Concrete Stool / Nightstand

I finally got around to creating the concrete stool / nightstand prototype. This project was made for Product Design class: Design Process. Thanks @amhau for helping me put it together. :)

Below is the design brief:

Process Lead Design and Production Sourcing

As a designer ideas and innovation are often inspired directly from a particular process or production method.  You can be inspired by a particular machine or production method.  As an independent designer it is often necessary to source materials and manufactures for your designs to have them produced.

1. Research a process that you find interesting.  You can start with  a particular manufacturing technique, a machine, or a material   you are curious about.

2.  Source the closest geographic location where this process is done.

3. Design a product that takes advantage of this process and particular material qualities.

-Your product concept should be developed from your research into the process, not the other way around.  Go into your research without a specific product in mind.

Keep it simple! Overly complex products like electronics involve multiple manufacturers and processes.

Information to gather:

What process and material are you researching?

What are the steps and resources involved?

Where is this process done?

What are the properties of the materials used?

What is your design?

How does your design take advantage of this particular process and material qualities?

-Source locations where your product could be produced and contact the manufacturer or fabricator to find out material costs, general production cost, average production times and quantities produced and minimum orders.

NOTE:

-Include documentation of the process in TEXT and IMAGES

-Samples of products that are currently made using this process

-Drawings and or prototype of your design and describe how it takes advantage of this process.

Think innovatively about this, do not design exactly the same products that utilize this process.

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My process lead design and production sourcing project:

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Final outcome:

I really liked how it turned out! There were some parts where we had to improvise, but overall it stuck with the theme and concept I was going for: multi-functional and multi-use furniture with an industrial aesthetic. I'll be including this prototype in the Senior Product Design gallery opening next week. Reception is on Monday, October 12th, 2009 from 5PM - 7PM. Just FYI! :P