Gardner Nichols

14 posts

Why Carbon Fiber Short Board and What’s next?

April 27, 2016

Gardner Nichols

Final Report Main Project 2016

Carbon Fiber Longboard, Gardner Nichols

I originally wanted to explore the construction of carbon fiber spoilers and splitters on race cars. I thought a fun way to do this would be to build a skateboard using a similar construction method. This project served to practice my carbon fiber fabrication skills, which I’ll definitley be using more in the future. After…

Carbon Fiber Short Board Report

April 20, 2016

Gardner Nichols

Final Report Main Project 2016

Carbon Fiber, Carbon Fiber Longboard, Gardner Nichols

The goal of this project was to explore the uses of carbon fiber while practicing my fabrication skills. This project turned out to be a great experiment and learning process, while still producing a nicely finished product. I decided to make a carbon fiber skateboard (or short board) using similar construction methods to surfboards and…

Carbon Fiber Longboard 4/6 Update

April 6, 2016

Gardner Nichols

Student Work, Update Weds April 6 2016

Carbon Fiber Longboard, Gardner Nichols

To see previous updates go here After waiting a week to get some more hardener and epoxy resin, it finally came today. Last weekend, I bought a set of trucks, bearings and wheels so I only had to finish the deck for a working skateboard. I already had one side of the deck laid in carbon…

Aesthetics Game 3/28 Gardner Nichols

March 30, 2016

Gardner Nichols

Student Work

No Comments

Our object was beer bottles and the aesthetic was post modern.

Carbon Fiber Longboard Progress (3/28)

March 28, 2016

Gardner Nichols

Impact of 20th Century design movements plus update Weds March 30 2016

Gardner Nichols

After deciding to change my project from a carbon fiber table to a carbon fiber longboard, I made some good progress over break. I made a pattern of a board on a piece of large butcher paper and used a utility knife to cut out the deck shape in a foam core. I then used…

Pre Spring Break Progress

March 27, 2016

Gardner Nichols

Student Work, Update Weds March 16, 2016

At this point I have all of my material purchased and sitting at my house. After taking a look at the amount of carbon fiber that I ordered, I realized I would need quite a lot more to create a decent carbon fiber coffee table. I personally wasn’t very invested in the coffee table idea…

Gardner Nichols Constraints

March 8, 2016

Gardner Nichols

Student Work, Top 5 Constraints 2016, ZZ 2016

My top 5 constraints with building a carbon fiber expanding table are as follows: 1.) Money: Carbon fiber is expensive and I would love to build a full dining table, but for now with my limited budget, a small coffee table will have to do. 2.) Skill: I have experience laying out carbon fiber, but…

Carbon Fiber Expanding Table Design Review

March 2, 2016

Gardner Nichols

Main Project Design Review 2016, Student Work

Gardner Nichols

For my final project, I’m going to build an expanding table. As much as I’d like to build an expanding table with an intricate system, I’m going to keep it simple and completely manual. Again, I’m going to play on the aesthetic of mixing organic and inorganic materials and shapes that I explored a little…

Gardner’s Inspiration

February 23, 2016

Gardner Nichols

Main Project Inspirations 2016

For my final project, I’d like to create an expanding table. Nothing quite like some of the intricate examples we saw in class, but a simple clean design. The aesthetic for this table will draw on a contemporary mix between organic materials and functional but attractive shapes, very much like my side table. I saw…

Gardner’s Aspirations

February 17, 2016

Gardner Nichols

Aspirations 2016

I have a strong passion for cars and motorsports, so I am currently looking for jobs in that industry. My dream job would either be a development engineer/ driver for a car company. These engineers essentially develop the handling performance and character of a car through test driving. I hope to find my first job…

Gardner’s gardening skills and more

February 9, 2016

Gardner Nichols

Skill Sets 2016

Gardner Nichols

I am currently a senior in mechanical engineering, so I have the same background as my team mates. I am quite good at Solidworks and making drawings. I have ITLL access to 3D printers, although I might need a refresher. I am a decent wood worker and a skilled welder. I have a massive Ford…

Contemporary Side Table

February 3, 2016

Gardner Nichols

Student Work, Upcycle Project Report 2016, ZZ 2016

Gardner Nichols

For my first Aesthetics of Design project, the challenge was to upcycle in some way. I’m a fan of upcycling, but I wanted to build something that I wouldn’t just throw away after graduation. I wanted to build something that I could foresee in my house someday. Because of this, my table might not look…

Gardner’s Contemporary Side Table

January 25, 2016

Gardner Nichols

Student Work, Upcycle Progress 2016, ZZ 2016

I’ve decided to make a small side table. My goal was to use my aesthetic exploration of contemporary design. I wanted to blend a natural material and texture with something very inorganic. With this in mind, I started sketching furniture that had a cascade of hard white or grey material, with a drawer or shelf…

Modern Design

January 20, 2016

Gardner Nichols

Aesthetic Explorations 2016, Student Work, ZZ 2016

Gardner Nichols

I am a big fan of modern design when it comes to furniture and houses. I especially like the aesthetic that focuses more on mixing nature and organic shapes with highly contrasting forms and materials. Modern interior design also tends to have high contrast in color schemes. Although a lot of modern interior design also…