Project Two: Tape Dispenser

For project two, I was to redesign a reusable tabletop tape dispenser for Scotch tape using monument as my concept.  Keeping in mind my concept, I wanted to use sharp angles and abstract shapes to portray the bold, mighty and powerful sense that you get when you look at a monument.

At the beginning of my process, I really liked the idea of repetitive shapes and forms with a passage way through them that the tape would be dispensed. Later on, I started to develop a different idea of two separate forms that the tape would connect.  Playing around with this idea, I developed my final dispenser.  My final tape dispenser demonstrates the bold and powerful aspect a monument displays through its extreme angles and abstract shapes.

INSPIRATION

PRESENTATION BOARDS

MODELS

FINAL TAPE DISPENSER

Lawrence Paper Company

I was fascinated that such a big facility like the Lawrence Paper Company is right here in my town.  It was interesting to view all the different equipment and all the design processes and work is put in to make cardboard and cardboard boxes.  I thought this field trip was interesting and an eye opener about how cardboard is made, because it is not something that you would think takes so much work.

Disc Golf: Grip Equipment In-Class Field Trip

I really enjoyed Justin Atwater Taylor's presentation about his business Grip Equipment.  Justin was a KU graduate, and his thesis project senior year was to redesign disc golf equipment, and then formed it into his own business. I didn't know anything about disc golf before Justin presented, but I understood how his design would better fit the sport and benefit the players.

Project 1. What is a Clock?

Our first project in INDD 284 was to design a clock that expresses the conceptual nature and form of time itself based on our inspiration.  Then we were to submit our design to an online company called Ponoko, that would cut our design out of our chosen material and send it to us to assemble together.  The concept idea that I chose to stick with for this project was "Time repeats itself."  I found this project difficult because the design idea I had originally thought out was curvy, and there was no way I could make it with flat sheets of material from Ponoko.  I overcame many obstacles on how I could continue my concept idea, but make it workable within the boundaries we were given for this assignment.  Over many changed ideas and frustrations, I finally came up with an idea that would work and that I was proud of.  I am happy with my finished product.  If there was one thing that I learned from doing this project, it would be to make models out of many different materials to see what the design works best with.  Also to never give up.  I stuck through with my concept idea, and I am very happy I did so.

Here is my final presentation:
- Inspiration
- Ideation Sketches
- Hardline Drawing (sent to Ponoko)
- Sketch Models
- Final Physical Model

Mardi Gras Bead Video

This video truly opened my eyes about what factories are really like in China.  I could not believe the workers work in such poor conditions.  I also couldn't believe that the workers are mostly women, who make 10 cents an hour, get punished if they don't meet the standards, only get two weeks of vacation, and have only Sundays off of work.  There working conditions are very dangerous.  The beads are made of polystyrene which is a plastic and narcotic that can cause cancer and is very toxic for the workers to be working with on a daily basis.
The China factory workers had no idea where there beads went after they were distributed and what kind of event there were most popular with.  The interviewers told the workers and showed them pictures from Mardi Gras and the workers were stunned and amazed at the fact that people actually liked the beads.  The factory workers thought they were ugly, and did not understand the point of the beads.
The Mardi Gras goers were interviewed throughout the video and were asked whether or not they knew where the beads came from, and if they were aware of the factory workers poor conditions and pay.  Not many of them knew, or cared about where they came from. The majority of the beads also go to waste after Mardi Gras is over, and nothing about the beads or packaging is recyclable.  I think that this video is an eye opener to all who watch it because it really shows both sides of the issue, and the cycle the product goes through and how making a product recyclable, reusable, and repairable is important.

Home Contained Field Trip

This was my favorite field trip by far.  We went to go visit Debbie Glassberg's own home, where she informed us about her company called Home Contained.  She uses containers shipped from China to build durable homes.  She has used her own house as a prototype for her company, and to get a better understanding about how a house made of containers could work and function.  Her house also saves energy with her LED lighting, electronic gas, and geothermal heating and cooling.  her house is recyclable and reusable, meaning that you can take it apart exactly the way it came and move the house to a different location or use the materials for other buildings or houses.  I loved touring her home.  I thought it was a very bright, airy and fun exciting atmosphere to be in.  I am interested to keep up to date with her company and see what it turns into in the long run with her new container designs.