Assignment!
For the task I'm going to design and manufacture a prototype USB memory stick that is to publicise a USB memory stick project used as an introductory task for the F1 in Schools programme.
I personally think that it links very well with the F1 in schools programme as this programme essentially fits the context of my assignment but also essentially uses CAD/CAM, CreoPro, Corel Draw and the associated manufacturing techniques....laser cutting, CNC machining, rapid pro etc.
My idea is:
For a school that employs the F1 in schools programme, one of the first tasks that teachers do with their students is 'the USB memory stick project'. It's a great introduction to using CAD/CAM. It's simple and fairly easy BUT crucially has an end product that the students can use for future project work, such as when they design 'their' vehicles, they can then store their files on their own USB stick!
In a way, it's my attempt of trying to incorporate this assignment into an existing School project that really brings as much valuable learning as possible.
ALSO!!!!!!
Because this assignment is so heavily reliant on using 'technology' (which is great!) I'm going to attempt to do the project using over 90% technology! This is how I intend to achieve this....
Research, word documents and all sketch work done using the iPad!! I've downloaded the appropriate programmes to do this! AND...I'll use camscanner on my iPhone instead of using a traditional 'scanner'.
You might be wondering why I'm doing this....it's definitely not to show off! I'm not that kinda guy! I'm doing it because I genuinely believe that within 5-10 years every child in this country will be using an iPad or similar 'tablet' on a daily basis. I think this due to the versatility of such devices and so I want to see if I can really produce some quality work using 'technology'.
I'm really interested to see how successful this will really be (bloody better be! This is for my degree!!!!) so I will be posting regular updates on how I'm getting on! :)
The apps I've been using the most at the mo have been 'pages' to create word docs and Sketchbook to do my sketching of ideas.
Obviously safari is my browser for research etc
Hopefully though I'll find some new great apps that I can use in this project :)
DESIGN IDEAS.......
After spending ageeeessss looking at images and sites to get design inspiration I came up with a design; albeit in a very strange circumstance!
A friend was in uni and we met up in the early evening...we decided to go to the pub (naturally) and we got chatting about each others work and at that very moment i got an idea! So i grabbed a napkin, and my trusty pen and sketched it out and we discussed it some more.
The idea to me was absolutely brilliant, orignal and unique and because it had come naturally i wanted to run with it BUT i took a step back and began to think broader! Here is the ideas....
I've rendered this picture up.....
I was going to run with this idea....given our time constraints within this project that would have been the easy thing to do, but i pushed a little more and took my designs further....
I went into uni the next day and sat down (listened to radio one and stared out of the window....then chatted to some people that walked in and then grabbed a brew) for about two hours! Then i decided to really get down to some work and i started to draw! The two hours WAS prep for the sketching!! :) honest........
the sketches run from left to right....top level and then the bottom.
The first sketch was an original idea that i had and decided not to run with it as it was too simple, although i did like that it was elegant...but for me it did not involve enough processes. The logo was to be sunk into the acrylic body and filled with silicone.
The second design is a refinement on the idea that i had in the pub!! I do like the look of it and i think that it would have been absolutely stunning as a completed prototype but i just was not happy with it. I needed to push forward (as i've said before!) But for me it didnt promote the F1 in schools programme enough.
The third design was, to be fair, a bit of a lost design...i didn't know what angle to go with and so i ended up with a lazy design....it was easy and quick for me to do BUT it did give me a starting poijnt for pushing the F1 in schools theme that i wanted to carry forward. I'm glad that I did this design. It made me take a step back and actually think of the direction I was wanting to go in.
The fourth design was by accident really....I looked at the F1 in schools website and just liked the simplicity of the logo but also how it clearly shows exactly what its linked too!! From my point of view, using the logo was vital in promoting the whole idea that I am getting across.
The fifth design was an evolution of the fourth...The acrylic is frosted, so that the led shines throughout the memory stick and the F1 is kept within the design. I really liked this design, it's elegant and simple and i thought it would look really good but then I had an idea that pushed my final design...
I had a thought of an F1 logo with the usb going straight through the centre...sounds simple but it made me wonder how it was going to work...so i sketched it out to visualise how it would work AND i actually really liked the design....I feel that its bold, elegant, simple and visually good looking and clear - all the things i feel are important in a school project.
I then set about to model this final design idea...as i needed to get a feel of what the product may look like in real terms...
I realise its not the best looking model in the world but it gave me a chance to get an idea of the scale of the USB stick which then allowed me to think of the materials to employ to ensure that I made a lightweight usb stick.
Once I was happy with my final design and i had modelled it, i then set about to create the model in CreoElements...
Once I had got my finished 'parts' i then created a drawing of the acrylic body for me to import into Corel Draw and then process the laser cutting...
I only did one drawing as I found it much more easier to copy the design and ammend it in Corel Draw. Plus it allowed me to further develop my Corel Draw practice.
