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.
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
Phillyware represents the city of Philadelphia in style. These unique forks, knives, and spoons remind the people of Philadelphia to enjoy their local, fresh food options.
The molds were milled using a CNC router with urethane foam. Currently, I’m using acrylic, but in the process of getting the capability to do them in stainless steel.
// rendering of the stainless steel version I’m hoping to create soon
Acrylic. Laser cut and formed in custom molds. January – February 2009
The ubiquitous honor box is in need of some creative rethinking, especially in an uncertain age for the printed newspaper.
// this solution collects rain, lightly filters it, and dispenses it into a bowl for dogs to drink from as their owner browses the newspaper selections.
As part of Design Philadelphia, Citypaper hosted a contest to redesign the honor box.
The Honor Bowl was selected as one of three winning contest entries. I did this project in collaboration with Adam Rusiski at The University of the Arts.
// The Honor Bowl in print
Work done October – November 2008.
Porcelain explorations done September – December 2008.
While sketching two dimensionally, I feel disconnected from the form I am trying to achieve. With these efficiently manufactured building blocks (milled with a CNC router), one can freely sketch in three-dimensional space. This allows one to get a true sense of form, as opposed to relying on a perceived notion.
// early thumbnails
Work done September – October 2008
During some freelance work at a local production company, I explored different configurations, semantics, and ergonomic forms for a controller device.
Work done June – July 2008
This jacket concept mimics the technique polar bears use to capture heat from the sun to keep them warm in cold climates.
Two translucent layers allow light from the sun in, but they trap the heat, which prevents it from escaping. This trapped heat is distributed around the wearer in a pocket of air between the jacket’s outer layers.
Work done March 2008.
Celebrating a tradition growing in popularity, the Shot Dropper addresses the issues with ‘bomb style’ drinks (such as boilermakers and carbombs), allowing for a more enjoyable celebratory night out.
A small, acrylic shell filled with food-safe rubber holds a shot glass inside a pint glass, poised and ready for its descent. Simply applying a small amount of pressure with the tip of a finger releases the shot glass from the pint’s rim.
When you cheers with a friend, the vibration from the glasses clanking together will release the shots, thus timely mixing your drink for you.
This project was worked on January through March 2008 at The University of the Arts. Group members included Carson Sio, Adam Rusiski, Tim Peet, Ji Un, and I.
