Post 10 – 2025 : Progress

This week marked a significant turning point for my naturalism-inspired river simulation project. I’ve finally transitioned from conceptual planning into hands-on building, making everything feel suddenly very real and exciting. There’s something deeply satisfying about moving from ideas on paper to actual materials in my hand. Preview attachment IMG_6026.JPG IMG_6026.JPG 3.9 MB I began by…

For my project I decided to make a planter box with a built in fountain. Initially, I planned on doing this project in a natural aesthetic, but I soon changed my mind to do an industrial aesthetic. I decided upon this change as I felt it left more room for a more interesting design that…

This week, I completed a preliminary version (V1) of the wooden elephant baby rattle I am designing for both my Aesthetics in Design course and as a gift for my soon-to-be-born niece or nephew; although unfortunately, it was damaged during one of the final fabrication steps. The design process began in AutoDesk Fusion 360, where…

Project Progress The Cozy Cabin Perk-a-Cola Bottle Display has been a fun mix of nostalgia, design, and engineering—and it’s finally starting to come to life. Inspired by the Call of Duty: Zombies Perk-a-Cola machines, this project is more than just a shelf for display bottles. It’s interactive, with lighting and sound that responds when a…

Materials Gathered: Nylon Ripstop Fabric (Green) – Chosen for its durability and water resistance, perfect for both the skirt and tarp functions. Snaps – For closure and ensuring the skirt can be securely adjusted as needed. Sewing Machine – A necessity for the stitching process to bring everything together. Border – To finish the edges…

Project Update I started gathering the materials I would need to assemble this piece. I ordered a 10×10″ acrylic mirror mirror from amazon and got a 10X10″ acrylic sheet from the BTU Lab on campus. This acrylic will sit on top of the mirror, and I will be painting characters from old early 2000s video…

I started this week by going to Resource Central to see what they might have to offer in terms of wooden material for the design. I was looking for wood that wasn’t painted or altered with screws, nails, or staples, and was able to find two large boards that would work well for the sides…

Originally, my design was an attachment on the leg. The goal was to create a wearable device that could propel a fighter’s strikes and ultimately get them expelled from any tournament or event they partake in. However, after completing my specifications and constraints documentation, I realized that the kinematic logistics of the project would be…

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve made solid progress on my retro-inspired ski boot warmer project. The overall goal of this design is to build a simple, effective boot warmer that channels the bold and nostalgic visual aesthetic of 1980s ski culture—think neon colors, stylized mountains, and gear that looks like it was pulled…

This week I have been able to make some solid progress on my magnetic levitation module. I bought a diy magnetic levitation kit from Etsy for this project. Would not exactly recommend this as a strategy as there is critical IC labeling info missing and no assembly or schematic provided so I’ve had to do…

This week, I made solid progress on the dual-perspective 3D sculpture project. I’ve begun modeling in SolidWorks, testing a variety of shape combinations that offer strong contrast and emotional impact when viewed from different angles. One successful direction is a Smiley Face → Sad Face transformation. This shift in expression conveys an emotional narrative through…

As my coffee shelf project continues to evolve, I’ve taken another significant step in both form and function. What started as a simple flat shelf with an integrated drawer has now transitioned into a more intentional coffee cup organizer—with storage for accessories, of course. The shift came from a need to optimize space while adding…

From all of the learnings I have gathered after my test cutting scenes into acrylic panes for assembly into a nyctous aesthetic tunnel book, I have now revised, designed, and fabricated my final tunnel book panes. Test acrylic panes, from which much learning was had From the considerations I didn’t mention in the last post,…

Since my last update, I’ve made some tangible progress toward realizing my retro-futuristic robot head can crusher. My concept is still centered on blending a 1950s sci-fi aesthetic with practical functionality. Over the past week, I finalized a rough CAD model in SolidWorks and 3D printed a 15% scale prototype of the robot head. The…

For my final project, I decided to make a Scandinavian modern TV stand. The initial design I settled on was heavily influenced by the “opposite” aesthetic that I chose- Brutalism, as it incorporates a concrete overlay to create the appearance of a thick, overhanging concrete slab. In line with the Scandinavian modern aesthetic, I chose…

