In action, this is one of the best projects we’ve ever run. It takes so much right-brain thinking to figure out how given components can fit in an enclosure of your own design. There are all these wonderful technical problems that give rise to invention and resourcefulness. Probably nothing is better for a design student than to be given components and have to figure out how to integrate them into an original concept. This course thrives on good stuff like this:

These videos showcase exactly what industrial design is all about. Entertain yourself, but at the same time, if you take industrial design, we are looking for invention. The works featured are all a result of divergent thinking. In industrial design, this behavior is always rewarded.

Some of the tools of the trade that students will have the opportunity to use in this class:

• Hand Saws, Band saws, Table saws, Radial Arm saws, Hand Radial saws, Chop saws, Scroll saws, Jig saws, Hack saws and Coping saws
• Sanding machine
• Drill Press, Hand Drills, Auger Drills, Speed Bores and Plug Cutters
• Jack Planes, Spoke Shaves, Dragon Skin, Rasps and Files
• Wood and Metal Lathes, Mini-Lathes
• Hand Grinders, Grinding Machines, Dental Handpieces
• Brazing, Soldering, Arc Welding, Tack Welding

Invention

Often, solutions in Industrial Design bridge synapses in the frontal cortex. When we talk about learning and insight, some would say that this is the most important part of the brain. There is nothing like watching a student manipulate elements and arrive at an inventive or surprising result. We see this everyday in this class. Some would call it catharsis, when everything just clicks and a new invention is born. In reality, it is true genesis and the salt of all invention. We are always looking for and trying to reward those moments in kids. It is the reason that play is important in a resource-rich environment.

The latest project has an exhibition of houses in front of the ISB Main Library. The project was to give students the chance to design a personal house for 3,000,000 baht on 65 tarang wa of land. In this project, the students had to build a house at a 1:75 scale and used architectural rulers to measure out the material, which is called plaswood, a very expensive material that is used in exhibitions of architecture at most malls in Thailand. Plaswood is a foam sandwich with polystyrene sheet on both sides, uses typical  wood glue but has to be pinned overnight for 24 hours. The units for the models are cut on a table saw, radial arm saw or scroll saw.

Here’s a video of the project, divided into two parts:

A super sound system! The latest project involves fitting modular equipment like speakers, amplifiers and power supplies into a sleek tabletop iPod sound system, operated by a remote control. You can count on China for factory overruns every year. We take advantage of this market by perusing the alleyways of Chinatown looking for street sales on often bargain-priced electronics. Students will supply their own iPod power dock to charge and energize the iPod, regardless of model. On the market presently, brand name sound systems from companies like JBL, Bose, Boston and Sony are selling for 14,000-28,000 baht. Students in Industrial Design will build a sound system for 300 baht that will rival these brands in quality. Students will gain knowledge about electronics and create a cabinet design that accommodates all the components whilst having a commercial, sleek, modern and functional design. These designs will be sent to Apple for scrutiny.

At the moment, students have completed the preliminary design stages and are cutting and measuring the panels that will make up the walls of their sound system.

Here are the products of the design phase and some pictures of students measuring their panels for cutting:

In this class, we’re trying to show you safe work procedures and show you that one moment of inattention can impact your employment future. Nothing says it likes these two clips:

Tags: Industrial Design

Like inventing? If so, these websites are for you:

http://makezine.com/

http://www.instructables.com/

If you find anything interesting, feel free to post them in the comments!

NOTICE: There are instructions for building certain dangerous items. Please exercise good judgment and kids, get parental permissions/supervision.

Tags: Industrial Design, Invention Stimulation

Taken in class on January 21, 2010, these are pictures of the students’ works for their Sound Station Project. Enjoy!

Tags: Student Works