Student Work

During the fabrication process of the previous sculpture for my Upcycling project, 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 a lot of leftover wire frame…

After spending about a month of so trying to figure out my design and material, I would say I am happy with my design at this point. Currently, I have a clear idea of what I want to do and how I am going to make it. My project will look something like a box…

Video of Design Review in Link:

For the final project of this class, I’m creating a hedgehog phone case with minimalism style. I didn’t get to present in class, but here is the slides if anyone wants to check it out: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1gyJf20X2NOQIr0quf0dYWkkVemHNb0aMCKH-BLIX3PU/edit?usp=sharing I had this super rough 3D model in the presentation, which I still need to refine. But the basic…

I am making a wooden icosahedron  with an infinite LED illusion encapsulated within. I got this inspiration from Deep Light Labs version of a dodecahedron paired with lighting and music. The light show and object together offer a beautiful display of lighting and depth. Check it out if you have a second to spare, it…

Design For my project I am creating an operational Stirling Motor that will run off of a small lit candle as the heat source. The Stirling Motor runs fundamentally off of a heat differential between the top of the cylinder and the bottom of the cylinder and the cyclical expansion and contraction of air inside…

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…

Initial Design Process: With this change that has been going on, my project has changed as well. I am here in California and it has been problematic obtaining some of the tools to complete this project.  However, I will be falling back to one of the project ideas I mentioned in my alternatives, utilizing wood…

Here are the constraints for my main project: Time – The first constraint I need to keep in mind for this project is time.  Both of the materials I am using have lengthy setting and drying times.  Concrete takes 24-48 hours to dry and epoxy resin takes around 72 hours to completely cure.  With the…

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…

Inspiration 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.…

Check out my Design Review Presentation: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oBkKLSOyr0&w=560&h=315] For my final project, I will be creating a rustic, industrial wedding arch. I really love the strong, geometric lines of a hexagon, combined with a rustic, floral accent. I was inspired by these wedding arches which stray from the traditional arch: Photograph by: N Barrett Photography,…

My inspiration for this project comes primarily from the work of George Nakashima and the industrial chic aesthetic. George Nakashima is an american woodworker who chose to keep the live edges on the wood slabs he used to create his furniture believing that nature was the true artist. Much of Nakashima’s work has a modern…

Fabrication Plans For the fabrication process, I plan on buying the materials needed which will be listed below. Once I have all materials purchased, I plan to start fabrication by drilling hole through each wooden dowel so that I can insert the bolts though them to create the structure for the legs. After this, I’ll…

The vision for my project began pretty simply. I wanted to create something that I would keep and use down the road and not just something for this class that I will forget about after May. The use part was also important to me as I wanted it to be something that is used for…

For my project idea of creating furniture out of industrial pipe, I will have to contend with a number of challenges. The first constraint I will need to deal with will be financial. I want to create this project out of threaded pipe in order to ensure structural stability but the cost of using a…

My main project for this course will be modifying an old snowboard I have with LED lights that will change color with different motion of the snowboard. My inspiration for this project came from videos I have seen of other people adding LED lights to their gear for night skiing. All of the other versions…

My top 5 constraints: Too much money. Normally, disc golf carts run around $280 and they do not offer much creativity. Manufacturing; I am not the best at welding and so I will have to look for alternative ways to build my cart Functionality; with only a couple of weeks to design, manufacture, and tweek;…

Working on my project, I was able to come up with the frame and full list of bill of materials and measurements for my Disc Golf Cart. I decided to use T-joint extrusions (80/20) which is easy to assemble together. I first started out measuring my disc golf bag that I will be held by…

“THE WHAT”                The primary inspiration by my final project was actually my upcycling project (depicted below). I loved creating a wall art piece to be displayed in my families home as a gift to my mother, and drew from this experience to create an even better piece. I want this final project to be…

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…

Design Review Part 1 – “What” Inspiration and Existing Design – The main inspiration for this project was my aim to build a functional product matching my daily need. After identifying a specific need, I decided on building a headphone stand. For reference I searched for existing designs online, and discovered a common aspect in…

COVID-19 Update Despite planning and prototyping a large automaton, the restrictions on the machine shop have encouraged me to focus on something that I can do at my own home, which only has basic hand tools (small hand saw, drill, etc). This means that I am only going to focus on the hanging mobile aspect…

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…

  This is my plan for the project going forward. I am planning on using pine wood or particle board with a veneer. The goal is to keep a fairly natural look for the project. The speaker shown below is trapezoidal in shape and features three separate chambers: a stereo left sealed , center ported…

