Makerspace Showcase: Developing Ideas

Design Specifications

• Made out of newspaper stixx
• Support: Can support at least 60 kg
• Durability: Used sometimes (30 mins each time 3 times a week) for at least 4 months
• Rock-able chair
• Comfortable
• Covered by cardboard for better look
• Maximum: 140(cm) long, 80(cm) wide, 90(cm) tall

Design Ideas:

Chair (1)

The diagrams show the main measurements and the 3D model gives a sense of what it looks like with the stixx as lines. This is for my original net-chair design, and I could go to the model in sketch-up and look at the measurements if I need to. It does have a lot of newspaper stixx, but it is the only way this kind of shape of "the purpose of the design" can sustain up to 60 kg. It is only the time to worry, I am sure there is enough newspaper for this in the staff's room.

Pro's: Original, strong structure with the intersections and triangles, interesting

Con's: Lots of newspaper (waste), time-consuming, very challenging, The cloth and the tying of cloth has to be very strong, and I need a large cloth

Chair (2)

The other chair is based on the one I found on the Internet. This one has 2 sides which are trapeziums but with round bottoms. Between the sides are 2 boards formed by newspapers. one is for sitting on, and one is for lying on (for the back). I will add a round bottom or a back to it for stability.

Pro's: It is more comfortable because it sits like an actual chair; It is not that long so it is space efficient; It might be a little more normal design (Pro & Con)

Con's: Still lots of newspaper; The board made from newspaper in between might be hard to support - The two sides can bend easily

Chair (3)

This is a more relaxing chair where you can actually lie down. Or it can also be for sitting on sideways. It might be able to support 2 kids on each side too. The con is that the shape on the top doesn't give many flexibility for how to place the sticks, so I would go with how it looks like in the picture, which is going to require many stick making and cutting.

Pro's: There are multiple ways to sit on it, less high so it's easy to get on and off.

Con's: Not much compared to the other ones

Chosen Design:

I chose Design (3).

1. It is because it seems to be the most stable, and would be the safest path. It is already quite a risk to choose to make a big, rock-able, chair out of newspaper stixx, and I think now I better choose a safer path. The reason this seems to be more stable is that it is long, but short (in height). So the overall pressure is more spread out. And in case it breaks, someone won't fall on their back so heavily because he/she is low.
2. It is because there are multiple way of sitting on it, and it seems easier to get on and off, and even children can climb up and down. I think that makes it more useful, meaningful, and interesting.
3. It is because it is shorter and a bit smaller, so it would be easier to carry around and would take up less space at home.
4. It is because this one seems to have a lot of newspaper stixx, but a lot of them are very short, so I believe and can cut a full-length stick apart and use it as two sticks. So it uses less resources and time.

And I didn't pick the other ones - even (1) seems to be more unique and "interesting" and (2) seems to sit more comfortably, and can use as a proper chair while working - exactly because of the opposite reasons why I picked (3).

List of Materials:

• Newspaper-stixx machine/roller - To roll the newspaper stixx to build the chair out of
• Newspapers - To be rolled out of
• Glue - So the newspaper will stick together and also for providing hardness to the stick
• Container - For glue
• Saw - For cutting newspaper stixx to the precise length, also so that I use more than once while only rolling once
• Plastic "strands": For tying the newspaper stixx together

Other Materials:

• Water - to mix with the glue
• Cloth - For wiping the glue off and cleaning the rolling machine afterwards
• Brush - to put the glue on

 Drawing, Description, Measurements:

I group some measurements together keeping them close to or under 50 cm. The purpose of gourping them together is so that I don't have to crank as many stixx as I need, I can use a saw to easily cut them instead as the are paper. This will save time, paper and glue.

