product design.

So, we have been asked to design and manufacture a product within the interior design of our spaces. 

I have opted to design and manufacture a shelf display unit for the Bridal Fitting Area. This unit will display items specifically selected for the bride, be it: dresses, shoes, jewelry and accessories.

I have followed a formula throughout the interior design process of the study, 2 parts of a whole. This is represented as female and male, ethereal and honest. The designer’s approach is derived from the typeface used in the corporate branding. This allows the designer to introduce the type throughout the interior spaces of The Wedding Collection. 

Using the word ‘style’ the designer has taken the form of the word as inspiration. This is then split into 2 parts:

1. the lettering is cut based on which section will best serve the purpose of being a shelf, while keeping the accents of the lettering

2. an additional piece is added to make the shelf further functional, see the figure below.

These 2 parts capture the essence of ethereal and honest through fixing methods and finishes. The top, ethereal section uses curved lines which expresses a feminine touch. Concealed fixing details which purposefully hides the way the unit is built (illusion), only to reflect the form. And has a reflective high gloss white 2K finish. While, the bottom section honest, uses straight lines which express the sense of predictability. Exposes fixing details portraying communication and the finish is a raw copper hanging rod, honest design at it’s core.

The idea of this unit is to convey a sense of illusion, of subtle communication, where the audience is given a hint of what might be without completing the picture.

Below I have included technical drawings of the style shelf, costing of the manufacture and photos of the manufacture process.

Front elevation (nts)

Plan  (nts)

Section AA (nts)

Fixing detail (nts)

Section BB (nts)

The technical drawings above indicate that the frame of the form is manufactured using 25mm x 25mm mild steel square tubing. This is then cladded using 6mm plywood which had been scored for the board to be more flexible around the curve of the lettering. The board is then glued and left overnight using clamps to manipulate the form. Once the outside has been clad in ply, the unit is sanded and sprayed white 2K. The bottom copper hanging rod is secured using a set of brass straight couples. Circled below in red. And the copper pipe is soldered to the elbows to complete the hanging mechanism.

The shelf unit is then fitted to the wall using 12mm steel RE bars, annotation 7. The bar is then set in position using epoxy.

Credit to Ben Collett and Andries de Ridder from The Works manufactured the unit!

Ideally this would be mounted to the wall using RE bars and epoxy (all concealed) The steel frame used to hold up the top shelf is temporary, only to show how the unit looks as one. Unfortunately we are not allowed to drill into the walls at university. Hence the make shift display. 

This unit will be 'rehomed' (and wall mounted) at Fischer By Design, in their sample library where it will be used to display a variety of samples.