 For my previous project, my inspirations began with an aesthetic I wanted, and then I used materials that were given to me.  It felt mildly disastrous, given that I hadn’t factored in any contingency plans, and the materials continuously acted differently than I had expected.  Due to so many surprises from the first project, I…

Inspirations: Bramble and Hare Restaurant https://www.google.com/search?q=bramble+and+hare&sxsrf=ALeKk03qqy5-VvBYRcz1yj9qGm2abXFozg:1583725527416&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiIwe6rvYzoAhVuhq0KHT5KCIAQ_AUoA3oECBQQBQ&biw=1920&bih=937#imgrc=jxZH7-QfnZawcM Vision: After my preliminary review and the destruction that is COVID-19, I am unable to physically complete this project this semester and therefore will be turning in a final rendering of this item. Some of the comments and suggestions that I am contemplating are adding chicken wire to ensure…

This project is challenging because it has a couple of constraints balance- the baskets/shelves need to hang almost at the top so that they pivot in a way where they are inclined to stay face up. This originally caused difficulty in designing when I came to realize that the original Bramble and Hare design had…

My original intent for this project was to develop a DM screen for collaborative storytelling games. Unfortunately, my design was largely dependent on access to the ITLL’s laser cutter and wood shop. Fortunately, there is a secondary project that I have been working on throughout the semester that incorporates a significant dynamic element and that…

1: Stability Nothing irritates me more than a wobbly table, if the table I made was wobbly there is a good chance I would not use it. To combat this I will use 3 legs giving it a stable base. I plan on using pipe for the legs and because of this there are plenty…

I decided to make an acrylic sword that is inspired by this youtube video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNKuYWfOlzI&t=135s For the design of my sword I decided to go with the Elucidator from the Anime, “Sword Art online”. I managed to find a photo of the sword below which actually has a template. The sword is to be laser…

For my final project, I am going to create a desk toy with a trinket of some sort that moves up and down. My vision for the project is to make something simple, yet still interesting to look at. I want it to express my interests outside of engineering. There are a number of materials…

The largest constraint on this project is going to be time… Theres really not much of it. My project is very multi-faceted. Im going to need to construct the shell itself, figure out the placement of the containers, insulate the box as well as figure out a cooling system for the drinks, set up the…

I. INTRODUCTION For the final project of the course MCEN 5228: Aesthetics of Design, I will be making an electrical guitar, or more specifically, making the body (figure 1) and reusing components of an old electrical guitar. It is dynamic in that it can be operated onto and it produces a reflecting sound through electrical…

Part 1 Presentation insp music: https://soundcloud.com/bretamsterdam/sets/daycare-15-02-2020   Mesh sculpture 1961 Katsuhiro Yamaguchi born 1928 Purchased with funds provided by the Asia Pacific Acquisitions Committee 2015 http://www.tate.org.uk/art/work/T14164

For my final project, I intend to create an animation showcasing a video game story in a child. There are several constraints regarding this project. Time The most major constraint of this animation is going to be the large amounts of time required to create an animation. Animations are incredibly slow in nature to create,…

To get everyone up to speed: I’m hoping to develop music visualizations through fractals using python3. I’m hoping to generate various types of fractals. There exist a variety of constraints related to video editing: Music synchronization. This is probably my  largest concern related to this project. I am currently able to output images at a…

My main project is a desktop toy that will consist of three independently rotating concentric rings, with each of the rings holding different elements, again playing up the Kawaii aesthetic. The outer and middle rings will have holders for mylar buttons, the outer ring having buttons of ~1” diameter, and the middle having 1.25” diameters.…

Aesthetic Inspiration I have drawn aesthetic inspiration specifically from the artist, Rebecca Louise Law, and the movie, Midsommar.  For Rebecca Louise Law, I plan to incorporate her ideas of falling flowers. I specifically like it when she uses flowers that have not dried out too much and are still very vibrant. I also like the…

Inspirations For my main project this semester, I will be pursing wearable technology. For the functionality of the artifact I was first inspired by a collaboration with Levis and Google. Together, they designed a jacket for bicycle commuters that utilized conductive thread to recognize hand gestures. This meant you could control basic aspects of your…

From the beginning I wanted to make something useful and aesthetically appealing. I am taking this opportunity to make a coffee table for myself that will stand at different heights and can be compressed to be put away. Originally, I wanted the coffee table to have four individual legs that bent inward. The table would…

Water Clock Introduction The aesthetic I am going for For this project, I will be developing a clock/timer that is controlled by droplets of water. The idea here is to incorporate water and electronics and invoke that sense of uneasiness, yet also provide the calmness of falling water. The device will consist of a white or…

