Student Work

Choosing My Aesthetic In my previous post, I dived into the vast and intriguing world of wristwatches and the many possible aesthetics that they could fall into.  Ranging from minimalistic to luxurious to an open-concept skeleton watch.  After much contemplation, brainstorming, and ideation, I have decided to mend the mechanics of timekeeping with the thrill…

Kinetic Wind Sculpture Outside ITLL Building For my upcycling project I took inspiration from the kinetic wind sculpture that hangs outside of the ITLL Building on the CU Boulder campus. For the upcycling project I mostly took inspiration from its overall aesthetic and meaning. For my final project I am planning on creating an artifact…

Introduction In this post, I will describe my plans for creating a wooden mechanical carousel. The purpose of this project is to create a fun and whimsical laser cut puzzle that also aims to be able to move through the use of cranks and gears. My Vision I plan to design and create a mechanical…

INTRODUCTION In this post I will describe my process in creating an Organic Modern aesthetic style mirror inspired by natural and sustainable structures. This project aims to bring a functional furniture element into a space while also acting as an interior design piece blending minimalistic styles, functionality of a mirror, and a dynamic lighting design.…

For my final project I have decided to take the dramatic landscape of the flat iron mountain range as inspiration to create a piece of wall art that will dynamically change to match the outside light that a photoresistor will be detecting. I have chosen this as my final project due to the fact that…

My plan thus far is to focus on redesigning the frame bag imaged below. I want to focus in on the minimalist outdoors aesthetic. I think this current design fits this aesthetic in the simplicity of materials and color. That being said the bag wasn’t very functional for me and I think rebuilding it with…

For my main Aesthetics project I plan on building an Xbox controller steering wheel adapter. The aesthetic I have chosen for this project is the street racing aesthetic.  In my last post, I talked about this aesthetic along with some alternative options, but I will quickly review them here. This street racing aesthetic has a…

Motivation A big aspect of my life is that I love animals, and so does my family. In total, we have three dogs, three cats, and two guinea pigs. While my guinea pigs, Mochi and Boba, are the smallest of the bunch, they are the most expensive to take care of.  Boba (brown) and Mochi…

When exploring my aesthetic for the upcoming project I hit a few roadblocks. However, after exploring the idea of a mind map I was able to determine my desired aesthetic, Brutalism. This certain aesthetic was a major design movement stemming all over the world but especially in Eastern Europe and Russia after World War Two.…

I want to begin by recapping my plan for the final design project. I plan to make at least one snuffle mat for my dogs. I am hoping to use my time wisely so that I can make three snuffle mats. One for each of my two dogs and a smaller one for my cat.…

For my main project I am planning on doing dark minimalist barbell and plates, as well as potentially an adjustable bench. I particularly like the dark minimalist aesthetic for this project because it matches the clothes I wear to the gym and the style resonates with me. I find many gym companies and athletic wear…

Idea: For my project, I imagine creating a multifunctional cooking tool similar to a spatula but with an interchangeable head, allowing users to switch between different attachments, like a spoon. This creative design provides convenience and adaptability in the kitchen, accommodating diverse cooking requirements with a single, versatile utensil. Additionally, drawing inspiration from the protective…

For my project I have considered two aesthetics, the first one is similar to what I discussed in the previous post. This design would be more of a minimal and bauhaus design which would ideally complement the other furniture in my room. My inspiration for this comes from having no space to put a “chilling”…

Growing up my entire life in Colorado, my personal aesthetic greatly mirrors the mountains, especially in the summertime. Since a young age, I have spent countless days in the Colorado mountains. A “second home” of mine is the quaint cabin that my grandparents have lived in. Every April through September, they stay at this cabin.…

Main Project Aesthetic The main aesthetic of the project is a harmonious blend of natural elements and steampunk-inspired machinery, encapsulating the ethos of Victorian futurism. At the heart of this design lies the contrast between the organic forms and textures of the floating nature scene and the intricate mechanical details of the steampunk base. The…

Embarking on a van build project offers a unique opportunity to tailor your mobile living space to your personal style and needs. The couch/bed I will be building for my final project needs to match the overall aesthetic of the van build in order to have cohesion with the other facets of the interior design.…

For my project, I am thinking of creating foot petals that will control the sink. These foot petals will have the ability to increase or decrease the water output, and also control the temperature of the water. This project idea stems from wanting to control the water, even when both hands are already occupied, like…

Without much stylistic guidance while brainstorming this project, it was easy to think of alternative aesthetics. Assuming that I stick to the plan to make a chess board, I have brainstormed 3 variations of how that could be designed. My original idea was just focused of the aesthetic of craft. I took this reborn desire…

For my project, I am planning on making a lamp either for my desk or bedside table. I want it to be something that I can turn on late at night to provide me with light without keeping me awake. This would be done through the use of a smart lightbullb that is able to…

I have decided that I will be making a dual lined stunt kite which I am very excited about. I have been learning lots about kites in my efforts to find a kite shape I like and also a kite sewing pattern that I can follow. Due to the fact that the lightweight ripstop nylon…