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22

Makerspace Showcase: Inquiring & Analysing

Makerspace Showcase: Inquiring & Analysing

i) Explains and justifies the need for a solution to a problem

The purpose of this project is to develop a new skill of using the equipments in the design classroom - Which will be demonstrated in a short, 2-minute video that's going to be used to teach others' how to use the equipments.

ii) Constructs a research plan, which states and prioritizes the primary and secondary research needed to develop a solution to the problem independently

I am going to go through the list of materials and tools we have in our design class. And then, come down to a 3-4 projects mainly by considering the number of skills used, the interest, the amount of challenge, and the need. Afterwards, I will have a look on Instructables, youtube, and some google images on what other designs there are that I can learn from or take inspiration from.

iii) Analyses a group of similar products that inspire a solution to the problem

"Lie Down Reading Frame"

As I found out the I and some people like to read lying down, but it gets tiring when you hold the book up, and frustrating with the pages, but it would be harmful to hold it close. And this is a solution to it. It is a wooden frame structure that has a thin plastic book wrapper on top which allow the book on top to be viewable with its transparency. I actually had something like this as my project for my Makerspace ECA last year, which was the time I was still not yet familiar with woodworking. It was very fragile and I just tear it apart at last as it wasn’t going to work anymore (& for fun). I am planning to remake it with a side which would become a thin desk surface. I will also be adding more parts to support the structure in the desk angle and reading angle. I would also add a part on both sides like a thin shelf displaying inward. Kind of like in the image. However, I decided I would move the back shelf to the front of the other side in order for balance. I had some measurements from last year. More details when chosen.

Pro’s & Con’s

Pro's: Has a need, have an interest, a new idea

Con's: Not much skills required (only cutting thin wood and nailing and gluing and normal stapling), maybe sometime for a personal project because it is done before.

Bicycle Object Holders

For this one I am planning to make bicycle bottle-holders, and a smartphone-mount. I will use polymorph plastic to mold it into shape for the mounting part. I might use cardboard or probably polymorph too for the phone case. I might sew cloth to cover the polymorph to decorate and add colour. I would be useful and it can personalize my bike.

I got my idea from:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Ipod-Touch-bicycle-mount/

Pro’s & Con’s

Pro's: Useful, new skill of polymorph, can have a range of designs to consider, personalising my bike, some need

Con's: Not “a lot” of skills and is quite easy, Not a very big interest

Board-game

I have made boardgames before and have a couple of ideas. I might improve on one or develop one. I would use 1) 3D printing (for figures), 2) Polymorph & 3) 3D pen for other pieces. I might paint or I can try use embroidery to add lines and colours and everything to form the board part of the game.

Pro’s & Con’s

Pro's: A bunch of new skills which would be useful and are challenging, big interest in making an interesting game, can gain ideas from peers

Con's: Long and complicated, Idea might be quite personal, not very clear idea

Rocking Chair

It is a little weird… I got the idea when I noticed a schoolmate sitting in between those two “columns / sticks” on the back and in the middle of the net. So I thought I might be interesting to make a chair based on that idea. It will be made using newspaper stixx, which is a skill to learn. It is basically a slanted, straight part with a tight cloth tightened to the newspaper stixx frame. Beneath that is basically a right triangle. But I have thought of taking out the angle part and make it round, that way, it is rockable. If I have remaining tme, I might learn how to sew patterns onto the piece of cloth and maybe stitch a pillow there for comfort. Cardboard will be simply laid over the newspaper stixx for better look. I will not be very big in order for the project to be achievable, for transporting, and for the space at home.

However, I would also be considering other rocking chair designs like the ones below

Pro’s & Con’s

Pro's: Interesting, inspiring, big interest, some need, challenging, (original, unique)

Con's: Not a lot of skills, though sewing would be a very new and hard experience but fun (I think), not a big need, not much space at home, time-consuming but possible

iv) Develops a design brief, which presents the analysis of relevant research.

What

I am going to make a chair with a capacity of 1 person and the width to carry 1 person. From the side, it looks like a right triangle with a big round corner. On the hypotenuse side there will be a big piece of cloth that is tightened to the side covering the whole surface which is for people to lie on. The main skill and medium I will be learning and using is newspaper stixx. And cardboard would probably be laid on top of the structure to make it look better and higher quality.

