By Tom Leslie

3-project outline, design brief4-time plan5-task analysis6-moodboard7-client research8-graffiti artists9-designer research10-similar products11-12-product analysis13-materials14-16-materials experimentation17-19-processes experimentation20-research analysis21-specification22-28-initial ideas29-google sketch up30-analysis of research31-34-design development

35-modelling36-final design37-working drawings38-manufacturing specification39-plan of make40-cad cam41-42-production record43-44-production45-modifications46-48-problems and changes49-55-evaluation56-final outcome57-sources

I have been given the task to design and create a stylish new room divider to be distributed by the website the Awesomer. This website is a search engine, used by many designers in the graffiti market. The room divider must be visually appealing as well as very functional and practical. It must cover the majority of a human body and be able to be stored away if necessary. The product must also be able to stand stability without the possibility of the screen falling. In order to create my product I need to research the likes of shapes, colours, aesthetics and so on to be able to generate ideas towards my product. I will research into the background of graffiti, giving me information of the styles that could work well with my project. From this I will be able to produce designs that will be able to be applied to my room divider. My final product will be created to a 1:4 scale.

After researching warehouse and open living styled apartments, I have decided on the idea of creating a room screen to generate privacy in the large open rooms. The need for room dividers has increased over the last few years due to the style of modern open living. The likes of young males are even facing the need to purchase room dividers, which is unusual as there has never been the demand before today. Graffiti, once seen as destruction to the streets is now an extremely recognisable form of modern art. This theme is attractive to young males as it is urban, trendy and visually superb. I will combine both the theme of graffiti and room dividers to create a stylish new product design towards young males.

The Awesomer is a daily blog filled with awesome stuff for guys. Initially conceptualized as a technology shopping blog, it’s now more or less a massive repository for whatever we find interesting. The website is targeted towards young males, which is the client that I am aiming for. This website will help to sell the room divider as a cool new product that is a must have for young males. The website consists of a number of different categories, one being living where my product is likely to feature. The website will act as a middle man to my product as clients can purchase the product from the webpage, creating a user friendly environment.

Living category is likely to be where my product will feature

Webpage shows the price by each product

Large image clearly displays product

Trendy feel to the page with modern designs

The use of colours David Choe includes in his work makes the image pop out of the page. I really like the use of all the colours as I feel it adds more creativity to the piece. Graffiti is usually very vibrant at this piece certainly reflects that idea.

This graffiti also expresses the use of freestyle drawing to produce an image build up of several individual draw images. I think this effect of more than one image in the whole piece makes the work a lot more exciting and fascinating as you see something new every time you look at the picture.

The graffiti art to the right is one of my favourite pieces. I am attracted to the image because of the strong use of colours along with the bold lines all over the image. The actual content of the image is also very unique and different which is why graffiti is so popular as it is a good way to express yourself in the way you draw and the colours you use I feel what makes a good piece of graffiti is the way the lines in the image are used, so I will use this in mind when designing my room divider.

Luis Alicandu is an up and coming industrial design from Venezuela. Many of his products as seen in the images are inspired by the theme of urban art which was his original background of artwork. This is the category I am choosing to incorporate into my work. Luis specialises in industrial design as his main area of work, along with 3d design and exhibition design. The main bulk of his products consist of the likes of tables, chairs and other practical products all including aspects of the urban art scene. His work is very unique as there are little work like this on the market.

The thing that attracts me to the products is the fact that they are very high quality and crisp, yet based on original inspirations that are very urban and run down. I really like the contrast between the theme and the products and I think they work really well together, generating modern, classy graffiti based products.

My favourite product out of the four images is the mirror. I really like this product as it is a simple every day household item, yet is very unique and special. The frame has an urban feel, with freestyle lines and looping swirls giving the impression of a free hand drawing, or in this case an individuals technique of spraying a wall. Like a lot of graffiti art work, the colours are also very bright and eye catching. This helps to the give the product a stronger three dimensional effect as the dark shadows really stand out against the yellow frame colour.

This second product, as shown bellow is also another sort of room divider currently on the market. This is different to the other however as this is one piece fixed frame. The materials used consist of wood, however this has been bent into a curved shape meaning that there is no need for stands or fixings in the frame. The finish of the product is also very high quality as the wooden has been sanded for a smooth texture and varnished to help protect the wood.

Unlike the other similar products, this room divider has an image applied to the canvas. This divider has been split into three panels, allowing it to stand upright and also to help reduce storage space of the product. Each panel is created using a wooden frame, likely to be a soft wood as this is cheap, reducing the overall cost. The product will also be light meaning that the room divider can be handled easily. The graphics are then printed onto a canvas using a large industrial printer. A canvas is used as it holds the ink well and it is also cheap and flexible, so it will stretch across the frame. This will then be cut into equal sections and applied to the frame using pins on the back of the product. Each panel is connected using two hinges which are then screwed into the wooden frame to hold the product together. The overall finish is a good quality room divider with a strong bold image, adding character to any room it is put into. This product retails for around £50-70 so is good value for money.

The products to the left reflects the source of why the product is needed. There is an increasing demand for modern living studio flats. These room dividers reflect how my product could be used in the likes of these situations. Both dividers in the pictures are very modern which attracts buyers however I feel they are slightly basic which is why I will be creating designs onto the dividers, rather than just having a simple divider. I feel the floor to this product is that it only operates as one function, this being to divide a room. The problem is that it does not generate very much privacy, unlike my room divider that will operate as several different functions giving the customer better value for money.

Although this design does not fit into my criteria, I feel there are several elements that could be used in my design. The set up of the frame is an option that I could use. As you can see the frame is several panels joined together through the use of hinges. This allows the frame to be folded into a small practical size for storage when not in use. The method also allows the frame to stand, without the use of legs or stabilisers. The materials used in this frame consist of aluminium and wood and are very practical for a room divider as they are strong yet still have a pleasant appearance. The wooden frame also allows them to a range of colours on the product, as the materials can hold a paint on the surface.

Aesthetics This product is visually attractive as it consists of an eye catching large scale image. This image is also very trendy as it has been edited into a greyscale effect, creating a black and white image. Appearance. The shape of the product is very suitable as it is a good size to generate privacy and it also allows lots of space for the image. The joints are very crisp and aligned well, giving a finished result of an attractive and smart room divider.

Cost This product costs around £50-£100 to buy on the market. This low price is due to the cheap materials used to create the product. The frame is created using a soft wood which will be cheaper to buy in. The fixings are standard and will cost around 50 pence per hinge. The most expensive aspect is the printing onto the canvas however this product is likely to be produce on a large scale meaning its overall costs are reduced to a lower price.

Client The customer of this product is likely to be a young stylish adult. This is because the design is very modern and the image relates to the Eifel tower. This could also have links to fashion in the city of Paris. Girls are the likely gender to purchase this product.

Environment The product is relatively environmentally friendly. The likes of the frame are created from wood which is a sustainable resource. The ink that is printed onto the canvas however will have to be produced and this may involve the use of limited resources.

Safety The materials of this product are safe to use as they are lightweight and have no sharp edges. The only potential hazards are the fact that someone could jam their finger between the joints and if the frame is not positioned right with enough bend at the joints, it could fall over.

Size The product measures at roughly 1.8 by 2.0 metres. This is a suitable size for this product as it is high enough to cover a whole body height of an average person, and it is also wide enough to cover a good sized area, whilst allowing bend for the product to stand.

Function This product is used to generate privacy and to display an art form, this being the image on the canvas. This product works very well as the materials used are lightweight, meaning that the product can be moved easily. The canvas has a high opacity so you can not see through to the other side, this generating privacy. The product is also visually attractive as it consists of printed graphics which also act as a piece of artwork in the room.

Materials The product is made using a soft wood such as pine for the frame, a piece of canvas, ink and hinges. These materials together make a light but relatively strong room divider. This product is likely to be produced in batch production as there may be a range of different graphics applied to the room dividers. Spot checks are probably the best option to check the consistency of the product if they are being generated in batch orders.

Aesthetics This room divider is a very attractive piece of furniture. The shape is very bold and chunky, giving it a very broad look. It also has a lot of detailed sections, from the wooden panel sections to the wrought iron work on the divider. The divider is created using three panels which are joined using hinges. Overall this product is very attractive, with simple colours that add to the bold effect.