The aesthetic that I will be using for my final project is Brutalism through an interior design standpoint. Brutalism utilizes simple block shapes and exposed concrete to portray an intense feel when viewing the buildings. From personal experience I have seen lots of Brutalism in cities like Prague, Berlin, and New York City. I find…

I am planning to create a brutalist desk lamp for my final project. This will involve a concrete casting and at least two adjustable hinges. I want the body of the desk lamp to resemble a brutalist concrete building with no windows. This is a quick sketch of my idea: An alternative to this aesthetic…

My inspiriation pos I had mentioned that I wanted to try and do Free-cell in a offline–gameboy—style. I had started the code in Python before realizing a couple of things: 1. If I want to use arduino, I would have to re-do the code in C/C++. 2.) This is a pretty complicated game for someone…

Project Inspiration Since my last post I have chosen to pivot to a project that is more “artsy”. My previous idea was purely function so I wanted to transition that had some value even if it didn’t function correctly. I choose to pursue a wind sculpture idea following a minimalist aesthetic. An inspiration for this…

Joshua Beijer Main Project Aesthetics: Plans and Alternatives For my project, I will be creating a desk artifact that I hope to take with me into my career. It will have a resin skull inside a resin ball which will be in a wooden gyroscopic orbital stand. Main Project Aesthetic: Memento Mori/Gothic      …

For my main project, I am planning on using a whittling techniques to create an electric guitar. I don’t know what the specific aesthetic is called, although the overall wooden design that I choose may be a factor in deciding. There for, i envision a rustic and earthy vibe to the guitar. Carving intricate nature…

Main Project Aesthetics: Plans and Alternatives My main project idea is a cheese press. The cheese press involves a system that applies pressure to a section of cheese to remove moisture from the curd that is originally placed in a mold. The cheese press allows for the creation of a semi-hard to hard cheese depending…

Project Plan To approach this blog post of brainstorming a wildly different aesthetic and sketching it, I needed to have an idea of what I was going to do for my project.  In this brainstorming phase, I didn’t constrain myself to only thinking about the aesthetic or only thinking about the project idea.  I began…

Main Project Aesthetics – Organic Modern Alternatives AJ Terio ATLS 4279 – Aesthetics in Design 3/5/2024 The Vision: In pursuit of enhancing my living space at home with a multifunctional design, my main project envisions creating a full-sized, organic modern furniture piece. Designed to amalgamate utility with aesthetic pleasure, this piece is destined to house…

For my final project, I am documenting the creation of my custom trials, bicycle frame. I plan on making the bike frame out of steel and having the frame be fairly similar to other frames on the market with some exceptions to the geometry to make it feel bigger for myself, and for it to…

Collecting Materials There are two types of materials I am collecting: tools and consumables. In the realm of tools, I am collecting glass cutters, glass cutting oil, specialized pliers, X-acto knives, and a soldering iron. In terms of consumables, I am collecting tape, used stained glass, cardboard, copper tape, and 1lb of solder. All of…

I am planning on doing a dark-minimalist barbell, plates, and potentially a bench. I plan on fabricating the weights by using a large bucket (similar to what is shown below) as a mold to pour concrete, potentially using rebar or some other inserts to provide additional strength and shatter resistance to the weights. home depot…

When exploring my aesthetic for the upcoming project I hit a few roadblocks. However, after exploring the idea of a mind map I was able to determine my desired aesthetic, Brutalism. This certain aesthetic was a major design movement stemming all over the world but especially in Eastern Europe and Russia after World War Two. …

For the final project, I am not completely set on what I want to do but have brainstormed some exciting potential ideas. The idea that is most appealing to me involves making a Spotify-connected jukebox in the 1960s/70s Space Age aesthetic. To achieve this aesthetic, I plan to purchase an old TV from the time…

For my main project, I want to do something with RGB LEDs. I want to do something similar to RGB LED strips that are commonly found in college dorms. I was initially inspired by the picture below while going to parties at various friends’ houses and I wanted to do something like this for my…

Main Project Plans and Inspiration: Industrial Magnetic Nine Photo Frame By: Michael Gray Growing up, I remember seeing a collage of school photos similar to the one below [1] in the home of a friend. I thought the idea of a collage featuring a centered photo, surrounded by supporting ones was fascinating, and I have…

For myself, I have a lot of difficulty coming up with a single aesthetic that describes me. For clothing, I usually am dressed in athleisure on most days. For art and design, I find myself trending more towards mid-century modern and modern aesthetics. A style of design I have been indoctrinated into via my parents…

This past semester I went on a study abroad to Ireland. If you’ve been to Europe, you know that every town you visit has its own cathedral, and many of them are considered gothic, or gothic revival, style. My idea for the final project is to create an end table in the gothic style. I…

I am having trouble placing a name to my aesthetic but sometimes it feel like I have two, one that is full of bright colors and vibrant patterns, and another that is full of pastel colors and earthy tones. Pop Art is a likely influence for my love of loud colors and patterns, while my love…

For most of this semester so far, I had a single idea in mind for the final project: a telescope. I have long been interested in amateur astronomy, and have wanted to build my own telescope for a few years now; this seemed like a good opportunity to make it and make it stylish. However,…

