(Iteration 1-6 are tests of different materials)

Iteration 1: 

Scaled model of a tree made out of cardboard with spray foam in the shape of a human hugging the tree.

Iteration 2:

Pink foam stacked and layered over cardboard to create a textured feel when hugging

Iteration 3: 

Different sized balloons arrayed and pinned on a cardboard sheet.

Iteration 4:

Sprayfoam sprayed into a balloon instead of air

Iteration 5:

25" Vynil bag stuffed with cotton fluff

Iteration 6:

25" Vynil bag stuffed with feathers and heat sealed on the edges

Iteration 7 (Buttons):

Laser cut wood buttons in the shape of leafs and birds 

Iteration 8:

45" long Vinyl bag stuffed with feathers and tufted with heatsealed dots where the wood buttons would go. A flap with velcro was made in the back so that we could easily access the electronics

Iteration 9 (Housing for the electronics):

A box made with clear acrylic on the top and the rest white acrylic. The back has holes cut out for the batery and switch to be outside of the model

Iteration 10:

We made an acrylic piece that attached to the ends of the vynil bag. This piece has holes cut out so that string could fit through it. This would allow for the two ends to tie around a tree, much like a corsett

Iteration 11 (Final):

The electronics went inside the housing and we put that in the vynil bag. Then we stuffed it with feathers around the the heatsealed dots. This gave it the plushy look we wanted. 

Electronics Iteration:

Buzzer sound changed to make a different bird call noise. Vibration motor added that beats with the LED and acts as a heart. The LED is green instead of red.

In this one week studio, I wanted to create some kind of animation. I spent many hours brainstorming, and eventually I came up with diong a sequel to a past NuVu animation. I decided t animate white lines on top of live footage. I wanted the video to be a sort of introduction to NuVu that new students could watch to get a sense of what they're getting in to. I explored the design process and the different aspects of creating a project to find good scenes and activities to include in the movie. Trying to capture the spirit of NuVu in one week with a one-and-a-half minute video is not as simple as it might seem. NuVu's uniqueness and amazingness is not easily expressed in any form, and the oppurtunities the students get to explore so many different projects allows them to explore the limits of their openness and creativity.

This is a movie trying to capture the spirit of NuVu in the Spring of 2015. Each scene is also a step in the design process that all of NuVu's students explore in their time here. Scenes range from brainstorming and sketching to coding and documenting.

The overall goal of the Carousel Shelf is to design a dynamic storage system that serves as a learning tool to engage a child's motor skills and awareness in a playful way. The rotating capability of the shelf promotes independence in storing, organizing and retreiving their materials: no shelf is inaccessible. It also allows the child's mind to make connections between the crank and the pulley system, realizing one needs the other to move. Even if they don't realize this at first, they can still push down on the shelf, noticing that the rest of them move.

In the previous studio, Cece, Bryan, and Harper made a non-functional iteration of their overall hope of the shelf. When it came to choosing groups for the final project, Cece and Ryan realized that this project has potential to be significantly improved. Therefore, we decided to continue with this project. The original iteration consisted of an imcomplete shelf with yarn instead of the chain link.

To sum it up, each part of the shelf had their own separate iterations. Cece and Ryan's working process did not focus on everything at once, but more specifically one part of the shelf at a time. Firstly, the crank went through 4 iterations. The original design was pretty similar to the final results, but we constantly found slight problems while cutting the crank. The problems include incorrect diameter measurements and a non-filleted crank. 

Another part where we had seperate iterations was of the chain link and gear. The first iteration of the gear was nearly identical to the final iteration. The only part that we changed was that we made the edges smooth. This way, the chain link would run more smoothly. Our first iteration of the chain link was made out of cardboard and was connected by wire. The only decent part about this iterations was that the "links" were actually. We knew that this design needed much improvement, so we moved on to wood. The second iteration was much better than the previous. It was made out of wood and was much smoother than the first. The only problem was that the screws were too long and the shape of the link had to be slightly adjusted (for purposes of the gear). The final iterations is perfect. The screws are the perfect length, and the design of each link works well when running over the gear.

For the shelves themselves, we made 4 iterations. The first iteration was the box from the previous studio. The box worked fairly well, but the problems we discovered was that it was too long and needed to connect to the rest of the shelf in a better way. The second iteration was better than the previous. The length was perfect, but we still did not have a better way to put them on the shelf. For the third iteration, we thought about a better way and made a parabola type shape which would be placed above the box. We made the iteration out of cardboard and placed it on the box. For the final iteration, we made it out of wood and attached it to the smaller side of the box.

For an independent project we revisited an older project originally createdin the Montessori studio which CeCe was a part of. It was meant to be an interactive storage system that could serve as a space definer, storage, and learning tool for students. Our studio was inspired by montessori schools, and some of the main characteristics we wanted to incorporate were adaptability, multi-use, and intellectial stimulation. As the independent project week started we rethought the idea, so that the entire mechnism is now meant to be more of a toy than actual storage space. While objects can fit in the boxes, we took inspiration from other montessori toys such as object permanence boxes for the boxes on the carousel. Childeren can use each box on the carousel as its own object permanence box. Also, we wanted the shelf to be multi-use so that it could be used for entertainment and learning. The shelf can be moved by a hand crank so children would get the chance to work on fine moter skills, as well as problem solving skills. 

