Why and What Next:

I set out to make the dynamic light cylinder because I wanted to have a project where I could merge my engineering and creative skills. My goal was to make something that could be e. My aesthetic was modern, e-Tron sci-fi and the rainforest. I decided to go for these aesthetics since I wanted an item that could showcase my work in engineering yet feel just at home in a coffee farm in the rainforest of southern Mexico. I want to keep iterating the design concept with different aesthetics and improved software. I learned a lot about the process, and I could definitely make a better one.

Original Intent Compared to Final:

My intent was to create the shell to be a smooth monotone plastic that would like it had been injection moded yet I was unsuccessful at this and it would take artisan skills to do this with over the counter paint and finishes. I am very happy with the results from the bottom turned aluminum cylinder as it has exactly the surface finish I was looking for. On my next design iteration, I want to use wood for the shell since I am experienced working with it and I am confident that I can get good results. I have achieved my design aesthetic, and I have created a project that will remind me of my years in Boulder.

Achieving my Aesthetics:

The three aesthetics I picked can even be contradictory to each other. The rainforest and the Tron film could not be more different worlds. The modern aesthetic was achieved to about 90% as some of the geometry is very simple and centered around ease of manufacturing. The Tron aesthetic was also well achieved at about 95% as the turquoise blue color illuminating the interior is a clear clue of a futuristic sci-fi movie. It is worth mentioning that the turquoise color I programmed the LED’s on is the Pantone color of the year in 2010 and programmed the RGB directory exactly as intended by Pantone. Lastly, the rainforest aesthetic is achieved to a mear 20% I intended the triangle cutouts to mimic a modern version of leaves typically found in tropical places yet this aesthetic is not clear.

Lessons from the Project:

Aesthetics are a very profound characteristic in design and they are difficult to understand yet can make or break a product’s success.

Ask the experts around you before you spend multiple hours googling how to achieve something you are not familiar with as it might only take a few minutes with a professional. This was the case with programming and developing the circuit of my controllers I lost valuable time and my problem was solved almost instantly with staff at the ITLL

Summary:

This project was truly exciting for me and hopefully, this is just the beginning. Learning about design movements and different aesthetics and renowned designers also added a positive note to this project. Thinking critically about the glamorous aspects of design and its aesthetics is something I had never done and will now do it on every project I move forward with.