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FER RUGAMA | ART & DESIGN
BRIEF
The overarching concept behind this group project was to explore the symbiotic relationship between light and design. We sought to delve into the nuanced interplay between illumination and the creation of functional art by conceiving and crafting a unique table entirely from scratch.
ARMONIUM
COCKTAIL TABLE
2018 | COLLEGE PROJECT
COLLAB
Group
project
ROLE
Design, prototype rendering, prototype construction, filming andediting, and conceptualization
TECH
Illustrator, Premiere Pro
Solid Works
Laser cutting machine
COURSE
Design III, Costa Rica Institute of Technology
The chosen model had harmonic and modern traits represented through a symbiotic relation between organic and geometric shapes accordingly. The design was based on the shape and layers of a river, and the use of light helped to portray it’s natural continuity and fluidity.
GOALS
• Design a table that captures the user's attention through lighting effects and through modern, inviting and serene aesthetics.
• Develop a structure that allows objects (drinks, small dishes, personal belongings) to be placed in its surface without disturbing its aesthetics.
• Provide the user with a serene and modern environment with a socializing atmosphere by means of an appropriate use of color, lighting and design.
• Use light as a differentiating element of the product.
CHALLENGES
The main challenge came with the selection of the final prototype. It was necessary to select one prototype that truly represented the project’s concept and that at the same time had the most viable production, since we had to create a final functional prototype.
PHASE 3: SKETCHES
Right after the experiments, we defined our users and environment of use: since we had to design something sophisticated to maintain our luxury-studio image, we chose young adults and Lounge Bars respectively. Then our first ideas had to be sketched. We analyzed and defined certain ground rules:
• Keep at max the 50 cm3 of size, as requested by the teacher.
• A black and white palette for the modern look of the lounge bars.
• As concluded in the 2nd experiment: curvy and organic shapes.
• A non-direct light for a proper mood around the table.
PHASE 2: LIGHT EXPERIMENTATION
Firstly we had to create paper mockups that we brought to the class to interact with them by using our phone’s light and to analyze how the shadows would react to the light.
The second experiment consisted of a light cube (our teacher wanted us to be completely open to experimentation), and the only requirements were that it had to be 50 cm3 of size, and that it had to have light.
My group decided to design 1or 2 faces of the cube each to see what we could come up with individually. I decided to try more curvy and organic shapes whilst my other two partners decided to try a more geometric design. This experiment ended up being key for our project since based on this, we defined the concept we wanted to work on: harmony. The faces of the cube with organic shapes were the ones that caused more impact on the class exposition, so the concept was chosen based on them (this faces emulated shapes of nature like rivers and mountains, and nature creates the most harmonic compositions, hence the concept).
I
PROCESS
PHASE 1: STUDIO BRAND DEFINITION
Firstly we had to define our Studio's brand, its name (LUX studio), and its goals and principles: we defined it as a luxury design studio. Secondly, each group member had to present logo proposals individually, and then we had to select together the one that suited the best our studio’s brand.
USERS & NEEDS
The target users for the project are young adults of medium to high class, that like to frequent lounge bars or any other serene and sophisticated socializing/conversational spaces to enjoy a friend's companionship.
OVERVIEW
Since the general idea for the project was already defined by the teacher, it had to evolve into a more specific scenario in order to give an opportunity of individuality for each different group (formed by 3 students). Each group defined a different scenario, concept, and user for each project. In my case, and alongside my group members Bárbara Herrera and Denise Szternberg, the definition of our project was a cocktail table for lounge bars frequented by young adults, and that reflected the concept of Harmony.
Skip process, jump to final solution →
SOLUTION
Since we were very indecisive, the final prototype was chosen on relevant criteria for the project such as: its aesthetic value, facility of production/assembly, and production costs, but focusing primarily on the facility of production to make the final choice (my proposal and Bárbara’s required a more complex construction so Denise's proposal was the best option for us).
Then the whole group worked together to improve some slight details missing on the chosen model, since it was necessary to still improve certain aspects of materials, composition, maintenance, and assembly so that we could deliver the final polished model.
PHASE 4: INDIVIDUAL PROPOSALS PROTOTYPES
After seeing each other's first sketches we started discussing and working together on selecting one proposal for each member, adjusting and improving each, so that we could next work individually on our own individual physical prototype.
We presented our 3 individual prototypes (which were constructed scaled down by half), evaluated them, and then selected as a group the one that best met our needs. This was made in order to improve the final selected prototype and build it together in a 1:1 scale for the final presentation.
At the same time it was necessary to restrain the light somehow to give a more relaxed and inviting environment on the table’s surroundings, so the materials chosen for the river (milky acrylic) helped diffuse and blur the direct light. On the other side, the black acrylic was chosen to use its reflective surface as a mean of creating visual complexity with not only the reflected light, but also the reflected silhouettes of the objects that could be placed on the surface of the table.
Definition of the group as a Design Studio > Light experimenting > Definition of users, concept and environment > Sketching > Proposals > Testing > Selection > Final design
MY INDIVIDUAL PROPOSAL
For my individual take of the concept I took a graphic representation of the waves of an harmonious sound and used each line to create a different glass layer on the table:
FUNCTIONAL PROTOTYPE
The prototype was fully functional and the lightning could be adjusted with a remote control. Its construction required creating circuit installations, laser cutting and manual finishing touches (sanding for the milky acrylic) and a manual assembly.
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