Alan Harp Portfolio
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Alan J. Harp Over the past 21 years I have had the experience and pleasure of being a design educator, product designer and furniture maker. More than 50 students in my furniture design courses have created nationally exhibited furniture pieces. As a designer, I was involved with the development of nearly 90 products for the physically disabled population. The experience of furniture maker has realized several nationally exhibited pieces and the joy of being inspired by my own children‟s ideas. Educated with a BS and MS degree in Industrial Design from the Georgia Institute of Technology, I strive for beauty and functionality in my designs. Please enjoy the following designs and student created pieces. Thank you [email protected] 404-935-2654 furniture industrial design expression student studio student projects home
Transcript of Alan Harp Portfolio
Alan J. Harp
Over the past 21 years I have hadthe experience and pleasure ofbeing a design educator, productdesigner and furniture maker.
More than 50 students in myfurniture design courses havecreated nationally exhibitedfurniture pieces.
As a designer, I was involved withthe development of nearly 90products for the physicallydisabled population.
The experience of furniture makerhas realized several nationallyexhibited pieces and the joy ofbeing inspired by my ownchildren‟s ideas.
Educated with a BS and MSdegree in Industrial Design fromthe Georgia Inst i tute ofTechnology, I strive for beauty andfunctionality in my designs. Pleaseenjoy the following designs andstudent created pieces.
Thank you
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
rachel‟s chair cascade chest dining table autumn chairbutterfly bed
As a furniture designer andeducator, I have been able toblend the two disciplines toexplore my own ideas while usingthe designs to educate mystudents.
The following projects werecompleted as a method ofexploring aesthetics andfabrication techniques.
The lessons learned weresummarily transferred to my designstudents in the studio courses.
Click on a title below to view thecorresponding piece.
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
rachel’s chair cascade chest dining table autumn chairbutterfly bed
Rachel‟s Chair was created formy daughter, inspired by a sketchshe did for me as an 8 year old.
The design plays upon her love ofgardens and whimsical pieces.The fabric was chosen toemphasize the allusion to agarden trestle with a planter ofgrass with subtle roots comingfrom below.
Always striving to streamline theproduction of a piece, the chairwas designed in AlphaCAM sothat the parts could be machinedon a 3-axis CNC router.
After two MDF prototypes wereproduced, the final 2 chairs werecreated from 18mm Baltic birchplywood. The final versions werefinished in white enamel.
Rachel‟s Chair was exhibited in the2009 Furniture Society ConferenceMember‟s Gallery and at MODA:Emerging Voices 09.
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
rachel‟s chair cascade chest dining table autumn chairbutterfly bed
The Cascade Chest wasdeveloped for a female clientwho drew inspiration from thesinuous shapes of perfume bottleforms. Working closely with theclient, the form, color and inlaydesign was finalized and illustratedin AutoCAD 3D for approval.
The piece was designed in bothAlphaCAM and AutoCAD 3D toallow for production on a 3-axisCNC router. Efficient use ofmaterials allowed the casework tocome from 2 sheets of Baltic birchplywood. The remaining portionswere kerf cut ¼ plywood, solidcherry drawer fronts and solidmaple vine and leaf inlay.
The final piece is finished in a darkmahogany stain with a Tung oilfinish to highlight the natural wooddrawer fronts and inlay.
The Cascade Chest was exhibitedat the 2007 ICFF show in New YorkCity as part of the juried FurnitureSociety exhibition.
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
rachel‟s chair cascade chest dining table autumn chairbutterfly bed
Inspired by the discovery of abeautiful slab of flame maple witha naturally raw edge, the diningtable was developed as a blendof traditional and modern designand fabrication.
Created from flame maple, clearmaple and walnut highlights, thetable is designed to seat 8 fordinner. The leg spacing allows formultiple seating arrangements incomfort.
The trestle portion of the tableallowed my son, then 8 years old,to participate in the design of thefamily table. The graphic in thetrestle is taken directly from asketch he did, scanned in andmachined on a 3-axis CNC router.
The raw edge was left intact for anasymmetrical effect on anotherwise balanced design. Thefinal piece is finished with a handrubbed Tung oil finish.
The dining table was exhibited atthe 2006 ICFF show in New YorkCity as part of the juried FurnitureSociety exhibition.
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
rachel‟s chair cascade chest dining table autumn chairbutterfly bed
The Butterfly Bed was created for aclient‟s child with a smaller room,but required space for sleepovers.The love of butterflies anddragonflies was the basis of therounded forms and the post finials.
