SB
I emailed Marc Newson, but he has yet to get back to me….
And I am on spring break. Hopefully the people I emailed about researching this summer will get back to me during the week. Spaceworks said they would contract me, but unfortunately no long term job 😦
So today Abir gave a lecture on universal design, which was good considering he lost the powerpoint. Then we talked about Patricia Moore, the lady who got every morning at the age of 26 and made herself look and feel like a woman over 75. That kind of dedication amazes me. Well the really amazing part is that she did it for two years. I want to find out how she did document all that stuff. I really want to ask her why she felt two years was worth it. But I’m sure in some way it was.
Ooo and I will be getting my haircut this week, so perfect timing to get some preliminary notes going on this upcoming project. I mean I should do everything I guess, from reception to shampoo to cut and blow dry. Pretty excited about this one.
-Sarah
Marc Newson
I’m currently writing a report on Marc Newson, and I think he’s my new favorite person. I don’t know if its because I’ve been sort of involved in aerospace stuff lately, or just because he’s in general this awesome person that I would someday love to meet/be. Ha I don’t know if I could ever do what he’s done, but man that’d be sweet. I mean there are some of his designs that I find cool yet would never own, I guess mostly his furniture, but designs like that 021c concept car are just sick. I feel like that’s what I want to be doing, making really complicated things as simple and easy to read as possible. Which I guess is every designer’s job, but it’s true, the more luxurious the car, the more dials and buttons it has.
Pretty nice right?
Perhaps these are just leftover feelings from my last project, but I mean that’s what I always said I wanted to do with medical devices.
So yeah, maybe I’ll email Marc Newson? No big deal.
Also, we went on a sweet design adventure this morning, and I welded! Just like in flashdance.
T-13 days until New York!
-Sarah
Buttttt
Yep, so review last friday. I think it went well. I’m pretty sure I said everything I needed to say. Aaaand my design didn’t come across as too simple (which was completely intentional ha). Our reviewer said my proportions looked great and so did my color choice (which was white, but I guess it goes well with the ‘elegant’ look). There were a few issues with functionality, which I think for this project can be thrown slightly to the side since they were novelty items. But you can’t really ignore the fact that the can opener might tip over. But I will think that one through.
I also went to the end of the ‘boston butt’ roasting. It’s what David’s girlfriend’s parents were doing to raise money for us to go to New York. If you don’t know what a boston butt is, wiki it, it’s delicious. I’m really glad they could help us out, because we raised almost a thousand dollars! Also, we are driving to New York on a comfort bus. SO excited!
Also yay for being on Core77 really soon!!
Aaand for this next project me and Jesse and Adam will be redesigning hair styling stations, woo!
-Sarah
Soo next step for me is sign foam. I think I can make a few models before the final one since I just have to lathe the one piece.
I’m nervous about what people are going to think about mine. It’s a really simple form, I don’t want it to seem like I cheated my way through or something. Nah it won’t. I dunno I’d rather have a simple form than a complicated one.
This week’s going to be intense.
-Sarah
Ouch
Soo bad grade on that cup. I mean I guess I did well comparitively, but unless David decides to curve, then I’m kind of effed. I’ll have to think of what to do, because David mentioned that the action involved in the cup isn’t shy or discreet (tipping your head back). That would require me to remake the lip of the cup, which in turn changes the cap. And that’s all fine, it’s just a few line changes in solidworks, but I’m worried about remaking the model. Aaand I have to remake the ring idea, I’m not really sure you can integrate them without them collecting gunk. Maybe just subtle bumps?
Ahh can’t wait to hear back from this internship!
-Sarah
Foam models
I’ve started to make my foam models, they’re helping out quite a bit. Actually the first paper model gave me an idea. I kind of want to make each product conform to your hand, as in have the inside stucture and then an outer ‘squishy’ structure, so you get a better grip. I know that sounds a lot like a rubber grip, but I want it to conform more than just push in a little bit. On the blender I’d probably incorporate that into the lid. And then on the side for the can opener. Ahh and I need to research batteries for the mixer.
Also I’ve started making drawings for the senior design group I’m working for. They’re aerospace students making an outer planetary lander that goes to Titan. It’s basically a cylindrical stucture that plants itself down and extends an arm out. The arm has this drill on the end and a couple cameras. It’s pretty exciting actually, since I get to make at least small design decisions. I’ve never actually designed or drawn anything for someone else’s needs, so it’s a bit nervewracking, but they seem to like it so far!
-Sarah
I feel slightly nervous
I feel slightly nervous that my design is too boring. But I really think it will look much better in real life/3D rendering than in sketch. A simple extrusion makes you focus on the one pull chain. Oh, every appliance is now powered by a pull chain, like on a fan. So basically my next step is pink foam, serious pink foam, which I have to buy somehow. I guess I’ll stop by home depot and check out their pull chains too.
So I found this pretty cool cell phone today looking for technology for my self sustaining jig saw. It’s basically a hollow phone thats transparent and has the fuel cell inside, and you charge it with this liquid that you pour in, but the liquid can be any color, so it’s sort of what makes your cell phone unique. Anyway the article was a little old, considering they said it would come out in 2008, but it’s made by NEC and it’s sweet.
I’m so tired.
-Sarah
Steak n Shake
So we all went to steak n shake as a studio this morning for 15 cent burgers. woo.
New appliance might be a can opener. We’ll see. I’ll organize my thoughts in a bit.
-Sarah
ATLtoNYC.com again!
Okay for real, now it’s ready to go so visit!! And donate if you’d like!
So those are just a some sketches of this idea I’ve got to break it down into easy to use appliances. They would still use electricity, I’m just trying to mess with universality. I don’t want them to come across as ‘for stupid people’ so I may change my audience. They are a little based on Naoto Fukasawa’s CD player (can be found at MoMA’s website). I need to focus more on the ‘crock pot’ for now.
-Sarah
ATLtoNYC.com!!
If you see this, go there! It may not be all ready yet, but go and watch the video, and there will be more later.
I think I finally get the idea of breaking down these appliances. I’ve been sketching out simple machines – levers, switches, pulleys – and see how I can make an appliance as fundamental as possible. The final appliances are definitely a blender, mixer, and crock pot.
So what’s a crock pot’s basic function: heat with heating coils (maybe at different settings), turn on, time, plug in
mixer: stir, mix, or whip ingredients; place your ingredients in one bowl; uses a motor
blender: creates a whirlpool that creates a vortex and pulls the food toward the blade; has a rotating blade; can have different speeds.
So a crock pot is basically an easy to use stove top that combines stove and pot with easy timers instead of figuring out the level of heat needed. A mixer is an electronic whisk that takes care of the effort needed to whip things. And a blender is refined chopping machine that does things more precisely than you ever could. You can basically do all these things with your hands but these appliances make it easier. So go one step up from doing things by hand.
Okay, to sketching…
-Sarah
sarah 