Portfolio: Puzzle Desks

Aslyn Mattson
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In offices, homes, and schools around the world, there is a need for desks that can function as individual workspaces and connect to form a table for group collaboration. In my design, I sought to accomplish this with added creativity in the shape of the furniture. After going through several iterations and different designs, I choose my jigsaw puzzle design; square desks in the shape of puzzle pieces that connect perfectly to one another in any shape or number of desks to form a whole table. 
    With help from a representative from NuVu, I created 2-inch models of the desks in Rhinoceros3D and laser cut them from 1/8th inch thick wood. After putting them together, I realized there was a design flaw, and I corrected this in my next design in order to add more support and even stability to the top of the desks. My final project is about 1 foot in size on the top and stands about 1 foot from the ground. It is stable and is able to support the weight of a laptop and textbooks. I was planning to make it at full scale, but due to lack of thicker wood and limited time with the laser cutter, I was unable to do so. 
    Based on feedback from teachers and members of the community on Innovation Studio night, I believe that these puzzle desks were a success. At full size, they could have a place in children’s hospitals or elementary schools, as the creative jigsaw puzzle design especially appeals to children. They could also have a place in offices and homes as a connective piece between individual work and group collaboration.