PCB Lamp – The What and Why?
Project Overview For this project, I endeavored on designing a cube shape lamp made out of PCBs (printed circuit boards). The final outcome is shown below: Image of the fully assembled PCB Lamp while turned on. The goal of this was to create an ambient light lamp designed according to a PCB aesthetic, something quite…
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This is an RGB lighting fixture I designed for my wall. I was inspired by Nanoleaf Lines and I thought I would do my own take on them. I am trying to create the minimalist aesthetic. I am drowning in work at the moment and I hope to add more to this post after senior…
LED Matrix Aesthetics: Plans and Alternatives.
Blog Post #7: Main Project Aesthetics: Plans and Alternatives In this post, I look into possibilities, sketching my programmable LED display project in two distinctly different aesthetics from my initial rustic-modern design. Quick Overview My current idea is to create a led matrix of 64×32 and encase this in a wood frame. I would like…
Post 10: Project Progress report
As of the time that this post was due, I had completed the construction of the structure of my couch/bed. I had not yet installed it in my Van, nor upholstered or adding in the cushions. Some improvement consideration I have for the build: coat the wood with a polyurethane finish, use a router for…
Final report Part 1: Van Build Bed/Couch
For my final project in Aesthetics of design, I created a couch that faces both forwards, and backwards in my Van, and it also easily converts into a full size bed! Inspiration for this build came from watching essentially every small size van and mini van build video on YouTube, and selecting design elements from…
Final Report Part 1: Final Tick
Introduction My journey to craft my own artifact with a moving part to it is finally coming to the final stretch. Though this journey was filled with challenges and learning curves, it has been a very fun and interesting experience and I am satisfied with what I gained. My original roulette-inspired wristwatch initially inspired by…
Raspberry Jam: Final Report Part 1
A couple of years ago, I came across a DIY project on YouTube where someone repurposed an old iPod to run Spotify on it. This inspired me to create the Raspberry Jam, a Spotify music player integrated into a retro TV. The aesthetic that I aimed to capture was cassette futurism. This style implements boxy,…
Final Report Pt. 1 – Stop Motion Dinosaur
Hello everyone! This project has ended up being a lot of fun for me, and I’m excited to share what I’ve come up with. From the very start of class, when I learned that the parameters for the final project were basically gonna be ‘make whatever you want’, I knew I had an opportunity to…
The Bauhaus Desk – What?
My final design is a Bauhaus end table, made out an old school desk. For context I was looking to do an end table for my room as my final project, originally I was going to try a gothic style end table, but the designs I was coming up with weren’t very aesthetically pleasing, or…
Minimalist Cooler Fan Final Report Part 1
What and Why For the final project, I’ve decided to clean up a prototype I made last summer and hopefully create a nice housing. The prototype is essentially a swamp cooler, but ideally my version will produce less humidity. The inspiration of it came from camping in New Mexico during the summer. When I went,…
Final Report Part 1: Minimalist Catan Board
Hello everyone, Since the last post I have completed the epoxy and sanding. Since this is one of the final posts I’ll go through and summarize the entire process up to this point, covering the What and Why of the project. The main idea of the project was to revamp the classic Catan board with…
iSpy Pinhole Camera Final Report: What & Why
For my Aesthetics of Design final project, I made a large format pinhole camera in a toyshop aesthetic inspired by the iSpy books of the 1990s and 2000s. Introduction: What is a pinhole camera?: A pinhole camera is a very simple image making device that relies on the “camera obscura” effect. They were heavily utilized…
Final Design Part 1
Inspiration A big sewing project was something I was excited for and was also outside my comfort zone so most of my initial ideas were sewing related. While the sewing process was something I was looking for, a piece of clothing or quilt were not very interesting to me. After trying to pay attention to…
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Figure 1: Original Design CAD Drawing For my final project I am creating a dynamic wind sculpture. The idea is to string a number of reflective, mirror like, mylar disks in columns between a wooden frame. A CAD drawing is shown above. Originally I was going to built the frame as a square with 16…
Post 10: Alexander Calder Inspired Kinetic Sculpture Progress
