What I did
Role:
Industrial DesignerDate:
January 2019Location:
Carnegie Mellon UniversityAdditional Help for Final Photos:
Photography - Satyan Chawla
Photoshop - Brian Xiao
I experimented with different forms and techniques for understanding materials.
Here, I used the real deer antler as a method for understanding the difference between objects that are natural and man-made. I took a beautiful object that the deer shed and left behind and replaced it with a more manufactured object. It is not better in terms of beauty, but equal.
By shaping this antler by hand, I was able to understand how the form of an object speaks to how people interact with it. The level of craft required for a clean surface finish took hours, but I gained insight into understanding that some things are worth the time to make it beautiful.
Study the Form
First, I studied the form, noting the curves and natural angles in the antler. By placing the antler in various orientations, I was able to understand the shapes the antler was able to make and the distinct features within it.
Ideate - Generate Ideas
I sketched three main ideas that I found intriguing as well as entertained the idea of changing the surface texture. The main goal was to make this antler seem more manufactured without losing the shape of the antler.
Hidden Imperfection Concept
Sharp Concept
Nature’s Beauty - Smooth and Round Concept
Textures
Chosen Concept
Shaping the Antler
Use tools such as the demel and air grinder to initially sand the outer surface of the antler and form the general desired shape. I experimented with doing an undercut and realized that it was not the correct look.
Block
The second element of this study was to add a wooden block to interact with the antler. The block’s colors were inspired by an endangered animal. I chose the I’iwi bird native to the Hawaiian Islands. The block was then wrapped in thread.