Why

I chose this idea because it is a new idea and original design. I am very interested in making the structure and make it functional. I also really look forward to seeing how the result would turn out. I also want to try making "furniture type" things, like last year's 3D project, but I never had the time, thus the chance, to make it with cardboard. This chair isn't necessary but it would have a use, which is for sitting, instead of just decoration. It will be challenging but I think it is a possible project. Newspaper stixx is an interesting and new skill which will not be very easy. I might also learn sewing if I have time, so, another skill.

Who

I am making it for myself and for my interest. But, of course, I hope for it to be strong enough so that my family gets to try it. I can have other people to try it too. At April, when the renting is done, I will perhaps put it in one of the classes, or rooms at school, not just for display, but maybe for everyone because then it will probably tear down very quickly.

How

I am going to use newspaper stixx... Questions:

1. How to use the newspaper stixx machine?
2. How to stitch / sew?
3. How to make a strong structure that can support a person?
4. What decorations and designs to put on the cardboard?
5. How to you tie or glue the stixx together?
6. What tools will I use to tighten the cloth to the sides?

Resources & Answers

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhxbTI80MMg: This one basically teaches you how you fold the newspaper, roll it, glue it, and use the newspaper stixx machine properly.
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhVQi5PZY-8 : This one provides some idea of how an intersection point can make a structure much stronger.
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMqK-fNrCrM / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2mfJweh8a0: These two teaches in detail how to stitch and sew, including how to tie the thread to the needle.
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEzQwG6JwcA: This one teaches how to tie two stixx together or in an angle.

Other Ideas I have considered:

http://www.instructables.com/id/3-in1-table/
This is a good idea, but woodworking was full before I decided anything yet. Also, I like an original design more, and I think I have worked with wood before. There is also no need for this (perhaps it can go with the CHAIR when I'm done. Just not very interested.

P.E. Invasion Sports Unit - SIS: Nesketball

Nesketball

In this unit, we are doing invasion sports and a big part of this unit is "Student Invented Sports" (SIS). SIS is basically sports that students create based on elements of different original sports: Rules, main idea, required characteristics, equipments, courts...

My partners were assigned as Aanya, Jesslyn, and Umair. Out game is called Nesketball, which you can probably guess, is a combination of Netball and Basketball.

Place: Netball court
Requirements of place: flat surface, has netball net, close to the dimensions of a netball court, more ideal with the lines
Equipments: Basketball (& Netball nets)

Rules:

1. Modification: A netball court is divided into three parts (vertically) with lines. On the two ends, your passings follow the rules of netball: no moving, keeping distance, no dribbling. But when you come to the middle, you can snatch, dribble...
2. You score the basketball into the netball net in order to get a score.
3. The standard way of ending the game is like netball: The game ends at 40 mins, and there is a break at 20 mins where the time is paused.
4. Outs: Same as netball, even in the centre part.
5. The positions are the ones of netball, and you cannot go out of the zones.

Complications:
There isn't much to worry about except people might get confused, especially when the basketball is being passed from a zone to another zone.

How did it go:
It went pretty well. Not much to mention.

Achieving my Goal

Goal? Not achieved.

I have kind of forgotten my goal. I found it quite hard to follow it because sometimes I don't bother to do homework and I have them piled up. I also have other exercises which then I have to finish. I came up with the idea of making a schedule. I believe it would help me with the previous goals.

French - Reflection. Sem 1

French - Reflection. Sem 1

I find myself in this position because I think I am keeping up with my work fine and I feel steady at this stage. I think I will be able to help and explain to some of my classmates sometimes. I think my writing is better than before - my vocabulary list has grown longer, and I have learnt more grammar uses and remembered how to use and compose them. Listening should be improved, and I should have a little more confidence in speaking. However, I do not feel very stressed or falling back.

Film-Français

Film-Français