As stated in previous posts my project for this class is an Alexander Calder inspired mobile with roots in the abstract kinetic sculpture aesthetic. I want my design to have the appearance of weightlessness with a transition from a starting vertical ornament to a horizontal final beam. In the weeks since my design preview I’ve…
Post 11: Final Report Part 1
Final Report Part 1 Image 1: Duane Flatmo, “The Delicatessen” For my final project I chose something related to the food industry .There are certain experiences that have led to my interest in food culture. From my sophomore to senior year I learned how to cook from different roommates. I find it interesting to…
Post 11: Final Report Part 1
INTRODUCTION My vision for this project was to combine modern and natural aspects with organic abstract aesthetics to create a wavy mirror. The modern elements would be displayed through neutral color pallets and materials and the organic aesthetic would be carried through with textured and layered designs within the frame. Overall, I was not able…
Post 11: Final Report Part 1 – What
As I reach the conclusion of my Lil’ Storm Lamp project, it’s time to reflect on what exactly happened so far. This first part of the final report focuses on describing the completed project, detailing its features, functionalities, and the final aesthetic. An Overview Lil Storm Lamp (Aesthetic: Oriental-Contemporary Fusion) Design and Aesthetics: My…
Post 10: Progress on Lil’ Storm Lamp
Here’s an update on the happenings around Lil’ Storm Lamp: What I’ve Done: Ordered LED lights: I’ve sourced LED lights from Amazon that will interact with sound from the bluetooth speaker to create dynamic lighting effects. Ordered a sound controller for LED and sound integration: This component is crucial as it will help synchronize…
Post 9: Top 5 Goals and Top 5 Constraints
Project: “Lil’ Storm Lamp” Aesthetic: “Oriental-Contemporary Fusion” Prompt: “What are the top 5 things you want your project to look like, to feel like, to do? What are the aspects that will tell you you’ve succeeded in your project? What are you prioritizing? Next, what are the top 5 constraints you face? Time, money, skills,…
Post 11: Final Report Part 1
A. INTRODUCTION: Abstract Structural Art: Blending Modernism with Minimalism The project undertaken delves into the realm of abstract structural art, marrying elements of modernism and minimalism. Two principal sources provided inspiration and direction for this endeavor. Inspiration 1: MIT Museum Art Exhibition The artifacts showcased at the MIT Museum Art Exhibition served as an initial…
Final Report Post 12: How? – Ari Matrajt
In this half of the report, I will go over the manufacturing of the final piece. I will also talk about the challenges I faced in building it and what I learned over the process. First, I created a timeline for the project, which looked like this: March 10-March 23: Finalize plans/design April 2-April 7:…
Post 11: Final Report Part 1
Introduction My vision for this project was to combine elements of the whimsical and steampunk aesthetics to create a mechanical wooden puzzle. The whimsical elements would be displayed through the design and embellishments of the carousel and the steampunk aesthetic would be carried through in the exposed mechanical pieces. In the end, I was not…
Post 11: What and Why? – Ari Matrajt
For this project, I wanted to create something that would be challenging to manufacture and would expand my current skills. I have been cooking a lot recently, so I thought I could improve my current spatulas. My goal was to make a spatula with interchangeable “heads” to reduce the space needed to keep these utensils…
Post 10 – Game Board Progress
So far for this project, I have not made enough progress for it to be recognizable. I started by looking for spare wood that had a nice grain and thickness. At the wood shop that I work in, I have had ample opportunity to collect potential materials. I ended up taking a couple spare 6ish…
Post 10: Bikepacking Frame Bag Update
As mentioned in previous blog posts I have significantly changed my design since Blog Post 8. I initially intended to use some old black fabric I had on hand. I liked this choice initially because I didn’t need to go shopping for more. Also the black nicely blends in with my bike’s aesthetic (red frame,…
Post 10: Progress – Organic Modern Mirror
Introduction I have been working on creating a mirror with lights and a wavy styled frame that is in the organic modern aesthetic. Since the design report, I first re-drew my sketches in more detail and with exact measurements and listed out the materials and size of each component. I need to laser cut the…
Post 9: Minimalist Catan Board
Wooden Catan Board | Crafted Settlers Of Catan Wood Boards The main point of my project is to simplify and revamp the Catan board design. The plan is to make it in a minimalist aesthetic and get rid of most of the detail and color. I would say that the top 5 specifications I want…
