#dsdn111.pro3

[isabelladsdn]

111 summary

  For my design I have focused on rotation and lock, and was heavily interested in creating clear ‘on and off’ positions.  I wanted the design to be refined in its aesthetic, the final looking quite complex, but formed from a basic idea so that crafting could be of high quality, and clearly display the rotation and lock aspects. If I was to improve my model I would develop interface design, and making the lock aspect smoother to use, as I focused more on the aesthetics and crafting of the model, and displaying my design intentions. This project has been useful in teaching me about focusing on finding a balance between form and function, and experimenting with other materials I’m not used to using. 

[jessdsdn-blog]

Presentation drawing - storyboard, movement diagram, orthographic

[tom-walls]

DSDN111 - project 3 - summary

For this project my given join was the elbow; as this joint appears quite simple in operation (the main action being a hinge and further being rotation) I wanted my design to reflect this. I made my design simple and minimal and I have also kept the ‘mechanics’ of the piece hidden. I aimed to make my project ergonomic and obvious in its operation – I feel that the sliding ‘button’ being the only standout element on the piece communicates how you are meant to interact with it quite simply. The main action of my joint a hinge type – just as the elbow is – with a sliding action which locks the two pieces in place; this lock and hinge is facilitated by the rubber strip on the back which, as well as locking the pieces together, adds a snapping action when the slider is moved. I feel that the aesthetics and mechanics of my project reflect both my design intentions and the way that the elbow joint functions. 

[jessdsdn-blog]

Final Comment

For this project the starting point was the jaw joint. I looked at how the joint moved; it’s rotation, it’s sliding and even it’s locking. From this I began to sketch possible movements and then forms. I came up with an initial idea to focus on sliding and locking, but the form I made was not interesting enough, so I change the idea and began looking at rotation and locking.

I found this project quite difficult, having to work around the limitations of the workshop, and therefore I have learnt a lot about time-management. I also found working on drafting film frustrating as the pens would rub off unless they were fully dried. Next time I would probably try vellum instead, and plan my time better.

[jessdsdn-blog]

My final form showing rotation and locking

[conal-mckie-design]

Final Summary

The joint that I had was the ankle, and the two principles that I wanted to use were slide/shift and rotation. From the ankle I used the movements of the ankle, across and up/down as the basis of my model. In my final form I included a hinge to make the sliding up and down a smoother process.  Valuable skills that I learnt from this project were using the workshop to shape and cut wood, the ban saw and drill press. I also learnt about contrast between different materials, bass wood and mdf and the wire and rubber.