The piece was designed as atrundle bed that can open fromthe left or right side. One uniquefeature, discovered by the child, isa „secret‟ hideout that is revealedwhen the trundle is fully extended.
Crafted of solid maple, Baltic birchand bead board panels, the bedwas designed for a cozy yet solidappearance. It is finished in awhite enamel paint, highlightedby the colorful flying finials.
The design and construction wascompleted in AlphaCAM so thatmany of the pieces could bemachined on a 3-axis router forrepeatability. The bed can alsobe completely disassembled foreasy transport.
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
rachel‟s chair cascade chest dining table autumn chairbutterfly bed
The Autumn Chair and AutumnRocker were created as thetangible outcome of my Master‟sthesis work in CNC technologyrelating to furniture production.
Developed as an example of solidwood construction for CNCfabrication, the design has severalunique attributes. The designfacilitates the implementation ofthe principles of Universal Design.These can be found in the loweredseat height, integral lumbarsupport, sculpted seat, extendedarmrests, and a wide footprint thatcombine to create a chair thatcradles the body with comfort,while providing a sense of securityduring ingress and egress.
The project resulted in thefabrication of 25 units in sixdifferent species of wood as amethod of discovering themachining properties of thevarious species.
The chair was exhibited at“Unlimited by Design”: CooperHewitt National Design Museumand is GT Record of Invention#2540.
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
guitar supine workstation executive desk paralympicsbicycle stabilizer
As an Industrial Designer I haveexperienced a wide variety ofproduct design and developmentopportunities through my work atthe Center for RehabilitationTechnology and the AdvancedWood Products Lab at GeorgiaTech.
The variety of projects spansmultiple markets as wide rangingas vocational rehabilitation,recreational, furniture, musicaland consumer products .Consequently, the design andfabrication skills required are asvaried as the projects themselves.
The following projects are a smallsampl ing of the var ietyencountered in my career to date.
Click on a title below to view thecorresponding piece.
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
The Convertible Fret Guitar projectpresented the interestingchallenge of taking a client‟s ideaand patent drawing and engineerand fabricate a finished workingprototype.
The idea was that a musicianshould be able to use their guitaras a fretted or fretless instrumentwithout the need for multipleguitars. The design required thatthe frets would roll over with asimple flick of the thumb allowinga quick change in tone.
The final solution was a rack andpinion system that was housedinside the neck and operated by alobed thumb wheel. The bronzefrets were cut with wire EDM andthe delrin rack was fabricated witha water jet cutter. The custombloodwood fretboard and mapleneck were machined on a 3-axisCNC router to accept the rackand pinion system.
The final model was a fullyfunctional 5 string Fender bass.
guitar supine workstation executive desk paralympicsbicycle stabilizer
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
The Supine Workstation wasdeveloped for a client with severeneck and back pain whose jobrequired constant computerinteraction. The client‟s conditionrequired frequent changes inseating position to alleviate thepain while seated.
The development of theworkstation involved in-depthclient interviews, observation andexhaustive ergonomic studies. Thestudies focused on the changinglocation of the user‟s hands andhead as the seat went through thereclining motion.
Designed in AutoCAD 3D arounda torsion spring below the chairand a geared mechanism to theside, the workstation is balancedto move in unison with the zerogravity recliner. Ingress and egressis maintained by sliding themonitor and keyboard to the sideon linear bearing slides.
The Supine Workstation wasexhibited at “Unlimited by Design”:Cooper Hewitt National DesignMuseum and is GT Record ofInvention #2066.
guitar supine workstation executive desk paralympicsbicycle stabilizer
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
The Executive Desk was designedfor the Federal Commissioner onDevelopmental Disabilities. Theclient had Cerebral Palsy and bydoctor‟s orders had to both sit andstand equally during the day topromote circulation.
The client‟s medical needs andaesthetic desires were broughttogether in this height adjustabledesk and static height credenza.He was an aficionado of the ArtDeco era and wished for therichness of walnut as the primaryspecies. Maple was used for theArt Deco inspired trim throughout.
Height adjustment was realizedthrough a motorized chain drivehidden inside of the table top todrive a lead screw in each cornerof the 96” x 36” main desk. Asimple brass push button allowedfor activation. Through thesemechanisms, the desk can adjustfrom 28”-42” in height.
The desk was featured in CustomWoodworking Business magazine.
guitar supine workstation executive desk paralympicsbicycle stabilizer
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
The Bicycle Stabilizer wasdeveloped for a recreationalcyclist whose left leg had beenmedically amputated. Because ofthe cyclist‟s physical condition, itwas difficult for him to mount andride a bicycle safely.
