Ceramic Cream & Sugar vessels

Image above: Ceramic nesting cream and sugar vessels (the two vessels on the stove presented) in context.
Process: Rhinoceros model, 3D printed, sanded, filled and sealed, ceramic slipcasted after creating a negative mold from the positive refined 3D printed model, Bisque fired, and glaze fired.
Image below: Negative molds of cream and sugar vessel.

SCAD Senior Thesis

     Thesis: My goal is to design a light fixture for an upscale restaurant entryway incorporating research on current trends to enhance the customer's dining experience by creating an ambiance with an aesthetically pleasing, sculptural structure that also provides proper lighting. 

     This project is directed towards somebody who plans to co-open a restaurant in 2015. The aesthetic of the previous designer is similar to the W Hotel chains, Solera Bar (downtown Minneapolis), Tryg's restaurant (Minneapolis), Aria Hotel (Las Vegas), and the Cosmopolitan Hotel (Las Vegas).

Research, images, inspiration, and trends defining the aesthetics of my focus:

Conducting comparison research on ceiling lights from department brands, designers, and trending magazines, chandelier/ceiling light trends for spring 2014 appear to be radial birdcages, rhinestones, and draped chains that mimic fabric. House & Home magazines thoughts in January 2014 on chandelier trends were "bigger, more dramatic pieces that are sculptural, architectural, and jewelry-like." According to Milan furniture fair, the top trends of 2014 appear to be pieces of illusion, space-like objects, and weather extremities.

As an inspiration for my piece, I decided to look into large bodies of water such as oceans, waves, and the choppy fluidity array of motions.

Process concepts for execution of physical light fixture:

After prepping the files to get laser cut, I assembled the light fixture, carefully added the LED light string, and hung it with steal rod.

Perimeters of project:

Materials are colored and tinted Acrylic sheets and clear acrylic rods.

Thickness of acrylic is .125"(1/8"). Sheets are 24"x48". 48"x48" will fit into the large laser cutter and 18"x24" will fit into the small laser cutter at the SCAD digilab.
Order List:
2 Dark Gray
3 Light Gray
3 PinkPurple
1 PinkPurple mirror

Cost is irrelevant

Computer programs used: Rhinoceros, Photoshop, Google Blogger, search engines.

Budget is under $600.00

Environment is designed for a specific person planning to open a restaurant lounge in 2015. The theme as of spring 2014 is unknown, the decision is to use current trends and aesthetic of the previous interior designer.

Resources:

Images from Starwood Hotels and Resorts official website

Field study: Stayed overnight at W Hotel in downtown Atlanta Georgia (April 2014) to experience aesthetic and vibe first hand.

Field study: Experience various upper scale restaurants, note light fixture to table distances, observe and document how many light fixtures are hanging in house and bar area.-Images from Arteriors official website
House & Home publications.
Restoration Hardware official website.
Research on restaurant lighting codes and suggestions for light placement, current trends in chandeliers, hospitality entryway lighting and ambiance. 

Illustrations and Doodles

Hand drawn scanned doodles and patterns. 

'PDG' Logo

This logo was modeled with Rhinoceros for 'Panda Dev Group'.

Shoe models

'X' Candle Holder

The mold box was used to constrain the ren plug and save on materials. The Plug was designed, cut, sanded and sealed with acrylic spray so the Plug would come out of the plastic mold. After the mold was cured, I used exothermic liquid plastic Urethane to make the parts (image 2).

'X' Napkin ring Holder

These are napkin ring holders made with liquid urethane plastic, also designed to match with the 'X' shape tea light candle holders.
First, a box constructed out of Birch plywood and sealed with acrylic spray was built to hold the two part mold. A sealed Super Sculpy model of the part was constructed to keep the form of the mold used as the plug.

I then poured part one of the two part mold using Smooth on Mold Star 16 (liquid Silicone rubber). After it fully cured, I sprayed mold release, cut out notches, and poured the second part of the silicone rubber two part mold. The image below shows the two part mold in the open position after separation.

 Below are images of the finished napkin ring holders. Smooth Cast 325 (liquid plastic urethane), and 326 were used.

 Post processes included trimming the flashing, sanding the final pieces, and cleaning the mold before reuse.