Cost This product costs $1500. This is a very upend market product and will only be available to people who earn a good amount of money. The cost is not only for the materials such as the iron and the oak wood used, but also for the cost of labour as this product will take a lot of time and effort to create, as it has so many unique parts to it.

Client The client is likely to be a well off individual who has extra money to spent on luxury items. This product is very high end and these are the clients it is likely to attract. Its design will attract these type of customers as they are purchasing a very unique product that has a lot of detail in. It also stands out very well in a room so this aspect may attract the buyer as it may suit their style, being bold and well finished.

Environment The oak used has little effect to the environment as this comes from a sustainable resource, however for every oak tree that is chopped several others should be planted as they take along time to establish. However iron uses a lot of crude oil in the heating process which is a finite resource, so this is not as good for the environment.

Safety Although this product will be very heavy, this weight help to make it extra stable. The wood is well sanded and has a smooth texture along with the iron work that has been well produced to a safe standard, with no rough or sharp edges.

Size Measures 84"W x 73"H. This is a suitable size as it covers body height and is a reasonable width.

Function The main function of this product is to divide a large room into two different sections. This also generates privacy in the areas behind the divider. This has been achieved as the wood cannot be seen through. The gaps in the iron are positioned at head height so this will not affect privacy. As for this room divider, it has also been designed for image and style. The detail that has been put into the product will attract everyone's eye who walks in the room as it is so bold and attractive.

Materials The room divider has been made using oak and iron along with hinges to connect the panels together. This product is likely to be made to order as it is a very unique product and comes at a high price so the target market is limited for the product. As the product is unique spot checks will be done at each stage to make sure the quality is kept to a high standard.

Appearance

cost

Texture

durability Colour

Due to the wide range of potential materials I could use to create my product, I felt it was necessary to test several different materials to find the most practical material for my room divider. I began my experimentation beginning with materials that I could use for the frame of the room divider. I was likely to be using a wood or metal so I listed down potential materials and then began to analyse the properties of each.

sustainability

aluminium

copper

Aero ply

plywood

AluminiumThe first material that I tested was the metal aluminium. Using paper I drew up a small design and then transferred it across to the aluminium using a pencil outline. I then started to cut the desired shape using a pair of metal cutters. Although the aluminium did cut using the tool, it was very inaccurate simply because the cutter was not small enough to create specific detail in the cut, The metal was also very tough to cut through and took a fair amount of human strength to apply force to the metal. This was when I went ahead and tried a junior hacksaw on the metal. This method of cutting seemed to take longer yet gave a more accurate finish so I may choose this method if I use aluminium in my final product. I think another aspect that will make cupping easier for my final product is the fact that the aluminium will be a lot larger so it will be easier to cut using the larger tools.

Once I had finished the outline I took some wet and dry and sanded and rough edges on the aluminium. From this I then went on to test the durability of the aluminium. Firstly, using my hands I simply tried to bend the aluminium and I was successful in doing this. Using a hammer and ear muffs to protect my hearing, I used the rounded end of the hammer and hit the piece of aluminium until a fair size of the metal had been indented. I then tried to bend the aluminium piece again however this time the metal seemed a lot more ridged yet felt more brittle and the potential to snap.

My final experiment on the aluminium was a test to see if the aluminium could hold vinyl. My final product will have transfer ink applied to the metal so it was worthwhile testing to see if I could apply a different material on top. The printer had not been working so instead I used a small piece of vinyl plastic. I drew up a design and the cut out the design. Using transfer paper I then applied the vinyl across to the aluminium. I was very pleased with the finished and the vinyl stuck well to the metal, showing that I could use this as a backup to the transfer ink.

The image shows the vinyl applied to the aluminium. The only problem I had was that there were a few air bubbles stuck in the vinyl which will have to be removed in order to create a high quality finish

Copper

The second metal that I tested was copper. This metal has a very different colour appearance compared to the aluminium. If the properties of both metals are similar it could come down to aesthetics such as colour when choosing which material to use as this will play a large part in the visual image of the room divider.

When experimenting with copper I used the same techniques as I did with the aluminium. Firstly I took a small strip and bent it with my hands. I was able to bend the copper back and forth showing that it must have similar properties to the aluminium. I also cut the copper using the metal cutters. Cutting this metal seemed to be harder than the aluminium as the copper would bend when the cutters were applied meaning that the shape of the piece I was trying to cut would change. This is due to the coppers pliability that the metal bends.

The second experiment that I carried out was to see whether the metal could hold vinyl. I copied the design that I had used on the aluminium and applied this to the copper, again the vinyl held well and looked good against the black vinyl used. Unlike the aluminium, with copper you can use enamelling to decorate the pieces of copper and apply different designs using grains of coloured sand. The enamelling process is explained later on in the portfolio. To do the enamelling I had to remove any impurities on the metal. To do this I used a blow torch and applied a blue flame to the metal. Not only did this clean the metal but it also added a nice heat effect to the piece. This could potentially be used on a final design to add aesthetics to the final piece.

You can see the heat rings formed on the surface of the copper, giving it a unique finish

The copper had the same characteristics as the aluminium when hitting it with a hammer

Plywood Plywood is a type of manufactured wood made from thin sheets of wood. These layers are glued together so that each layer is placed oppositely meaning the grains are lying the other way. Plywood is one of the most widely used wood products. It is flexible, relatively cheap, workable, recyclable, and can usually be locally manufactured. Plywood is a potential material that I could use in my project so I have carried out a few experiments on this type of wood. First of all I drew up a design onto a piece of ply. This was good to draw on as the pencil marks were clear and didn't rub off. I then used the Hegnar to cut out my shape. When doing this the material cut well and I was able to follow my lines without going off course. As I would be likely to be using ply if I chose to use the hinged design, I tested how well I could attach a hinge to the wood. The hinge worked well however the wood was not deep enough to hold the whole screw, so I had to rub down the screw end so that it was not sticking out.

Wood formingForming is a method of bending wood to create a curved shape. The first step is to create the former frame, to do this I cut out a curved template using scrap wood and then nailed cross joints to support the two sides. Two of these were made, both interlocking to each other so that it would create the bend. The next step was to prepare the wood. I took 3 thin sheets of birch wood and applied glue between each sheet. This is known as aero ply as it is flexible and can be bent to create desired curved shapes. This was the put into the former and the other half of the frame was applied to the top. This was then clamped together using two large clamps and left to dry. After 48 hours I then removed the clamps and the desired shaped wood was completed.

Medium density fibreboard MDF is a composite wood product, made out of wood waste fibres glued together with resin, heat, and pressure. MDF is very smooth because the wood fibres used in its manufacture are uniform and fine. It's this that makes it have low tear out, which means that when sawed, the end has a smooth cut instead of a jagged edge. This will be a good safety aspect if used on my product as it means the edges will be smooth and safe to touch. This also means that a coat of primer and a couple of coats of paint take well, leaving an attractive, finished surface unlike other composite wood products. As a large proportion of my wood will need to be painted this makes a suitable material to use on my product.

Industrial processes are procedures involving chemical or mechanical steps to aid in the manufacture of an item or items, usually carried out on a very large scale. Industrial processes are the key components of industry.

Butt jointThe joint is a very weak joint, formed by joining the end of one piece of timber against the surface of another piece. This type of joint can be strengthened by fitting a block in the corner of the joint, either square or triangle shaped. This adds extra support to the joint, preventing it from snapping easily.

Rebate jointA rebate joint increases the surface area in which one piece of timber is joined to another. This joint gives a stronger joint and also means that nails and screws can be used to connect both pieces. A small section of the timber is cut out using the likes of a Tenon saw and then the excess is removed using a chisel. This gives an accurate cut out for the other piece of timber to sit into.

Housing jointA channel in one piece of timber is cut out so that the second piece can sit into it. This joint is positioned within the length of timber and not at the end. The channel is then cut no deeper than a third into the wood. This channel is then chiselled out to create and accurate finish. This type of joint also allows a larger surface area for the glue to hold, making the joint stronger.

