Dollar Key Tag Project - Part 5 - Finishing- - En Route to Cutting the Coin Slot

Introducing 'Crabby'. 1N1 (almost completed) demo dollar keytag.

Introducing 'Froggy'. 1N2 (almost completed) demo dollar keytag.

Introducing a short Crabby & Froggy story.

'Once upon a time, there was a frog who was jealous of a crab who has many keys. One day while Crabby was sleeping, Froggy went up and snatched two of Crabby's keys. Awoken by the familiar sounds of his keys, Crabby jumped up immediately and gave a good chase. You can finish the story on your own. The end.'

The dollar key-tag is not finished yet. Because term 4 was so ridiculously short + lots of holidays for this year... students were only able to shape their keychain and bind the three layers together. Nevertheless, it still ends up a neat keychain.

Students would have learned that they could layer up acrylic on top of another to create a thicker piece of acrylic. Students also learn about the concept of color combinations since they have to put three layers together and the color should look right on their product. On top of that, students would have learned the following basic making skills: marking out, shaping using the scroll saw, filing using the various types of files, finishing the product using the wet-and-dry paper and polishing the edges with the buffing machine.

I'll be putting up some best design journals from students... so stay tuned...

Dollar Key Tag Project - Part 4 - Realisation - Preparation & Marking Out

Transfer the concept on paper on the work piece using the Grid Method.
Above demonstration is done in class 1N1. Below is for 1N2.

Stick all three acrylic workpiece together using double-sided tapes.
Make sure double-sided tapes are directly below the project, not at the 'waste' parts.


(Note: The masking tape you see above is unnecessary. It was there because I pulled off extra two sections of tapes while distributing to all of you earlier on).


Below are 3 basic steps to guide you from Marking Out to Shaping the project.

Dollar Key Tag Project - Part 3 - Refinement (Development)

Dollar Key-Tag Refinement (Development) 

The example below is taken from my demonstration in class 1N1. 

Note 1: Here is a summary of some factors that should be considered when you refine your concept.

Before you could refine a concept, you should first select one out of the many you are drawn in the Idea Generation stage. Hopefully as you generate ideas in the earlier stage, you would have been modifying, combining, morphing and improving the concepts along the way. 

Note 2: It is good to keep your focus and refine (develop) your concept on factor at a time. You should also remember to refer to your Design Specifications where you list out the specifics what they product must do. The above example shows you a demonstration on working on weak areas, sharp edges or corners, and finding the best position for the coin. Keep on drawing fresh new ideas as you work along the first two factors. You will find your concept evolving.

Note 3: The next few focus refinement points are improving the overall shape and proportions, followed by exploring the best position for the key ring. Try different shapes and size configurations until they look right. Your first concept may look right in the beginning. But it is still good if you would have a go at exploring some minor variations. The outcome may surprise you! I changed the sizes and positions of the eyes. And it ended up one big and small eyes do look better than both equal size. That also helped me make a major decision that one of the claws would hold a coin and the other the keyring. 


Finally, nothing beats being able to simplify the concept. Find any features (e.g. shapes or method of construction) that looked complicated. Look out for the potential to simplify the project so that it still looks more desirable, easier to manage and make, and takes lesser time.  

Note 4: Always remember to go back to your Design Specifications. I have a restriction on material size. So remember to draw your latest development back into the actual working size to gauge how it might actually look like. Alternatively you may want to cut out a paper model for evaluation. Make any necessary fine-tuning after that. Both on the model and in your design journal. Notice I have also reduced the body size. It is now slimmer than before. I'll continue to develop (refine) it as long a time allows me to do so before I see you all again for the next lesson.

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The examples below are demonstrations in class 1N2. 

The steps and descriptions would be similar to the ones above.

Refinements on weak points, rounding off potential sharp edges and looking out for the best coin position.

Refinement on the overall shape and proportions and the position of the key ring. Simplifying the profile of the concept if possible but without compromising the functionality and aesthetics desirability.

Finally, the refined concept is drawn to scale within the perimeters of the actual work piece. Here further refinement may be required to ensure that everything is in place. Make sure the coin can move freely in and out of its entry point.

The Grid Method is used to transfer the scaled concept on the acrylic work piece later.

Dollar Key Tag Project - Part 2 - Idea Generation using the Shape Borrowing Technique

Idea Generation 

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Shape Borrowing from Fish and Animals


1N1 Class Demonstration for Idea Generation

Note 1:  Use your researched images to copy ('borrow') shapes that you think may be suitable as key tags with a dollar coin. At this initial generation stage, draw (or 'borrow') as many shapes as possible and do not worry too much about whether they will be practical or nice, etc. Try drawing in a coin or two just to have a feel of how it might look like with a coin in. 

Note 2: You may be refining certain features as you draw. This is fine. Do not worry and think that you shouldn't be refining ideas at the Idea Generation stage. It is perfectly alright as long as you are clear that your objective now is to generate as many different interesting concepts as possible.

The example shown here is a fish concept. Yours may take the form or other fish or animals.

Note 3: It is important even at this early stage to have an idea how the coins should be held in place. It is drawn here to show you how it will look like because the way the coin should be kept is already decided for you. Otherwise you would have to work it out at within your Ideation stage. Take note that the coin will be 'sandwiched' between the top and bottom shape.

