Luke Shen


Resume
LinkedIn

Projects:

  1. MH3D Alpha SPECT Mini
  2. Snapdragon RS9V
  3. Pirarucu
  4. Himmelnest
  5. Nerf x The Witch From Mercury
  6. Plasso Forms

About
Hard Skills:

Sketching
Hand Prototyping
SolidWorks
Blender
Keyshot
Adobe Suite
DaVinci Resolve
Figma
PythonSoft Skills:

Teamwork
Communication
Systems Thinking
User Research

Rotational Form & Lighting Study: HimmelnestCollaborators:

Grace Huang
Duration:

3 weeksTools:

Lathe
Sewing Machine
Sand Paper
Materials:

Mahogany
Linen
Wood Glue
Cardboard
E26 Lightbulb

Task:In a team of 2, develop and model a form that rotates around one axis, and gives form through a profile.
Incorporate lighting functionality.

Shape the final form out of a 12” x 4” x 4” block of mahogany and linen.

Initial Sketching and Prototyping:

We individually sketched ideas on how to devlop the form. The linen needed to be sewn in a pleat pattern to rotate around our form.

Idea Pivoting:

Simultaneous to the sketching, we made physical prototypes to validate our process. 

Our original idea was to make a standing lamp. This would be accomplished with mahogany linen mahogany sandwich. However, we were limited by our material, with no way to hold the lamp up.

Next, we wanted to make a horizontal hand held lamp, with a twist interaction, but, he had no mechanical axle to rotate around.

Instead, we pivoted to a hanging lamp to maintain a vertical orientation aesthetic without blocking the lightbulb.

An axle would get in the way of the lightbulb

Physical Prototyping:

To visualize the  profile, we used Adobe Illustrator to mock up the shape to scale.

We measured the lightbulb socket and lightbulb provided to ensure clearance.

Final Design: 


Referencing the proportions of a coffin, we focused on an elegant silhouette with details up and down the form, reminiscent of traditional chinese lamps.

Many sketch iterations played with where the curves of the profile would peak.



Planning Manufacture:

Using styrene, we created a template to reference as we fabricated the form on the lathe.

We also provided lab drawings and measurements to assist our turning process.

We also created Adobe Illustrator files to lasercut our pleats for the linen.




Error Correction:

While turning the wood, we found out our block was off center. 

We adjusted our design to compensate for lost volume from the off center lightbulb socket.

Light Cover Manufacture:


The linen pieces were lasercut , ironed, then sewn together.

To ensure the linen would fit with the wood, a wire armature was bent and glued at the top and bottom of the light cover.



Bottom Piece Manufacture:

Top Piece Manufacture:



Assembly:


Final Shots:

Lamp Assembly and Disassembly:


Acknowledgements:

Thank you so much Grace for being an awesome partner! Check out her process here
lukeshen@andrew.cmu.eduBack to homeMore projects soon!
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