MA APD - Term 2, Part 2: Parametric Modelling

Part 2 of the second term, was the course in product analysis and parametric modelling.

For the product analysis and parametric modelling, we were given a (cheap) electric screwdriver, and tasked with coming up with a new design for it, with the branding of our choosing.

Cordless Electric Screwdriver - External

Cordless Electric Screwdriver - Internals


I thought I'd challenge myself and go for an Ikea version, given they do sell some budget, Ikea branded tools, and it fits in the theme of their products and product line, but could maybe be branded better.

Quick Sketch, Branding reference, and Design Direction - trying to determine the styling of an Ikea product proved to be difficult enough to do

Screwdriver 3D Design - Modelled in Solidworks, rendered in Keyshot

Screwdriver parts - (we get funds from the school to print the parts for this project)

Screwdriver Internals - I made a sort of rib-cage support structure to assemble the parts and hold them in place inside the housing

Ikea Family 'Fixa' Screwdriver - Top view of model

Ikea Family 'Fixa' Screwdriver - Front 3/4 view of model

Ikea Family 'Fixa' Screwdriver - Rear 3/4 view of model (my idea was to have it charge in the toolbox casing, just like a cordless home phone charges with 2 contact points in it's base docking station)

Umeå Intermission Part 2: Nordbygg

So for the water tap project we did earlier in the year, FM Mattsson; the main Swedish water tap and fixture maker, decided to exhibit the work of our class at their stand at the Nordbygg exhibition (home interiors, renovation, power tools, etc, mostly for trades workers) in Stockholm.

Given they were exhibiting our work, they felt it would be good to have some students on hand to answer questions for any visitors to the stand.  Me and fellow classmate Dawid took the time to make the trip down to Stockholm (thank you FM Mattsson for a great trip, and putting us up in a really nice hotel!).

-Dawid and me posing in front of our classes work - exhibited in the FM Mattsson stand (I was pretty tired from having not slept the night before, I think it shows)

Umeå Intermission Part 1: Northern Sweden

Hard to believe it's been 4 years and 5 months or so since I started this, and also since I more or less left Canada.

Anyways, so this past week, there was an impulsive last minute road trip on Wednesday to go all the way to Abisko to check out the aurora borealis (northern lights).  Decision made wednesday around 15:30 to go, we hired a car with 5 of us, and were gone by around 18:00.  It's funny how travelling some near 9 hours or so in a car north of Umeå makes this school no longer seem so far north or remote.

Here's the highlights:

-Abisko sky station - on that mountain, supposedly the best aurora on earth, when it's happening, and not overcast (and you pay the fee to go up to the sky station instead of watching it from the base of the mountain)

-Lapporten - Gateway to Lapland, Abisko, Sweden

-Ice on Torneträsk - east of Abisko on along the E10

-Fellow APD1 Stephanie and myself at Torneträsk

-Biting on some glass-like ice - Torneträsk

-Ice pushed up in thick large sheets along the lake edge

-Lapland mountains across the lake

-ICEHOTEL entrance - Jukkasjärvi, Sweden

-Ice and Reindeer (fur) - our road-trip in short (I did have to stop once in the night while driving for the 6 or so reindeer crossing the road, very casually)

-UID impulsive road-trippers - Carlos, Shiy-Yen, Me, Priyanka, Stephanie (l-r)

-Welcome to ICEHOTEL

-Harvested Ice for next season - as explained by our tour guide

-Ice corridor - to the hotel rooms

-THE (original) ICEBAR - Jukkasjärvi

-ICEHOTEL Central hallway - with a chandelier made of ice

-ICEHOTEL central hall - toward the main entrance

-Ice room (or was it one of the 'snow rooms) - either way, one of the 'generic' rooms, that aren't custom done by a signature artist/designer (almost just as nice or nicer then the specialty rooms)

-Ice chandelier

-Lobby entrance ceiling/wall detail - inspired by trees

-Lobby entrance wall detail - with ice benches

-Torne harvested ice - so blue, so beautiful, possibly my new favourite colour

-the beauty of ice

-ICEHOTEL chapel - where a whole lot of weddings happen every season

-Ice Breakers - me, on the thrown of the 'Ice Breakers' dubbed room, done by 2 break dancers from Norway I believe (just realized this is one of the rare occasions I've actually worn my Canadian winter coat, as it's barely been cold enough to bother with)

MA APD - Term 2, Part 1: Sound Design

Part 1 of the second term, was the 'sound design' project.

