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» 11:04AM MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 09'
Project 2:
PROJECT 2: "LIGHTNESS"
+The final project of our industrial design studio focuses on connecting a user group and a given material to develop a product that honors a developed definition of "lightness." +While the final product should address the needs and desires of the everyday user, it should also devise a value system penetrating the human mind through the senses. +The product should connect past and future by combining both low and high technologies +The product should also reflect in-depth analysis of the user group (psychology, behavior, etc.) and the material (cost analysis, product opportunities & limitations, etc.) Assigned Material: Natural Forms of Wood User Group: Ethnicity After almost three weeks of research on definitions of ethnicity, I formulated a purpose statement that focused on connecting one of these definitions to various natural forms of wood. Our professor challenged us to go above and beyond the normal definitions of our user groups and assigned material. According to several readings in psychology that I explored, our common approach to ethnicity tethers our thoughts to elements of race, nationality, and history. Yet as psychologist continue to investigate, they are discovering that ethnic identity is much more because it shapes our behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. Upon understanding the possible measures of ethnicity, it was evident that the natural form of wood chosen should have a relationship to the characteristics of the chosen ethnic population. Thus, the origin of the organic material or natural form of wood could be correlated to the origin of the study population. Below were some of my initial sketches and picture inspirations to develop my designs:         Juxtaposed Bookshelf by Mike and Maaike  Calabash Gourds (this particular gourd has been emptied and dried and now serves as a container)  Brent Comber: A design studio that creates products from natural forms of wood---their focus is primarily furniture and environments. » 2:57PM WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 07, 09'
Noir Pur: Furniture Campaign
NOIR PUR: fire coffee table
Design by Donald Burlock Jr. @ Claudia Winegarden Studio (Georgia Tech) On Monday evening, we photographed the working prototype at the studio of Atlanta photographer and designer Raevaughn Lucas. Credit Atlanta photographer Craig Sutters for snapping the beautiful image of people interaction on the table. What really amazed me was how close everyone at the studio was willing to sit near the fire! Since the burner produces a controllable localized fire, people felt free to "snuggle" up to the coffee table and enjoy the warmth! Project 2 starts this week! Look out for additional re-designs of this table as I continue to build my furniture portfolio.   Special thanks to Raevaughn and his wife Christeen for helping me produce this wonderful furniture campaign!  Now, take a peek at the study models that were reviewed during the course of this design. We used study models to examine the most efficient way to construct the working prototype. Below, you will see images of me working with id4011 Professor Claudia Winegarden and student Jorge Palacio in the CATIA lab at Georgia Tech developing a full scale study model of the coffee table.  Other development work took place during the examination of the burner that sits inside the table. Originally, I looked at using a 12" diameter burner from a local fire place store. I connected 3/8" flare pipe to the burner and then to a valve system before running it back to the supply (for demonstration, a 20 lb propane tank). The final prototype uses a 18" long steel pipe---so it looks like a line of fire down the middle of the table.  |