During the design process, I was able to work with different pieces of equipment which I have never worked with and learnt new methods of production. Even though my partner and I had to remake the prototype a few times, our final product had a clean and nice finish.

Success Criteria:

• Make a product which shows energy transfer
• Complete the product on time 
• Make a product with the least amount of waste created
• Make the product aesthetically pleasing with a natural motif 

The above shows some of the success criteria, I think my product was able to fulfil all the criteria listed. The energy transfer is shown when the electrical potential energy is converted into the light and heat energy of the light bulb. Though we only had limited time, we completed making the lamp in time and we did not have much waste created as we switched to using the laser cutter method. Using a laser cutter to cut out the various shapes allowed us to not have additional or wasted parts of the plywood which led to a more environmentally friendly finish. We we also able to accomplish the last criterion, when my partner and I moulded the clay into a flower pattern and attached it to the wires connected to the bulb.

I think our final product meets the design specification we wrote at the start of the project. The flower pattern brings out the feminine energy of the product and brings tranquillity due to the natural idea. Adding on, energy transfer, the electrical potential to light energy,  was shown in the product which made our product successful. 

I was most proud of planning and constructing the idea before starting with the practical. I believe preparation contributed a huger part to the success of the project. Without preparing and planning and drawing the blueprint of the product, I would not know what and how I would be constructing the different pieces of work. Another thing I am proud of is when I was given the chance to solder. I have done soldering in the past but it has been a long period and at first, I was scared I would mess it up but with care and focus, I was able to effortlessly solder my wires. 

The most challenging thing in my opinion was figuring out the laser cutting machine and the software used for laser cutting. I was not familiar with the software so I had to ask other students for help and precise measurements were needed in order for us to laser cut exactly.

Overall, I had an enjoyable time making my product and I appreciate how I was able to work with different pieces of equipment in the design centre. Next time, I would like to make something else which requires different energy to be transferred in order to work. 

Improvements to be made:

In order for the wooden base of the lamp to have a more clean ditch/ hole, I decided I should change the method of making the base. The current problem of the failure was mainly the lack of height of the wooden block used and the method and lack of skills to use the different pieces of equipment. 

To resolve this issue, my partner and I decided to stack 5mm thick plywood together. For the shapes, we would use a laser cutter to cut out all the pieces which would ensure a smooth and even finish. 

Other than the main body of the base, it was also important for us to consider where to place the light switch as we know from the previous prototype, placing it inside the base was not the most essential idea. Our solution for this was to put the switch on the outside of the wooden base and have 1mm thickness plywood surround the switch, forming a box-like structure. This would allow a cleaner and prettier final product. 

Practical:

Before getting all the pieces laser cut, we first needed to collect accurate measurements of the switch and where to drill the holes in. Though this took some amount of time, we were able to focus and get the measurements using a ruler. We then created our shapes on our MacBook and had them laser-cut. In order to not mess up with real wood we made an easy prototype with cardboard at first and constructed all the pieces with a hot glue gun. After seeing the product’s structure work we then proceeded to laser cut the wooden pieces. When all parts were connected and attached our next step was to solder all the wires with the light switch and the LED bulb. I found this step slightly challenging and it was important to not lose concentration during the process as I was handling a piece of extremely high-temperature equipment. Finally, when all the parts were constructed, our last step was to decorate and make a floral pattern with clay to match our original aim of the product.  

Feedback from others:

• The design teacher gave us the idea of stacking up plywood pieces instead of using one thick piece of wood. This allowed us to change how we made our product and impacted our final product in a positive way. 
• Student feedbacks: “The design at the bottom is very cool, I love how you dig a hole for the battery”, “I really like the design”, “Clean design”. Some changes I can make with my product is “add more colour”.

Cardboard Prototype:

Final Product:

Before starting with my practical tasks, I looked into some constraints and safety considerations.

Constraints:
– Limited number of lessons to work on (time management skills would be essential)
– Limited range of materials provided
– Lack of technical skills

Safety Considerations:
– Be cautious with all the pieces of equipment
– Do not disturb others when they are handling pieces of equipment
– Do not harm others with pieces of equipment
– Ask teachers for support with “supervision needed” pieces of equipment

Moving on, my partner and I roughly sketched up our idea once again with clear measurements and then collected our materials.
The materials we collected included, a 15mm thick wooden board, battery, battery compartment, switch, wires, and light bulb.

Measurements:
– Diameter of base – 75mm
– Height of base – 15mm

Procedure:
1. Cut the wooden board into the desired size. We asked staff to help cut the circle shape out using, a bench drilling machine.
2. Drill two wire holes down the cutout circle wooden base. This step was completed using a hand drill.
3. Carve one compartment on the bottom of the base and one on the side. The bottom compartment was for the battery and the side compartment was for the light switch. We were planning to insert the light switch on the side of the wooden base so we also needed to connect the two carved compartments. However, the lack of height off the wooden base and the uneven carving, made the wooden base look uneven and aesthetically unpleasant. Adding on, the inside of the carved wooden base was rough which made it difficult for wires to pass through.
4. We stopped with the practical first and looked into some mistakes and where we could improve for our next prototype.

Picture of First Prototype:

.     

As shown in the above images, the edges of the carving were not necessarily smooth and were not aesthetically pleasing.

What is the purpose of your device/ toy, how does it function and who is your user?

The purpose would be to create a product that can convert energy. To fulfil this purpose, I am considering making a bedroom lamp where the chemical potential energy in the battery converts to electrical energy and to the light and heat energy of the light bulb. My intended audience would be people who need small-size bedroom lamps as the lamps would not necessarily be bright. Since I am installing a floral design, the overall product would lean towards a feminine preference.

What is the environmental impact of your product and is it durable and safe?

There will be wires and electrical circuits installed in the product, in order to prevent electrical shocks, the wires would be covered and hidden inside the base of the product. To ensure the electrical potential energy effortlessly flow through the circuit, I will be ensuring the light circuit is completed leaving no gaps or spaces. Some materials used can also be recycled such as the wood I will be using to build the base of the lamp.

What precedents inspired you? What did you take away from them & how did it inform your choices?

While looking for ideas online, I came across some existing lamps, one of which was a mushroom lamp. The lamp’s use of tiny light bulbs and characteristic mushroom forms gave it a distinctive and attractive appearance. The aesthetics and the exterior design need to be prioritized because I wanted my finished product to be a little bedroom lamp that could be utilized as a home décor. I liked the mushroom design’s use of a natural motif and wanted to incorporate a similar theme into my own product. This eventually inspired the floral shape I will use for the lamp.

How are you making your product original and/ or using creativity? 

I am incorporating floral designs in my lamp which makes my lamp unique and different from other existing lamps. As mentioned earlier on, the floral design could be slightly more favourable for feminine choices, however, I think including a natural element in the design could bring a sense of tranquillity and relaxation.

Picture of Existing Product: (mushroom lamp)