 1N2 Class Demonstration for Idea Generation

Descriptions is the same as above.

How to Research for Images with Line Drawings

People who research for images frequently end up with poor quality prints with blurry edges and details. For those who desire to 'Shape Borrow' often find themselves with photos or images too complicated and defined to borrow its shape without the unnecessary details to the paper. With the following steps, I am going to show you how you can eliminate the two problems easily.


Step 1: 
Go to use 'Google' search. Click 'Image'

Step 2:
Key in keywords like 'fish' or 'animals'. Or more specific keywords like 'Rabbit head', etc. Your choice of keywords is important because that will mean whether or not what you are looking for will appear in the first few pages on the web browser.


Step 3:
You will realize that most images are not very useful for borrowing shapes. Because most for images are either a photo of a fish/animal or in more complicated cartoon forms.
Look the the left hand side of your web browser and find 'Line Drawing. Click on that.


Step 4:
When your web browser refreshes after you click on the filter, you will find that most, if not all of the images will be in the form of line drawings. This is where you start to look for the images that you like. Images that will most likely be suitable to be used as a key-tag to be able to hold a dollar coin.


Step 5:
Copy the selected images. Do not copy the thumbnail image! They are too tiny for print. Click on the image for it to load. 'Copy' when the image is at its maximum size. Paste those images either in a Powerpoint Slide or in a Word Document. Maximize your page space by packing them tightly within two pages.


Step 6:
Print and bring it back to the next lesson. Greyscale or Black and white printing is fine.


Note: Try to copy images that are higher in resolution. So that when you print, they do not become pixelated. Look out for images that are at least 400x400 in size. If you really want to make sure your image size is good, click on the filter 'medium'. Now all images will be at least a medium sized image. Go try. Always acknowledge your sources. If unsure, email the creator for permission to copy.

Have Fun!

2D to 3D Drawing - Oblique Drawing

The image above is an example drawn in 1N1. The one just below is demonstrated for 1N2.

There are various forms of 3D drawings. In the order from the least realistic to the most realistic 3D drawing: Oblique Drawing, Isometric Drawing, One-Point Perspectives, Two-Point Perspectives, and finally Three-Point Perspectives. The last one (Three-Point Perspective) is commonly used in Interior and Architecture illustrations and sometimes in Comic Drawings to product very 'dynamic' perspectives.

The examples above shows how an Oblique Drawing is done.

Step 1:
Draw the object's side or front or side view in 2D. Draw exactly how you want it to look like. Observe the chair example.

Step 2:
Select your view point, i.e. from the left or the right.

Step 3:
Project 45 degree lines from the 'corners' in the direction where their respective surfaces is visible to the eye.

Step 4:
You should already know the length of the third dimension. Mark it at the end of each 45 degrees projection lines.

Step 5:
Complete the drawing by joining the end points of each of the 45 degrees projection lines.

Step (Extra):
Make use of the crating method and guidelines to complete more complicated drawings. Refer to the examples with a 'cut' corner, the triangular object and the drawing of a pyramid.

Note: Parallel lines. Many students are not aware that their line works were not parallel to each other whenever they should be parallel. Thus usually ending up with some weird distorted looking objects.

Be careful. When you draw the third dimension to scale, remember to apply the foreshortening technique, i.e. divide the value by 1/2. Otherwise your object will end up looking elongated and you wonder why. =)

Your Homework:Refer to your Design Journal and flip back to your coaster design ideation section. You have at least three to four full pages of organic looking 2D coaster designs. Copy the shapes and convert them into 3D Oblique drawings.

Practice drawing 3D Oblique drawings using your 2D coaster ideas. Fill up at least two full pages of drawing in your design journal.
(A few examples can be found in the image above).

Have fun...

Dollar Key Tag Project - Part 1 - Design Situation to Research

The Dollar Key Tag Project Schedule

Schedule for Design Situation writing to Research for Idea Generation

You are to write your own Design Situation based on the (given) Design Brief.

Your design situation should include a description of your observation and your own grocery shopping experience and the use of the shopping cart.

You can:

1) Go to a supermarket and observe how people respond or react when they retrieve the shopping cart, and or
2) Recall your own experience when you need a shopping cart for your shopping in the supermarket.

The example above shows one way you can prepare to write your design situation. In the form of a mind-map you can start noting the issues with retrieving the shopping cart and the experience of having or not having a dollar coin.

Notice I sketched a scene of two persons at the shopping cart holding area and their conversation about having a dollar coin for the cart. A simple sketch like this to illustrate the situation (or context) can be extremely helpful in explaning what is actually going on and makes it so easy to understand. Sketches of a sequence of events may be helpful too.

Alternatively you may wish to take photos of the situation. Note: In a public place, always ask for permission from the store before you take any photos. If you are taking people, it is also polite to seek their permission to do so. Otherwise take photos yourself and your friends in the situation.

Above is an example done in 1N1

Below is an example done in 1N2
Design Considerations and Design Specifications

Note: When you prepare to list your design considerations and limitations, always remember to list areas that is consistent with your design situation and design brief.