Form + Furniture

Spring 2016 - present
Skills: Conceptual drawing, basic 3D prototyping, woodworking, experimental materials

In my free time, I enjoy studying how form and semantics can meaningfully communicate responses from users. Utilizing various materials and methods, I have gained a stronger understanding in designing and crafting artifacts and furniture for meaningful interaction.

Walnut Rock Balance

I explored and experimented with walnut wood and rock materiality to create an interactive piece that allows users to create and observe their own balanced compositions. Three were crafted so that eventually, one will be given to a significant other, one will be sold, and one will be kept.

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Foam Core Tilt Radio

This radio made out of foam core was an exercise in hacking existing radio electronics to redesign radio controls. This was in preparation for approaching my walnut rock radio. Here, the side to side rocking increases or decreases volume and the front left and right panels adjust stations. Earbuds can be tucked in on the top. This radio is meant to find and share the right station for two people.

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Earth Alone 3D-Printed Tile

This exercise explores translating a natural phenomenon into a graphic form and then translating that graphic form into a three-dimensional representation. I chose to visualize Greenland's melting glaciers and began developing a series of sketches to describe the phenomenon of ice melting in detail. I then translated the final sketch into a static figure-ground in black and white using Adobe Illustrator. This high contrast drawing was used to create an underlay for developing a three dimensional tile in solidworks to be printed in alumide through i.materialize.

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Wrapped Antler

A wrapped antler with colors representing an endangered species known as the salmon crested cockatoo.

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Flowform Salad Tongs

A two week study of designing a symmetrical pair of salad tongs. After sketching and foam prototypes to determine a comfortable handle and cohesive design, each salad tong was hand crafted from a block of poplar wood with four cuts on the bandsaw and sanding.

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Geoform Stool

The five board stool is a study on constructing a multifunctional, rectilinear form with only right angle cuts. The challenge was designing a stool for sitting, standing, and foot resting with material limitations of a plank of 60" x 10" x 1" and a secondary board of 15" x 10" x 1" poplar wood. I found inspiration in Piet Mondrian's paintings of lines, rectangles, and asymmetrical balance and integrated them into my design, which can especially be seen on the top seat.

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Sling Chair

This sling chair is made of a walnut frame and a single broad strip of gray grain canvas fabric forming the backrest and seat. It is meant for leisure and inspired by 19th century ocean liner deck chairs.