Design Futures

I have now finished my car. the written assignment is due on tuesday and we will race the cars after that. my car goes an average of 3.6 seconds down the track which is much slower compared to others in the class. i think this is because of the shape and accuracy of mine and also the weight of the car has a big impact. below are some photos of my finished car

these photos show the wire configuration, chassis, axel and cog conbination. the hot glue on the last photo is to keep the wires down as well as protect them.

In class we have been developing our cars. We had to finish them then use the two big cogs which were 50 or 60 teeth and the three small gears that are 8, 10 or 12 teeth and race them with the six different combinations to see which is the fastest for your car. I have the 60 teeth with the 8 teeth gears on and my fastest time is 3.7 seconds down the track. I then went to race mine yesterday and found my moter was making a funny noise and the wheels were also sounding weird. Mr Ward had to get a new axel and wheels and now the car is working well but is now over 4 seconds down the track. next lesson i need to check everything is the way i want it before cutting the wires and permanently soildering them together. this will mean i cannot change the cog combination. After this i will lubricate the wheels and axis and keep improving aspects of the car to make it faster. i also need to start the written part of the assignment whihc is due in two weeks.

in class lately we have been making our cars. I had to change my design towards the beggining to make it mmore simple. i also had to alter the measurements and Mr Ward's car didn't go straight as the distance between the wheel and centre on each side was different as he hadn't acounted fro the cog. Yesturday i finished the whhel axis and hot glues them onto the car. i had to cut the front axis as it is narrower. My car does go straight and i am happy with the way it is so far. Next lesson i will beging to glue the battery holder on, the switch and engine then i will use the different conbinations of cogs to race it and see which is faster.

This term we will be making our own cars and race them against others in the class. we will also be looking at the best designs for the car to go faster and the best combination of the cogs. so far i have designed mine and made it out of a light wood. I have tried to make the design as small as possible and a curved shape so it will be fast and aero dynamic. In the kits given to us we got 4 wheels, axels, battery holder, moter, switch and cogs. so far i have only finished my design, made it out of wood and sanded the edges. Next lesson i will start to mark out where the axels will go and the length they will need to be as i will have to cut the front one smaller. I had to modify my original design and made it less curved and more accurate. this took me a while as i also struggled cutting it out but i am happy with the way my design is going.

In class at the moment we are working on Pro Desktop. we are working through the text book till the end of chapter 7 to gain experience. I found it really hard to begin with but now i am starting to understand the process much more. We have to do a tutorial due by next week also which i haven't started but will do it soon. I have just finished the Ball point pen in the text book and am now up to chapter 7. After finishing this we have an assignment to design and create a torch for defense in pro desktop. This will cool to design but hard for me to create. I am improving and understanding pro desktop more each lesson but i still make mistakes that really fustrate me. Next lesson i will begin to work on a intermediate tutorial to give me enough time before it is due.

After finishing our resort model we had to present a 3-5 minute oral with a form of multimedia focusing on the uniqueness of our resort and the sustainable aspect that it embraces. Chase and i used a porwerpoint as our multimeadia and talked about the resort location, facillities and hydorelectricity, rapidwall and other sustainable aspects that we have incorporated in our design. We also talked about our time management plan and the construction process we went through in making our resort.

I am really happy with the way our resort truned out. I found this topic of work really fun as we were in the the workshop every lesson not stuck in the classroom.

Today in class the teacher was away so we had time to start working on our 5 minute oral presentation we have to present next term with our partner. The presentaioin has to have a form of multimedia which we decided to do on a powerpoint. We have to talk about the uniqueness of our resort and the sustainable designs involved. We will talk about the materials used in the making of our resort and the way in which ours is special. Our presentaion will have pictures and we will stand up and speak as the powerpoint plays. We have got a plan on what we are going to talk about and we have started the powerpoint. We will need to take photos of the finished project when we complete it and write the speech. We are happy with the way ours is coming along but may have to sacrifice some of our designs on the project as we wmay run out of time. Originally we decided to do a fence as the entrance to the resort but as we have made the building and put the roof on there will be no room. Also the docks and bridges on each building, we may not have time to make both or even one as the making of the 3 buildings has taken us much longer than we expected.

Last class we handed in Task 2 of our assignment which was the time schedule and the written part of the assignment. This class we were in the workshop. ours is coming along really well. We have now covered all of the buildings and have used chicken wire to back the roof so we can bend the cardboard into the right shape so it looks japanese. On the roofs we have decuded to use 1cm strips of the corrogated cardboard, red for main building and silver for the two little one. and we are double folding them and glueing them onto the roof coming out to the edges. this will emphasise the japanese style. Next lesson we will continue to finish then start on the layout and water in ours.

Today in class we had time to take pictures and catch up on our blog. So far with our project we have made the hill on one side of the board, cut out and constructed the building and covered then in red cardboard. We are doing well so far and know what we are doing. We still need to do the roof of the buildings and finish the main one then the buildings will be done. Below are some pictures of our project so far.

