Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The Dollhouse

After finnally getting a loaner laptop loaded with all my documents, I generated some models for DesignLab 1. Due to limited funding, the DesignLab would like to retain these objects for another 3 years, so I am forced to utilize the existing material and forms. These are the current storage options with a few additions:

Sliding Doors offer privacy for students to store in-process work that isnt necessarily ready for critique by other users of the space

Dividers to encourage organization and limit the size of projects stored. These will also help support the MDF and discorage warping(as visible in some of my photos) over time.






Wednesday, November 10, 2010

inspiration for collaboration

My research at DesignLab1 has been incredibly fruitful. One of the earliest and perhaps most obvious demands has been for versatility in design. A computer table may used as a dinner table or a workbench, or even a podium for displaying completed work. Work areas also have to incorporate multiple users in all of these situations.

Some of my early ideations are exploring the possibility of expandability. How can a singular table incorporate multiple work surfaces? How does a surface need to change from catering to a single user to a situation involving multiple users, or even no users?

Lighting also presents an interesting problem. The space currently utilizes a plug+play track lighting grid that should allow users to direct light where needed. Oddly enough, this never happens! Instead I've watched users move tables TO areas of light- A similar situation also occurs with the tables: While both the tables and chairs are on rollers, users will move several chairs to the tables, rather than moving the single table to the chairs. It's quite amusing to watch but also valuable insight into how the design semantics of the current furnishings are perceived.

Below are a couple of interesting youtube videos that address issues of scale in an interesting way.




It's a jungle in here!

Human Scale


Early sketches for Individual components left me dwelling on looming deadlines and pondering the "human condition" and what is means to design on a human-scale. Quite literally I ended up exploring the natural structures that have been designed within humans over thousands of years through Nature's trial and error. Here I've been working on an early prototype of a task lamp influenced by the anatomy of the human arm and shoulder. I purposely wanted to use a relatively weak material so I could force myself to design a functional structure that was as elegant as it was efficient.

I'm finding these lamps particularly inspiring given that foamcore is usually used to produce static models, and not incorporated into any type of mechanism for movement. I've also been pretty surprised at the rigidity of the structure given that the pieces are as thin as 3/8 inch and are up to 18 inches long!

I've ordered some fasteners from McMaster Carr and hope to resolve issues with the lamp shade soon after they arrive. Ideally the final design will be produced using black foamcore and aluminum binding posts. The shade will also incorporate a cylindrical vacuum-formed element to help reduce glare. Ideally, I would like to be able to produce these at or below a $10 material cost.






IP Proposal ...Lately

Focusing on “work” as a broad performative theme, I will investigate the necessary design elements for transforming workspace into workplace.

How do we define space as place? Space is almost purely physical, while place may be space within a definite context. Place cannot be defined solely by the objects within a space, it’s meaning and significance must also derive from the recurring or singular tasks performed within it. Do we really need another piece of office furniture? No, we need better designed and more versatile furniture. If an object can be become intrinsically tied to a performative act such as work and the definite space where this event occurs, it transcends the title of furniture and becomes a tool, an item crucial to a user’s identity and efficiency.

My design explorations will result in the construction of three complete (furniture, storage, lighting, etc.) work environments: Individual, Collaboration, and play.

The Individual subspace will focus on the human condition and the necessary design elements for productivity and focus during solitary work.

Collaboration will investigate the design considerations required for successful group based work.

Work as play examines the role unconventional (and often contradictory) elements of play can be utilized to increase productivity/creativity.

11G




Mah new Studio... since I was relocated a week ago-