As a quick refresher: The goal of my project is to create a puzzle box with a focus on moving gears. This small puzzle should test spatial and logical problem solving skills while maintaining a satisfying mechanical aesthetic. 1.) Template Design Leading in from my last laser cutting project, I’m still learning Inkscape in order…

While a lot of my project seems do-able, there are constraints in every project. So lets get into what I’m thinking my constraints will be while making a magic mirror: Money – This project requires a computer monitor, two-way glass, a raspberry-pi, and wood for the frame. The cheapest monitor I could find was around $80…

  In my last post, I discussed that I would like to utilize epoxy resin for my project.  The context for the epoxy resin would be in the form of a sculpture or a table that would interact with concrete.    The first step for me is learning how to work with concrete, and epoxy…

My Top 5 constraints for the main project go as follows: Know How- I am limited by my knowledge and experience with Arduino and building circuits. For my project I plan on using an Arduino to control neopixel strips that are located all over the jacket in the shape of hearts. The neopixels will pulse…

For my coffee capsules holder design, I have some constraints that I need to take into consideration to achieve the idea in my head. The constraints are as follow: 1- Aesthetic For this project, I decided to have a modern and luxurious aesthetic. To achieve that, I am planning on buying some fine material that…

The top 5 constraints I will be holding my main project to are as follows: Aesthetic: Kawaii or Cute Dimensions: Roughly 6 cubic inches Movement must be satisfying – either very smooth or nice clunks Designs between the slots in the rings will take advantage of the rings’ rotation, possibly as far as a zoetrope…

The following post will describe the 5 main design constraints I intend to follow when making my wooden replica propeller. These constraints will serve to guide my project toward my desired outcome of creating a realistic retro replica propeller. The first constraint I plan to follow is the aesthetic of my project. I want to…

While there will be many challenges with this project here are my considered top 5 constraints for the sterling engine project. Mechanical Precision. For this project functionality is everything. This is a very dynamic product and if it does not work it will be a total failure. The hardest part in getting a sterling engine…

  Constraint 1: Cost of remaining materials Because I already have most of the materials from last year when I started thinking about doing this project, I don’t have a ton left to purchase. The three main things that I need are: power connectors ($14), bluetooth amplifier ($35) and wood (the cost is going to…

Moving forward with the chicken wire framing and construction, there are a few constraints, as there are with all projects, I need to consider: 1) Material and Structure The biggest constraint moving forward is developing the actual structure of the owl sculpture. There are a ton of different ways I can go about creating the…

Constraint 1: Design Aesthetic Building off of last week, the original intention was to have a streamline and matte black aesthetic combination or a Dia de Los Muertos type electrical guitar design. But the aesthetic, for the most part, will depend on the other constraints in this week’s post namely Materials, Budget/Time and Manufacturing. The…

To be honest, I was struggling to find ideas about aesthetics to focus on for my chosen main project: a packable cycling rain/wind jacket. I even considered pivoting to a whole new project. Thanks to Prof Hertzberg, who gave me some ideas and direction, I started exploring the aesthetic to include in this project and…

Featured Image: A custom DM screen from Wyrmwood After developing and prioritizing my main constraints I began to realize something: the process of producing a quality D&D table is extremely expensive. Price is one my my main constraints for this project and more so due to a recent car-related financial crisis. These tables can be…

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…

Wood Finding an attractive piece of wood that is appropriately sized concerns me greatly. I have a number of saw mills and lumber yards to visit that may have what I’m looking for but even if I were to find the right piece of wood I must be careful when working with it. My chances…

For my main project these are the top 5 constraints – Design – The design of my project is pretty straightforward, but when it comes to executing it, it’s comparatively difficult. The key challenge for the design is to implement all the design aspects i.e. the skull, the pipes and the bulb. The important things…

1) Cost I would like to spend as little amount of money as possible on some of the more basic aspects of the statue that way I can spend more money on things such as lights or joints. To help get through this I will try to reuse as many materials as possible 2) Aesthetics …

As I focus on the minimalist aesthetic for my project, I am finding these specific aspects of the project to be my top 5 constraints. Material Choice: Choosing what material I use will ultimately decide the quality and appearance of the final product, so choosing this product, color, and making sure I buy enough of…

For my final project, I have been really struggling with what to define as my aesthetic. I decided to go with minimalism- an art form that came from modernism. The modernism movement is typically known as a period of exploration, rationality, clarity, and purpose. This aesthetic began around the 1900’s, and was driven by passion…

My project utilizes many electronic components that I have not had a lot of working experience with. My first constraint is in the LED lights that I am using. They require a 12 volt supply and this will require more circuitry than just an Arduino. This also means that I will need to some form…