Zach Aldrich

15 posts

Summing Up 2020

May 3, 2020

Zach Aldrich

Summing Up 2020

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What a roller coaster of a semester! This class definitely took me out of my comfort zone as I am not normally one who has a knack for artistic ability. I learned that the word aesthetic has actually a vastly deeper meaning than just “what looks good”. My final project was the cardboard grabber,…

Final Project Part Two: Cardboard Grabber

April 29, 2020

Zach Aldrich

Final Project Part 2 2020

https://www.aesdes.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/zoom_0-1.mp4 Video 1. Final Presentation to Pod My design process went through stages of change, with two large pivot points resulting from campus closures and lack of available materials and facilities. In the beginning the arm was meant to be created out of multiple kinds of cardboard, paints for aesthetic design, and super-adhesives in…

Final Report Part 1: Cardboard Grabber

April 22, 2020

Zach Aldrich

Student Work

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Introduction This post I will discuss about my original plans to pivot once the it became clear during the COVID closures that my project would not be able to be completed to fit my vision that I set out in the previous weeks. I had planned to design a 3D, wearable arm that went from…

Construction Update: Cardboard Grabber

April 15, 2020

Zach Aldrich

Main Project Construction Update 2020

Unfortunately, due to the restrictions and closures cause by the pandemic I will not be able to carry out my design vision as was originally intended. My access to safe cardboard and adhesives has been severely constrained, and the original plan was to use the ITLL laser cutters to shape the aesthetic pieces of the…

Aesthetic Roots: Cardboard Grabber

April 8, 2020

Zach Aldrich

Your Aesthetic Roots 2020

In the beginning my project was focused entirely around the mechanics of the hand, with the intention of the entire design being out of cardboard. This was aimed at being low cost, but more so to lean into the fact that cardboard is such a versatile creation and can be employed to do countless things.…

Whiskey Bottle Lamp

April 1, 2020

Zach Aldrich

Favorite Youtube design/build videos 2020

For my YouTube design video of choice, I went with a classic man cave decoration: a Whiskey bottle lamp. The video is actually really interesting and it makes a self standing, cordless lamp out of everyone’s favorite whiskey brand. I watch all sorts of DIY videos as I find that they can be tailored for…

Design Review 2 – Cardboard Grabber

March 18, 2020

Zach Aldrich

Design Review 2020 Part 2: Timeline and Logistics

With the closures of all facilities on campus due to the pandemic, my schedule/plan for my cardboard grabber arm has changed significantly. For the aesthetics phase of my design, I planned to use the laser cutters in the ITLL in order to achieve precision, and sleek cut lines in order to get that iron man…

Main Project Design Review Part One:

March 8, 2020

Zach Aldrich

Design Review 2020 Part 1: Detailed Plans

For my main project I aimed to create a “Cardboard Grabber”. Basically I am aiming to extend my reach, increase the surface area of my “hand”, and to retain grip strength on objects. The device would serve in Halloween costumes such as Iron Man or re-decorated to look like Hulk Hands or monster claws. In…

Top Five Constraints – Cardboard Grabber

March 4, 2020

Zach Aldrich

Student Work, Top 5 Constraints 2020

Cost Possibly the greatest challenge I face with each and every one of these projects. My goal is to create the best version of the project possible that costs the least amount of dollars. The more money I spend on this project, the easier it will be to fabricate. Yet I am limiting myself to…

Main Project Aesthetics – Steampunk/Monster

February 26, 2020

Zach Aldrich

Main Project Aesthetic 2020: plans and alternatives, Student Work, zw 2020

For my main project I am choosing to create a fully controllable grabber arm out of cardboard. My goal for this device will be to have the ability to pick up a full soda can and take a drink from it. The design will be approached in two stages. First, is the overall aesthetic of…

Final Project Idea – Cardboard Grabber Hands

February 19, 2020

Zach Aldrich

Main Project Inspirations 2020, Student Work

For my final project idea I decided to focus on the realm of cardboard. There are a plethora of DIY projects where people have taken scrap cardboard and turned them into chairs, couches, art, and even designs with mechanical use. I wanted to create something that I would continue to use outside the class, and…

Upcycle Final Report: A Tribute to Ovechkin

February 12, 2020

Zach Aldrich

Upcycle Final Report 2020

Inspiration In the early stages of this project I had trouble finding inspiration for what I wanted to work on. I began to go through my old photos to maybe find that spark. It hit me when I found the photos when I witness the Washington Capitals win the Stanley cup in D.C. in 2018.…

Upcycle Progress: A Tribute to Ovechkin

February 5, 2020

Zach Aldrich

Upcycle Progress 2020

For my progress report, most of my efforts have been in the theoretical design, as well as determining the minimal amount of beer cans necessary to create the structure without collapse. I have determined this number to be 62 total cans, shown in my sketches below. Since this is a massive amount of beer it…

Upcycle Inspiration: A Tribute to Ovechkin

January 28, 2020

Zach Aldrich

Upcycle Inspiration 2020, zw 2020

For my Upcycling project, I searched for awhile for inspiration. Artistic expression is not one of my strong suits, so I decided to search my hobbies and favorite pass times in order to find the answer. I finally arrived on my idea, which combined my deep state pride for my home-state of Maryland, my love…

Aesthetic Exploration 2020: Oceanic

January 20, 2020

Zach Aldrich

Aesthetic Explorations 2020, Student Work

For my Aesthetic Exploration, I am focusing mainly on the “Oceanic Aesthetic”. This aesthetic conveys natural power and the contrast between the many shades of blues against the whites of the crashing crests of the waves. The visuals and themes can be centered around the calmness of the ocean surface, the power and rage of…