Thesis

Pick Smith is a set of custom banjo picks, that provide support and style to the wearer. This project is a material study in metalworking and wearable supports, reimagining banjo picks through traditional metalsmithing techniques.

Pick smith is a project based on creating a set of banjo picks that will support my fingers as well as giving me the opportunity to learn traditional metalworking techniques at NuVu

Origionaly this project was just going to be a brace for my pinky is double joineted and supporting it would make playing less painful

After learning how to rivet and making some prototypes

I landed on this prototype, that did exactly what I needed it too. But there is much more i can do with this project, so i decided to make a full set of metal finger picks.

I started with my pointer and middle finger, the design of these aimed to stay true to a regular banjo pick but into the riveting to make sure the set was cohesive

Lastly I did the thumb. I chopped a plastic thumb pick in half and rivetted the plastic to a metal base that I made, and it came out like this

Final Photo

Final photo of project (delete this)

• I learned new metal working techniques that could be done here at NuVu for my future projects.

Reflections

• Finding a place to work at NuVu was difficult

FOundations for bringing metal into future nuvu projects

• The pinky brace works but will but will take time to get used to
• The picks are chunky because I only had a lower gauge brass to work with.

Thank You!

Thesis

Banjo playing requires precise finger control, which sometimes requires me to put lots of pressure on my pinky finger, this causes pain, which makes certain techniques difficult. This project aims to design a lightweight, ergonomic pinky brace that provides support without limiting movement, allowing for more comfortable and controlled playing.

Arthritis Splints

Hand Jewelry

Process

Sketching

Functional Lo-Fi

prototyping

Material and Craft Practice

Expansion

3D modeling

Material Prototyple

Product

Design Features

• Pinky brace
• Finger picks, and thumb pick
• Interconnection between parts

Next Steps

• Figuring out more ways this project can cater to different people needs
• Looking at different ends goals for this projects, how i can expand on this idea

Thank You

Problem

My Solution

Users

• Banjo Players
• People with finger pain
• People who play different instruments

Precedents