The stabil izer, or landing gear,provided a safe and adjustablemethod for mounting, riding anddismounting the bike. Through ahand lever on the top tube, thelanding gear could be deployedor retracted.
When the client wished to mountthe bike, the landing gear wouldbe down. As he reached abalanced speed, he could retractthe landing gear and ridenormally. As he began to slow hewould deploy the wheels to retainbalance.
The custom design was made ofmachined aluminum, accentedwith paint to match the client‟sbicycle.
The Bicycle Stabilizer was featuredin Freewheelin‟ Magazine and isGT Record of Invention #1781.
guitar supine workstation executive desk paralympicsbicycle stabilizer
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
The 1996 Atlanta Paralympicsprovided a unique opportunity todesign several event specificproducts.
The throwing events, whichinclude shot put, javelin anddiscus, all required a specialplatform so that the wheelchairathletes could participate safely.Their throwing chairs were held inplace by vacuum actuated hooksheld to an anodized aluminumplatform. This device received GTRecord of Invention #1842.
For an air rifle competitor bornwithout fully formed hands, acustom gun holder wasdeveloped. It had to meet thestringent rules of competition as tonot provide any advantage.
For way finding and informationdissemination, the Paralympic logothemed kiosk was developed.Over 100 were made utilizingreclaimed pine for the materials.The kiosks were placed throughoutthe venues and designedfollowing ADA guidelines forseated and standing users.
guitar supine workstation executive desk paralympicsbicycle stabilizer
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
acrylic paintings photography ceiling mural pinewood derbyset design
Having a background in designnaturally brings about the need toexpress yourself in multiple forms.Through the years, I have enjoyedmany forms of artistic expressionwi th acry l ic pain t ings ,photography, set design andmodel making.
The following examples are asampling of my works completedto explore my artistic needs notrealized elsewhere.
Click on a title below to view thecorresponding piece.
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Alan J. Harp
Always intrigued by the forms ofearly automotive designs, I enjoyhighl ighting the detai l s andexploring unique angles of viewingthe forms.
The three 20”x30” paintingsshown here are explorations inacyclic paint and color pencil onboard.
The green 1939 Buick painting wasdone as a reaction to seeing showcars in pristine condition afterbeing pulled from barns, swampsand sheds and resurrected.
While photographing the red 1932Chrysler at a car show for thispainting, a small crowd was drawnto the unusual angles at which Iwas approaching the car. Ienjoying seeing the details in waysnot necessarily expected.
The 1932 Pierce Arrow painting is ablending of acryl ic paint,airbrushing and color pencil. I wassimply amazed at the detail in thearcher and felt it needed to berendered in full crisp detail.
acrylic paintings photography ceiling mural pinewood derbyset design
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
Photography provides a myriad ofopportunities to express a feelingor capture a moment. Always onthe lookout for unique ways to tellthe story of an event or capturethe mood of a place, I look forthose details that can provide thatstory in a single image.
Capturing a feeling of awe andmovement at the GeorgiaAquarium, you can just see thelittle girl being held securely by hermother as they view the creaturesinteracting.
Color, chrome, shine and precisionis the theme experienced at theBMW Museum and it is vividlycaptured by the detail of this earlyBMW 7 roadster.
History, permanence andsomberness were felt around theSaint Gi les Cathedral inEdinburgh, Scotland during mytour through the historic buildingscoupled with the persistent drizzle.
acrylic paintings photography ceiling mural pinewood derbyset design
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
The ceiling mural “Avondale” wascommissioned by Avondale FirstBaptist Church, Avondale Estates,GA for the arched ceiling of thetheater foyer. This entrance wasused for all theater productionsand receptions and was in needof enhancement.
The painting is a depiction of thehistoric church buildings and thedowntown Avondale area.Completed with a one pointperspective, the mural creates anentertaining visual trick as theviewer walks around the room.The church steeple and the peaksof the other structures appear tochange angles and follow theviewer around the room
Completed in two weeks, the 16‟ x24‟ mural was painted using asponge dabbing method,followed by detail brush painting.
acrylic paintings photography ceiling mural pinewood derbyset design
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
Set Design and construction is aunique challenge given the scaleand scope of the needs for ashow.
For 10 years I served as the setdesigner and lead builder for mylocal church theater departmentdeveloping and constructingnearly 20 sets for a wide range ofperformances. Productions wereas varied as a simple black boxstage set to an expansiveproduction with dozens of castmembers.
“Once Upon a Mattress”, acomedy originally performed byCarol Burnett, is a silly irreverenttake on castles, moats, and thePrincess and the Pea children‟sstory. The set focused on awhimsical castle filled with slightlyoff kilter props.
