly aluminum and brass with a rotary mechanism and pulleys that allow for rotation of adjustable drawing arms. The second approach is mostly wood with small parts of metal. This is likely less expensive, but may have less repeatability and…

Main Project Plans and Inspirations

March 10, 2023

Roger Carter

Post 6: Main Project plans and inspirations 2023

My personal aesthetic is generally to keep things simple or minimal. I like clothing that can be used for multiple things without much text or logos. I like a simple workspace and room, and I like natural colors in my spaces, and love the look of minimalist modern art in my decorations. I think my…

James Dyson

February 28, 2023

Roger Carter

Post 5: What designer do you admire? 2023

James Dyson is a British designer, amongst other things. He studied furniture and interior design and then moved into engineering at the Royal College of Art, eventually switching into industrial design. He is famous for his vacuum cleaners, where he took a cyclonic separation approach so that it wouldn’t lose suction as the vacuum cleaner…

Upcycled Gear Rack

February 22, 2023

Roger Carter

Post 4: Upcycle Design Report 2023

I work as a mountain guide part time on the weekends, which means I have a fair amount of gear to maintain and catalogue. I live in a small space, and need to be really efficient with my space, so I want to better organize my gear closet. Currently, I just have a handful of…

Upcycling Project Update

February 13, 2023

Roger Carter

Post 3: Upcycle progress report 2023, Student Work

In my last blog post, I left off with a good sense for what I wanted to do for my project. This was to develop a better gear storage rack in my closet, with a rural/ industrial aesthetic. I had brainstormed on a few material ideas, including metal piping, and chain-link fence. Thinking more about…

Upcycling Project Aesthetic: Mountain/ Rural/ Industrial

February 8, 2023

Roger Carter

Post 2: What is your Upcycling project aesthetic and why? 2023, Student Work

I have chosen to pick a rural industrial aesthetic for my upcycling project. I live in a rural, mountainous area (western slope, CO), so the materials available here are generally rural or rural industrial in their aesthetic. I work as a mountain guide on the weekends, which means that I have a lot of gear…

Industrial Aesthetic

February 1, 2023

Roger Carter

2023, Post 1: Aesthetic Explorations 2023, Student Work

“Industrialism adheres to a simple, strong aesthetic with a focus on the raw functionality of the elements” – Alison Giese (designer) Industrial aesthetic in design gained popularity in the early 2000s and has remained popular. Most of the context I’ve seen it in is in interior design, or the design of city spaces. Generally, industrial…