Group project with Jacob Bowles, Jack Currie, Oscar Reed, Anqi Chen.
Group project with Jacob Bowles, Jack Currie, Oscar Reed, Anqi Chen.
Group project with Jacob Bowles, Jack Currie, Oscar Reed, Anqi Chen.
PATRICK COULSON DESIGN
DELTA
Camping speaker.
FINAL DESIGN
The aim of this project was to create a bluetooth speaker that would fit into a camping context. When developing the design I put an emphasis on the speaker enhancing the camping experience rather than taking away from it. People go camping to feel closer to nature, so it was important to not let the technology drive a wedge in between that.
The key element of the design is the stand, which is created by driving a stick into the ground. There are bolts in the side of the design to allow for a stick to be secured to the underside of it. The stick is planted in the ground to act as a stand, making the speaker a perfect centre-piece to eat, converse, and pitch tents around.
The ritual of searching for the perfect stick, sharpening it, and securing it is inspired by searching for wood for a campfire. Creating the fire is a bonding experience for the campers; they are working together to complete a task which rewards them with light and warmth. The speaker creates a similar sense of accomplishment once it has been assembled to create a spectacle for campers to gather around.
The shape of the speaker is directly influenced by nature. The silhouette is derived from a Norway Spruce tree, and the horizontal slits revealing the central pillar symbolise the trunk of a tree being barely visible through the dense leaves and branches surrounding it. The lighting of the speaker is also influenced by the lighting that would come from a campfire. The positioning of the lights in the design is similar to that of a lantern, where the frame creates shadows on an otherwise uninterrupted light source.
Portability is also a key component of the speakers design. As a camping speaker, it needs to be easy to transport without being a burden. This design achieves that, and because the stand is locally sourced at the camp site it can become as large as you can make it, without affecting its portability.
PROCESS
This project was heavily focussed on the study of form in CAD software. Stage 1 focussed on determining a context for the project, for which I landed on a camping environment for younger people. A big element of this would be a telescopic leg, which would allow for it to extend and be stuck into the ground. This idea was later changed for a design where a stick could be inserted into the speaker and that be stuck into the ground. This was done to preserve room inside the speaker for internal componentry, and also to promote the 'living off the land' value that comes with camping. Once that was determined, I began to model some simple lofted forms and FDM printing them with a shell setting on the printer. This was done to prioritise the demonstration of form, as shell prints only print an outer shell with a thin wall thickness. As these forms began to progress, more detail was added in the forms, and the finishing of the design was considered. Many prints were used to test painting and sanding methods for 3D printed shapes to make them look like a final product.