Motivation

The main reason I had for choosing to make a Shi-Shi Odoshi is because I enjoy the simplistic design as well the rhythmic sounds that it creates. I found it fascinating how something so simple can actually be extraordinarily difficult to properly construct. Also, I have a lot childhood memories with these intricate water fountains because my mom is a big fan of them. As a kid, I always wanted to make one for her as a gift and now hopefully I can give her the one made here.

Reflection on the Semester

This semester has been a very fun and great learning experience. As an engineer, much of our focus is used on designing the technical aspect of a project to ensure functionality and efficiency. However, this class allowed me to broaden my perspective and instead look at how the aesthetics of a product is also extremely valuable. I learned about how aesthetics came to be and the long line of history that follows specific designs. I also learned about the production process and how the Magic Factor of 7 should always be taken into account.

Original Intent vs Final Product

The largest discrepancy between my original intent and my final product is the absence of a water source. My original plan was to create a water reservoir using black acrylic and a water pump to continuously fill my Shi-Shi Odoshi and have it drain back into the reservoir to continue the cycle. Unfortunately, during the construction process of my water fountain, I ended up putting too much force on the acrylic when I was drilling the hole for the water pump and cracked it. The small fracture ended up causing a significant amount of water leakage so I ended up ditching the water reservoir completely and used a sink as a water source.

Aesthetic

The aesthetic that I was going for was a metallic and minimalist Shi-Shi Odoshi. I think that for the most part I was able to achieve this look. The black metallic paint allowed for a glossy finish that really created a metallic visual to the fountain. Also, because the fountain was made out of simple materials such as wood and PVC the overall structure had a minimalistic look.

Things that were learned

• Although strong in most applications, acrylic can crack fairly easy when trying to drill through it.
• Wood may be cheap and versatile, but with a project that deals with so much water it will often warp and bend in undesired directions when it dries.
• A trial and error step is extremely important during the construction phase because with something as intricate as a Shi-Shi Odoshi many issues may occur unexpectedly so it is good to schedule in time for failure.

Future Improvements

• Buy new, thicker acrylic to create a proper reservoir that will act as the water source for the fountain.
• Use material aside from wood for the base and supports of the fountain so it will not warp and caused issues with rotating portion of the fountain.
• Add in small, tasteful accents to the all black design.