Exploring the Possibilities: Wildly Different Aesthetics for a Magical Heartbeat Tree

Although my original intention was to make a tree that was influenced by a wonderful fantasy world, I also came up with two alternate styles that I think would be as alluring. Steampunk AestheticFuturistic AestheticSteampunk AestheticA design with steampunk influences is the first aesthetic I investigated. I imagined the tree’s branches, wires, and pipes to be composed of metal. Edison bulbs would take the place of the LED ropes’ vibrant colors, and brass or copper-colored lights would be used in their place. I would also…

Aesthetic Explorations 2019: Dieselpunk

The steampunk aesthetic is to steam as the dieselpunk aesthetic is to diesel. It is important to understand both aesthetics as they are considered to be close cousins. The steampunk aesthetic deals with industrial steam power found in the Victorian era mixed with attributes of Tesla and sustainable energy. Dieselpunk draws from the interwar period that saw the use of diesel powered machines and major weapon development between the World Wars. An easier image to consider is a reimagining of The Great Gatsby in a…

Upcycle Final Report: Steampunk Jellyfish

Inspired by the giant, steampunk octopus of Burning Man, “El Pulpo Mechanico”, and a favorite video game character of mine, Fallout 4‘s “Codsworth”, I decided to use steampunk as the aesthetic of my Upcycle project and build a much smaller-scale jellyfish. My initial plans for materials included (but were not limited to) light bulbs, guitar strings, scrap metal, a wheel and other metallic office supplies. I ended up using far fewer metallic materials than I anticipated and instead used color to create the metallic look and effect.…

Design Loop: Cardboard laptop case

Idea change! My last post was about the creation of a cardboard lamp. Since then, I saw that a few other students had started their projects in the same topic, and I’m not that interested in it anymore, so I’ve decided to go in a new direction. This new idea was actually the first one I had, then I went to lamp, and now I’m back. Anyway, it’s a cardboard laptop case instead. I’m excited about this project because I think it will be easier…

Design Loop: Steampunk Jellyfish

I find that I like to plan things out in a very succinct, organized way, which I can probably attribute to the engineering background provided to me over the last few years. However, I also find that I become very nit-picky when something doesn’t go the way I imagine it to, which results in multiple, somewhat random design iterations. Both observations are reflected in the design loop that I prescribed myself and the one that I actually followed while creating my Upcycle project. I struggled quite…

Upcycle Update: A Tribute to “El Pulpo Mechanico”

El Pulpo Mechanico: Duane Flatmo Inspired by the giant, steampunk octopus of Burning Man “El Pulpo Mechanico”, I have decided to use steampunk as the aesthetic of my project and build a much smaller scale jellyfish. My current plans for materials include (but are not limited to) light bulbs, guitar strings, scrap metal, a wheel and other metallic office supplies. The jellyfish will be a purely aesthetic piece and serve somewhat as a tribute to the idea of “El Pulpo Mechanico”. I plan to end…