designing dream machines

This video is a bit of an eye opener. it made me realise that design in 'real life' isnt just sitting in a studio trying to spin off ideas, doing sketches all day. it showed that there is quite a bit of research and time invested in the process. you have a very specific criteria in your design brief and it is your job to bring it all together in a cohesive package that have never been see before. trying to come up with something that meets the clients criteria and yet is a fresh take, would be very challenging. i think you have to be like anikka's spider willing to make a new web, becuase at times you may have a brilliant concept but, your client may not agree ( would be frustrating). This is why in the video there is a huge emphasis on communication between designer and client, i think to be sucessful in this design industry there has to be freeflowing communication from everyone.

Treasuring Time

For the treasuring time assignment i have made a device which treasures and records times in a ritualistic manner. each week a seven pointed wax star is created, each point representing a day. You rate each day by adjusting how much wax will fill that area:

i.e.
On a bad day you would slide the stop all the way in, whereas on a good day you leave it further out. i have always been fadcinated with fire and candles, to me there is something mesmerising and tranquil about them. to you my treasuring time device the person would:

1. come home at the ed of the day
2. rate their day ( by sliding the stops in or out)
3. turn the candle tip so it points into the right well/casting
4. light the candle, filling the well/casting with wax

They would repeat this through the week, then at the end of the week they would tip the casting upside down revealing the 7 pointed wax star.
They could then stack these stars on the stand i have provided (shown above) they would be able to look back through time at their growing sculpture and decipher how they rated previous days.

Bad Design

postal presents

For the postal presents project i made a screwdriver. I thought it would be an interesting challenge if i could make a functioning screwdriver that came in a flat pack.Ii expeimented with a number of different shapes and sizes eventually settleing on my final design. I made four different prototypes to trying to perfect my clearances, and ease of assembly. the entire screwdriver slides and snaps together, because of this, i had to test these snaps on the differing thickness of stainless steel i was using. i had to start this project earlt because i chose to use a laser cutter in northern NSW and the turnaround time was 2 days. Overall i am happy with look, ease of assembly, functionality and feel of the screwdriver.