Student Work

My plan for this main project is to go along with a theme and aesthetic of Industrialism. I believe this choice will lend itself to a very interesting look and set of challenges that will encapsulate what this class is looking for. I also want to put an outdoor-associated twist on it to capture a…

After coming up with the project idea, I had several ideas and ways to execute it. So far, I have 3 different ideas that I sketched and still debating between them. Idea #1: A small cabinet/box For this idea, I thought about making a small cabinet with two drawers. The cabinet will probably be made…

Project Inspirations/Formation This main project has caught me a bit off guard, so a lot of this post is going to be a description of my process in brainstorming my project, as well as design problems I’m currently facing. Anyone heard of the Perplexus? In my middle school years, I spent countless hours slowly guiding…

For this post, I was stuck for some time. I wasn’t sure what particular aesthetic(s) to tie into my project: packable wind/rain jacket for biking. I have been only thinking of how to make the patterns and how to sew them together. I hadn’t thought about what aesthetic to put on it, other than the…

The primary aesthetic I want to shoot for with this project is something that is generally contemporary as well as surreal – the sculpture made out of chicken wire fence is meant to both model something realistic, but also be constructed in a way that the form is ‘otherworldly’. Moreover, I want the piece to…

The project I intend to make will take on desk toys that are mesmerizing and satisfying. The most common desk toy are usually physic demonstrations like the Newton’s cradle [1]. Another memorable desk toy would be from the Marvel Movie Iron Man  strawberries scene. In the scene the swinging stick kinetic sculpture is highlighted by…

My main projects “aesthetic” is most commonly associated with functional wall art I would image, since that is exactly what I am trying to have my final piece become and act as. Functional wall art, and or wall art in general, isn’t anything drastically new in today’s society and or in the past century as…

My goal for the final project is to make a phone case that’s so uncomfortable to hold, that it makes your whole experience of using phone horrible, and forces you to put down your phone. The guest lecturer on Monday briefly mentioned about addictive phone use, and I feel like creating something that disrupts the…

As stated in my last post, I hope to make my project, two lighting fixtures and a clock, in the modernist aesthetic. The simple geometric forms and appealing earth tones make for great home décor in my opinion. Below are some examples of modernist décor that I appreciate, as well as sketches detailing how I…

This post will cover the aesthetic design process illustrating the following: Describes the planned aesthetic: history and application. Describe two very different/opposite aesthetics: how would it look if applied. I. PLANNED AESTHETIC Looking at the aesthetics we explored in class, the two that stood out in its application to my project were streamlining and matt…

For my project I am planning on making a mixed-drink maker. The idea is that there are containers that contain alcohol and mixers, and you would be able to select the drink you want, and it would pump it out of a spout into your cup. The aesthetic I am planning on is modern &…

For my project I decided to move forward with the light up snowboard in which I will attempt to add LED lights around the snowboard that change with motion. After brainstorming some aesthetics that can be applied to LED lights and on snowboards I decided to go with that of glow in the dark –…

For a tabletop gaming room aesthetics are everything. I plan on combining this table with a lighting and sound system in the room around it that will be key to setting the scene during games of collaborative storytelling. The main issues lies in the fact that not every game my friends and I play calls…

After thinking about my main project inspirations I wanted to come up with an aesthetic that fits with me personally and something that I can appreciate after a long time of usage. One of the big things in my life is that I am in ROTC and will have a job in the air force…

For my main project, I decided to work on a headphone stand as I drew inspiration from my day-to day needs. If I am building something, I would rather want to build that would cater to one of my needs. To start with different types of stands, I came across the minimalist aesthetic and the…

In my previous post, I discussed how I wanted to create some sort of desk toy with a moving part. The main pieces of this project would consist of the box, the electronics, and the decorative “thing” that would be moving. I would like the aesthetics of the box and the “thing” to compliment each…

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…

Since I have wanted a coffee table for a long time, I am committing to my idea of a coffee table with folding legs. Although it is intimidating, I know I will learn a lot through the entire process. Minimalism My original idea classifies under the Modern Movement. More specifically, Minimalism. The concept originated in…

For my project I have mostly focused on how I will create the octopus body. I want to create something to use as a decorative lamp for a bedside table. I have a few ideas after working on basic outlines for the tentacles I have decided to use card board and slice the shape. Below…

For my final project, I will be creating interactive apparel. Specifically, I want to design a shirt that produces a light display when you high five, fist bump, or shake hands with someone else. This artifact will be designed to replicate the effects of a “like” on social media, the main difference being that this…

