Something to sit on - Project 2
Introduction
Corrugated cardboard, made from a natural renewable resource, has one of the best environmental records. In 2002, more than 23 million tons of corrugated cardboard were recovered and recycled in the US –that is 74% of all cardboard produced in the same year. Cardboard has the best recycling rate of any packaging material used today. A hard look at every scrap of cardboard can lead the creative mind to see it as a valuable raw material. This is your opportunity to discover the potential of corrugated cardboard.
Assignment
Design a chair! Design and build a full-sized chair from corrugated cardboard and adhesive. The chair must support 150 lbs. for at least 5 minutes. The person seated will be in a “comfortable” position with his / her back leaning against the back of the chair. You will get an opportunity to learn about paper and cardboard as a building material and the statics and dynamics of structures. This project is designed to encourage and reward excellence in design that integrates function (does the chair work); aesthetics (is it pleasing to the eye); ergonomics (is it comfortable for the average person); details (are my drawings and actual construction accurate); and fun. You will be evaluated on such things as ingenuity, creativity, comfort, strength, appearance and assembly.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the project students will be able to:
- Apply the design principles and elements to solutions.
- Demonstrate the use of the design process through research, and early conceptual work (idea generation through concept sketches, bubble diagrams, mind maps, and criteria matrixes) to solve design problems.
- Use hand drafting tools and techniques to communicate design solutions and display proper page layout for interior design working drawings and documents.
- Deconstruct, analyze, modify, and reconstruct complex 3D objects
- Use the design process to work toward a solution through a series of experiments
- Temper frustration and work through difficult design and craft problems
- Demonstrate strong craftsmanship using an Xacto knife, ruler, and foam core
- Demonstrate the use of the design process through research, and early conceptual work (idea generation through concept sketches, bubble diagrams, mind maps, and criteria matrixes) to solve design problems.
- Use hand drafting tools and techniques to communicate design solutions and display proper page layout for interior design working drawings and documents.
- Deconstruct, analyze, modify, and reconstruct complex 3D objects
- Use the design process to work toward a solution through a series of experiments
- Temper frustration and work through difficult design and craft problems
- Demonstrate strong craftsmanship using an Xacto knife, ruler, and foam core
Process
1. Research: Individually research ergonomics and the human body and how it relates to design.
2. Experiment: Explore cardboard capabilities.
3. Compile: Generate ideas and make rough 2D and 3D design sketches, create a decision matrix.
4. Team-Up: Divide into teams (three or four). Groups will be assigned.
5. Collaborate: After the team agrees on the ideal design, complete a small-scale model of the chair.
6. Draft: Generate working drawings of the intended solution, including dimensions. The drawings will be produced on 11” x 17” vellum and must include a top-view (plan), a front-view (elevation), a side-view (elevation), and a perspective or 3D drawing of the chair.
7. Build: Each team then will obtain cardboard and commence construction of the full-scale mock-up of their chair design. Your design must support 150 pounds for five minutes.
8. Collect: Each team will compile a book including each group member’s research, experimentation, sketches, images of sketch models, and pictures of the final mock-up (in-process and complete).
9. Present: Each group will use their process book to do an oral presentation describing their concept and illustrating their design process. Each group member must participate equally in the presentation.
2. Experiment: Explore cardboard capabilities.
3. Compile: Generate ideas and make rough 2D and 3D design sketches, create a decision matrix.
4. Team-Up: Divide into teams (three or four). Groups will be assigned.
5. Collaborate: After the team agrees on the ideal design, complete a small-scale model of the chair.
6. Draft: Generate working drawings of the intended solution, including dimensions. The drawings will be produced on 11” x 17” vellum and must include a top-view (plan), a front-view (elevation), a side-view (elevation), and a perspective or 3D drawing of the chair.
7. Build: Each team then will obtain cardboard and commence construction of the full-scale mock-up of their chair design. Your design must support 150 pounds for five minutes.
8. Collect: Each team will compile a book including each group member’s research, experimentation, sketches, images of sketch models, and pictures of the final mock-up (in-process and complete).
9. Present: Each group will use their process book to do an oral presentation describing their concept and illustrating their design process. Each group member must participate equally in the presentation.
Materials
1. Cardboard: LIMITED TO ONLY 6 sheets of 40” x 60” single-walled cardboard
2. Elmers or Tacky Glue: Do not eat or use in excess NO HOT GLUE! it doesn’t hold up.
2. Elmers or Tacky Glue: Do not eat or use in excess NO HOT GLUE! it doesn’t hold up.
No other materials or fasteners of any type may be used.
Vocabulary
Orthographic Drawings--An orthographic drawing represents a three-dimensional object using several two-dimensional views of the object. It is also known as an orthographic projection. While a 3D drawing (perspective) may help illustrate some of the form, providing flattened views of all sides of an object helps to understand more about the design.
Scale Model--A scale model represents the form and shape of a design in the correct proportions, but is created at a smaller size than the final design. This allows the designer to evaluate the form (and sometimes construction methods) quickly and easily.
Mock-Up / Prototype--A full-scale 3D rendition of the design. Most prototypes are made of the materials that would be used in the final design. Sometimes a mock-up will utilize other materials to explore form.
Renderings--To “render” means to apply color. Renderings are full-color drawings that show your ideas and concepts for your designs.
Ergonomics--How furniture and equipment can be designed and/or arranged using measurements based off human sizes to function efficiently and effectively.
Deliverables
1. One neatly bound process book per team that shows each member’s concept sketches, decision matrix, their experimentation, their sketch models, the scale model, and the building process and final mock-up. This could be built in PowerPoint to be used for the final presentation.
2. An original set of hand-drafted working drawings (11” x 17”) to include a plan view, a front elevation, side elevation and 3D view of the team’s final chair design. The original set must include dimensions and a titleblock that includes everyone’s name. Follow the guidelines from FD2 for ID for general page set up and items to include in your titleblock. The original drawings must remain loose.
3. A bound copy of your working drawings. Use the binding methods required first semester.
4. A scale model of the final design.
5. A full-color rendering of the final design drawn in perspective using design markers and colored pencils.
6. The full-scale mock-up. The final chairs will be displayed in the hallway outside the Design Office or in Evan’s Hall. Please make the necessary arrangements to transport your chair on the due date, and discuss and plan with your group what you will do with your team’s chair when you are allowed to take them home.
7. Each group will use their process book to do an oral presentation describing their concept and illustrating their design process for their prototype. Each group member must participate equally in the presentation.
Student Examples
Full Scale Chairs
