Brief: Repair a "broken" object in an unconventional way. (Prof. Hazal Gumus Ciftci)
Location: The Ohio State University
Constraints: None
Collaboration: 3rd year Karl Ludwig and 4th year Allison Krish (Industrial Design)
The Nomad's Table in its intended context - the outdoors!
Myself, Karl, and Allison post-photoshoot.
The Challenge:
We were presented with a rusted camping chair whose seat had a large rip stretching across the top. We saw opportunities with its steel frame and portability.
Research and Sketching:
We developed the concept of turning the camping chair into a portable camping table, with a base sack and an upper pocket strap for storage, and a countertop that could collapse with the frame for easy transport. We experimented with different aesthetics, pocket layouts, base sack sewing patterns, and interlocking countertop functionality.
Fabrication:
We removed the ripped seat and side table, and sanded down the frame.
We painted the frame a deep forest green, to add to the camping aesthetic.
We dry-fitted the base sack and cut our waterproofed fabric to size.
Karl experimented with the design for our interlocking countertop with scrap plywood.
Allison and I used a sewing machine to hem and attach the pockets to the upper strap. We did not have access to an iron, but a hair straightener did the job perfectly!
Karl finalized the design for the interlocking countertop and brought it to life in OSU's wood shop. To finish, Allison and I added hand-sewn handles.
Final Table:
Introducing, The Nomad's Table! This table is ideal for outdoor adventures, collapsible for easy transport. It can withstand tough outdoor conditions and comes complete with several pockets for lots of added storage.
Final Deliverables:
Poster designed by me (Sarah Kocher) in InDesign.
Video edited by Karl Ludwig in Premiere Pro.
Summary:
This project was a great hands-on making experience. I didn't have too much knowledge about woodworking, metalworking, or sewing, so being part of a team where the rest of the members were willing to teach me these processes was incredibly helpful.
I learned to be confident in trying new things, as well as taking the step to committing to a design quickly and then running with the concept.
"Why do I fix everything I touch?!"
- Fix-It Felix, Wreck it Ralph