Mitre jointThis is where the ends of two lengths of timber are cut at a 45 degree angle to each other. This type of joint is mainly used for appearance as it only has one joint line right on the corner. This, like the but joint can also be reinforced by using a square or triangle block.

Pop rivetPop riveting is a process that is used to join pieces of metal and it can also be used to join plastic sheet. This is a possible technique I could use within my design as it means I could apply pieces of metal onto larger back pieces creating a 3d visual effect on the product. The rivet consists of two sections, the pin and the rivet. The two pieces of aluminium are drilled to a size slightly larger than the rivet and the rivet pushed into this gap. The rivet pliers are then pushed on to the pin of the rivet and the handles are pulled together. This results in the pin head being pulled into the rivet and the end of the rivet is expanded. The pin will then break off and the rivet will be firmly in place.

T-hinge This type of hinge is used mainly for garage and shed doors. It is screwed to the surface of the back of the door and the frame

Loose-pin butt hinge The pin can be withdrawn to separate the leaves, and remove the door easily. Decorative finials may be fitted at the top and bottom, and are unscrewed to release the pin. The hinges are usually made of brass.

Rising butt hinge rising butt hinges are an alternative to cutting a strip off the bottom of the door. The spiral in the knuckle of the hinge lifts the door as it opens, and also tends to close it. The door can easily be lifted off the hinges.

Cranked butt hinge A butt hinge that is made of folded pressed steel. It is cheaper but not as strong as other hinges. When fitted, the whole of the large knuckle projects from the face of the door and the frame. This can sometimes leave a gap between the panels as the hinges does not sit flush

Hinging techniques

Spray painting

Spray painting on a large scale requires the use of a spray gun to get an accurate and precise cover of paint onto the product. The paint colours are selected and mixed within a colour pot which is then connected to the spray gun. This gun applies a high pressure spray on the paint, allowing it to come out in an even coat. This process can be carried out by hand but for the likes of car manufacturing the paint is often applied using robots as they are a lot more accurate and consistent.

For the painting to be carried out this process must be completed in a well ventilated area. High quality safety mask must be worn in order to protect the individual from and lung or breathing related damage. The paint is then often heated to give the best quality finish to the material in which the paint is applied. A layer of lacquer can be used for a final coat to gloss and protect the surface.

Mood boardWhen creating my mood board I used a wide range of inspirational images to do with the theme of graffiti. I gathered several images with a range of aspects, from text to shapes and also a wide range of colours that I was attracted to. From this I will be able to create shapes and text to be used on my room divider.

Product analysisFrom my product analysis I now have an idea towards the size of other products on the market. This gave me ideas on size4s used for similar product and also the price they would sell for. I have also taken inspiration from the materials that are used along with the graphics and techniques of how they are designed and applied.

Client researchWhen researching the client and the webpage I was using, it helped to give me an idea of the range of products that attract young males. I feel my product would fit in very well with this webpage and it is the perfect client to have with the product that I am designing.

Processes researchFrom this research I now have an idea of the processes I will need to carry out. If I chose to used a curved room divider then the best option is to choose the forming method. This method will be a lot more time consuming as I will have to create the frame, which takes a lot more steps. The second option of the hinged divider will use mainly cutting processes, along with wood joining techniques.

Designer researchI was very inspired by the work of the designer Luis Alicandu. The likes of his furniture have provided me with ideas of what attracts buyers to graffiti styled products and the aspects they must contain to make them suitable for the market. I was also really interest in the colours he used on his products which may influence my final colour choice. Bright colours make the graffiti piece a lot more attractive.

Materials researchFrom the materials research carried out I am now able to determine what my product can be made from. The copper was durable and would work well on the product however I didn’t not like the colour as it wouldn’t match with the rest of my work. The aluminium had a much better appearance and would suit my product better. From the wood I tested, the plywood was very strong and easy to cut and shape. The aero ply took several steps to create however the outcome was more unique. Either material would work well, depending on the shape of the room divider I choose.

Design influencesThe design influences that I have taken have mainly been inspired by the work of Luis Alicandu. I have taken influence from the sheik, crisp appearance presented by all his product and hope that my product would fit in well with his portfolio of graffiti furniture.

Function and sizeThe function of the product is to create an area of privacy within a room. This product must stand upright by itself and cover an area of at least 300x170cm. This allows a body behind the screen to be covered in all the private areas. The market however is mainly aimed towards males and therefore the product could afford to be smaller in height as it is not as much of a issue. My product will be a quarter scale model and therefore will be considerably smaller.

CostThe cost of my product will be sold for around £400+, as I am aiming towards the higher end of the market. This also takes into consideration the cost of the lighting and materials that are going to be used with in the product. This price should be suitable as from my target market research buyers attracted to this product are likely to have money to spend on that extra bit of quality or style within a product.

MaterialsThe frame of the room divider will be constructed using 20mm birch wood. I have chosen to use this type of wood because it is very strong due to being a hard wood, and the grain on the wood also has a very nice appearance. I am aiming towards a high end market so I feel a good quality wood will really help sell the product. The boards will be created using ply wood as this also has a high quality appearance to it for the cost that it is. This wood will also hold a coating well and it is a nice product to work with. The lettering will be made using aluminium. I have chosen the aluminium over the copper as I much preferred the appearance and I felt that it held the primer and paint a lot better.

AestheticsAlthough this products main purpose in the market is functionality, my product will have a lot of aesthetics within it. The visual aspects will be very colourful and bright, inspired by my research into graffiti art. These will also be harmonising, allowing the colours to flow into each other. For the front lettering I have chosen to use a range of blue and purple colours, this will also include speckled paint on the front to give it an urban graffiti effect. I feel these work really well together and they also are very bright and eye catching. The shape of the frame will follow the outline of the graffiti text, as this is often the case for a background behind graffiti. This along with the backboard will be attached to the frame however this will not be visible. This will all be split into 3 separate panels allowing the frame to bend and project different visual interpretations depending on the position and angle it is viewed. A row of led lights will brighten the outline of the shape, giving the product a feel of energy along with the vibes of the bright colours. This will be connected using hinges which will be a silver colour to match the original colour of the aluminium metal. Target market

The target market I will be designing for will be young males between the ages of 16-30. This will be directed towards the trendy arty individuals of this category, living in the likes of a flat or studio. I hope that the aesthetics really appeal to this audience and it suits the lifestyle of the individual once complete.

SafetyThis product must be safe for consumers to use and therefore there are some aspects of the product that I must alter to meet this. The edges of each letter must be rounded off due to the fact that aluminium can be very sharp as experienced from testing of the material. The wires connecting the LEDs and battery must be safely stored within the frame to prevent the likes of an electric shock. This is a reason for using a few small batteries rather than I larger source of power as it means the product is safer. The product may have to include weight stickers warning the consumer that the product when at full scale will be very heavy due to the materials used and the size of the product.

Environmental impactThis product uses materials that do impact the environment. The processes in which the wood product are formed requires a lot of energy and chemicals to produce the final outcome. The LED’s in the product also require energy to be powered however this could be generated through the use of green energy. For future development the wood products may be changed to the likes of a wood product supplied from a sustainable resource, reducing the impact on the environment.

The first step of my initial ideas was to sketch out the basic room divider shapes to get an idea of what they look like and whether the style/design would meet the brief. The sketches are very basic however they gave me a starting point as to which designs appealed to me and which I could write off from the start.

Although this design looks very basic is a good design base for the divider. This is because it has a large surface area meaning that I can include a lot of graphics within this design. Possible materials for this could be to use a solid ply backboard or MDF, both suitable as they are chunky and will generate stability.

I really like the shape of this design as it makes the whole screen flow. This creates a unique shape and I am looking for a unique product to appeal to my target audience. This structure is best created using aero ply however this material is expensive and at this scale may not be suitable due to cost. I will carry out a design using this structure as I think it looks really cool.

This structure is a very common outline of the products on the market, with variations to the leg lengths and screen board sizes (dependant on style). I am not too keen on this design as I feel it will look to boring for the target audience I am aiming towards. The use of the legs could be a feature that I include however I think the structure is too square and boring for what I am after.

I really like this two panel design as it include a hinging technique that will enable the product to be stored. This also allows the product to stand without any extra support needed, which could be very useful in keeping it very crisps (brief stated). This screen also has a wide surface area in which to work with relating to design and graphics.