This is our board with the hill. To make this we first had to make the wooden boarder around that part of the board. Too make the actual hill we put newspaper then covered it in chicken wire to get the shape. We then covered this in plaster.

This is the 3 buildings on the board. this picture shows the size scale of the hill with the 3 buildings. the buildings aren't  finished and need the traditional Japanese style roofs but this is what the layout with eventually look like.

This is the main building. Here you can see how we made it. we cut the certain size strips with a stanley knife out of cardboard then folded them and reinforced the corners with tape. We then with this will cover it in a red cardboard instead of painting as it will be quicker and look better.

This is one of the 2 small buildings that has been covered in cardboard. The red corrugated cardboard is what we are using for the roof, red here and gold for the main building. The roof here is not attached and just a draft idea for the size and shape we want the roof to be. To curve the corners up we may have to use a wire or other materials to shape the cardboard.

These are the two small buildings. both now need a roof. to stabilise the layers we had to cut the cardboard and fit a peice inside the squares for the next layer to rest on.

This is another picture of the board with the hill. Form this angle you can see the chicken wire that has beed used and the wooden boarder. The plaster will be painted in a green then we will use little trees of soem sort to create the japanese style theme.

Task twow hich is the written work on a famous architect and sustainability is due in one week. We have nearly done question 1 on the archtiect but still need to finish before it is due. I am happy with the project so far we are on time and doing well.

Yesterday in class we went into the workshop to work on our hotel. Ours is coming along really weel. Last lessoni was away but Petra and Chase made the hill on one side of the board and covered it. This lesson we made the base and first layer of our japanese style hotels. they are a good size and will look good when finished. After we finish the hotels we will fill the board with the water.

Today i class we went to the work shop and were shown how to use a router. The router is a peice of equipment that cuts out some of the wood for a lake or pool in out hotel project. we each got a chance to have a go and use it. We thenwent into our groups and finished our site plan.

today i missed the first half of the lesson as i had my careers interview. When i arrived we got into out pairs and started to construct the board that out hotel model will be on. we were given the wooden board then some wooden boarder to glue and then jammer in nail into, we then have to cut off the extra wood and sand the board. we didn't quite finish so will have till finish it next lesson.

I am working with Chase on this assignment. The task is to design a sustainable resort with a theme then construct model of it. We have choosen to design ours based on a Japanese temple, The Golden Pavilion. This class we have dicussed what we would like our resort to be like and what we want it ot have. I am really looking forward to this assignment, it sounds like fun.

This is a picture of The Golden Pavilion in Japan of which  our resort is based on.

I really enjoyed this unit of work. i found it fun and really interesting to make my own lamp then be able to take it home. I thought it was not to challenging but challenging enough to start this year of in design. I would love to make another lamp and i really like mine and the LED technology.

Today in class we cut out the white plastic 28mm wide to slide up the aluminium to cover the black wires coming fomr the LED lights. It was really hard to slide the plastic over the corners in the aluminium. Now i am finished and need to evaluate and take pictures of the lamp!!

Today in class we were shown how to solder the switch and wires onto the LED lights that we had to measure and cut to size. We had to make sure that we cut the right amount as if you have too many it could be too bright and not enough may not work well. To do this we had to solder the wires the right way onto the LED lights but before you had to feed the wires through the hole in the wood but for me the aluminium. Then we had to melt this peice of rubber around the wires to secure them. After this I then stuck the lights onto the lamp and checked it worked!!! next lesson we will be cuting the white plastic to cover the wires then the lamp will be near to finished.

Today in class we were taught about how to attatch the switch onto the light chord. To do this we had o cut one fo the wires then take apart the switch to soulder the wires onto the wire. After this we then put the peices back together and checked it worked. It was really tricky and fustrating the process but was reeally intresting to learn about it. Next lesson we will be learning how to do the LED lights then attach and check they are working!!!!!

Today Mr Ward was away agin so we were given the task to research a well known lighting designer. i decided to research Richad Kelly who was born in 1910 and was well knownAmerican lighting designer. He is famous for his design of lighting with archtitecture. He believed that day light was vital to lighting design “the meaning of a room has to relate to daylight.” Some of Richard Kelly’s most recognizable works were: David H. Koch Theatre, Glass house, Kimbell Art Museum, and the Seagram Building.......

Today Mr. Ward was away and we had a reliever so we couldn't go into the workshop. I started working on the first few questions on the ecolamps brief and filled in the definitions.

Today in class we were working on our lamps in the workshop. The teacher helped me sand my wood base then we were shown how to drill the hole through the wood and out the back. because mt base is much thinner i couldn't do this so my hole is through the aluminium at the bottom near the base. after sanding my base and drilling the hole my lamp structure is done so now all we have to do is the lamps and the other stuff. i am happy with my lamp so far and are starting to see some improvement i could make next time already like the proportions of my lamp is very tall and maybe a bit thin, it still looks good but next time i would change the proportions jsut a little bit.