Since beginning my final project, I think I’ve made steady progress transforming concept into physical form. This project started as a sentimental idea inspired by my dad’s lifelong passion for skiing and his large collection of vintage skis. Now, it’s taking shape in many ways, with key milestones completed and clear steps ahead. The first…

For my main project, I have been making a mid-century modern furniture inspired floor lamp. It uses glass blocks and diffused LED strips as the primary lighting element, and the frame is being manufactured using finished hardwood. The overall height of the lamp will is ~3.5 feet tall, and is powered by a wall plug.…

While we are getting close to the deadline for this project, I have made some good progress in the construction of my minimalist spice rack. In a perfect world, I would have been at this point much earlier in this process, but unfortunately life happens until this past weekend, I was not able to spend…

Over the last few weeks my project has undergone several design changes. The purpose for these changes is mainly to allow for the bed to be able to fully collapse enough to fit completely behind the last row of seats in my car. The original design folded into two sections, allowing for ease of manufacturability,…

How to Make a Pattern When making a pattern, it is best to use material that will not got torn, bent, or deformed in any way. I have used paper to make my patterns before and it is hard to store without folding, and once it is folded you can never fully straighten it out.…

My main project has honestly been progressing slower than I initially expected. My senior design project has had many deliverables, and I have had to focus most of my attention on that. Because of my senior design project, I have not been able to focus solely on the project. Because of these time constraints, I…

The progress on my neon-inspired 3D printed LED sign is coming along nicely! I decided to start working on a sign that displays my gamer tag, “TheGreasyPotato”. I began by creating a prototype to get a sense of what the full-size sign might look like. For this prototype, I designed the letters to fit within…

This week’s progress has been good in terms of planning. I spent most of my time learning to hydro dip and checking the quality of the hydrographic paper. Overall, I’m pleased with the advancements I’ve made. Quality of the Hydrographic Paper I assessed the quality of the hydrographic paper applied to a plastic cup, paying…

I have been a little busy with other school things and also was just sick for a whole week so I haven’t gotten much done on this project this week. So far for my project I have gotten my materials and supplies from the scrap woods in the Btu. I think I have enough of…

I have made a lot of progress with my Catan Board, including cutting player pieces to size and designing the board digitally. This has been a great experience so far, and I haven’t run into many problems or setbacks.  Roads, Settlements, and Cities: To create these game elements, I selected six different exotic woods based…

Over the past few weeks, I have made some progress on my low-profile microphone boom arm project, which is designed to fit within the minimalist aesthetic of my room. I have gathered the materials needed to assemble the thoracic build, specifically the hex nuts and foam, which are intended to reduce the vibrations that would…

This week I made some good progress by actually starting the CAD model, which involved sketching out the outer wall layout I wanted, analyzing the size/scaling I wanted to achieve, an adding some aesthetic flourishes I wanted. The following screenshot displays the main part of my CAD model. There is still much I need to…

My project is to make a portable bedside nightlight that looks like a crystal and behaves “magically”. The goal is to have a self contained crystal that can illuminate itself from within, allowing it to be carried around at night as a flashlight. Waving your hand over it while its docked will turn it on/adjust…

Hello all, now that we are reaching the end of the semester and we only have a couple of weeks until our final projects are complete I would love to share all of the work I have put into mine so far. My project has been quite labor intensive and even more so than I…

This week I’ve made meaningful progress on my Eye of Agamotto project, shifting from design planning into early prototyping and material testing. With the concept locked in, I focused on preparing the mechanical and visual features that bring the Eye to life. Finalizing the Design I finalized the overall shape and detailing of the Eye…

This week I made major progress on my pocket watch conversion project, especially with machining the case and beginning the fine-tuning of the movement itself. After some trial and error, I’m finally seeing things come together. Machining the Case I finished machining the watch case to fit the Waltham Grade 165 movement. This involved making…

Over spring break, I was able to get a really big chunk of work done on my project. I used the tools my mom has accumulated over the years, essentially whenever I wanted. I really enjoyed working by myself since I could play my music out loud and not worry about people watching me work.…

Progress Update: Mad Max Yard Art Summary: In short, the goal of my project is to produce an artifact inspired by yard art and a jagged, rusted aesthetic like the “Diesel Punk” that can be found in the Mad Max movies. Counterintuitively, I plan to cast this aesthetic of a sort of jagged tree onto…