The set for “Joseph and theAmazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”was the largest piece I createdstanding 14‟ tall and 40‟ wide witha huge Elvis themed sphinx as thecenter piece.
acrylic paintings photography ceiling mural pinewood derbyset design
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
The Pine Wood Derby is a classicevent that boys, along side of theirfathers, participate in every yearas part of Cub Scouts. When myson was building his cars, it gaveme reason to design and buildones for myself.
During our 5 years in Cub Scouts, Ihad the opportunity to handcarve my cars, truck and grocerycart in the 50 year old tradition ofa father and son project. Whilemy son toiled on his cars, minefound their shape with traditionaltools and paint.
Always a detail oriented designer,the cars couldn‟t escape theneed for painstaking details .Leather hood straps, spark plugwires, miniature groceries all foundtheir way into the final designs.
In the end, my son and I weregiven the chance to spend timetogether, and make some fun carsas well.
acrylic paintings photography ceiling mural pinewood derbyset design
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
the flirt vitis bookshelf rollerblade cart aerri dresserunraveling oak table
In my tenure at the AdvancedWood Products Lab at GeorgiaTech, I initiated the furnitureprogram in the school of IndustrialDesign to promote the idea ofdesigning for manufacture utilizingCNC and traditional technology.
During the 7 years that thefurniture program was is place,over 50 of my students‟ piecesreceived local and nationalrecognition in competitions andjuried exhibitions.
The fol lowing pieces weredesigned and fabricated in seniorlevel studio courses by IndustrialDesign students.
Click on a title below to view thecorresponding piece.
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
The Flirt by Taryn Ericson makes anartful interpretation on the classichall table and was developed asan exercise in the blending of hightech and traditional craftingtechniques.
The maple and purpleheart skirtportion was crafted on a 3 axisCNC router while the mahoganyQueen Ann e l egs w eretraditionally carved.
The glass covered inner shelffeatures a sunburst pattern ofpurpleheart and maple,surrounded by the table top ofsolid mahogany.
The Flirt was a finalist in the tablecategory at the 2009 AWFS FreshWood competition in Las Vegas.The Flirt was also exhibited in“Emerging Voices 09” at MODA inAtlanta, GA.
the flirt vitis bookshelf rollerblade cart aerri dresserunraveling oak table
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
The 5 foot tall beech Vitis Bookshelfby Kelly Hendrix highlights thecontrast of color and formbetween the slab and the organicforms. The shelves and backpanels are solid beech, and thevine shelf supports are solid poplar.
The vines were machined on a 3axis CNC router and stained with ablack dye for contrast. The pieceis designed so that it could bemanufactured as a ready toassemble piece for ease ofshipping.
This piece received 3rd Place inthe RTA category in the 2008 IWFDesign Emphasis Furni tureCompetition. The Vitis Bookshelfwas also exhibited in “EmergingVoices 09” at MODA in Atlanta,GA.
the flirt vitis bookshelf rollerblade cart aerri dresserunraveling oak table
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
The Rollerblade Cart by HollyLaPerre was designed as a CB2product during a Crate&Barrelsponsored studio course thatfocused on the manufacturabilityof furniture designs.
The media stand was machinedfrom one sheet of MDF on a 3 axisCNC router and is finished inautomotive paint. The piece isassembled with Häfele Rafixhardware for easy assembly.
This piece received 1st place inthe in-studio competitionsponsored by Crate&Barrel.
The Rollerblade Cart received 2ndPlace in the RTA category in the2008 IWF Design Emphasis FurnitureCompetition.
the flirt vitis bookshelf rollerblade cart aerri dresserunraveling oak table
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
The Unraveling Oak Table by NickKomor was designed to emulatethe peeling, or unrolling of a treeto create its form. The curves aremade with staves, glued on edge.The vase is also solid oak piercingthe 1/2" thick glass table top. Thepiece is stained ebony on theouter sides, and bleached on theinner walls.
This table was developed as partof a studio course sponsored by“The New Oak Partnership”initiative by the AppalachianHardwoods ManufacturersAssociation.
The table received a 2nd Place inTables at the 2007 AWFS FreshWood furniture competition in LasVegas, NV.
the flirt vitis bookshelf rollerblade cart aerri dresserunraveling oak table
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
The Aerri Dresser by Katina Zachaswas made of oak plywoodbleached and stained black onthe rear portion. The dresserfeatures dovetailed drawers and ahidden shelf area on the backside. The dresser was developedas a second iteration of the AerriNightstand, below left.