A light wave is energy in the form of electric and magnetic fields that vibrate at right angles in the direction of the movement, it travels through electromagnetic waves in a vacuum, which we see as the colours of the rainbow. Each colour has different wave lengths but when they are all together they make a white light. you can see on the picture below that red has the longest wave length and violet has the shortest.

When we see a light our eyes produce the colour depending on the wavelength of the light wave. The reason red, green and blue are primary colours as when they are added together they make a white light.

But light is only on small part of the electromagnetic system.

Today in class we were in the workshop. Firstly I marked out where the holes needed to go. This using the drill drilled through the aluminuim then wood. After this i screwed the nails in to check the holes were big enough. After this i unscrewed the nails and sanded the wood. i struggled to drill the holes becasue you have to do it straight down and i couldn't as the top of the curved aluminum was in the way. I also struggled to use the screw driver to put the nails in, as the holes were maybe too small so it was hard to put them in. I am happy with my lamp so far but i am worrie dthat my lamp may not be very stable, so i have made the base bigger than the width and aluminium which still looks good but may make the lamp more stable.

Next lesson we are being taught how to do the hole for the lamp cord.

Function
-Does it do what it is made to do?
-Does it perform efficiently and effectively?
-What improvements could be made?

Aesthetics 
 -Very sbjective (personal taste)
-Relates to colour, proportion, size shape
-Overall look


Ergonomics
- Comfort, safety, convenicent
-Ease of use and Ease of sight


Economics

- Relates to the cost associated with the product
- Can you make it and sell it?
- Can a profit be made?
- Cost of material and labor


Buyer beware
- Poor judgment results in loss of money





 

This is my final brief of my lamp. you can see the 3 curves and the base. my  main problem is making sure that this lamp is going to be stable, otherwise it won't do what i need it to do.

Today in class we learned how to drill the holes and attach the wood to our alumnium. i found out that instead of using the Jarra wood as it is too short i will use the tasmainian oak for the base of my lamp. last lesson i bent my aluminum around the piping to get the 3 curves in my lamp, which i was pleased with so this lesson the teacher cut some of this wood to size ready for me too attach next lesson. I also will need to do the online safety test ot be able to use all the machinery in the work room.

Today in class we finalized our designs. I put in my dimensions and asked about a different base as the Jarra wood wasnt long enough. we also looked at the propertiesof aluminium, which we are using for the stem of our lamps. Aluminum is ductile which means it can be pulled into a wire, it it malleauble which means it can be beated into shape. Aluminium has a very low density which is why it is used for airplanes. Also it doesn't rust or corrode over time. Another reason we are using aluminium is because it is lightweight and is easy to bend.

After finallising by final brief we were shown how to use the tools in the workshop. to gain a prespective about what mine will eventually look i used wire and cut and bended it to the mearsurements, this was good as it showed if the light was in proportion and weater it looked good. We then recieved our 600mm of Aluminium with this I  divided this up into quarters and used the pipping to bend the aluminuim round it to get the soft curves. I was really happy with the way it worked out even though i needed alot of help!!

Today in class we watched a video of the design process in which the camper van evolved from over the years. it showed how the camper vans design now hasn't changed much form when the first came out and were big in the 70's. The museum decided to get designers from the USA, Japan, England and Australia to come up with new ideas and create a new design of the caper vans. This video show the creative process involved from evaluating, investigating, to the ideas bought up. When we started looking at the lamps we followed a similar patter and evaluated pre-existing lamp, investigated and thinking of new ideas, this all id part of the design brief. The fours camper vans went on show to the public. One of the camper vans design was rocket looking and very modern. The designer form Japan created on with big opening sides to create more space. One comment was that each countries designers camper van was designed for their own countries climate. the Australian on was open and spacious and you spent most of your time outdoors because of the heat. the English one was more designed to be comfortable inside as in England you would spend most time inside the camper. The Japanese designers, design opened up hugely and had a massive livving area similar to the tea garden which is part of their culture. This video was interesting as it showed how their ideas and materials changed because of price and weight. it also showed how the designs went form on paper to a 3D drawing to a polystyrene model, then to a small model then finally to the final product.


My own design of the lamps in nearly finished and once I have put the dimensions in, I will be ready to construct and make then on Monday.

Today we started to design our own lamps and what we wanted them to do and look like. I have done 2 sketches as i am not sure which one I prefer. Both are very similar to previous lamps that i have seen. As I am new to this I want my lamp to be simple and not complicated. in the next few lessons we are starting to make our lamps out of the material.

This design i think is simple but good. I like how the wood base has been cut into a triangle to add to the design.

I don't like the base of this lamp, to me it doesn't look very stable and would annoy me.

This lamp is not only ugly but weird to don't like this design at all.

I really like this lamp. I like the curve of the aluminum and the way it looks. I don't know how stable it would be but  definitely like the overall look and design of this lamp.