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Over the past few weeks a lot (in fact all the work going towards my project) has been detailed in terms of the design and the plan. The screen, computer and battery have been the main problem as their dimensions and features (e.g. wires) have been critical to the design.

Some bench testing has been carried out with the technicals: testing the power input and the size of suitable batteries, although it seems that including a battery in the product won’t be much more beneficial than having a power cable trailing out of the bottom. This will also help the aesthetics.

For the start of production, this is one of the CAD designs concerning the main body of the unit (aluminium frame, front face mould and back face mould). Next up is the CAD design of the base cover and the ‘art deco’ pattern inlay process.

The detailed designing has been progressing, especially everything to do with the dimensions of the technical components.

Most recently all I have been doing is prototyping and testing different  ideas, looking for the best solutions to work with. Problems have been coming up like;

- portability factors (the unit needs to be collapsible (into three different sections) in order to make it portable enough)

- inlaying methods (the curving body makes it difficult to inlay patterns into the surface)

 - the angle factor, which fully relates to the stability of the unit, (the further forward the screen from the base the more unstable it is) and so on.

All of these kinds of problems directly affect the aesthetics of the unit which is essential to get right. 

I have come up with a number of different designs and concepts using as much Art Deco influence as possible. Some of the automobile and slightly futuristic styles in the movement interest me most, for example the gentle curves, pristine surface finishes and minimalist shapes. I’m also considering some sort of 'wood inlaying' techniques which were a symbolic feature within the movement.

As well as the exam board brief as a main guideline, I was offered the opportunity to work with the school’s External Relations department, which gave me an additional brief to design and make an interactive presentation unit. A lot more straight forward than the Art Deco brief, this stands out as fundamental so within this some sign of Art Deco has to be seen.

Recently the touch screen and (internal) PC (two main components) turned up, which means I can get on with a lot of the detailed designing. Also on Wednesday one of my proposals got the go ahead, so from now I can get prototyping and deal with the problem solving.

Tuesday (8th September) marked the official start of our design projects, as we had our first lesson in which we were given our briefs, in fact a selection of briefs, one of which we had to choose and stick with. A brief usually begins by giving a subject matter that we have to look into in terms of study and research before telling us the design and making of a related product which must follow.

I have now been part of Bedales for a year having joined at the start of 6i. I came out from Kenya where I live with my family and studied up to IGCSE level. I decided I needed something different to Kenyan life and felt coming abroad would be much of an advantage. And then I discovered this school and realized what it was like due to my visit at an open day. I came to discover the great departments, staff etc, especially Art and Design which are my main interests. Thus I eagerly applied, and here I am, in 6ii doing Design, Art and Economics.

I have always been into Art and Design and I’m pretty sure I’ll pursue Architecture so Design does seem to be highest on my work schedule. Getting back to briefs, I have picked one out which (basically) states: “Carry out a detailed study/investigation on the popular movement Art Deco before designing and making a product of this style”. Personally I think this can be a quite broad subject in terms of style, so in other words, I don’t feel I’ll be too limited aesthetically; there is lots of research that can be done. So I think I’ll go for this.