Upcycling: Tyre Chair

I'm big on making the most of what I've got so when a couple of old tyre's were chucked my way I decided to make the best out of them for my A-level project. Cutting periodic holes through the rubber tyre, I painstakingly spent the time of threading string to create a spirographic mesh for seating. The legs are made from old metal foot pedal guards from machinery and the screws and washers are all odds and ends pieces.

The chair is the perfect mix between retro and futuristic and it's sturdy material makes it suitable for outdoor use. What I love most about this project is that I've been collecting odd tyres from the side of the road every now and then and threading string through them to make seating for the garden; just chuck the strung tyre on top of a stack and you're good to go.

Drawing in the Sand

 Okay, so this is it... The design that I have been pouring all of my creative juices into for the past six months: The Spirograph Master, and it's finally finished.

It may not be much in the way of looks - but hey, I'm a concept person - though this model depicts what my life sized interactive piece of spirograph machine would look like. 

In real application the spirograph would be hip height and over ten metres in length and completely made out of glass. The idea is that people walk on the glass rim and drag the Egyptian handles around the gear path, thus drawing in the sand a spirograph pattern that is visible and erasable, ready to try again. 

(If you don't know what a spirograph is, it's that mathematical shape on the right -> ) 

The tough part was finding a way to get the spirograph off of the ground and up into the air, whilst still being able to draw a feasible pattern. Which is why I eventually decided I had to sandwich my spirograph between two layers that would keep the rotor from falling through to the floor. 

Using the 3D Printer (I feel like a pro at using it now) I designed three different 3D renderings of Hieroglyphs to relate to my Egyptian influence, these act as the handles and 'pencils' that draw the pattern into the sand. I also resonated with my Egyptian historical link through the hieroglyph engravings in the surface of the spirograph stator, as well as in the use of sand as a drawing material. 

I really love this model, and on a larger scale I could only imagine the interactive fun that can be experienced through creating a spirograph. Though my favourite element has to be that once you've finished, you can sweep the sand over and start again; endless opportunity for creativity.

3D Design: Unit Final

First things first, this project took me a lot - and I reiterate the word 'a lot' - of time both to construct the idea and then to manufacture a working prototype, so I'd appreciate a pat on the back or something. 

Without further ado I introduce to you my 3D printed model of a CNC routed, Gothic bed frame (that's a lot to say in one mouthful). The bed frame is designed to be made from vertically placed pieces of individual ply which have each been laser cut with the same pattern and then adhered together to form the main structure of the frame. Also the bed comes with a series of different sized draws; some that stretch only half way beneath the bed and other that span the whole length, which would allow for the bed to be pressed up against the wall. 

Because of the small size, I wasn't able to print the cylindrical draws that would go in the headboard of the bed that would act like storage canisters. I'd also planned to have several of the draw fronts being digital clocks, electrical charging stations and lights, which would allow for the consumer to pick and choose attachments for an all in one storage solution. 

SolidWorks nearly broke me in the process of working out measurements and building up a miniature replica of my concept, and it took a whole 12+ hours of printing in the 3D printer, but after all of those hours of banging my head against the key board, I came out with this killer example of Gothic/Contemporary furniture.

But if you think it ends there, than you are sorely mistaken. To compliment the Gothic bed frame, I also produced an accompanying table and chair set made of ply that follows a more haunted theme, seen in the skeletal shape of the chair and table legs. The aim of my project was to design articles of furniture inspired by gothical influences. For ease of storage, the table and chairs can be diassembled, by taking the glass panes out of the table legs, removing the centre wedge and sliding the table legs off of the binding ring that holds them together; therefore providing an easier size for storage and transport. 

Because of the amount of ply the design would use in practical application, I tesselated the design in such a way that I made use of as much of the material as possible. As a result of this, I designed a smaller version of the legs and produced cross sectioning candle holders which easily slot together and reduce the amount of waste material on the ply sheet.

Pixel Perfect

4x "29x29" square portraits

Playing Hama Beads with my siblings unearthed a whole new world of making a portrait that is both inventive and a great form of entertainment for small kids and adults alike. 

My Sister's interpretation of David Bowie/ Ziggy Stardust

 To achieve one of these funky pictures, you use a website called Perler you download the program (top right), which turns your image into a pixelated version and you select what size you want your image to be so that it will give you the pixel representation. When you zoom in, it breaks down which bead colour- number and letter coded- goes where so that you have to fill in your grid bead by bead. And then your ready to iron. 

The best thing about these portraits is that you can literally use any of your pictures and adjust them to what colours you do have to pick out the best style. From close up they look like nothing more than a pixelated mess, but far away the image really does come together and you literally get the bigger picture. 

There is no limit to what you can do with these beaded pictures, as they would make the perfect gift to both put on the fridge or hang up a large portrait.

Warning: it is a relativly fiddly task and requires much patience.

Lights, Camera... Take out!



'Light Up' project- Take out Lantern

It's about time I showcase some of my, erm, talent?

One of our earlier projects saw me designing a light shade using just card, a bit of 3D printed plastic and no glue whatsoever. So after a few clueless weeks, the idea finally came to me in the form of a 'Take out' carton.

This lightshade can be assembled from flat into its shape by slotting tabs together, and to provide legs for the stand, the 3D Printed base table can be slot into the bottom. The legs were designed to look like chop sticks and fixed hole in the base of the box allows a light to be placed from beneath and up into the carton like a side light.

Using the reflective card to better utilisie the light, I laser cut butterfly's into the box to allow light to excape and be reflected by the card to give this overall gentle light.