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/galleries/visions-of-the-future#grid-127451-1 To say my life revolves around space exploration is probably a bit dramatic, but I will say that a huge portion of my favorite things to discuss, think about, and even my career path involve space exploration. To me, it just seems like the natural progression of humanity’s journey: we have catalogued pretty much…

My personal aesthetic depends a lot on context. For example, my favorite art aesthetic is going to be different from my favorite architecture aesthetic, which is different from how I dress or decorate my room. A precise personal aesthetic is hard to define in my personal experience. However, I tend to like aesthetics that were…

I have some trouble articulating what my ‘personal aesthetic’ would be, since my interests bounce around a lot. I do think that I connect a lot with the ideals of the Arts and Crafts movement; I appreciate art with a handmade quality, being able to look at a finished product and get a sense of…

For my final project, I hope to embody the modernist and minimalist aesthetic into my artifact to hopefully make something that is eye-catching in its simplicity and effectiveness. I am still in the brainstorming phase of what artifact I specifically want to make because I find chairs extremely thought-provoking and an amazing showcase of engineering…

Main Project My main project is going to be an artistic covering that goes over a loft door in my parent’s new bedroom. Unfortunately, my parents lost their home in the Marshall fire two years ago and have had to rebuild their home. Their new home is almost ready to move into, and it could…

Visualization of minimalism from WikiHow I would describe my personal aesthetic as minimalism. I think that my plan to make an artifact following a utilitarian aesthetic is closely aligned with my personal minimalist aesthetic. StackShot Macro Rail For my final project I plan to create a macro rail system for my camera. Since I would…

After lots of ideation and brainstorming, I have decided to create an interior design and functional piece for my final project. I found that I don’t have much decor that is also functional at the same time. I would like to make an abstract mirror that serves as a piece of decor but also a…

Moving away from the whimsy and fantasy filled nature of my upcycling project, I decided to take inspiration not from my heart but my head this time around. I decided to draw upon my heritage as a Greek first generation immigrant. I grew up in both America and Greece, exposing me to generations past and…

Drawing Inspiration from Kyle’s Kinetics: Crafting My Own Kinetic Sculpture Nick Olguin Kyle Auga owner of Kyle’s Kinetics In the realm of kinetic sculpture, where metal meets motion, lies a world of endless creativity and boundless inspiration. As an avid admirer of Kyle Auga’s mesmerizing balancing sculptures, I find myself captivated by the fluidity and…

For my main project I plan on building an xbox controller steering wheel adapter. I got the idea last semester when I was playing a modded version of GTA that allowed you to adjust settings and drift cars. The game was fun, but I thought I could make it feel more like a drifting simulator…

I know, I know what you’re probably thinking: This guy is doing a van build and getting school credit; really creative. But! Let me tell you, this is not going to be like other van builds; this bed/couch will be unique, innovative, aesthetically strong, and one of a kind! Read on, and I guarantee by…

I am drawn to Brutalist design for its distinctive and unapologetic expression of raw materials and bold, practical forms. Starting in the mid-20th century, Brutalism began as a reaction to the modernist ideals of the time, emphasizing honesty in construction and functionality [1]. The movement is characterized by the prominent use of exposed concrete, steel,…

  Project Background Project Change If you recall from my previous posts, I originally intended to create a hangboard following a patchwork aesthetic. Unfortunately, however, the method of fabrication I intended did not align with the materials I selected. In order to create a “chessboard style” appearance, it is generally required to begin with two…

My Motivation  My inspiration for making an industrial-style bar cart initially came from my love for the urban look. Why I chose an industrial style came from me looking around at house designs and coming to the conclusion that it was one of my favorite aesthetics. The industrial theme was also chosen for its raw…

I really enjoy both the visual and tactile elements of old computer terminals from the 1970s and 1980s. While the technology that we interact with now has digital representations of buttons, switches, and knobs, there is something that is enjoyable about the tactile feel and sound of physical buttons from early computers. When brainstorming what…

As someone who has a growing record collection, I have been getting increasingly into music from the ’70s. I have always enjoyed music from this time period but hearing original pressed records through my record player has only boosted my appreciation. Artists like the Doors, Fleetwood Mac, Jefferson Airplane, Three Dog Night, and David Bowie…

To recap: for my project I wanted to build a model embodying the steampunk aesthetic, specifically drawing from the works of Japanese animator/filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. Steampunk media in general is characterized by a retrofuturistic design philosophy that draws primarily from the Victorian era of steam-powered machinery. Steampunk works often incorporate elements of science fiction and…

  My Upcyle project goal was to create a sign from aluminum cans, inspired by the Googie architectural style during the Atomic age. The main aspects I chose to focus on were themes of space, and the “starburst” design feature. Googie is a term that I had not encountered before this project. It refers to…

Throughout the design and manufacturing process of my upcycle project, I was inspired by the Scandinavian aesthetic. I have always enjoyed the minimalist style and the use of natural materials that are often found in Scandinavian designs. Despite knowing that I wanted to emulate the Scandinavian style, I was unsure of what object to create.…