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2″x4″ Wood Frame I purchased three 2″x4″x8′ pieces of wood from Home Depot. I have cut most of the pieces to length and have begun attaching the columns of mylar disks. I will wait to assemble the frame until all the mylar disk columns have been attached in case my sizing estimate is slightly off.…
Pop Art Stunt Kite Design Preview
For my main project I will be making a stunt kite. I would love if my kite both looks great and also flies well but will start with trying to make a flashy looking kite. Inspiration I started thinking about what I could design almost as soon as I signed up for this class. I…
Gameboy Progress
I am honestly quite behind in what I said I was going to do…so far I have got a working circuit that plays the tetris code from the tutorial I was working on! But getting there is a story… I utilized my spring break quite well. I learnt that I really do suck with circuits.…
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Hexagon lights The goal of my project is to create an LED light fixture to go on my wall. Right now, I am testing a version with 3 hexagons but I am also looking into other designs. Here is a picture of the LED segments with diffusers on. Here, I am experimenting with different formations.…
Progress
As a quick recap, my project is creating an end table out of an old school desk, I am designing it in the Bauhaus aesthetic because of the metal pipes the desk legs are made of. Currently I have painted the desktop and I have cut down all of the metal. I attached the pipe…
Wristwatch Project: Progress
This Past Week My past week working on this project was spent with half of my time researching watchmakers and practices while the other half was spent perusing online retailers to find sellers that had parts of watches I liked. My research showed that if you wanted to make your own wristwatch there were 3…
Progress Update: Scandinavian Lamp
Here is a recap of my project idea so far. For my project, I am planning on making a lamp either for my desk or bedside table. I want it to be something that I can turn on late at night to provide me with light without keeping me awake. This would be done through…
Progress: Snuffle Mats
I want to begin by recapping my plan and updating my progress for my final design project. I plan to make three snuffle mats, one for each of my two dogs and one for my cat. A snuffle mat is a flat mat that has bits of fabric attached to it that create pockets and…
Progress – Cargo Kite
Work is proceeding. I have partially redone the CAD to fix the bugginess of the original assembly, redesign the cross-spar joints, and update the design to the smaller size of main spars I was able to source (the kite was originally 180 cm long; now, 150). Further, I have received parts! The fiberglass spars and…
Progress Update: Airfoil Can Crusher
Background and Purpose My family is originally from Germany and, therefore, I love to drink sparkling water. I prefer sparkling water over regular water because I find it more refreshing. As a result, I go through many aluminum cans which all end up in the recycling bin. Each aluminum can takes up a substantial amount…
Post – 10 – Progress
For my final project I have decided to take the dramatic landscape of the flat iron mountain range as inspiration to create a piece of wall art that will dynamically change to match the outside light that a photoresistor will be detecting. I have chosen this as my final project due to the fact that…
Progress
Joshua Beijer Progress The past week I have been focusing on the spinner part of my design. For my first revision, I cut a single layer of 1/8 in a plywood sheet. I cut a few extra rings in case any would break. My next step was lining up the holes and drilling them. This…
Post 6: Project Plans and Inspiration
Blog Post #6: My Main Project: The Sound-Reactive Vase For my main project, I’ve combined old-style beauty with new tech in a sound-reactive vase. It’s about 12-13 inches tall, with a classic white and blue design, and it lights up in response to sounds, especially thunder. This vase isn’t just for holding flowers; it’s a…
Post 4: Japanese-Oriental Futuristic to Brutalist Industrial
The opposite of a Japanese-Oriental fusion aesthetic, which typically combines the natural, serene, and minimalistic elements of Japanese and Oriental designs, would be a “Brutalist Industrial” aesthetic. Here’s how it contrasts: Name: Brutalist Industrial Style Characteristics: Materials: Heavy use of raw, unfinished materials like concrete, steel, and glass, often in their most basic, unadorned…
Camping Table – Specifications, Constraints
For my final project I am building a camping table to put in the back of my car. I am a fan of camping out of my car, and I would love to have something that I can put things to cook on when I want to. I would also love it if it’s something…
Specifications and Constraints
