Rationale
Project Two: Upcycled Utility
By Luke Messina
Throughout this project the exploration between industrial design and ecological sustainability has been a major issue as the environment and the minimization of solid waste into the environment is something that needs to be reduced dramatically if we want to preserve our future.
My whole design of this upcycled utility was based on organic forms and nature. My poster was made up of a multitude of colours and from the beginning my idea was to use these colours in a way that my design can put emphasise on the beauty and elegance in nature that surrounds us all. For example, the long elegant curl of the design seems to copy the curl of a plant opening its branches and stems in summer and the varying colours throughout the design reflects the different shades of colours that you see when flowers bloom.
Even though my inspiration gave me a few good ideas, I needed to somehow come up with a way to make my design minimize solid waste generation and be flatpacked into an Australian Post box (standard size). To start off, I experimented with a number of easy ways this type of material could join together through the use of folding and cutting and after a variety of models come up with a way to secure my strips of plastic together onto the frame, while still allowing movement within the design. Each strip is cut in the centre with a (X) and when fitted onto a round bamboo frame provides enough friction to stay in any place it is put, but is still able to be moved in a variety of different ways, depending on the user and their interests. The quality and strength of the material used is shown through the way each strip is held together and when the lamp is fully assembled, an elegant shape is formed by both the sharp edges and the curved shape.
Overall, I used about 55% of the material given to me, and although 45% of that material was not used it should not be classified as ‘wastage’ as it could have a variety of other uses. For example, the leftover material could be used partly for packaging, or could be included in my postage box as spare parts just in case a strip of plastic is damaged. Although I made my model by hand, it could however be mass produced using CNC (Computer Numerical Control) to cut the plastic sheet into strips. Although it says in the brief to consider your product and mass manufacturing, I do not believe that this would be the best option as mass manufacturing would have an even bigger impact on the environment, when the whole point of this project is to minimize solid waste generation.
In conclusion, the process of design in this product was constantly evaluated each week with the help of others, and I believe that this had a significant impact on the final design of this product which, in the end, will significantly increase the success of my product if it ever landed on the open market.
Heroshot:
Cutting Diagram:
Overall I only used about 55% of the material, the wastage was 45% however, it could be used for other things, including packaging, back up strips for my lamp etc. Scale is 1:5, so the estimated dimensions of the poster was 1220x1840.... therefore in scale the size of the poster is 244x368 and i used a section which measures 204x232, so when a multiply them and subtract my wastage = 47%.
User Instructions:
Flatpacked:
Other Photos:
It looks bright colorful and aesthetically pleasing!great job, but i am concerned about its size though, it looks gigantic!
ReplyDeleteNice use of colour :D it is a very unique looking light ~ in some ways it reminds me of a horn. The wastage was kind of the problem, since nearly half the resource is not used.
ReplyDeleteLuke!
ReplyDeleteI love your light!
It reminds me of an icecream scooper in a cool sophisticated light sort of way :)
I love how it is sort of like the light is projected out of the tunnel.
Only problem is it is kind of a boring shape?
But otherwise I love it!
I think your light looks really original and authentic. I love the colourful shade which gives the warm touch of the light, my only concern was also the wastage it produces..overall, nice design!
ReplyDeletei like the way you used very simple shape and idea to come out a lamp. Vey smart flat package. the shape is similar to a elephant's tusk.but i think you should try to cut paperin more different shape rather than the same.
ReplyDeleteluke, i love this lamp, it at first seems like some big monstrosity of a design, but it makes you want to look at it in more depth, when looking at it in depth you truly see the work and perfection that went into the design, along with that the fact that this can be flat packed is simply amazing
ReplyDeleteLuke I really like your light, its got a very special organic shape to it, i think its fantastic, the only thing i would be able to add to it would be to have the rings in a gradient of colours (red to yellow for example), other than that its flawless, great job mate :)
ReplyDeleteLuke, i really like the idea of this design but not so much the final product. The pieces don't seem to run together smoothly/look awkward and perhaps a little flimsy. Does remind me of a hunting horn or a tusk of some animal though.
ReplyDelete