With the 5 panel this allows you to cover a wide area of a room however the screen must still cover the height of a body which in result will mean this room divider will be far too wide. I will not be continuing with this design as I don't think it will be practical.

This design has a very different take on the room screen. The majority of existing products are formed using vertical panels however this design is horizontal. This means that the product can be folded to half the size for the likes of storage or even just to cover a certain height in a room. I think this outcome will look very unique and could potentially work well.

This 3 piece design is one of my favourites out of these sketches as I feel it works really well. The two hinged sections allow stability as well as allowing the product to be folded up and stored. It also provides a large surface area to include other elements and aspects onto the products.

This final format of frame I think looks really good and it covers a wide area however it may have the same problem as the 5 panel design. This could be overcome by reducing the width of each panel and increasing the height but I feel the product may look a bit top heavy.

My first design was initially designed to look very chunky and bold. I feel I have succeeded in not only the frame but the colours used also help to give it this feel. The top of the room divider has been shaped to follow the top of the text, which is often seen in graffiti art through the use of text outline. The down side to this design is that because it is one large piece the product is not very user friendly as it would be hard to move or store. It is also likely to be very heavy as it would be made from a material such as oak, to give it a bold finish, but this material is very expensive and heavy. The other floor to this design is that it must be held up using legs as the straight frame will not support itself. This could affect the design and take away the high quality finish I am after. The colours really do stand out to me though so I may continue this aspect forward.

Ply wood frame

Sheet aluminium lettering

Sheet copper letters, sprayed blue and red

I think this initial idea has turned out really well. I think the bold colours make the product look visually very strong and appealing. The product is also very functional, covering a wide area and also splitting in half to allow easy storage. This two panel design will also allow the divider to stand easily, giving plenty of support and safety. This means that a thinner ply wood can be used, reducing the overall weight of the product.

2 piece panel

I would rate this design a 1/5 as I feel it does not meet the needs of my target audience. I tried to give a different effect to the product by making it appear to float however this will not be functional as you can see through it. I also think the wooden legs on the divider look out of place and the wood doesn't work with the graffiti style. The colours are also too boring for what I am wanting.

Blue acrylic plastic

Wooden legs allowing stability to divider

Birch stands 20mm

Darker sections will be sandblasted

Bright white ply backboard

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Ply wood back board 9mm

Interactive white board

Aluminium leg supports

Aluminium sheet metal, sprayed with blue and white paint.

I really like this design as I feel it has many attractive elements to the product. I really like the colour scheme and I feel the blue and green really stand out against the grey backboard, giving the letters ‘pop’. I also really like the whiteboard as this means the consumer is able to graffiti their own art onto the product. This design is also very functional as it cover the complete body when full erected and it also will store nicely as it can be reduced half in height.

The design is very different to the others as it means that I can create a range of different designs that can be inserted into the space. This gives the consumer variety and may make the product more visually appealing. I think the shape of the product however looks a bit boring for the style I am aiming towards.

Range of different panels, printed onto canvas

Solid ply wood frame

Sliders allowing canvas to fit into the frame

The colours in the design below really work well together as the contrast makes each aspect really stand out. This design will be divided into 3 panels, allowing good storage and support for the divider. The only problem is the frame may be too chunky and large to be put onto a ply frame. This may have to be in the more cheaper product area, using the likes of a canvas frame.

Plywood back board

Letters made from MDF board, giving a 3d effect to the text

Hinges connecting panels

4

5

6

This design is created using 5 separate ply wood panels, connected using hinges.

I am not very keen on the colours that I have chosen to use and feel that I would not continue using this combination of colours as I do not think they work well together

I feel that 5 panels is a bit too much and make the design look too fussy. The idea is to have a crisp and modern room divider however I don't think this works in this case.

The storage of this product is likely to be quite chunky as there will be 5 panels on top of each other, which might not make the room divider very user friendly.

This design was created using photo shop. Although it doesn’t look as crisp I hope the design is visible.

I really like the colours on this design as they are very bright and really stand out. Graffiti art is made up with lots of bright colours and I feel this matches this theme very well.

Due to the rough outline of the shape, a problem may be that the room divider may not stand too well. This could be a problem for safety so this will have to be taken into account.

The typography in this design flows with the shape of the room divider, making it look very smooth and well designed.

I also dislike the actually work used as I think it is very cheesy and I don't think this would satisfy the customer.

Acrylic letters

The letters will be mounted to a back board shown on the black, giving a 3d effect

I really like this design as I feel the text is relevant and very fun. It works well with a room divider as it may be one of the purchasing aspects to use it to change behind

The colours that I used in the design are very bright and the two colours work really well together. In my final design I may take the gold colour to add to small spots of my design, to show brightness on the text and to give in a visual effect.

Although I really like the boldness of the design, I think it might be too large to be a room divider. I think the design is too wide and may not fit into certain rooms, meaning there will be a floor in the market. Because the frame would have to be very chunky in order for it to stand by itself, it would mean that the product would be very heavy and impractical to move or handle.

Brass sheet giving the gold effect

7

8

9

This design took inspiration for the graffiti can in my mood board. I really liked the range of grey colours so I tried to keep the design simple but effective.

The frame is divided into 3 panels, allowing the room divider to stand without the need of any legs. This is also useful for storage however there may be a problem as the squares on the design may stick out too far for it to compact down to a movable size.

The square panels will be created using pieces of sheet aluminium and applying dyes to stain the metal different shades of grey. These will then be welded to one another and attached to the ply wood frame. The frame will also be painted white to create a stylish finish.

I really like this design however I feel it is too arty and doesn't really reflect true graffiti.

This initial idea is very different to the others as it consists of a curved piece of aero ply. This curve allows the frame to stand without any more support and it also means that the visual design flows very well. The problem with this design is that if the letters were to be made out of acrylic then this could be hard to get an accurate shape and allow them to sit well on the aero ply. I also think the text colours needs to be brighter like the foreground of the product.

Aero ply wood created in a former frame

Frame may be too big and bulky meaning that moving the product is difficult

Acrylic lettering

The design bellow consists of 3 panels however the centre piece is twice as large as the side piece. This means that you can close up the product for the likes of storage. When the panels are open this allows the frame to stand upright. I really like the bright colours used however I think the design is too cluttered and looks slightly over the top. To cover the height of a body the frame would have to be considerably higher and working at this scale if would mean the product would be far too wide.

Hinges connect each panel allowing them to open and close

MDF backboard, smooth surface allowing easier application of the graphics onto the panelHandle for

easy moving of the frame

10

11

12

I feel that this design has a good use of graffiti artwork however people may not be able to understand the design. It also has functional problems as it will not cover an entire body due to the gaps in the middle of the frame.

Aluminium legs

Aluminium backboard

Design sprayed on using a range of blue paints

I really like this design as the curved structure really gives the product a flow across the room it would be used within. The structure is very secure allowing it to stand well, as well as generating privacy for the user. I really like the bright blue colour used however I think there may be too much within the design as the two colours as there are look a bit boring together.

Aero ply fixed structure (created using a former) Aluminium lettering,

with sprayed on colouring

13

14

Google sketch up is a computer program allowing the design and development of a particular product to be experimented with and carried out. Using computer programs as apposed to hand drawings give a more accurate product with exact dimensions to scale. Here I have tried out some basic frame structure designs along with an attempt of lettering however I struggled to produce accurate drawings as some of my designs were very complex with several elements, making it hard to design using this program. My product also consisted of a unique lettering typography, yet this program does not include text so I had to experiment with the shapes to complete the lettering. After my first attempt the lettering was not anything like what I had wanted and anticipated and therefore I felt it would be easier to complete the designs using hand drawings.

Basic typography shape that I have experimented with.

