Featured Image credit: Artist Shigeru Miyamoto: https://www.polygon.com/nintendo/2019/10/5/20900178/kirby-character-name-nintendo-lawyer-john-kirby-obituary This post serves as an anthology of my work for the course Aesthetics of Design, taken in the Spring of 2020 at CU Boulder, under Professor Hertzberg. Upcycling Project Description: “Create an artifact that conforms to an aesthetic, either the aesthetic you researched, or one that someone else…

I am lucky to be able to say my original project intent has not changed much from its original conception, despite the COVID pandemic. I would even go so far as to say it was made better by the circumstances, if I simply decide to complete physical manufacturing at a later date. Here you can…

My main project is a desktop toy that consists of three independently rotating concentric rings, with each of the rings holding different elements, again playing up the Kawaii aesthetic. (Kawaii exploration and definition here). The outer and middle rings have holders for mylar buttons, the outer ring having buttons of ~1” diameter, and the middle…

As is the case for most of us, I unfortunately will not be able to complete a physical manifestation of this project due to COVID related closures. Despite my expedited ring manufacturing before the laser cutter closure, my order for custom buttons just barely did not get through. The shop announced closure the day after…

To see the development of the “Kawaii” aesthetic I’ve chosen throughout the semester, please see my earlier blog post here. In this post, I’d like to explore what I consider to be the roots of this aesthetic as it pertains to me personally. Kawaii for me, is a slice of a greater medium – anime…

Above is the original timeline for my main project. Given the new set of circumstances thanks to COVID-19, I will make just one change to my plans, and that is replacing the “Reiteration” with a 3D rendering of the toy within SolidWorks. Because we have lost (easy) access to the laser cutters, and with the…

My main project is a desktop toy that will consist of three independently rotating concentric rings, with each of the rings holding different elements, again playing up the Kawaii aesthetic. The outer and middle rings will have holders for mylar buttons, the outer ring having buttons of ~1” diameter, and the middle having 1.25” diameters.…

The top 5 constraints I will be holding my main project to are as follows: Aesthetic: Kawaii or Cute Dimensions: Roughly 6 cubic inches Movement must be satisfying – either very smooth or nice clunks Designs between the slots in the rings will take advantage of the rings’ rotation, possibly as far as a zoetrope…

Here is a link to my previous post to provide context for this toy. For my main project, I would really like to pursue the Kawaii aesthetic once again. I think this aesthetic really meshes well with the idea I have for the project, since the overly exaggerated facial expressions of these types of characters…

For my main project, I was once again inspired by the laser cutters, although I may end up going with an alternative manufacturing route after hearing a peer’s less-than-optimal experience creating gears with them. As far as I know, my main project idea is an original idea, although I am sure toys of the same…

“Kawaii” or “cute” is an aesthetic that has become widespread throughout Japan, and it started gaining traction as early as the 1950s. Rune Naito is credited with being one of the earliest pioneers of this aesthetic, with the creation of his “Rune Girl” characters, defined by their large heads and baby-faced features. Big eyes and…

My upcycling project is a sculpture of Kirby, laser-cut from cardboard boxes taken from my workplace’s recycling. After further consideration of how this sculpture will come together, I realize I will likely want to find scrap acrylic and wood from the cutters’ location as well, to give certain features a bit more flair. Here is…

My upcycling project thankfully came pretty naturally to me. I’ve always had an affinity for Japanese culture/aesthetics, so coming up with a way to materialize the “Kawaii” aesthetic was an endeavor I’ve already been working on. I recently picked up the hobby of drawing digitally after being laid off from my previous engineering job, to…

“Kawaii” or “cute” is an aesthetic that has become widespread throughout Japan, and it started gaining traction as early as the 1950s. Rune Naito is credited with being one of the earliest pioneers of this aesthetic, with the creation of his “Rune Girl” characters, defined by their large heads and baby-faced features. By 1971, he…