Check out the latest updates on our furniture design venture at ConsiderFurniture.com
Be sure to let me know what you think!
March 20, 2011
Consider Furniture
April 29, 2010
Design Does Exhibition
Come to our end of the year senior exhibition at the Icebox in the Crane Arts building
There are five majors coming together from The University of the Arts collaborating on one show. Industrial Design, Graphic Design, MultiMedia, Masters Industrial Design, and Museum Studies will all be featuring a wide variety of work.
Check out the exhibition’s website
April 22, 2010
Upcycled OSB chair
April 11, 2010
Reconstruct prototypes
Work has been coming along steadily as I prepare for the UArts 2010 Design show. Here are prototype shots of two of the four models I plan on showing at the exhibition. Pieces will be in multiples to show the concept of a system for production that affords consistent products from recycled material, and not just expensive one-offs.
Reconstruct Storage Module
Reconstruct Step Stool
Furniture is made from OSB scraps from panel manufacturers, milk paint, and a water-based sealant finish.
Reconstruct Designs
Although the designs I’ve been working with have been changing constantly since the project was conceived in January (2010), a long series of decisions, iterations, and reiterations have led me to these four designs. For the show on April 30th, I plan on having multiples made of each of these models; chairs, step stools, storage modules, and coffee tables.
October 13, 2009
Business Card Idea
Check out this little idea I’ve been working on between school projects.. Let me know what you think
For more pictures/process/info use the link above
October 1, 2009
Business Card Buddies
These laser cut cards have pieces that pop out and snap together to create playful animals. The critters have contact information on them for a lasting impression.
Work began October 2009. I’ve been developing a more reliable clasp system for the pieces when they snap together and have also been working on a lot more animals.
September 1, 2009
Growlots
Addressing the issue of local food access, especially in low-income communities within Philadelphia, Growlots seeks to re-define the system in which we get our food.
Growlots, with the pooled information from UNI (Urban Nutrition Initiative) and PHS (Pennsylvania Horticultural Society), introduced the concept of Green Resource Centers that would supply outlying community gardens with supplies and services in exchange for a portion of the satellite gardens’ crop output.
Growlots is the name of a project begun in September 2009. The group included Victoria Perez, Megan Braley, John “Woody” Woodburn, Kim Forsythe, Elissa Meyer, Adam Rusiski, Jared Delorenzo, John Pender, and myself.
As this process builds and strengthens gardens, it also has the capability to strengthen communities, while simultaneously providing them with fresh food and vitality.
Megan Braley and Victoria Perez have continued to develop this project
June 19, 2009
New rendering style and PGH sneak peek
Over the past few weeks I’ve been working on my renderings, trying to achieve a more photo-realistic quality.. I plan on re-visiting some old projects soon to update the portfolio, but for now check out a sneak peek of some stuff I’ve been working on for the Postgreen Homes website that will be released towards the end of July
June 1, 2009
The Future of 3D Modeling
3D Modeling Program I most often use - Rhinoceros 4
Most 3D modeling programs tend to be a little bit too intimidating for people to attempt to learn. Not just skill-wise, but many of these programs are priced at ridiculously expensive retail costs. Who wants to pay a couple thousand dollars to get their hands on a program they don’t even know if they will use or enjoy? With Google’s SketchUp being released for free online, this type of 3D digital technology is no longer only for serious engineers, architects, designers, animators, and various other closely related professions.
Google SketchUp 7
It’s so easy to use – I used to think SketchUp served as a good stepping stone into more serious 3D modeling programs, but lately I’ve been shifting my point of view. The controls are easy and clearly understandable, and since it’s supported by Google, online help is always a click away. When we were first introduced to SketchUp in school last year, most of my colleagues scoffed at it. They blew it off as if it was some dumbed-down version of “real” modeling programs. Maybe so, but I think not. It is used professionally today, and it is supported on both Mac and Windows. I encourage anyone reading this that has in the past been intimidated by the idea to download and try Google SketchUp 7 for free today.
With Google Earth becoming such a big hit lately as well, SketchUp has the integrated feature for people to build models in 3D and instantly upload their designs into Google Earth for others to see and interact with. There also exists a 3D Warehouse that houses a plethora of models people created and shared with others – everything from houses to Ikea furniture. It makes me happy to see how much people are willing to share with one another for free, and I love the open-source feel of the whole thing.
Lego Digital Designer allows users (important to note the demographic – “kids”) to create out of digital Lego bricks any idea that they have come up with or drawn out. They can search through a slew of palettes provided by the software to find exactly which bricks they need for their creation. Once they spend a little bit of time modeling their idea in the digital realm, LEGO allows users to upload their designs to their website where they have a showroom feature. More importantly, they will gather the pieces, package them up, and send the creator their digital design in real life LEGO bricks. What?? Once I got over how cool this concept was, I became irritated that this wasn’t available in my younger days – LEGO was one of my favorite things to play with as a kid.
Lego Digital Designer
With programs like these two making their way out of engineering/ technical realms and into the average, every-day person’s homes, it is only a matter of time until you have motivated kids entering high school with the skills and mindset to create their ideas in a digital 3D space. This is both important for building technical skills and for harnessing creativity at an early age.
I’d love to hear other opinions about this topic, and as always I encourage you to leave questions, comments, or ongoing discussion right here.
