Benjamin Fried – Aesthetics of Design

On the first day of class, during some brain storming for my upcycle project, I stumbled upon a chess board, which I started sketching. As I thought more about it, a chess board seemed like an timeless art piece, seen at home in many diverse environments: City parks, fancy hotel lobbys, living rooms, and more. …

Ben Fried Presentation: Chess Board

April 21, 2017

Please see this link for my presentation: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3ZZBmiuULbENko0MkcweXRJd1E

Final Stretch: Checkmate

April 12, 2017

The chess board is in the initial stages of the build. I have acquired the wood, brought it to the Makerspace, and have started to build my product. I began by inspecting the maple and walnut wood for any imperfections, ensuring it would suffice for my chessboard. Next, I verified my drawings with an external…

Construction Timeline: Ben Fried

April 3, 2017

Below you can see a schedule of events that I need to complete. I have done this process before for the prototype, so I am familiar with the materials and tools, and know what type of aesthetic I am trying to aim for. This should take no longer than the time I have allocated to…

Project aesthetics compared to 20th Century design movements (2017): Chess Board

March 21, 2017

For my current design, I plan on using a “contemporary Asian” aesthetic, which involves a lot of nice stained wood, with a hint of contrasting bamboo colored wood. I’ve started to notice that the shape of this aesthetic is very “sharp”, and does not have a lot of rounded edges. Corners are squared off, and…

Design Review: Chess Board Prototype

March 13, 2017

For my final project, I have decided to create a chess board, complete with a storage unit, and possibly a matching cribbage set to go with it. I began by exploring some ideas, considering a nightstand charging station, or a pair of bamboo ski poles. I discovered that I liked the wood aesthetic the best.…

Top Five Constraints: Chess Board

March 7, 2017

For my final project, I have narrowed down my idea to a few items, each of which are made of wood. For me, woodworking is the most practical type of construction which allows me to exercise my construction skills, and also creates an appealing aesthetic that I enjoy. I have narrowed my ideas down to…

Main Project Inspirations: Ben Fried

February 28, 2017

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For my main project, I would like like to build a fully functional object that I am able to keep and use for the future. As I mentioned in blog post 1, I believe things I own should have a specific function, even if it as simple as a relic that jogs a memory or…

Skill Sets and Aspirations: Ben Fried

February 20, 2017

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My schooling (undergraduate and graduate) has been in mechanical engineering, but I am more interested in management, system engineering, and finance, which is where I can see myself in the long run. I enjoy doing technical analysis, thinking critically, and solving advanced problems, but I do not want to do that for the rest of…

Upcycle Final Report: Trail Maps

February 10, 2017

This upcycle project was inspired by the rustic Adirondack feel that many mountain cabins and homes have. When I lived in upstate New York (Potsdam, NY), many home had this aesthetic associated with it. Source Link Source Link Being an avid skier and having a lot of extra trail maps, it seemed appropriate to…

Design Loop: Trail Map Upcycling

February 8, 2017

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Throughout my engineering career, I have been a part of many design processes, some successful and others, partial. One common trait throughout both is that they all have an end vision and goal that my team and I are reaching towards. The large discrepancy between success and partial success is how much these visions change…

Upcycle Progress: Re-used Trail Maps

February 2, 2017

After a week of sketching, brainstorming, and doodling, I’ve narrowed the scope of my project to something one of a kind that relates to maps, and will enable me to remember some great time that I’ve had in certain locations. In sticking with the upcycle theme, I brainstormed a detailed list of extra maps, photos,…

Aesthetic Explorations: The Utility of Maps

January 22, 2017