FORM STUDIES

These are a series of four form studies on understanding semantics as well as ergonomics. They consist of a four-board stool, a shoehorn, a knife and scraper, and a vessel for the Aloe Striata.

• TYPE: Product
• CLIENT: Carnegie Mellon University
• DATE: September - December 2010

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This four-board stool was designed from a 10x60 inch board of poplar wood. The boards were limited to the size of the board and could only be cut with right angles. With my stool, I wanted to demonstrate a hierarchal structure that was visually balanced using simple, rectangular shapes in both positive and negative forms. The construction also allows more than 200 lb. of stable support.

The intent of this project was to take an everyday tool and redesign it to balance both form, ergonomics, and functionality. Made of a 2x3x12 block of cherry, this shoehorn was made with only four cuts, and incorporates only fair curves throughout its form. My main focus was to design a shoehorn that was truly ergonomic at the grip and utilize an ideal length for putting shoes on, whether the user was standing or sitting.

Inspired by primitive hand tools, this knife and scraper was designed to allow the user to understand its functionality through the semantics of its form. I designed the tools using simple curves and edges that would guide the user to hold the knife and scraper in a natural and intuitive way . The set of primitive tools are made from ren shape.

This vessel, holding the Aloe Striata, was designed by vacuum-forming styrene over molds from wood. It was designed specifically to enhance the form of the plant by drawing from its characteristics and features in order to create a cohesive relationship between the two. The design is inspired by the long, slender teardrop form as well as its lateral growth pattern. The upwards angle of the vessel communicates the plant's quality of reach and extension