Recycled Toy Project

Photographed Process

The problem presented to the class was to use recycled objects that students have collected over the course of the semester and create a toy out of the materials. I used Dunkin' Donuts' materials to create a toy car that is based off a jeep. I used a picture of a Jeep Wrangler to get the base of the car and then I went from there. Instead of making the roll bars square, I made them triangular to make the car more modern and dynamic. I thought the straws would make an excellent color and texture for the side of the car so i stacked them to created three of the four sides of the jeep. The big challenge that I faced was getting the car to roll. I created an axis inside of a straw that allows it to roll like an actual toy car. All of the labels regarding Dunkin' Donuts comes from a munkin's box from Dunkin' Donuts. I think this car could be used as a decoration at the coffee shop or as a collecter's item. I am really pleased with the outcome of this toy. I had an enjoyable time thinking of toys to create. I picked a car because I used to play with matchbox cars when I was a kid.

Polyhedral Structures

Phase A Photographs

Phase B Photographs

Phase A Approach

When starting to solve the problem in Phrase A,  I played around with the various polyhedrals to experiment and see which shapes would be interesting together. I started to see the image of a beak forming so I headed in the direction of creating a birds mask. I love bright colors and toucans are known for their bright and vivid colors. I researched many different kinds of toucans and picked one with what I thought was the most interesting beak. I had to use atleast three polyhedrals in the mask to solve the problem presented. I used two of the same pentagonal polyhedral for the eyes. The pentagonal shape created an interesting view of the eyes and it allowed me to artistically cut triangles in the center to create pupils for the eyes. For the break, I created a custom-made polyhedral to recreate the curve of the toucans break. To fulfill the problem's requirement of three polyhedrals, I added a tropical fruit polyhedral that is held in the toucan's mouth, between the two beaks. 

In addition to the polyhedral's unity in creating the toucan mask, I also used bright, tropical colors to paint the bristol board and make it look like the photograph I found of the toucan.

Phase B Approach

When starting out Phase B of this project, I experimented with many ideas ranging from goldfish packaging to candy packaging. I settled on a new package design for the candy Starbursts. I wanted to create a package that was festive and full of bright colors like the toucan mask in Phase A. The problem presented in Phase B was to creative a package design contrasting and challanging the idea of a normal rectangular polyhedral. By using Starbursts, I based my idea around the polyhedral shaped like a star. I wanted to challenge how people viewed the candy apart from being the square pieces that they eat. I unwrapped many individual starbursts and cut triangles to match the spikes on the star polyhedral. I limited the colors to warm colors that comes in the original package of Starbursts. I am displeased with the construction of the polyhedral. It was very hard to work with hot glue and the star shape. I do like the final outcome despite the craftsmanship. I would advertise this packaging as a Starburst Party Dish or a Collector's Edition Package.

Serial Planes Phase A & B

Serial Planes Project

Research Images

Serial Planes Phase A

Serial Planes Phase B

In Serial Planes Phase A, the problem presented was to use a book to create a 3-D art form that is a completely different form than the original book. While solving the problem, the book had to be unrecognizable in its new form. In this phase of the project, I was unsure at what to make of the book. I had the book, Jesus for President. Every page was colored differently so I thought it would create an interesting pattern or texture when folding and tearing the pages. I practiced on two books before starting my final. I came up with the idea of creating a hot air balloon out of the book. The colors would play a huge role due to the vibrant colors in real life hot air balloons.
When constructing the balloon, I cut the paper into two parts. The top was 2/3 of the page and the bottom 1/3 of the page. I continuously folded the top to create a circular shape. I rolled the bottom of the book into rolls of ten to fifteen pages to make a circular basket. I then cut stripes pages that fell out in the construction of the project and pasted them onto the rolls of paper to create a weaving feeling.
Similar to Phase A in this project, Phase B, dealt with foam board. I went in the same direction with the content of the project. I used the idea of a hot air balloon with foam board. I cut various sizes of circles to stack for the top of the balloon. For the bottom, I cut rectangles to stack to create the basket.
After finishing Phase B with the foam board, I compared the two projects. I found the book design to be more enjoyable due to the color and intricate ways of folding the paper to create volume. In Phase B, the foam board was harder to cut into perfect circles, which frustrated me. I switched exacto knives towards the end and it made a smoother cut. If I were to do this project over with the foam board, I would use the second exacto knift to make smoother cuts. Overall, I learned how to use serial planes to create volume.

Any but a Box

           Creativity stems from your imagination from solving a design problem. My mother used to call me a perfectionist because of the fact that I would clean a lot and need to have everything organized. As I grew older, I started using my perfection in school projects. I realized I wanted to be a graphic designer in tenth grade when I took a design course at my high school. I love to design because it solves a visual problem and not just a problem on paper like in math.

            In the Anything but a Box Project, the problem presented is that the box needed to disappear visually. In the end product, there was to be no box-like structure left in the design. I started with a regular shoebox. I researched different objects to see what other people created with cardboard. I took into consideration the size, the colors, and the thickness of the box. I made a list of possible objects to make from the box and sketched them out. My first idea was to make a waffle out of the box, but that turned into making an art desk with supplies and a stool.

            The result of the project was pleasing to me, but I wish I would have taken it a step further in adding drawers to help add negative space. I was unclear that the result was to be an object that did not resemble a box, therefore my project does not meet the specified criteria. I also was unaware that I had to document each step of the process. What I learned from this project is that I need to be more prepared in the planning stages of the upcoming projects.  I also need to think through each step of the process before getting started right away.