There is a little blurb on the RISD website about our ICFF project. You can check out the official photos of each project.
http://www.risd.edu/student_projects_icff09.htm
Friday, April 24, 2009
Round Three
I have gone back and forth on this project.
Which material should I use to make the thing?
Should I even make the thing at all?
Maybe I should just make models?
For now I have settled on an idea and am currently moving forth.
I started by using the 3D printer to make some small models based on a drawing I did on the computer. They were a great, fast way to test the tipping point of the seat.
From these tiny models I discovered that the back "leg" needed to extend farther back to account for the momentum of weight moving quickly towards the floor. For the next round of tests I moved up in scale and made the models by hand so I could quickly adjust to different ideas.
The 1/4" scale plywood models were easy to make a super-helpful. I quickly realized that the large mass under the seat added too much actual weight and too much visual weight to the seat-side of the chair. So I cut some of the material away but thought the leg looked a little stubby. The third version (the one on the left) was the most successful. I extended the leg which fully accounted for any backwards motion and looked more proportionally in balance with the rest of the piece. Additionally, I lowered the footrest to a more natural height. This throws the balance of weight off a bit but I think I can account for this in the final piece by hollowing out sections of the interior.
I liked the plywood models well enough and think I will go ahead and make the full-scale prototype from the same material. The challenge is getting all the layers to line up perfectly so the crisp lines are preserved. So I think I am going to get a machine to cut all the layers out perfectly so I just have to put them together.
Which material should I use to make the thing?
Should I even make the thing at all?
Maybe I should just make models?
For now I have settled on an idea and am currently moving forth.
I started by using the 3D printer to make some small models based on a drawing I did on the computer. They were a great, fast way to test the tipping point of the seat.
From these tiny models I discovered that the back "leg" needed to extend farther back to account for the momentum of weight moving quickly towards the floor. For the next round of tests I moved up in scale and made the models by hand so I could quickly adjust to different ideas.
The 1/4" scale plywood models were easy to make a super-helpful. I quickly realized that the large mass under the seat added too much actual weight and too much visual weight to the seat-side of the chair. So I cut some of the material away but thought the leg looked a little stubby. The third version (the one on the left) was the most successful. I extended the leg which fully accounted for any backwards motion and looked more proportionally in balance with the rest of the piece. Additionally, I lowered the footrest to a more natural height. This throws the balance of weight off a bit but I think I can account for this in the final piece by hollowing out sections of the interior.
I liked the plywood models well enough and think I will go ahead and make the full-scale prototype from the same material. The challenge is getting all the layers to line up perfectly so the crisp lines are preserved. So I think I am going to get a machine to cut all the layers out perfectly so I just have to put them together.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Awards of Excellence
RISD gives out a series of awards each spring to graduate students who exhibit "excellence" in their work. The various majors are grouped into categories (fine arts, design, and architecture) and a select group of students in each category can earn anywhere from $3000 to $5000 if they are selected. Furniture falls into the design category along with graphic design, industrial design and textiles. To be considered, each student puts together a two-minute QuickTime video of their work. Thought you all might enjoy seeing mine. Results of the awards are announced May 1st.
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