Teamwork Evaluation

Teamwork Blog

We started off this project by individually coming up with table concepts, following the information we gained from our target market interview, the keywords I kept in mind when coming up with concepts were: organic, natural, flowing and clean.  This proved to be difficult as we could only fold straight edges and were restricted by not being able to use other manufacturing methods, such as rolling or welding.  I tried to minimalize was the amount of waste from each design, however any offcuts would be able to be recycled.

After each group member had selected four of their initial designs, we each made CAD models of them in Solidworks, and then each laser cut four 1:4 scale models of our designs.  After discussing which designs would be more suited for the purpose of the table, to hold cups and magazines in the centre of a social space.  Then one design was chosen from each of our four which we went on to make in full scale our of corrugated card.  I also made some adaptations to the shape, so that it was slightly less of teardrop and so it flowed more.  I also made the legs have feet on the bottom for added stability and to prevent damage to the user’s flooring or carpet.  I also made the legs go down to the feet in a triangle like shape, which added a bit more to the lower part of the table.  We then each showed our full scale card models to Clara and explained the features and design influences of each design, my design being influenced by various Zara Hadid architectural pieces and other group members designs being influenced by Ross Lovegrove’s organic forms.  In this feedback session Clara selected Oriana’s table design.

To create our group persona boards, we all took our initial mood boards and combined them to make a persona board summarising what Clara wants in a table and what is important to her, and what response we could try to get from the table.  This information was all gathered from our interview with Clara at the start of this project, where she outlined her preferences and what her colour scheme is in her house at the moment.

After we had finalised our final design, by making minor adaptions, we went about creating a heroboard.  The background environment of a grey and white living room, where the actual coffee table would be situated was created within SketchUp, then rendered and saved to be used as a backplate.  I then created a set of books, one open and one closed to be used in the heroboard to clearly demonstrate the function of the table.  Other group members also made a set of Coffee mugs to further show this.

Once our Solidworks CAD file was ready we then sent it to Huw for him to send it to Dragon laser for it to be cut out.  It turned out to look like the CAD model.