Basic frame structure showing the layers of the boards and frames attached together

Idea number stability aesthetics materials shape colours Overall rating

1 5 4 4 4 3 20

2 4 3 3 4 3 17

3 2 2 1 3 2 10

4 4 4 3 4 4 19

5 5 3 2 4 4 18

6 3 3 3 1 2 12

7 4 1 2 2 1 10

8 4 4 3 4 4 19

9 2 3 2 4 4 15

10 4 4 3 3 3 17

11 4 2 3 3 3 15

12 4 3 4 4 3 18

13 3 2 3 3 3 15

14 4 3 4 5 3 19

Although I have reviewed each of my initial designs this table gives an overview of each idea and the best. This table represents a spider diagram for each idea and an overall rating of each design. Each aspect of the analysis will be a score out of 5.

From this analysis I have been able to decided on which initial ideas are likely to meet the brief really well and which designs are not suitable for this product. I will be choosing my top two designs and continuing with them onto further development to expand each design further to achieve the best product possible.

The design development section of my work will involve two of my initial design and develop each one with several new designs, based around the initial design. From this I will combine all design development ideas to produce a final design including all the best aspects of each drawings. This will mean that all my ideas can be shown and used within my final product.

My initial design began here with the word ‘GRAND’ featured on a solid frame. The aspects that I really liked in this are the colours and the rough outline at the top, which follows the text.

For my second development idea I took the aspects of the rough outline from my fist design and applied it all the way around the shape of the text. This resulted in a really uniquely shaped room divider. The only problem with this design is the gaps due to the shapes of the letter meaning that anything behind may become exposed. Although I liked the contrast of black and white I decided to try a different range of colours. I really like this aqua feel as it is bold and has coloured effects to it, using shading and enhanced light on the white sections.

To solve the problem of the gaps, my next development to the design consisted of making a backboard, that would be split into 3 panels hinged to one another. This also helped to find a solution to making the product stand, as well as making storage of the product is needed a lot easier and more space efficient. I have decided to stay with the colours of blue as I feel it gives an electric feel, like a lot of graffiti art work. As purple is next to blue in the colour wheel I felt the aqua could merge into this colour so I have included it within this design. I also like the fact that they all flow with one another, yet still look very bright and vibrant.

I have chosen to use a 25mm back flap hinge as after testing this is the most suitable for this design. This is because the hinge has a large surface area meaning that the point of contact on the frame is a good size, allowing a stronger fix.

I wasn't happy with the way that the solid panel looked on the drawings as I felt it overpowered the text and made the product look a bit bland. I have decided to remove this back panel bit still keep the hinged technique. I was really happy with the way it looked however it is the practicality that is a problem as you are still able to see through the product, which is no good for creating privacy in a room.

With no way of creating privacy without panelling off the gaps between the letters this lead to my next development design. As you can see i have included a panel, but this also follows the outline of the letters, as in my original idea. This achieves the privacy as it means the gaps are covered and it also means that the panel sits in discreetly without taking anything away from the letters. I think the 3 panels will be the best structure design as they allow a lot of support to the product and no horizontal legs are required on the bottom, taking away the sheik lines of the product.

Between the two panels I will be creating a frame in which the boards can be attached. This will give the design a solid structure and it will also means that the hinges will have a secure attaching into the hardwood. This frame will be made from birch wood as this is very durable and it has a nice finish to the surface. The frame will also mean that I can secure the LED lighting along a thin strip running along the top. The frame will be assembled using a mortise/housing joint, giving clean lines and high strength. The product will consist of 3 frames, one for each section of the room divider.

My development has led to this final design as shown below. I have decided to create a backboard, like the front board in the previous design however this section has been raised. This will allow the LED lighting to shine up the back of this panel creating a glow effect. As shown below I will be using a frame between the two panels. This will give the structure a body and allow plenty of support to the room divider. The frame dimensions will be lower that the panels so that it is discreet and hidden from view. I am really pleased with this final outcome and I think it has a lot of interesting elements that make the design very unique.

My initial design was inspired by an album cover that consisted of graffiti styled text on the front of the product. Using this inspiration I created a simple 2 piece room divider with high visual aspects. I really like this set up as well as it allows the frame to stand easily and it also works really well with the size of the letters. I like the colours however I do not think they are bright enough to continue with.

I felt that the colours of the original idea weren't bright enough in relation to graffiti so I decided to brighten up the colours. I am really happy with the structure of the frame so this has remained the same. I have also changed the style of the text to see how it compares to the original style.

I was still not happy with the colours so I decided to brighten it up even more. I have also added some white highlights to try to give the text more emphasis.

I still felt that after the colour alterations the design looked a bit bland, and graffiti is meant to look visually very exciting. I have added some black tribal to give it a bit more of an urban grime effect.

I am really pleased with the final development outcome of this initial design. I think the colours work really well together and the extra detail added give the text an urban feel. It also included spray brushes and graffiti tags common in graffiti art. The functionality of the stand works well as it creates privacy, it is practical to store and it looks very bold within the room it is placed.

The aspects of this design that I really liked was the bright blue colouring and the aluminium letters that would be applied using araldite. This process can be seen on the diagram to the right.

From my original design I have changed this design in a number of different ways. Instead of using a full blue colouring on the letters I have decided to use small bright splashes of the colour. This does not overpower the design, making it attractive to look at. I think the new design on the lettering gives the product a much more urban feel. I have also included a grill of metal along the bottom in which LED lighting will be placed behind. This will give a glow on the text making the lettering appear to light up. The grill at the front will also allow limited light to glow through.

This sketch shows the positioning of the LED lighting

My outcome here still consists of each aspect as shown before however I have decided to reduce the height of the grill as I felt it was covering too much of the lettering. I really like this outcome as I feel it has many urban aspects that fit into a smart, modern product.

From my final chosen development I now have a strong visual idea of the basic structure of the designs. From this I have mocked up some card board models to represent each design so that I can find out which will meet the specification and to which will also work well as a room divider.

I was really pleased with how this model turned out. As you can see it works well in providing privacy as the majority of the persons body is covered. One thing that I would changed would be to not allow the gaps in the bottom and keep the whole design solid so that you cant see through any area of the divider.

As you can see from the image this design would not be suitable for a room divider. Due to the large spaces this results in very little privacy. The height of the divider is not tall enough and the proportions do not go well together in contrast to the width of the structure.

Along with the cardboard models that I have produced, other modelling has been displayed within the experimentation of the project. I have modelled different joints suitable for the frame, along with modelling of wood and testing of aluminium by shaping different letters.

Dimensions for 1:4 scale model

315mm

440mm

315mm 310mm30mm

30mm

Frame working drawing. 2 x structure shown, 1 frame with width dimensions on the bottom.

Centre panel

Left panel

Right panel

Side dimensions of each frame and panels

One off possibly batch production

Materials and components

quantity cost

MDF board 3mm 450x1000mm £2.00

MDF board 9mm 410x980mm £3.50

Beech 20x20mm 2 meters approx. £3.00

Sheet aluminium 1500x3000mm £10

Flat base hinges 25mm

4 £6.70

screws 30 £1.50

Double sided sticky tape

300cm £3.00

LED light strip 3 £21

9v battery 3 £4

Manufacturing process

hazard How to control hazard

mortise Drill and handle Wear gogglesKeep area clear

cutting Beware of fingers and eyes

Wear goggles

filing Sharp edges Wear gloves if necessary

spraying Damage to lungs Well ventilated

gluing Marks surfaces Take care to get it in the right placeApply weight to get the best stick

Relevant quality standardsAfter each section of the flow diagram the product must be checked to ensure the product is of a high quality and is safe to use. The assessor must check the components for any sharp edges or glitches within the product from original plan that would need to be corrected and sorted. Only after each stage has been checked can the product continue down the manufacturing line.

TolerancesThe aluminium letters can have a tolerance of up to 2mm, this is because sanding and filing will reduce the edges of the metal.The frame has very little tolerance as this must be an exact size in order to fit the backboards properly. The MDF boards can have a tolerance of up to 3mm on the outer edge of the design however the areas attached to the frame must be measured with 1mm in order to fit well onto the frame structure.

Working drawingName of projectGraffiti room dividerTimescale14 weeksCompletion date14/4/2011

Product descriptionA room divider inspired by graffiti artwork, used as an interactive art piece yet still functional by providing an area of privacy within a room. The will be advertised and sold through the Awesomer webpage.

