Charrette of a Design

This weekend participated in a design charrette at SCAD.  It was held by the school of design and was mostly attended by industrial design students.  I wanted to see what it was all about and thought this was a great opportunity to expand my horizon and meet new people and designers with different approaches to solutions.  In my group I was the only fibers student in a mix of industrial design under grad and grad students.  It was a great group and opportunity to collaborate with them.

The challenge was to create a carnival game in 24 hours using cardboard and anything else, there were really no rules.  Just a fun design challenge to do on the weekend.  I enjoyed experiencing how this group of designers approached the design process, especially in this large group scenario.  As a group we were very cooperative, came up with a great design plan, and had fun with it along the way.  

Our theme was Lazer Cats versus Ninja Bunnies.  Our plan was to make a game where you would catapult a ball into different sized holes of difficulty, all on a cube system structure.  There was a lot of room for creativity while also focusing on the structural aspects if the construction.  I was particularly interested in seeing how these designers approached this problem and solved simple and compex engineering issues.  I am happy to say that I was able to hold my own with my background in simple construction.  I helped to solve problems that arose along the way and helped to create this beautiful structure.

It started out with the background and foundation of the set. The sides to of the set were angled to funnel in the the balls and to give the display some depth.  The bottom is slanted so to return the ball easily. 

 
Our cube production with all shape and sizes of cut outs.  We made about 16 cubes with openings on the top and bottom so the ball could fall easily to the bottom and be returned.

I wanted to get a little fibers in there so I offered to create the backdrop of the set.  The theme lent itself to an outer space design so I created something with layers of colors and textures to represent the universe.  I started with a simple tie dye base.  I had to makeshift my dye and ended up using watered down house paint.  It ended up giving the fabric some rigidity and a slight marbled effect. 

After the first stage was dried I spray painted sparingly over the entire fabric.  The base color was purple and I topped it of with spray paint in two shades of blue and a black.  What tied it all together, and is one of my greatest finds, is spray glitter.  I used both gold and silver and it added the perfect touch and sparkle to the universe.

The final product was much cooler than I could have ever imagined.  It had depth and interest everywhere you looked.  And I loved the glitter.

This application of materials would not be practical for a functional piece of fabric as I do not know how it would wash and wear but it did serve its purpose for the day an I plan on implementing some of these same techniques in future projects.

After the foundation was set we had to add an open grid system to elevate the base to a level surface for the cubes to sit and stack upon.  It needed to be open to allow for the balls to fall through and roll back.

After that grid was set up and sturdy we started to stack the cubes. 

The piece of fabric I had dyed was a sheet and it did not fit across the entire back, so I had to divide up the fabric so it would fit properly across the backdrop.

More stacking of cubes.  We covered all of the cubes with digital printouts of skyscrapers. This set included a wide variety of materials and techniques, optimizing everyone's talents.

The final product was this crazy game that was visually stimulating and eye catching.  It was the first game as you walked in the building so it was not to be missed.  It was fun and whimsical and added to the whole carnival atmosphere. 

I had a great experience collaborating with these designers and being able to work in their studios, much different than a fibers studio.  They have some great equipment including laser cutters and 3D printers that I hope to incorporate into my work in the future.  I also hope to be able to collaborate with these designers again as this experience really helped me to expand my artistic experience and growth by experiencing a new approach to solving problems and executing projects. I have grown as an artist and designer as a result of this experience.

Be Inspired. Be Bold. 

peace&love

Rebecca

Design 222.. Hotel

You are driving North from Phoenix up Rt 17, surrounded by the heat of the desert, sand and cacti for miles.  

The terrain turns mountainous and the earth turns red.  You are now in Sedona.  Red sandstone formations surround you.  The sun sets and the rocks burst into a vibrant red hue.  The sight is unforgettable.

The Agate Hotel & Resort, just like the red rocks, have depth and interest in every corner.  Mixing textures and materials was important to creating the perfect aura.  Soft hues of red sandstone surround and embrace you as you move from space to space.  I took the silhouette of the rock formations and repeated it through the space.  Walls, vertical panels of wood are seamed together, murals, and patterns in the stone all repeat this rocky line.   Visual interest and comfort were leading forces to creating the Agate Hotel & Resort.

The floor plan shows the varieties of floor materials from a terra cotta pattern in the main lobby to wood flooring in the restaurant and lobby lounge.  Sample images of the beautiful stones I have chosen to be placed throughout the hotel.

A perspective drawing showing the main lobby as you enter the building.  The large cacti sculptures are wrapped in rope.  Terra cotta tiles lead you to the registration desk.

The second board shows lighting, elevations and some furniture.  The lighting is industrial while the rest is very rustic and reminiscent of the South Western flare.

I created this brick wall covered with plaster, rustic and chipping away.  Layered with various cacti and tropical plants and some red leather chairs.

For the bar I started with a brick wall, layered it with steel shelving that reflects the red rock formations, and surrounded it with vertical wood paneling.  The restaurant and bar area are very warm and intimate.  Rustic meets industrial.

I had a great time with this project, didn't hold back any creativity.  I let the red rocks take over and designs flowed out.  Like I always say, "go big or go home."

Be Inspired.  Be Bold.

peace&love

Rebecca

Design 200

With the semester coming to an end, all my projects are coming together.  I went back to the basics and had to brush up on my drafting skills.  Once I blew off the dust, I got comfortable and I got creative.  Since these are my last projects, I didn't t hold anything back.  I let the creative juices flow and didn't hold back any imagination. It's hard to see my complete vision from just a black and white floor plan, but more is to come.

In my residential class we were given a blank floor plan and we had to design and furnish the entire house, focusing on a couple rooms and the kitchen.  My trip to High Point Market greatly helped focus my vision for the house.  I was able to create a great resource library with all the vendors and resources discovered at the market.  

Without looking at colors and furniture but just looking at the floor plan, I kept the plan open and organized. I love symmetry and right angles so for the most part the furniture is lined up and squared off. Later you will see how played with the layering of textures and materials.  I kept the interior warm and inviting with tones of grey.

The kitchen was a good challenge for me.  I found some clean lined and simple cabinets to use and the rest was a big puzzle to see what cabinets went were.

One thing I changed about the kitchen was opening up the window. One of my favorite things is to stand at the sink and stare out the window, makes washing dishes much more exciting.

For my commercial porject we were given a floor plan for a hotel. It was completely empty and we had to fill the space with all the appropriate spaces and areas.  Once I laid out the general flow and blocked out areas, I placed all the furniture, then the fun part, designing the floor pattern.  I love defining spaces with floor patterns.  It's a challenge to create something unique while not being too overwhelming.   Choice of material and color play a huge role in creating the perfect atmosphere.

I couldn't help myself.  In the restaurant I just had to create this great bar.  Inspired by industrial design I started with a brick wall to define the space of the bar.  Rod iron lays the grid work that is the shelving for all the bottles and glasses.  The bar is then surrounded with vertical planks of wood.

An overlay shows the bar stools, lighting and signage.

Still to come.. the rendering of all these floor plans and elevations.  Perspective drawings of a couple of areas to really give the complete feel when you walk into the space.  With colors and materials the spaces will come together and my point of view will be conveyed.  Stay tuned!

Be Inspired. Be Bold.

peace&love

Rebecca