Finals Week

Hello designers,
The semester is almost ever!  My lamp is on its way to becoming a delightful piece of art. I have worked on it some tonight. I finished scoring and folding all of the V-pleats tonight and am close to finishing the puncturing. Tomorrow I will finish the puncturing and work toward constructing each pleat together so it becomes a diamond shape. This will be done with brads and sewing. Hopefully each pleat with line up effectively, because of the stiffness of the bristol/construction. The prototype's construction laid down a great foundation to base the final light off of.

The final will also be the same shape at the prototype. My lamp will be a hanging light with a standard light bulb to create a glow. I am looking forward to see it finished as well as of yours on Wednesday. I know we all have been working so hard and are getting excited for the installation!

"Make it work"

-RCJH

Foldimentation

Hello designers,

This project got messy, I had to clean up my room afterwards which made me decided to do further experimentation in the studio because at home is no place for designing. I had a specially good time though and documented the process for you fellow classmates. This ended up taking me several hours but it was enjoyable the whole time. It did not take alot thinking to make these and that what I enjoyed the most. There were all simply made and are going to be the foundation for my light fixture. It was challenging because I had to come up with twenty-five more designs for a single lamp fixture so it was a stretch. A few ideas did not work out as well as planned, but a few did work out and that's all that matters.

One of the snowflakes became an indigenous mask!

It was fun experimenting with different folding techniques; snowflakes, pop outs, v-pleading,
puncturing, cut-outs, zig-zags, football fold out, and geometric tabs.

Pile of Homework for the refined light experimentation

-RCJH

My task 

My role with in the group was list maker of what tasks needed to be accomplished in the given time everyday and to keep the group on schedule every class workshop. I played the role of the initiator to start tasks started, to ask what each individual was working on and how far along they were at completing their given task. I was in charge of buying velcro for prototyping and constructing one of the three prototypes for the sponge wand. I took on the role of the writer, prototyper, and powerpoint maker. The power point was made to combine and include the whole process of the re-desinged spongewand. It included the storyboard illustrated by Kenz, pros/cons of old sponge wand, pictures of research, pictures and changes made from each type of prototype, and concept statement, as well as each team member's name. It was put together to show the beginning, in between and final outcome of the project two so that the class could see the process. I took on this task because I knew that I could handle the load and complete it on time. 

Overall the tasks summed up to be challeging. The most was the powerpoint. There were many potential tasks to take of with this project and having the liberty to choose which on I completed worked out well.  The powerpoint was a success because it was based around the storyboard, which helped tie each step of the process together. It was helpful to organized because of the powerpoint software. It had a clean color scheme of blues and green which incorporated the aspects of our re-design of the sponge wand. 

Think Then Make

Reflection 

There was much more the design of this object that I ever considered. I learned that this was a common object which I originally thought was random. The sponge wand is easily accessible at any grocery store and comes in different forms, colors, and sizes. I also learned that it could be mistaken for a toy which could be unsafe for children. Also that is it too large, making it harder to store in places. I also never considered it to have a leaking problem until I traveled with it to class and back. It could only be used in the home and not in a restaurant because of its small, soft sponge.  I never noticed that it has a plastic scraper on the back to get the harder food off. Another thing I learned that if I had a button on the handle to dispense soap instead of soap releasing when the sponge is activated, would conserve the soap. I learned that people prefer the dish pods that fit inside their palm instead of the wand. I never considered that you can replace the old sponge with a new one once it is worn and that the chamber of soap changes color depending on the color of the soap. 

Mary... I Didn't Know That Was a Man's Name

Reflection of Understanding comics:

This reading was a convincing argument that comics are a powerful tool for the way our brains interpret icons. As a comic the reading was alot deeper that I expected it to be. I associate comics with cartoons and cartoons with children. This comic was well over the understanding of a child. Its right when it says its remarkable t that we see ourselves in all kinds of things that do not associate with having a face, and that we can see a face out of the most abstract form while seeing ourselves as well. The idea that the more abstract a face icon is the more universal it becomes was also intuitive for most comics. I appreciate that this comic was thought evoking and  used valid evidence to support his claim, for example how cars and outlets have faces in them. I think it pushed the boundaries of the arguement that we make the world in our image and are a self centered race. 

This comic in my opinion was dark. It became more creepy as I read on. It took every thing I have always found interesting about comics like house Mickey Mouse’s icon could be interchangeable with any person, place, or thing and turns it into a creepy character. I do not see anything wrong with icons being universal and well think its good that they are not specific because it makes the character or image relatable with endless possibilities. It did shown me how often cartoons, or simplified versions of life are used. He has thoroughly elaborated on comics to convince the reader that there is alot more to them that what meets the eye. I can say I have a better and more in depth understanding of comics from this one comic theory about comics. I got more stimulation out of this one comic that I ever had from any other. It was successful in that aspect and that it used pictures to give the reader a sense that most comics have the potential to be critically analyze and are not just pictures on a page. 

Final Spongewand

Hello designers,
Congrats to all, we're almost done with the semester! Here is one of the last minute blog post for Project Two: Redesign. Like the earlier one my group chose to redesign a sponge wand. So after brainstorming, prototyping, and constructing this is our final product that as a group, decided had all the essentials of a sponge wand.

materials: sponge, tuba ware, glue, and soft bristles

Fits in hands and stores easily

Redesigned sponge wand

RCJH

Prototype

Hello designers!

The prototype for the dish wand I made was created to cover all the grounds that one could imagine. I used a plethora of materials including; double sided sponge, plastic dish wand, velcro, tape, plato, string, and a soft sponge. Each part had a specific purpose. The anatomy of this prototype shown in the photo below has many features. The double sided sponge velcro to the body was created for not only disposal but also versitility. The soft side was used for less mess dishes and the scratch surface was for the heavier mess. I also shaved down the bristles that covered the whole end of the original to leave a long bristles to get in hard to reach places. Then I cut the sponge in triangles, added plato and the soft sponge for aesthetic purposes. The soft sponge also had a purpose of cushion so the hand could have a comfortable grip while using it. 

finished prototype!

 detail of the prototype's body

Much of the praise from the research I made was targeted at the features. The criticism I got was targeted at the construction. One mentioned it looked like it would fall apart from merely handling it.... kids say the darndest things. No but I appreciated all the honest feedback I got. I liked the features of it as well, for example with a handle that reaches into hot dishwater does not burn my hand!

-RCJH