Health and safety• take care when handling with tools and machinery• dust masks must be worn when spraying paint onto the product• ensure goggles are worn when cutting materials on the Hegner or band saw• wear gloves and apron when handling undercoat

The prototype that I have created was design on a 1:4 scale model and therefore materials may have to be changed in order to achieve this full size model. The materials stated in the list will are for the amount of products I have used on my prototype, therefore a full scale production must increase the quantity and sizes by a scale of 4. In my evaluation I will pick up on factors that may affect these choices and changes due to the overall weight of the materials chosen.

Processes•CAD CAM•Plotter cutter•Hegner •Spraying•Mortise•Housing joint•Wet and dry

Equipment•Computer•Hegner saw•Band saw•Mortise machine•Birch wood•Wood glue•Chisel•Screw driver•Screws•Hinges•MDF board 3mm, 9mm•Aluminium

•Metal snips•Wet and dry paper•Abrasive paper•Drill•Plotter cutter•Marker pens•Spray paint blue, white purple•Wood undercoat (white)•Metal score•Ruler•Masking tape•Newspaper•Square•clamps

Birds eye view

Rear view

Dimensions shown on previous slide

See previous page for detailed working drawings

start

Measure lengths of birch to create frame.

Are they the correct length?

Apply template for cuts to birch Has a square been

used for accuracy?

Glue frame together and hold in clamp Is the frame square

in the clamp?

Cut aluminium out in the shape of the letters

Score outline of letters onto sheet aluminium

Is the cut accurate?

Is the outline visible?

Round off any sharp edges on the letters

Are they safe to touch?

Is the final letter high quality?

Make sure the paint does not bubble

Are there any drips forming?

Is there a consistent layer of primer?

Is the letter smooth and dust free?

Are they smooth with minor bumps?

Apply lacquer for the final coat for gloss finish

Heat to allow fast dry to the spray paint

Apply coloured spray to the aluminium

Removed film and prime visible face

Sand lightly using a fine wet and dry

Sand edges using wet and dry finis

h

Is it the right size?

Measure out front and back board template on ply wood

Are the smooth and ready to paint?

Is there an even coat of undercoat?

Is there a strong white finish with not marks?

Have they held the MDF well?

Are the screws flush?

Are they inline and each frame stands level?

Sand down all sections of both boards

Layer ply boards using white undercoat

Spray all sections using white finishing spray

Apply letters using strong double sided tape

Screw each ply board to correct frame section

Hinge frame together

Have I followed the lines accurately?

Cut ply wood using band saw and Hegnar

Apply LED lights and drill holes for wires Are wires hidden?

Do LEDs work?

Do they fit well and look discreet?

Apply pads to bottom to prevent ware of the ply and frame and damage to the floor

no

no

no

no

no

no

no

no

no

no

no

no

no

no

If step is complete continue to the next square, if no go back

no

no

no

no

no

no

Computer-aided design is the use of computer technology for the process of design for a certain product. Computer aided manufacture is the process in which a design is made using a machine and computer to achieve this. I have included cad cam within my product for the use of graffiti on the backboard. Using 2d design I mocked up a graffiti template and then vectorised to allow the template to be cut. This data was then transferred to a plotter cutter (the cam process) and cut onto the vinyl. I think applied the piece of vinyl to the backboard and sprayed over the top, giving my piece a stencilled appearance.

Week

Work carried out Modifications to original plans

Risk assessment

1 The first week of my project consisted of creating the frame for my room divider. I measured out each length of the frame onto 20mm birch wood and marked my cut lines and drilling sections. Using a Hegnar and band saw I cut out the frame components. Each section was then glued and clamped to allow an accurate structure.

I had to change the positioning of the cross beams on the frame to allow the LED lights to fit along the top. This meant that I had to drop the top beam down the frame by around 30mm

• Goggles to be used when cutting the wood

2 I sketched up a new template with the correct sizes for each letter and then scribed the outline onto a sheet of aluminium. I made sure the letters were well placed so that as little as possible would be wasted. I then used metal snips to cut out each letter.

The letters had to be a slightly different shape in order to fit well onto the back boards. This took a bit of rearranging and the final outcome looks slightly different to originally planned, for the better

• When cutting the aluminium be aware of sharp edges• be cautious when cutting with metal snips

3 My lessons this week consisted of sanding the edges of each letter. I also had to cut the letters R and N in half so that the would fit onto the bends of the divider. To get the best finish on the edges I firstly filed all the edges.

Due to the fact that the printer could not print onto the aluminium it meant that I had to cut out more letters of the original aluminium used

• Take care when filing the rough edges

4 I continued to sand down the edges of the aluminium. Once each piece had been filed I used a coarse sand paper to get rid of any little bumps in the edges. I had not realised how long the aluminium was going to take.

No changes were made to initial plan • well ventilated area to prevent inhalation of aluminium particles

5 I moved onto using a much finer wet and dry paper on each of the edges, giving each piece a very smooth finish. The last step was to use a damp wet and dry on the letters. This gave a really smooth and polished finish to the metal.

No changes were made to initial plan • well ventilated area to prevent inhalation of aluminium particles

6 With all the edges smooth on my letters, it meant that I could begin to prime the aluminium. Using a fine wet a dry I smoothed the face of each letter and washed to remove any dust particles. I then sprayed each letter making sure of an even coat with no drips as this could distort the appearance. The following lesson I re sanded lightly and applied a final coat of primer.

No changes were made to initial plan • spray in a well ventilated area• use extractor fan

7 This week I prepared the front boards of MDF. I began by drawing out each template of the letters onto the wood. I then outline each of the letters which left me with the template for the cut out. This was then cut out on the band saw. The next lesson I sanded down the edges to get a smooth finish to the wood.

Due to cost factors I used MDF instead of the ply wood. This was because the MDF was half the price so I used this to save the school money. This factor will also reduce the final overall cost of the product.

• make sure area is well ventilated, MDF dust can be dangerous

Week

Work carried out Modifications to original plans Risk assessment

8 This week consisted of working on the backboard of the product. Using the outline of my front boards I sketched an outline onto the 3mm MDF. I then extended this line 30mm outwards in order to get the raised backboard effect. I then cut the outline using a Hegnar and sanded the edges to achieve a smooth finish.

I decided that the back board would look better if it was raised, allowing the light to glow up this piece. This meant that I had to extend the template 30mm in each direction.

• goggles must be worn when using the Hegnar • take caution when cutting

9 This week I have been undercoating each board. Once they were all smooth and sanded I began to coat them in white undercoat. This took the whole week to complete as I had to allow time to dry before adding another layer to each piece. I wanted the appearance to look very smooth and crisp so in between each layer I would sand the wood so that I could apply the paint evenly on the smooth surface.

No changes were made to initial plan • irritates skin

10 After all the boards were dry this meant that I could spray the back boards in their final coat. I gave each piece a final sanding and then applied a white finishing coat to each piece. This was then left to dry and covered to prevent any marking.

To add a more visual effect to the room divider I have decided to graffiti all the backboard. This also means that the product can be more interactive and consumers can add graffiti to these boards.

•must be sprayed in a well ventilated area• wear a dust mask

11 I went back to work in relation to my letters. As it was getting close to final assembly I had to spray the letters before they would be applied to the board. Using the blue and purple paints I sprayed out my design onto the aluminium. I left time between each coat for the paint to dry, and I connected up a heater system in my shed to allow a faster heat treated dry. Once the main coats were on I then added speckles of paint to give the piece a graffiti effect. This was then lacquered to gloss the finish and to prevent the paint from flaking.

As the design was applied using free hand there will be slight changes and variations to the original designs. the speckled effect and the end consisted of more different colours that stated in the development.

• must be sprayed in a well ventilated area• wear a dust mask• Aluminium can get very hot

12 The next step consists of hinging the frame together. I first of all marked out where the drill holes needed to be and then measured the diameter of the screw. I then used a small drill bit in order for the screw to go in easily yet still hold the wood very well. I then applied the hinges to the correct places and screwed them down using a flat headed screw driver. I had to be careful to make sure the screw didn’t slip as this could distort the head.

The original hinges chosen were not suitable for the frame as they were not long enough in length. This meant that I had to change my hinges to a butt styled design in order for them to support the frame.