[featured image by: Minnou] Obviously sterling engines have already been made widely and they are a very popular desk toy to try and create. My objective is to create a multi-cylinder sterling engine but also incorporate an industrial and mechanized aesthetic. The sterling engine in itself is a motor, and its dynamic and cyclical movements…

So for those of you fine individuals who have read my previous post describing a miniaturized Japanese garden I will have to break your most beautiful hearts. I’m veering away from this idea mostly because I don’t want to have a giant 4 square foot Japanese garden fountain thing in my house serving no greater…

For my main project I plan to make a vintage propeller from wood planks. The reason I want to do this is because I love all things aviation, and propellers are timeless symbols of flight. In order to accomplish this I plan on following the rough plan outlined in the image below. I decided that…

Guest Lecture Monday Feb 24, 2020 Notes

Today we went over the schedule, and decided that it’s polite to respond to posted critiques by the following Wednesday. We considered the importance of viewpoint in sketching an object, to show the most important aspects. We started 20th Century Design Movements, looking at a timeline showing the movements compared to other influences such as…

Building off of last weeks post, I have an update to share on the materials that I’m going to be using for this project. I have two 6 1/2″ midbass woofers, two 2 1/2″ tweeters, a 200 watt power supply that I’m hoping to pair in parallel with a sealed battery I had from a…

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…

Chosen Option: Scandinavian design Scandinavian design aesthetics are based off clean and simple lines. It is meant to be minimal and functional without sacrificing beauty. The aesthetic relies mostly on neutral colors, mostly white with pops of black or tan. There is also a focus on light or unfinished wood. For my project, this means…

Something simple. Not sure if it has a name. So, the koch curve is hard! Some issues so far: Diagonal lines are hard. Adding thickness is variable. Resolution is hard. I think I need to figure out how to properly use recursion. I’m starting to get pretty good with Python3, which is a plus. I’ve…

I currently have 3 related, yet different ideas all with different aesthetics, and I need help deciding which one to do. The one thing they all have in common is the fact that they are kinetic sculptures that use a crank to create up/down motion (automata).  Basic Automata [1] Idea 1) Minimalist wall automata Idea…

Now that I’ve decide to go ahead with taking on the challenge of building something beautiful I have to consider the material and aesthetic choice of the material itself. I know from the inspirations I drew from, that LED lighting and mirror foil is a must have. As I watch others build these projects, it…

We looked at a video from Universal Principles of Design on supernormal stimuli: how you can get a big response by tapping into subconscious instincts. Then we did a bit of shade and shadow sketching. Lecture Notes

For my main project, I will be developing an analog or digital clock using an Arduino and some kind of sensor feedback. Either the water will be pumped to a certain height and dropped on the sensor, ticking the clock on the Arduino and displaying the time on an LCD. I am also thinking about…

My main project inspiration is to create something “useful.” I’m leaning towards woodworking to make a piece of furniture.  I’m apprehensive because I’ve never made furniture before, and haven’t worked with wood outside of undergrad school tours, over 5 years ago.   As of now, I’m sticking with my plan of woodworking and some type of…

For my main project inspiration, I was thinking about making a tripod stool. I was planning on creating this stool using wooden rods and creating a paracord seat. The functions of this project include being a portable stool that can be used for camping or outings while the paracord seat could be used in emergency…

Option 1: Medieval Fantasy Hightower Spire Following my inspiration post, the first option of aesthetic to apply to my desk lamp would be to create a replica of the Song of Ice and Fire universe’s Hightower in Oldtown. If I choose this option, I will make my desk lamp sufficiently tall (~1m height) and add…

For the inspiration for my main project I looked to what my favorite things are. I wanted to really like what I’m creating since I’d be working on it for so long. That’s when I came to the octopus, I have always been fascinated by their tentacles, ability to camouflage, and ability to essentially shape…

For this project, I wish to create an animation, particularly a fanimation of the old introductions of Kirby games, particularly Kirby: Return to Dreamland introduction or Kirby Super Star Ultra’s intro in the style of the new Kirby: Star Allies game. For reference, Kirby: Return to Dreamland intro is the following: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=668QR6aEQyg Kirby Super Star…

Currently, I am not entirely sure what I want to do for my main project, though I have really liked looking at wood as a medium for what I am going to build. I am really into disc golf, and so I was thinking that I may end up creating a disc golf bag cart…

I’ve been making speaker enclosures for a long time now. The first one that I started with was a project with my dad back in high school. Since then I have been making speaker enclosures / boomboxes out of antique suitcases. This was an aesthetic that I really enjoyed, but recently I’ve grown a bit…

Fractals are a pretty neat mathematical phenomenon that I had the pleasure of exploring through my Chaos Theory class last fall. I ended the class with a comprehensive project studying fractals in nature, a topic I find beautifully interesting both from a visual and mathematical point of view. Hot take: I love mathematics. I also…

