Design Futures

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.