Top 5 Specifications: Music control functionality/Spotify interface The most important part of the project is that it has the ability to actually control my Spotify music library Connection to speakers To be a worthwhile desktop piece, it is crucial that the device is able to connect to external speakers so that music can be played…
Post 9: top 5 specifications, top 5 contstaints
For my couch/bed in my van conversion, I want to include the following specifications: Specifications: 1) Ease of Conversion: The bed must be able to transition into the couch with ease, and vice versa. This is important to me in creating an environment inside of my small van that is stress-free and allows me to…
Wind Turbine Specs and Constraints
Example of Vertical Wind Turbine 1 These are the top five specifications for my project: The wind turbine should look minimalist in nature with no strong presence of color to keep the color scheme as simple as possible to achieve that goal. As my components will be mostly 3D printed, this can be accomplished by…
Driftwood Light – Specifications and Constraints
As I move forward with the idea of making driftwood light, there are constraints as well as specifications that signify success in the production of the product. To signify that the driftwood light is a success, I consider the following specifications: 1. Aesthetic Appeal: The light should have a visually appealing design that effectively combines…
Game Board – Top 5 specifications, Top 5 constraints
As mentioned in previous posts, I want to make this project look home styled and classic. To achieve this I plan on doing a couple simple designs to really achieve this aesthetic. To begin, I want to prioritize the size and shape. To fulfill the atmosphere of sitting at a comforting table, the game board…
Project specifications and restraints
As a quick recap, my project is creating an end table out of an old school desk, I am designing it in the Bauhaus aesthetic because of the metal pipes the desk legs are made of. My main goal with this project is to keep it clean, Bauhaus is a very minimalistic aesthetic so I…
Specifications and Constraints
Top 5 Specifications High Quality Laser Cut Patterns The most important aspect of the project is the quality of the laser cut mountain and tree patterns. If those don’t turn out well, the piece will not be the desired quality and my parents won’t want to have it displayed in their new house. Matches…
Mid-Century Modern Xylophone: Top 5 Specifications, Constraints
My final project is to create a small, box-resonated xylophone in the mid-century modern style. While my main focus on this project is the aesthetic, I would also like this to be a playable instrument. Here are some of my most important specifications and biggest constraints. Specifications Aesthetic This one is pretty obvious. This project…
Alexander Calder Style Kinetic Sculpture: Top 5 Specifications and Constraints
As I’ve stated in my previous posts about my final project I plan to make an Alexander Calder inspired kinetic sculpture. I’m trying to create a mobile that looks weightless. One of the main specifications that I’m aiming for is the visual appearance of the sculpture appearing to defy gravity; this specification is going to…
Post 9: Top 5 Specifications, Top 5 Constraints
My project is to make an Organic Modern mirror that is functional and also a decorative piece. After my initial design stage, I have come up with my top 5 specifications and top 5 constraints that I will go over below. Top 5 Specifications 1. My top specification is to make a mirror in…
Post 9 – 2024 Specifications and Constraints
For my final project I am creating a virtual assistant using a chatbot. The main aesthetic for the virtual assistant is a combination of cyberpunk technology and graffiti. My main focus is the enclosure for the hardware and having a well designed and polished final product. Specifications 1. Aesthetic The biggest aspect of this project…
Post 9: Top 5 specifications, top 5 constraints
For my final project I am still on course for creating a Viking aesthetic wood carving electric guitar. The main project entails the creation of a bespoke electric guitar entirely crafted from wood, including the body, neck, and fretboard. Embracing a natural aesthetic, the guitar will feature hand-carved wooden embellishments inspired by elements of the…
Specifications and Constraints: Cargo Kite
Specs: Large/Heavy-Lift, Rigid, Stable in Flight, Minimalist but Interesting, Unthreatening but Visible Constraints: TIME, man all those materials were expensive, Shop Availability, Sewing Ability, Headspace? One of the biggest goals of this design is to be large! This comes from both its ultimate purpose – being a kite that lifts things – and from my…
NASA Pragmatism Project: Top 5 specifications, top 5 constraints
