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Struggling with design work, sketching, or managing academic pressure? Whether you're a student balancing deadlines with creativity or an educator seeking clarity in your teaching approach, this blog offers focused, practical support in Design & Technology — from visual communication to process thinking and digital fabrication. Since 2007, Design Journal SOS has helped readers overcome real classroom challenges with grounded strategies and insight. 💬 Have a topic you're curious about? Or found something here that helped you? I welcome your questions and reflections — they keep this space alive and evolving. 🔗 Follow for updates: Facebook /designjournalsos (Copyright © 2007–2025 Daniel Lim)
Showing posts with label Phone Holder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Phone Holder. Show all posts

14 July 2017

Phone Holder - Drawing Ideas & Grid Method



The above shows class demo example on how to draw characters to 'act' as phone holders for a new Phone Holder Design Project.


If you can't draw something like an action, in this case a man pushing, go to the internet and search for some examples. Can't draw Panda lying on its back? Search for one. I keyed in 'Pushing Action', or 'Man Pushing', or any keywords that will help you find exactly what you need. Another way is to get your friend to pose for you while you sketch him/her on your paper.


A few points to note:
  • The 30 degrees tilt is an angle that was obtained from existing similar products. This can save a bit of time to find out the optimum viewing angle.
  • When the 30 degree tilt line is drawn on a piece of Jelutong measuring 120mm x 120mm, it happens to measure close to 70mm from the top edge. Use the 70mm mark to draw the remaining square template.
  • Characters will be sketched on a piece of Jelutong measuring 120mm x 120mm. Tilt line at 30 degrees is pre-drawn on the ideation boxes so any characters drawn or parts that will touch the phone will be readily angled.
  • Notice how each hopeful character is drawn on the square templates? Remember to maximise space when drawing in your design or characters. Make sure all sections are thick enough, so they do not break easily after shaping or during use. A good guide is to make sure all thinner parts measure at least 15mm-20mm across.
  • For the base of each character, make sure 'legs' or any parts touching the bottom must measure at least 25mm. This is to allow enough space for a countersunk head screw to be installed at the end during assembly. (See example below).
  • Before you shape the Jelutong with a scroll saw, remember to take note of the positions of the countersunk head screws at the bottom of the workpiece. (See example below).

Using Grid Method to transfer selected design onto Jelutong Workpiece.

18 August 2016

Working Drawing: How to Draw Dimension Lines for Orthographic Projection in PowerPoint 2013

You asked for it. So here it is.

This video tutorial shows steps to draw dimension lines and arrows in a Microsoft PowerPoint 2013. It assumes you already have a First Angle Orthographic Projection (either hand drawn or via Google SketchUp) image ready for import into the Powerpoint slide.




Create Presentation Board using Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2013. (Click here).
(DIGITAL) How to draw Phone Holder in Google SketchUp 8 (Click here).
(ANALOG) How to draw Isometric / Orthographic view for Phone Holder (Click here).

17 August 2016

How to create your Presentation Board using PowerPoint Slides

This video shows six A3 landscape powerpoint slides on the various components that goes into a presentation board. If you print all the A3 pages out, that will make three A2 sized board.

The contents are suggestions only and must not be copied without forethought. Information are (deliberately presented) incomplete. Please consult your teacher.




(DIGITAL) How to draw Phone Holder in Google SketchUp 8 (Click here).
(ANALOG) How to draw Isometric / Orthographic view for Phone Holder (Click here).

15 August 2016

Phone holder Isometric | Orthographic | Assembly

In this document, I show how I 

a) Draw an isometric drawing of a phone holder. Label the parts and use the references in a Material List.


b) Use an overlay over the isometric drawing drawn in (a) to draw an assembly (exploded) drawing. I roughly marked the key points on the overlay and then rule them over to finish.


c) Draw a First Angle Orthographic Projection of the Phone Holder.


Note: It is actually easier to complete the First Angle Orthographic Projection first. You can then use the dimensions to draw on an isometric surface for the top profile. Use of the grid method is another convenient alternative. In this example I drew the isometric drawing first. 


You may also use 3D softwares to help you achieve the same effect see '

Step by step guide to draw a phone holder using Google SketchUp 8.'


View PDF steps for the above examples below:




Step by step guide to draw a phone holder using Google SketchUp 8.

I am not a pro. This is my first time drawing on Google SketchUp 8. So you might find faster and a more efficient way to draw those features of this two parts phone holderThis phone holder has a top wooden part to prop a phone at 30 degrees from the vertical and an acrylic formed bottom. Two screws jointing the two materials from the bottom are not show in this tutorial.


An example of an Isometric view for Labeling of Parts and Material List references

An example of First Angle Orthographic Projection for dimensions

An example of Presentation Drawing showing only the solution and the product in use

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3D softwares like the Google Sketchup 8 is an excellent tool to produce and render drawings quickly. Very handy when it comes to creating 3D Isometric, 3D Assembly (or Exploded) Drawings and 2D Orthographic views to be included in your Presentation Boards. Not forgetting you can also use the same model together with the wealth of 3D warehouse to create your contextual presentations.

However, one must understand that using digital software for drawings are but an extension of our analogue drawing abilities. Drafting, preliminary ideas and the initial stages of refinement still require a substantial amount of quick and successive sketches with annotations. The software like the Google Sketchup 8 is good for presenting an end product after the refinement stage.

I  prefer to draw by hand if given a choice for Isometric and Orthographic Projections and whatever is necessary. It's not difficult actually.

Click below and you will find a PDF format for the steps to draw the smart phone holder.

Click below and you will find a YouTube video of the same steps to draw the smart phone holder.


Analog Drawing of the Phone Holder here: 

Phone holder Isometric | Orthographic | Assembly