The sound design project consisted of some mini - 1-2 day projects, followed by one longer project.  All the work was done in groups, and was a fun and interesting introduction into sound design.

For me, one of the highlights was when we were given a video clip of the BMW Gina (fabric covered car), and tasked with coming up with the sound design for the clip.  We did this in a 3 person group, and here were our results:

Made It Count! (Better make it count - part 2)

Through a little self reflecting, flash back to about a year ago, and my big thoughts and hopes for the final year of my 20's; I think it was a good one, and I'd like to think that I did make count!

Movember hi-light - One of my favourite, and most commented on Movember documentation pics, Movember 22nd (looks somewhat remeniscent of that post from one year ago)

Winter - Fixed

After having taken a few too many falls with my bike (see My ride #4) with what are essentially urban summer slicks, my pride took enough damage (as well as one pedal), I thought before I actually break something more important, to get some winter tyres.  Originally I tried them on my Boston, but they didn't fit.  Then I gave them a go on my Koga, and they fit (minus the fenders).

-Winter studs - my new winter tyres giving me newfound confidence

-Winter fixed - my ride, now allowing me to ride around without the fear of taking another spill

MA APD - Term 1, Part 3: The Mining Project

Part 3 of the first term, was 12 weeks long - 'The Mining Project'.

This was a pretty fun and kick-ass project that had us go some 1328m below ground in Renström mine, with New Boliden, a few hours north of Umeå. (I posted the video a classmate made on this a little while ago, as that was quick and easy to post, and interesting too).

The challenge - based on field studies, participatory observations, interviews, creative exercises and additional research, to identify and choose a significant and relevant problem or design opportunity to work with, within the overall theme of this project title (The Mining Project) and People Centred Design. You are then expected to analyse and solve this specific problem or design opportunity with a product 

solution.

Here a quick and brief overview, which will possibly also help me evaluate putting together the final report for this project (yet to be completed), as well as what I may include in my portfolio, which I should also be working on, again, very soon.

-gratuitous close up of brainstorm session results - these all from a brainstorm session I held, coaxing classmates to attend with cookies for ideas

-initial ideation sketch - one of the first (loose and fairly quick) sketches that really started to drive the direction of the project for me

-initial ideation sketch, part 2 - this was a version of the same sketch intended to show how a variant for low mines might look

-concept direction sketch - an evolution of earlier ideas combined in a more defined direction

-'user testing' - or passenger volume evaluation

-concept direction sketch - with a 3D underlay and Photoshop colouring in

-laser cut samples - super intricate levels of detail possible on 3mm thick PMMA

-the laser cutter at work on a full run of parts

-a small snapshot of the model components in progress

-1:20 scale model in progress

-post presentation feedback - all of us presented our projects first, one after the other, and feedback followed in one session after all presentations

-me getting feedback on my presentation, concept, and design - attending were representatives from Atlas Copco (one of the leading companies in the field of mining machines - Swedish based), and New Boliden (the mining company which we visited for our initial research, and one of Atlas Copco's main clients), who were both collaborators on the project, and gave feedback at earlier stages of the project as well

-final model pre presentation - I took that piece of white tape off the day of, but here it's holding the last bit of glueing in place

-Dispatch, Main ATU // Ambulance - Taxi - Utility - my final presentation poster

This project was long and challenging enough, and in the end, we again celebrated by holding a pub.  No pictures of that one to post though unfortunately.

MA APD - Term 1, Part 2: Alias

Part 2 of the term, we learned Alias Automotive.

An interesting program, good at making 'A-Class' surfaces.
Beyond that, it's got a stupid interface, and lacks 'undo' as a function.

The Mining Project

The start of this past week kicked off The Mining Project, our main project for this term, running till the end of the term.  We spent 3 days in Boliden some 2,5 hours north of Umeå, to venture some 1323m below the surface into the Renström mine.
Should be interesting to see what the results of this project bring at the end of the term.