As I am continuing to develop a final product for my project, I am excited to share the progress I have made thus far on my vintage sports-themed framed picture with user-controlled LED lights. This stage of the process has been both rewarding and insightful, giving me a solid feel for how the final product…

I’ve officially wrapped up sourcing every component for the RailGlow lamp which are the rails, switch, socket, bulb, wiring hardware, and connectors are all accounted for. This milestone marks a major turning point in the project. Up to this point, a lot of the work has been theoretical: sketches, concept refinement, and detailed planning. Now,…

I have not been able to make too much progress on the bed frame because of shipping issues. The sliding blocks I ordered came in the wrong size, so I had to reorder. I am now awaiting their shipment next week. Additionally, I am still figuring out what to use for my cross beams on…

For my project I am creating a lamp made of wood and dried bamboo. The bamboo is used to create a circular body for the lamp. The materials are part of my desired naturalism aesthetic. By using naturally found materials, I felt a natural earthy feel with woody colors, browns, and beiges would naturally present…

Overview The goal of this project is to create a vintage-inspired clapperboard that blends classic Hollywood aesthetics with functional craftsmanship. The focus remains on creating a piece that feels aged, handmade, and authentic—something that looks like it’s been passed around on old film sets. What’s Done So Far Materials Sourced: I’ve purchased the wood, hinges,…

In the last couple of weeks I have been quite busy with other school and work assignments and haven’t made the progress I was hoping to make on my filter, luckily got started early so I am on track to finish in time if I get over the next few hurdles I have ahead of…

To reiterate, my project is designing a clock that is representative of art nouveau principles and explores the concept of identity through the connection to the human iris.  As of now, my progress has been much slower than expected. I have decided to focus less on the pendulum system because of my busy schedule and…

This blog is going to be a brief update on the progress of my final project. So far, progress has not been on schedule, but it will still be done with plenty of time to spare. I have been really busy the past few weeks with exams and final projects in other classes, but next…

I’ve made solid progress on my origami-inspired folding chair project. The final design is complete. After several iterations and adjustments, I’ve settled on a structure that balances flexibility, strength, and a clean folding mechanism. The chair folds flat using a series of rigid panels connected by a flexible backing material, which allows it to open…

As of now, I have begun further stages of my project. Earlier this week, I finally got the plates for my controller laser cut. (Figure 1): Laser cut plate The buttons I have ordered fit perfectly in the holes made on this plate, which is a relief. Three of these plates were made, one which…

I’m making a Mid Century Modern Bookshelf for my bedroom. I chose 3/4” sande plywood for the material as well as Espresso colored oil based stain and oil based polyurethane finish. Updated CAD:                     Below are pictures of my progress thus far, I simplified my design…

So far, I’ve made good progress on my magnetic shoe display. First, to get a template of my stand to cut out, I drew the size and general shape on a poster board and cut it out with a utility knife; then, after buying a 1×8″ pine board and a 1×6″ board, I broke the…

My first ever and from-scratch electric guitar has been progressing at a great pace since our return from Spring Break, covering a lot of ground in fewer days than expected – albeit via many, many hours in the woodshop daily. Before the break, all that existed was a guitar-shaped object: Two conspicuously shaped pieces of…

I’ve completed the most significant portions of my project, and I’m excited to share the progress so far. For this project, I’m creating a mountain shelf with a drawer that captures a Rustic Modern aesthetic. Project Summary to Date: Step 1: CAD Modeling and Design Planning To avoid the challenges I faced during my first mountain…

For my final project, I have made great strides in completing my portable AC unit. This unit derives from creating a heat exchanger utilizing airflow into a ice filled cooler. Other than the aesthetic side of things, which I am currently further exploring options, the unit has made great progress and is fully operational. Since…

My bioactive terrarium has been cleaned, hardscaped, and planted- now all that is left to do is clean the glass, invest in a high quality LED light, and wait for it to grow it (the hardest part!). Right now, the most crucial part of this process is making sure the humidity stays as high as…

I plan on making a jewelry box in the shape of a Galician horreo. Galicia is a region in the northwest of Spain where they speak there own language, and live in a really humid, wet climate, closer to say Scotland than Andalusia. Figure 1: Galician Horreo I will take this overall shape and try…