• take care when using the drill

13 With the frame hinged together this meant that I could apply the LED strips and connect the wires to all 3 sections of the frame. With the frame hinged it also meant that I could visualize easily where the wires should run so that they would not get in the way. Using a solder iron I connected up the circuit. I then fed the wires through the drilled holes into the frame so that they would be hidden between the two boards when attached. I then applied a switch to the circuit and connected in up to the batteries so that the LEDs could be powered.

The LED strips arrived later than planned so it meant that I had been delayed from my project plan by a few lessons.

• soldering iron can become very hot• safety goggles should be worn

14 The final week of the project was tying everything together. With the frame wired up I was then able to screw the front boards onto the frame, and stick the smaller boards on using araldite. I drilled holes into the boards making sure that they were in areas hidden behind the letters and then screwed each piece onto the frame. I then applied the letters to the front using double sided sticky tape. I had to make sure they were perfectly aligned or else I wouldn’t be able to get them back off.

With the frame being assembled I recognised that the back looked a bit bare so I removed the panels and decided to draw different types of graffiti text and images on the back. This meant that I ran slightly over the time schedule of 14 weeks however i think this addition has really benefitted the design

• take care when using the drill• watch surfaces when gluing

Whilst creating my product I came up with the idea of making the product more interactive. The large blank space on the back of the room screen was grabbing my attention for something to happen on it. Although I like the crisp appearance the white gave I thought it looked slightly boring. I decided to graffiti the back board, in smaller fonts with a range of bright colours. This too can also be added by the purchaser of the room divider and will allow them to add graffiti art to the piece. This really adds to the product as it makes it an interactive art piece, as well as a fully functional room divider.

A second problem that I had during this project involved the back MDF boards. I had taken these sections home to apply a layer of undercoat over one weekend. To help protect them when transporting them back to school I wrapped them in newspaper however due to the pressure of the MDF being contained in a folder this meant that the newspaper stuck to the board. Although this gave a unique effect I had to change it back to the original final design I had created. This meant that I had to strip down the whole board to remove all the newspaper. I also had to re sand both sides and apply more undercoat to each of the 3 panels. This set me back from my project timescale.

One of the first problems I encountered was in relation with the lettering. Originally I had planned to use a different type of aluminium for the R and the N in my word ‘grand’. This other type of aluminium allowed you to print a design onto the face of the metal. The only problem was the fact that the printer was thought to have been able to do this yet it was the wrong type. This meant that I had to go back to using the thicker sheet aluminium. Thinking that I wasn't going to use the spare letters I had done a practise spray so the letters already had paint applied. This meant that I had to strip down the piece and re prime ready for the second spray. These two letters have a lightly different finish due to the number of coats and the need to re sand them down.

The hinges holding both frames together had a slight overhang on one of the frames due to the positioning of the MDF boards. To overcome this problem I had to score a line marking the area that was sticking out, removed the hinges and then sand them down using a disc sander. I then used a small piece of wet and try to make sure the edges were smooth and safe to touch. I think screwed the hinges back onto the frame and checked that the edge was flush with the edge of the aluminium lettering.

Originally I was unaware of which hinges to use on the product as the range available was very large. I has initially thought of using flush hinges however after testing on my product I found that they did not sit well on the product due to the fact that the aluminium lettering got in the way, and it also meant that the pivot of the hinge would not position in the most suitable spot on the frame. This was the reason why I changed to using a butt hinges as this gave a large contact area on the frame and it also meant that not of the boards would be affected by the hinging of each section.

One minor problem that I have with my product is to do with the storage. One of the panels does not close flush to the other frame due to the positioning of one of the light switches. The problem occurred as the only place suitable for the switch was towards the hinged side of the frame and therefore when it is shut it will not go all the way back due to the fact that the switch is in the way. This problem however is very minor because the likely hood of storing this product is very slim as it is most likely to be stood in a room. When opened out as well this switch has no effect on the structure or visual aspects of the frame, which is why this is a very minor problem.

The final product succeeds the criteria in which it was initially designed for. The room divider allows the consumer to generate and area of privacy as well as display a visual art piece within a studio flat or room. Although it is very different to other products on the market this product still feels in place and works well with its function. Initial thoughts may think that the product is a bit over the top for a room divider but it was designed to be a visual art piece within a functional item and it also reflects the personalities of the target audience who are likely to purchase the product. I think I have really met the expectations of the target market as the product I have produced contains many aspects in which really appeal to the likes of these consumers. The graphics are very urban, with a lot of inspiration from graffiti artwork and therefore many young males would be very appealed to these types of aspects.

Visually the product looks really good. Overall I think this is the best aspect of the product as the artwork on both sides of the product are really attractive and very eye-catching. The product stands well and relates to existing room divider products on the market. It would be easily recognised as a room divider as it stands on three panels each with the bend of around 45 degrees allowing the frame to stand. The white background works very well giving a crisp appearance that makes the product feel very high end. I also think that it takes away from the actually size of the product which is very good as it will mean that the product is not overpowering the room it is displayed within.

The finished product has been constructed with a high amount of strength. The beech frame gives the overall product its core support and strength, as this is where the bulk of the components is attached to. The boards are held on very well with a high amount of strength as they have been tightly screwed, and the smaller panels have been glued using araldite. The weight of the product also really helps with the overall stability and strength, allowing it to stand strong even with tremors within the room.

The original design brief given by the company the Awesomer was to create a stylish new room divider that was both functional and aesthetical. I feel that I have achieved this brief as I have produced a 1:4 scale model that will cover the majority of a human body and stand upright on its own as well as being easily storable when not in use, meeting all the functional criteria. The product also consists of many visual aspects with relation to graffiti artwork that really matches the style of people buying products from this webpage. Changes that I have made to the product have been to include lighting within the design which I think has added to the ergonomics of the product and gives the piece a buzz of energy in addition to the colours used. I feel my final outcome is what the company was looking for and I think it will fit in very well.

The overall feedback from the target market is very positive. Many of the assessors thought that the product was very unique and completely different to anything available on the market. The main positive aspects were that the loved the colours used and the creativeness within the design.

The questionnaire was carried out by my class peers, however it would have been better if I could have surveyed a larger range of my target audience. I was very pleased with what they thought of my product and although the room divider was aimed towards the males market two females surveyed really liked it.

The best responses that I received from the questionnaire was in relation to the graphics on the product. These took a very long time to produce so I am very happy that this really appeals to the target market and consumers. I think the colours I have chosen within them really work well together and by adding a few small sections with the same colour as the aluminium letters design, this really helps the overall design of the project flow.

The prices of my product will be at a high end price on the market which I thought may cause a problem as my target market may not be fully able to afford this kind of product. The feedback from my peers was that the product would last a lifetime and therefore this short term expensive cost will last for the rest of their lives.

Processes, functionality, appearance

Existing product My product

Target market The target market for this product is likely to range between the ages of 30-60 attracting an older age of consumers on the market. People who are likely to have settled down in a house.

The target market for my product was aimed towards young males, between the ages of 16 to 30 years old

Main material structure

The main frame structure is made from solid wood, with polypropylene plastic

The main structure of my frame is created using a birch frame and MDF boards

stability The 3 panel structure allows this screen to stand sturdy. The overall weight of 18.2kg will also help keep the product in place

The thickness and weight will keep my screen very sturdy on the ground. The 3 panels will also help to achieve this.

colours The colours used in the design are very limited. The has been kept very minimalistic due to the alteration in target market. This is because consumers want a modern touch yet a discreet room screen.

The colours within my product are very bright and aesthetically pleasing.

hinges This product uses a butt hinge which has been cut into the frame panels to allow a flush finish. They have also been sprayed black to match the colour of the main structure

I have chosen a 25mm back flap hinge x 4This gives a strong joint to the frame as well as allowing the frame to fold right up

cost £80.68 IKEA price £400+

quality This quality has been made for a budget room divider, yet has been completed to a high quality. The frame is visually very sheik and the panels all fit very well within one another.

The overall finish of my product it to a high standard.

Decorative techniques

This product has been kept minimalistic and therefore has very limited decorative techniques.