For my final design project, I am choosing to design a concept for a long transit spacecraft in the style of what I like to call ‘NASA Pragmatism’, an aesthetic that is driven by functional design for space, but ends up having a very distinct and recognizable look nonetheless. To summarize the entire…
Main Project plans and inspirations
For my project I will be creating a programmable LED display encased in a wood frame. I will be blending the natural feel of the wood with the retro aspect of a led display. I aim to produce a functional artistic piece that can reflect my personal aesthetic while being able to change due to…
Post 9: NeuMouse Requirements and Restrictions
Recap: I am designing a computer mouse in the style of ‘neumorphism’. Neumorphism is an aesthetic commonly used in modern UI’s which originates from skeumorphism and glassmorphism. It is characterized by rounded shapes which appear to protrude and fade into a background of a similar shade and color. Typical color schemes contain neon/pastel blues and…
Top 5 specifications and constraints
My final project as discussed in previous posts will be a wristwatch with the goal of the aesthetic to match a Las Vegas Casino and directly inspired from a roulette wheel. However, after extensive research and online shopping, this aesthetic combined with the already difficult task of creating a wristwatch might have been a little…
Post 9: Specifications and Constraints
Project Reminder: My final project will be a simplistic, low profile wooden light fixture taking inspiration from the minimalist aesthetic. It will be constructed from a hallowed out 2×4 plank of wood, a 3/8th acrylic sheet and warm LED strip lights. The dynamic component of this project will be from the LED’s ability to change…
Specifications and Constraints- Abstract Art
For my project I have chosen Abstract art in combination with skeletal structure of the biggest earth excavator in the world. Bagger 288 built by the German company Krupp. The following are the top 5 specifications that I have considered for the completion of my Artifact: 1. My artifact should feel like a robust solid…
Specifications and Constraints — Gameboy
My dynamic project is Arduino-controlled replication of “Thin Ice”, a minigame of the computer-based online game, Club Penguin. For those that don’t know, here is a brief explanation of the game: The player is a puffle or an in-game pet that melts the ice beneath it. The player moves with the arrow on a keyboard.…
Post 9: Top 5’s
Top 5 things I want my project to look like: Sleek Lighted Contrasting Speakeasy-esque Industrial Feel like: Classy Eloquent Fitted Polished Sharp Do: Display bottles Light from the bottom Change light color Sit flat Store easily What will tell me I’ve succeeded: The expression of awe from those that see it for…
Post 9: Brutalist Lamp
For my project, I have some very specific looks I am going for in the sense of portraying my aesthetic and utilizing light. First, since I am going for the concrete brutalist aesthetic, I want to produce the smoothest surface finish on the lamp as possible. I hope to have the exterior concrete shell of…
Opposite Upcycle Aesthetic: Art Nouveau
Figure displaying Art Nouveau illustration from source [1] Art Nouveau Art Nouveau flourished between 1890 and 1910 in the U.S. and Europe. It is an ornamental style characterized by the use of long, flowing, organic lines. Like Art Deco, it was “employed most often in architecture, interior design, jewelry and glass design, posters, and illustration”…
Post 9: Top 5 Specifications, Top 5 Constraints- Ari Matrajt
For my kitchen tool project, the top five specifications I prioritize revolve around functionality, usability, aesthetics, and durability. Firstly, interchangeability is a must. The ability to switch between different utensil heads, such as a spatula to a spoon or a fork, adds versatility and convenience to the tool, making it useful in many cooking tasks…
Design Preview: Mcbling Guillotine
Inspiration/Intro: This project is my excuse to build something I’ve been wanting to for a very long time. A guillotine is perhaps one of the most interesting methods of execution, at least in my opinion. It is a message, it isn’t a slow walk towards an executioner but towards a cold, unflinching device. It’s large…
Post 9: Top 5 Specifications, Top 5 Constraints
Top 5 Specifications: 1. Uniform Disk Distribution Since it aligns with my aesthetic and aids in visualizing how the air is moving over discrete spaces I want my project to have as near to a uniform reflective disk distribution as possible. Since the project is going to be fairly large even a small slant in…
Plans and Drawings – Western Fashion Aesthetic
My inspiration for the project is to create an outfit that resembles an authentic country look as well as give it a form that resembles more fem, form, and pose. To do country aesthetic right, you have to go to its roots and history to have the solid foundation that forms the authentic. The Western…