Process Of The Folddown Desk, Focusing On The Hinges. I Got Some Sapele For The Hinges That Will Contrast

Photos of the development of the lounge space and storage unit ideas. Bottom pictures start with of mockup of the lounge space, then moves to various drawings of the storage/divider units, then a cardboard model of a divider we will commit to plywood.

atlasdesignstudio pgolyski benbasseches ellidesignstudio14 

Divider storage in action.

A mobile divider benbasseches captainwhiskeycadillac bradherz atlasdesignstudio

The conclusion of the great storage assembly. Wheels: on. Doors: on. Realized we needed a more ergonomic way to open the doors: not a problem, got some adorable little knobs. I think its a good little storage space, people are using it already. It has enough heft to feel like a not-easily-moved installation, however, because of the non locking wheels, it will not tip over even if a linebacker leans on it. Oh and there is whiteboard on the back of it as well! The piece fits into out initial design goals, as summarized here by Ben:

Having identified the need for project storage and display in the new Brown Design Workshop (BDW), we set out to design and build a large scale storage unit.  We were given the constraint of only using plywood (in straight cuts with a track-saw) and drywall screws for the primary structure.  

In the process of thinking about improving the BDW space, we felt that a small semi-enclosed lounge area for collaborative brainstorming, sketching, and snack breaks would be incredibly beneficial.  We noticed that a small awkward area around a large structural collumn was not being effectively used, and we had the idea of defining and enclosing a lounge using storage units.  With this goal in mind we came up with dimesions and layouts for the storage units that would allow them to act as partial walls defining the lounge space.  We envision the back side of the storage units being large whiteboards for ideation and sketching in the lounge.

 atlasdesignstudio benbasseches bradherz pgolyski 

Iteration 2: thick "pages" step base which could house electronics, lengthened bay to fit iPhone form factor. Plastic, on/off, and charging discussed as future directions.

After recycle-diving in the scili for some reams: the base for the smartphone opera house, iteration two.

Mega update: after breadboarding up the latch circuit I found it would not toggle with a finger contact due to the high impedance of fingers. So step one was tracking down some 10MΩ resistors to up the impedance of the the whole thing. I decided that to keep the final assembly small I would do a “dead bug” circuit rather than a board. Next, I made some touch contacts out of copper shim—antennae for my bug. The process photos really illustrate the technique’s namesake. My first dead bug circuit came out successful, but it is quite a tedious method. Only recommended if you have a few zen hours to burn. Next, I cut my newly procured Mylar sheet into the appropriate sizes to create the body. Because I had a large sheet I upped the size of the largest cut above 8.5x11, which had always looked a bit anemic. I also glued up my scrap base: a glass sheet (carefully!) extracted from the glass scrap and some scrap plywood from the shelving project. Really I think they came away with a nicely complimentary color palate for being found materials.

Aaron with our main beam, taped but not yet glued up. streetlightchanger

More first iteration of incandescent project.

For the second light project, my group and I went about building a heated cardboard pillow.  We played with scoring cardboard to change its inherent physical properties.

Added some things to the model of final project fold-down table. Though in the proposal I talked about a very stalwart table, the concept of a heavy table and the concept of a table that folds flat for moving are in conflict, so we are going for a lighter, more skeletal look in this iteration. Also added some hardware, in the form of little legs in the front of the sides and hooks for the beam. (Also some sweet and highly convincing wood skins!!)

Quick sworks of a potential group table. Tri, top, and side views. streetlightchanger