Alex Critchell - product design component 1

Component 1

By Alex Critchell

Design Brief Currently there are many similar designs of desks and desk organisers. Today office jobs are increasing which increases the d emand for cheap, boring desk and desk organisers which are often inefficient. The local Architect firm asked to create an efficient desk with organisers to help architects work more professionally. The client wants at minimum; A desk which fits into the surrounding environment, space for a computer, headphones, drawings, models, an adjustable drawing system and a variety of suitable desk organisers. The client doesn’t want draws.

Since my client is an architect the problems I need to solve are: • Saving space for drawings, models, writing and computer • Aesthetically pleasing to suit the surrounding environment • Follow the theme of organic and the practical theme of movement and flow • Needs to be made from sustainable material • Low cost

Sustainable

Materials

Product Specification ➢

Aesthetics - It must be organic and use the theme of movement and flow, therefore the design must looked calming and relaxing. The colours of the desk and organisers must complement with each other.

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Materials – the material that I will work with must withstand heavy objects (computers ect..) so it must be durable and tough, and also be sustainable and easily manipulated into designs.

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Cost – My product will be low cost and made from cost effective materials.

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Safety – no sharp edges or wobbly parts. Having smooth edges will also allow the following the theme of the design.

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Features – Room for computers and PC equipment (mouse and keyboard ect..), needs organisers for efficient and neat working space, adjustable height system, big space for drawings and paper work – I will try and fit 3 normal textbook worth spaces (280 X 210) and access from under desk to table top. Implemented light?

Primary Photo Mood Boards

Movement and Flow and Organic – Simple sketch examples The theme that I am using for this design is movement and flow, I want to use this theme because it creates a relaxing atmosphere which allows the client to focus more. Some examples of expressing movement and flow are implementing designs of waves, splashes, organic and plant shapes. I am going to explore some movement and flow themes through drawings that replicate these examples: These drawings are a range of simple sketches that show movement and flow very well.

I like the drawings of the ripples and waves because it shows different ways things can move. The oscillation (back and forth movement) of the waves could be a good starting point in my design

Movement and Flow and Organic – Design concepts from simple sketches Here I did some analysis of the water and ripples and tried to make bigger concepts. I have also annotated what I liked about the designs and also what it could represent. All of these designs have a feature of flow and movement, these will also provide me with directions I could take to improve and develop these designs.

Secondary Research – Different types of organisers

From researching different types of organisers, it has showed me what is similar and different from most products.

Such as, most of these organisers are rectangular and only have squared organisers. From this, I should not make my organiser square or rectangular to keep my product different and unique.

Researching these organisers made me decide that I could make an organiser that fits into other organisers or, organisers that have many types of organisers that fit into a shape.

This primary research shows an adjustable desk. The adjustable mechanism works by an electrical motor that spins a metal pole located under the table top. This then

Primary Research – Electrical adjustable desk

Secondary Research – Different ways to adjust height of drafting table These drawings dhow different hand positioning when using the adjustable height. There are various ways of controlling the 3 armed knob. This is an easy to use and cheap way of adjusting heights of drafting table. A similar design could be introduced to my design.

Made from thick solid wood which makes it exceptionally sturdy table for heavy office products.

BACK ELEVATION

This drafting desk has a unique way of lifting the table top. It is done by two heavy poles which holds the weight of the top. It is elevated by the 3 armed knob which slides the pole upwards or downwards.

I started to do research on this desk design, firstly the dimensions of this desk are perfect: - Desk Dimension: 1000mm W X 750mm D X 850mm- 1150mm H The advantages of this desk is the good quality oak finish, 90 degrees tilt orientation, has a 600mm pencil ledge. This allows paper, pencils, pens and other little equipment to be placed on it.

The disadvantage of this desk is the drafting table not having any storage space. So when buying this desk you will need drawers for the art supplies.

I love the unique way of adjusting the table top, which I could include in my design. I am going to research more ways of adjusting the table top. These drawings show the table top at the different points in the adjustment wheel.

https://www.yankodesign.com/2021/02/28/this-adjustabledesk-with-four-different-forms-was-constructed-for-designersto-draw-easily/

https://www.yankodesign.com/2021/05/03/this-home-officedesk-comes-with-hidden-storage-systems-to-keep-your-desksetup-organized/

https://www.yankodesign.c om/2021/05/26/thisorganized-desk-design-withhidden-details-will-give-youmajor-japandi-feels/

The different view points of the apple allowed me to create forms from the general shape of an apple. I made them into models. I found that curves and semi circular shapes are prominent in my models.

I wanted to make a desk leg design that curved and morphs in weird directions. I experimented with apple skin as it falls unevenly and has a very organic structure.

I also wanted to use a strip of material and curve it into a shape that looks organic. So I used Veneer thin wood which is a thin bark like wood which can morph and bend. I liked this material as it began to form new ideas with curves.

Desk Model

Secondary Research - Adjustable Drafting table This drafting table can be adjusted by lifting the wooden stays, this then allows the you to adjust the table top to any height as long as there is a stopper available.

I drew more technical drawings of things I have to consider in my design. For instance the spacing joint is needed in order to have a flat table top. The spacing joint also provides as a stability feature when laying flat. Maybe a development I could add is rubber on the top of the joint for a cleaner and better finish.

DEVELOPMENT OF MY DRAFTING TABLE DESIGN

Developing my design by using different shaped desk tops allowed me to realise that my product can be suitable for different shaped desk tops

Technical drawings of development

Folding desk organiser design – Cube concept

My research of existing small desk organisers are mostly cube shaped. I decided to make the net of the cube which inspired me to have the net as a design.

This has worked well to meet the criteria of my brief. I now need to develop this idea to fit my theme of organic design. I liked the cardboard pivot that I made. It is a simple and effective way to fold my model.

Portable desk orgaisers research includes ways of transporting the organiser. I waned to experiment and research

Make a portable desk organiser

Net like organisers that fold

Drafting table info You can tilt the table to your desired angle, the angle that provides you natural movement with hand and pencils.

Tilted table gives you right angle view to the drawing, and that means that you will avoid distortion on your drawings. Tilted table gives you right angle - light view to the drawing, and that means that you will avoid distortion on your drawings. and with drafting table is much easier to have drawing proportions under control. The best angle for drawing on a drawing table or easel is 90 degrees, which would be parallel with your point of view. But this is only in theory, in practice artists set their drafting tables between 45 and 20 degrees.