This was more of my research into working sundials, which proved to be very interesting. This short video shows the time change from half ten through to half eleven.
Thursday, 11 December 2008
This was a DIY compass I made for research into my Ponoko project. My project is looking at making the sundial a more portable and functional object. Part of the function of a sundial is for it to point in the direction of north. This is one of the simplest ways to find north. Magnetize a nail or pin by rubbing it with a woollen fabric, place it on a piece of paper in a shallow pool of water, then just sit back and watch it work.
Thursday, 4 December 2008
For my project I am looking at time, in particular time as a constraint on the office or design studio. Initially I wanted to make a sundial for the Garden and through my research and observation I have noticed that sundials in general are; large, heavy, solid, fixed, sculptural and complicated. This has inspired me to try and challenge the perception of a sundial and turn it into something entirely different which would work witin the constraints of an office or design studio.
Sunday, 31 August 2008
Energy saving lamp which cited the traditional light bulb
Designer: Felix Stark (Germany)
A wastebasket with an identity all its own; Bin Bin looks exactly like the contents it is designed to contain, crushed paper. The product is made of hard polyethylene.
Design: John Brauer
Really nice design for a low light source.
Designer: Ian Gonsher
Parasol ‘Shadylace’ Droog Design
Designer: Chris Kabel
Ceramic egg shaped bird house,
Designer: J Schatz (USA)
This coffee cup is meant to remind you that getting up is hard, you need strong coffee and a good punch in the face to get going. Funny concept. Designer: j.c.karich (France)
A fun concept for a table which apears to be made from paint. Designer: John Nouanesing (France)
These ideas although somewhat novel are simple and fun but one of they main reasons I like them so much is because they can challenge your perception of the object.
Thursday, 7 August 2008
Birdhouse
This was the result of our final project for year two. The project was called "waste aware" and was ran in connection with the Creative Waste Exchange (CWE), a company which collects a large variety of industrial and household waste products which would otherwise end up in the skip. The CWE allows people to come in and purchase these items for a significantly reduced price allowing the product to gain a second life.
Our aim was to take something which was otherwise considered to be waste and redesign it a new function and life.
I chose the plant pot because it is a mass produced item which creates a great deal of waste.
My initial ideas were ok but failed to use the entire pot and as a result would still be contributing to waste.
My final idea, seen above, was much more successful. There was no waste because the whole plant pot is used along with some other material to construct the face and the perch.
One of the aspects that I love about this design is its diversity. The final product can look totally different depending on the materials used. Meanwhile the way in which the birdhouse is fixed depends on the degree at which the face is set, for example, the one shown above is designed to hang from tree branches.