I have included a range of decorative techniques including LED lighting, and aluminium letter farceur and graffiti graphics created using marker pens

Value for money This product gives the consumer good value for money. It has a high quality appearance and uses materials suitable for the screen. The cost has been kept low using a cheaper source of materials as well as little extra detail to the product

My product is relatively good value for money considering the materials used and the time scale it has taken to create and finish the extra detail (graphics on the back) the product include high end materials and the cost of paint is also very expensive. The high quality features and finishes means that the consumer is receiving good value for their money.

Although the two products are very different to each other they both have some very good aspects in which make them really work and sell. The product I have created is also only a quarter scale model so the final price will only be fully finalised if this design is created at a commercial scale. If feel the value for money is there it is just a few changes and improvements needed to finalise this area. In order to improve the overall quality I would need to spray my letters using a spray gun as this will give a much stronger finish. Due to the resources as well it means that I could not get another sheet of aluminium after the change of my letter (as stated in problems and changes section). To improve the final finish of the aluminium I would have used a new piece of aluminium rather than sanding off the old paint which resulted in a rougher finish with blemishes to the surface. Because I cut the MDF using a hegnar it also meant that the outer edge of each panel has a few facial indents. This needs to be sanded right down in order to get a very smooth finish on the MDF. I had left these as I felt that when I was sanding this wood it was making the surface very rough and I didn't want this to affect the painting surface.

Specification point test result

Aesthetics I have carried out a questionnaire in order to find out if the final product is visually appealing to the target market

The overall view of the aesthetics had a great response and everyone really liked the colours, shape, style and materials used on the room divider.

Health and safety I have fully checked each aspect of my product to check that it is safe for consumer use. My main focus was on how well it stands, whether the electric components were safely stored and whether the edges of the metal were safe to touch.

After checking each of the components I can clarify that my product is safe to use. I have made sure that all the wires are stored within the design, and I have also insulated each solder joint on the wires. The product I very stable and therefore this is safe to use in a room as it is very likely to collapse unless a large amount of stress is applied to the screen. When preparing the aluminium I made sure that each edge was smooth to touch before it was even assembled to the product so this area is very safe.

Function and size This test was carried out using small models, these to being 1:4 scale of a human body. Using this enabled me to see whether the product would cover the body and whether the size dimensions were the best to use for this room divider.

The overall size of the product was perfect however there was a slight problem with a small aspect of functionality. This is due to the fact that I had to change to use butt hinges and therefore you are able to see through a small area between the frames. This would reduce privacy however this isn't likely to be an issue as the user can still be fully covered when stood behind the panels.

I have carried out testing on my product, within each area of the design to make sure that it is suitable for use on the market. This table shows the area I was testing, what I did and the result I got back from the testing I had done. With the other aspects of the specification it required me to personally view and asses the product rather than carry out a test on the product.

The materials as stated in the original specification have more or less been the final products used within my outcome. The frame has been created using the beech wood, however after experimenting I did have a change of thought as to whether to use ply for the wood instead of MDF. This however has not been the case as the ply was twice as expensive, and the MDF gave the better finish, therefore making it the better product to use. I am really pleased I chose to use the aluminium rather than the copper as I feel the colour of the metal, although it cannot be seen works better with the colours. The aluminium also seemed to hold the paint more and I had more experience with painting onto aluminium rather than the copper.

The environmental impact of the product overall is lower than I had initially expected from the specification. When choosing and applying the LED lighting I chose a top end product as this meant that the lights would last for more than 10,000 hours, making the one off purchase very sustainable. These were also powered by a low voltage battery with can be rechargeable and therefore efficient to use within the product. The MDF will still have a large impact caused by the processes that the product goes through in order to be formed, yet the timber side of the wood can be made sustainable by re planting trees when a single tree is taken from the ground. This will make the life cycle of the wood material more efficient and sustainable for the future.

Initially I thought that the product would cost in the range of £400, however I think that the final product could potentially rise even higher due to the certain materials chosen. Because I was designing the product at a 1:4 scale model, the actual materials chosen may need to be altered in order to work well within the product. This may require using a stronger board wood such as ply in order for the room divider to stand well. Using the thin MDF may reduce the strength is there is a large overhang of the material on the likes of the top, which could cause the wood split and snap off. This change in material could increase the cost of the product dramatically.

On the whole I am really pleased with my final product. The quality that has been produced is to a very high standard for a prototype model and I feel this extra quality to detail has really helped to improve the overall finish of the product. The materials that I had chosen have worked well within the product and have performed to very high standards. My favourite aspects of my design are the use of the lighting as I feel this gives the product a very unique effect and I am also very pleased with the graphics displayed on the product.

There are a few changes that could be made in order to improve this product, the first being to reduce the gap between each frame, allowing more privacy from a wide range of area behind the screen. Other changes that the reviewers recommended was to spray the hinges a different colour in order to flow more with the design. This would be a very easy step which is worth doing as this small aspects could really change a buyers impression on the product. Another issue is the overall cost of the product. I had underestimated how much my target audience actually earn and therefore they may not be able to afford my product. This may need some alterations within the material choices in order to reduce the overall cost of production yet from my comments I feel that this product may be able to extend from my initial target audience to a much broader range of consumers as there has been a large amount of interest created.

I feel I have met most of the design and manufacturing specification, with a few alterations as to be expected though, when design a prototype model. The aesthetics have turned out and more with the extra backboard graphics added into the design later on in the process. I have stuck to the materials I had initially planned to use however due to the cost of the ply that I had wanted to use I decided to go for MDF as it was considerably cheaper, yet still gave a good finish to the product. The safety and structure side of the product have been completed to my specification as all the precautions have been carried out and no more extra changes have been needed to be made in order to meet this. In relation to the processes I have stuck closely to the methods I had planned on using. A lot of the woodwork consisted of the tested methods and the aluminium lettering was completed using the small scale tools in order to get a good finish on the size of metal I was using. The only changes that have had to have been made to the manufacturing specification is the hinging technique. If further development is carried out on this product I think the hinging method would be an improved method. A possible solution could be to use the reverse hinges allowing the design to twist either way. This could not be carried out or tested on my model as they were too heavy duty, however this may be a possible solution worth testing on a full scale model.

If this product is to reach commercial scale the process in which the product would be created would be very different to the processes I carried out. For the aluminium lettering this would be laser cut. The template for each letter would be arrange to a very tight fit, meaning that the cut will be very efficient resulting in minimum waste. The laser cut also means that there is no need for filing or sanding to the metal as the cut gives a very crisp edge to the material. This would save a lot of time as the filing and sanding of my letters consisted of several weeks work. The spraying of the aluminium would be carried out using a high pressure spray gun or if this is to be made on a very large scale the use of robots may be appropriate. The MDF board will be cut in a well ventilated room as the dust particles can be very dangerous. This outline is also likely to be cut using a computer in order to get the most accurate finish to the product. At a commercial scale the graphics for the back of my product will not be hand draw as this takes many hours of labour and will really up the price for the product. The frame, lights and hinges are likely to be assembled in the same way as these require more technical hands on work to get the best finish. The frame also needs to be put into and taken out of a clamp.

The most suitable production methods to carry this out would be through the use of CAD CAM and then hands on labour to assemble and finish off the product. The reason why CAD CAM is likely to be the best production methods for each step is that it give a very high quality finish and also saves a lot of time. Although machinery and technology is expensive if they do invest in the likes of this it will increase efficiency and means that overall they can produce a lot more products to sell. If this product at a commercial is only produced in batch then this is not necessary and the best production method will be to fabricate the product manually. This will still give a high quality finish if time and care is taken and it also means that it can be produced with basic technology. As I would see my product at a batch sale level I think the second option is most suitable for producing the product commercially.

Changes to the design would be in the area of the graphics. These were applied freehand on my design however at commercial scale these would be best off printed onto the product. Because some of my work consisted of spraying this will have to be altered to work with inks for the printing. Another change that would need to be made would be the size and scaling of the product. I have produced a 1:4 scale model and therefore sizes will be very different. This will means that changes to materials may need to be altered depending on which sizes are available and whether they are suitable to use.

Front view rear view side view

Birds eye view Illuminated outcome storage

www.dafont.comwww.technologystudent.comwww.wikipedia.orgwww.coroflot.comwww.theawesomer.comwww.banksy.comwww.davidchoe.comwww.behance.net