Our on-and-off work (the combined time was about two months) on this project has culminated in this latest iteration. At first, we were focused on the mechanism, and how to make the concept of an adaptive high heel come to life. We made a few different prototypes, but we liked the idea of the shoe constructed out of different parts, so the actual heel could fold down into the rest of the shoe, which would also create a unique, interesting design. We found a template for the outline of a high heel, and from that created a high heel in a modeling software called Rhino. The sole was split in two and hinged,  just below the toe, to make an easier (and possible) transition from low to high positions. The bottom of the heel component was hinged to the lower sole, so both pieces could move. The heel and upper sole were notched together, rather than hinged, but the notch we designed in this initial iteration was weak and not secure. The overall shape was also not stylish, uncomfortable, and led to a certain fragility that meant we didn’t feel safe walking on it.

With new knowledge on high heel design, we remodeled the notch and designed our own shoe shape. Where our first iteration was too skinny, this iteration was too big. Inspired by an actual human foot, it was more comfortable but still drastically lacking in style. Although we wanted to be distinct from a typical high heel, we also wanted our product to look as good as possible. The new notch was also much too tight, and required the user to pull at an unreasonable angle and with unreasonable strength. We also added slots to the side of the upper sole and base, for lacing straps.

For our spring independent project, we fixed the remaining problems, with a focus on making the heel user-friendly and beautiful. One of our more major accomplishments was the addition of straps, which took many iterations and adjustments in the design of the heel. We wanted the attachment method to be as discreet as possible, so we experimented with a lot of different methods for concealment. We were drawn to lacing the straps through the back of the heel, which is mostly not paid attention to. After trying horizontal slots, four slots, side slots, and slots that went through the heel entirely, we decided on simplicity: one vertical channel (which is the equivalent of two slots), and one slot in the base, which is mostly hidden in the new reveal.  Jenny Milwid, a professional leatherworker, came in to teach us about using leather and lend us her tools and high-quality leather. From there, we cut our own straps with holes and buckles, and made two for each shoe. We also redesigned the shape of the shoe to be both distinct and beautiful, and made a notch that can attach securely as well as detach easily.

We sought to solve the timeless problem of discomfort in high heel-wearers. Such discomfort often leads to intense pain and carrying a multitude of more comfortable shoes everywhere just to minimize wearing heels. Previous attempts at a changeable high heel have been either ugly or difficult to use. Our final iteration is composed mostly of three 3D-printed components that we created in Rhino, a modeling software. The heel and upper sole parts can notch securely together, as well as easily detach for a lowered position. The bottom of those parts are hinged to the base piece—which provides overall support and structure—to facilitate a more fluid downward motion. There are also two high-quality leather straps per shoe, which we fashioned ourselves with the help of Jenny Milwid, a professional leatherworker. Both straps are laced through a hidden slot in the back of the heel, and while the shorter strap wraps around the user's ankle, the other goes down the foot and through another hidden slot in the toe.

After the Hacking NuVu: Space studio we had previously participated in we returned to our project with several goals in mind. First, we decided that our frame should be re-cut and re-designed for thin wood. Our previous prototype, while incredibly sturdy, was too heavy and used an unnecessary amount of wood. Secondly, we made a bottom support piece too long and it interfered with the table legs. The other problems and goals were in regards to the modules. The tool module couldn't be brought back and forth from the shop because the tools weren't held securely enough. The laptop module needed to be bigger and the attachment element (what would hold onto the frame) needed to be much stronger. Finally, we decided to design an outlet module that would attach to an extension cord on the floor. 

When working on the attachment element of the laptop module we arrived at our current attachment design for all our modules. Previously, the overhangs that attached to the frame were constructed in a way that put most of the weight on the glue joints. We decided that designing the overhangs so that most of the weight was on the wood itself would create a much stronger attachment. You can see in the pictures above the tabs that come out from the side pieces, with one side having a 3mm notch for the frame it attaches to. We also added a new element to the frame: a middle divider that keeps the wood from warping. 

 Our goal for this studio was too design a quiet meeting area for the coaches to have meetings. It needed to be collapsable and shape around a klippan ikea love seat. 

We looked at many precedents online that were used as quiet/privacy areas but they all weren't adjustable and collapsable. We each presented two ideas for how it could adjust and collapse, in which he ultimately chose to final design out of our ideas. 

The idea that we went with was an expandable and adjustable spring loaded quite pod. It is made out of wood and it pops up out of the back of the couch to provide cover from behind. 

Iteration 1: Our first iteration was designing and exact scaled replica of the couch that will be used. We used Rhino to design the model and scale it down 1/10 of the exact size. It was crafted out of thin wood that was laser cut and put together using wood glue. This iteration served as a scale model that would help us in creating scaled models of the quiet space that surrounds that couch. The quiet space model for this iteration was built out of cardboard and wood slide up and down, which we found out later this was too simple and plain. 

Iteration 2: Our second iteration was scaled up 2/10 of the exact size of the eventual final product. This version of the couch was also laser cut but we used thick wood so it would be stronger and sturdier. The privacy part of this was much more thought out and planned. We used Rhino to make fine adjustments and render an exact scaled replica. They are mini stackable boxes that would piece together and provide cover or privacy all around you. This iteration served as a great start of where we wanted to take this project. 

Iteration 3: This was our third and final iteration. For this iteration we stuck with the 2/10 scaled model of the couch because we liked the size and the way it was built. The privacy part was a completely new design, which was chosen by Saeed out of our six that we presented him. This iteration was our final privacy design and was built using screws and springs. The wood frame sits in a box and it will swing out from behind and provide cover from both three sides of the couch.