The nightstand was designed tohighlight the figure and variabilityin the look of solid oak. The piecehas similar features as the dresser.It is finished with a natural oil overbleached oak for the drawers andan espresso stain for the base.
Both pieces were developed aspart of a studio course sponsoredby “The New Oak Partnership”initiative by the AppalachianHardwoods ManufacturersAssociation.
The dresser received anHonorable Mention in ContractFurniture at the 2007 AWFS FreshWood furniture competition in LasVegas, NV. The nightstandreceived 3rd place in the New Oakcompetition.
the flirt vitis bookshelf rollerblade cart aerri dresserunraveling oak table
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
2x4 project rta furniture the box gift waresplastics
As a means to introduce studentsto a variety of concepts in productdesign and manufactur ingmethods, several project themeswere developed that emphasizedspecific points.
The following projects are a smallsampl ing of the multitudecompleted during 7 years ofteaching at the Advanced WoodProducts Lab at Georgia Tech.
Click on a title below to view thecorresponding pieces.
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
The 2x4 Project was developed asmethod of teaching the principalsof designing for CNCmanufacture.
The projects were required to bedesigned such that all parts camefrom one 2‟x4‟ sheet of material.Limited additional decorativematerials were permitted. Theonly joinery allowed was slot-in-slotor tab-in-slot. No glue ormechanical fasteners wereallowed.
To design the projects, thestudents used AlphaCAM softwareto create programs which weremachined on a 3 axis CNC router.No additional machining waspermitted after the parts camefrom the router to expeditemanufacturing. The students hadto assemble the designs as part ofthe class presentation.
Clockwise from top left:
Rocking Horse: Marissa ToppingHerb Rack: Dorian WicksNightstand: Steven SloanHanging Lamp: Andres Caviers
2x4 project rta furniture the box gift waresplastics
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
The RTA Furniture project wasdeveloped as a full scale exampleof fu rn i tu re des i gn fo rmanufacture.
The pieces were designed suchthat they could be easilyassembled by a typical consumer.The pieces had to pack downsmall enough to fit into the typicalcar trunk for transportation.
The students were limited to a4‟x8‟ sheet of material plusadditional required hardware.Hafele hardware was commonlyused for assembly purposes.
The designs had to be primarilymanufactured on a 3 axis CNCrouter after being programmed inAlphaCAM software.
Clockwise from top left:
Art Desk: Taryn EricsonBuffet: Cameron Bishop*TV Stand: Katie StanchakWardrobe: Dorian Wicks
*The TV Stand was a finalist in the2005 AWFS Student DesignCompetition: Creative Casegoods
2x4 project rta furniture the box gift waresplastics
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
The Box project was anintroductory wood assignmentdesigned to let the studentsbecome comfortable working withwood and shop tools.
The assignment simply states thateach student must create a fullyfunctional wooden box of theirchoosing. Specific joinery wasrequired dependant on theknowledge base of the class.
Each box was required to becompleted to a level of finish suchthat it would be appropriate forsale.
Clockwise from top left:
Oak, Leather: David GransewiczMaple, Burl: Marissa ToppingWenge, Bloodwood: Ben SuttlesBackgammon: Kate Schindel
2x4 project rta furniture the box gift waresplastics
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
Eastman Chemical sponsored asemester course based on designutilizing their co-polyester, Kelvex.
The students were requested todesign products that would takeadvantage of the characteristicsof the plastic. Kelvex hasproperties similar to polycarbonateand acrylic in that it has goodimpact resistance and clarity. Italso forms well during thethermoforming process.
Several students focused on theskylight market, while others ontraditional consumer products.Eastman Chemical used theseprojects in their promotionalmaterial for the plastic.
Clockwise from top left:
Lawn mower: Jon JowersGuimard Skylight: Karen BatesEyebrow Skylight: Cory BensonShingle Skylight: Ryan Vojir
2x4 project rta furniture the box gift waresplastics
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
Alan J. Harp
During the Crate&Barrel sponsoredstudios, the students were requiredto create a product that would fitinto the gift wares category. Thisallowed the class to getacquainted with the C&B productline and their customerdemographic.
The students were to make a smallwood product that could bemarketed for $75 or less in the C&Bstores. The pieces had to bemade primarily with traditionalshop methods. This allowed thestudents to gain confidence intheir shop skills and experiencehow a product might bemanufactured.
Clockwise from top left:
Fruit Bowl: Allison RoseCoffee Gift Set: Lauren JanewayAdjustable Frames: Esther RobbinsBall Clock: Daniel McIver
2x4 project rta furniture the box gift waresplastics
furniture industrial design expression student studio student projectshome