For this project I wanted to create something magical. I also knew I wanted to creating something that would challenge my skills as a non engineer. I enjoy creating things, and I found the perfect challenge to attempt. At the beginning of the semester I stumbled upon the perfect project, an infinite dodecahedron. These objects…

For my final project, I want to make a Magic Mirror. Now, this isn’t really magical, but it has the impression of being magic since it’s used in a way that is different from a regular mirror. Essentially, the mirror will have a monitor behind it that will allow you to look at yourself and…

For my project I would like to make a mixed-drink maker. This is a project that my roommate and I have been thinking about for a while, and i figured this would be a good opportunity to make it a reality. The idea is that there are containers that contain alcohol and mixers, and you…

General Idea As an extension of my upcycle project, I have decided to construct a pair of lighting fixtures for my final project; one floor lamp and one overhead lighting fixture. They will be similar and complimentary in design and form. Likely, the top of the floor lamp will be nearly identical to the overhead…

For our main project I went back and forth on what to make. It is truly the hardest decision in this class… I really wanted to make something for my van, since I am working on building it out. Some of the ideas included making a custom roof rack with a deck and slide out…

For my main project this semester, I want to pursue wearable technology. Electronics has always been an interest of mine, specifically how it can be used to interface directly with people. Wearable technology is a great example of this. Put simply, I hope to design worn technology that assists in and/or enhances the everyday tasks…

Continuing on with the general idea from my upcycle project; During the fabrication process of the previous sculpture, I actually really enjoyed working with the chicken wire frame – both in terms of manipulating it into a form I desire, as well as the intricacy and detail a wire frame can offer. I also have…

I have been thinking a lot recently about making a Nespresso capsules dispenser, but I have not yet had the chance to do so. Therefore, I decided to to make the dispenser as part of this class first, because it is something that is open ended and can be made depending on my personal lifestyle,…

My main hobby for connecting with my friends is playing tabletop role-playing games. This has been a big part of my life since i was a freshman in high school and has had a huge impact on the person I am today. For my main project I would like to put together a table for…

   My midterm project inspiration was based on an aesthetic, but I ran into so many obstacles that I’m trying a completely different approach.  This time I’m making materials and my final object a priority. I want to make something I’ll be proud of, and will use after the class is over.  Since I moved…

To satisfy the requirements of: Deliverables will be a functional artifact that satisfies an aesthetic of your choice, plus documentation The artifact must be dynamic or complete a task (demonstrating form/function balance)Has to be aesthetic My friend is currently building an electrical guitar but recently graduated and can’t use the facilities’ resources on campus, so…

For my final project I am planning on making a propeller out of wood. I would like to make a propeller for my final project because I love all things aviation. Ever since I was young I have been fastened by flight. Some of my earliest memories are of planes; a majority of my toys…

For my main project, I would really like to cater to one of my very basic needs, an organizer for my headphones and earphones. It is a pain to keep them around in my room as I don’t have a particular space or shelf assigned for that. I draw inspiration from the Steampunk aesthetic as…

In Thermo and Heat Transfer we talked a lot about sterling engines and how they operate. I have to give Professor Knutsen a shout out as he is the one who was fascinated with these little machines and got me hooked on them. I always wanted to make one but never got around to it.…

For my main project, I am still sifting through a plethora of ideas, one of my main ideas is creating a dynamic sculpture of some sort. This inspiration is from sculptures I have seen that use things like wind for movement.  However, if I chose this option I would want to create something that uses…

When I had first started thinking of inspiration for this project, I wanted to work with something I enjoy and am passionate about. I started thinking about all of the opportunity behind clothing, and how you can make a piece of clothing out of really any material if you design and construct it right. So,…

For my main project, I want to create something that I would keep at my desk at work or around my house as decoration. Knowing that one of the requirements for the final project is that it needs to have a dynamic element, I started brainstorming what would be appropriate to keep around in the…

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…

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…

For my Main Project, I knew that I wanted to work with quality wood to make a timely piece for display. The main question I found asking myself, is what do I want to do with wood and what will be possible and or within my “scope” of being achievable. Another question was for whom…

I want to make something that is both useful and aesthetically appealing. I want to make a folding coffee table. My apartment has been lacking one for over a year now and although I have come across many opportunities to purchase perfectly good coffee tables, none of them meet my three requirements. It must be…

For my main project I want to do something related to Japanese zen gardens and bonsai trees. The process of bonsai is thousands of years old and is the process of keeping a tree small, but allowing it to age to mimic real life on a small scale. I want to do this same thing,…