Have you ever come across something that works unexpectedly well, or even perfectly? Like when packing a box and all the items fit in nicely with no rattling? Or when you finish building something with just a handful of scraps? I come across these happy coincidences quite often. When I encounter them in daily life, … Continue reading Happy Coincidences (Good Design)
As a child, I loved journals. I bought many. Each had so many pages with so much potential. I still have them to this day. But aside from my name, they remain untouched. That’s because while I loved the idea of creating a record of my thoughts and ideas, the challenge of filling it with … Continue reading Right Now, This Is A Blog Post
Over the last couple years, I have been developing a product that controls the suction going to two ports. Though the working name has changed over the course of development, I am currently calling it "Suction Controller". Primary Purpose The Suction Controller is designed to be used with a vacuum and two hoses, and its … Continue reading Seeking Testers for Suction Controller Prototype
Things have been busy for me over the last few years and I've been very active in the shop with regular things like organization, maintenance, and tweaks to the shop layout. The focus has also shifted towards product development, although I'm approaching the testing phase (if you're interested in being a tester, subscribe to my … Continue reading A Simple But Practical Storage Project
Often we see designers with a sketch pad, quickly scribbling shapes and ideas. Though my design process sometimes does start that way, my more calculated and less intuitive designs start with two lists: must-haves and desires. An example of a must-have might be “to allow four people to eat a meal together”, and a desire … Continue reading Designing from Scratch
The internet is a great resource, but trying to find inspiration for a design without spending hours can be difficult. I find the most efficient way is to scan through the results of an image search. But a search for “dining table” isn’t likely to be very fruitful. Think carefully and add some key words … Continue reading How I Find Inspiration Online
Slow down and take your time. Make something extraordinary. This has been my mantra lately as I have been developing several items for production. Some have been in the active development stage for over a year, which is unusual for me - usually once something is started, it is completed within about a month. I … Continue reading Make Something Extraordinary
I think that we try too hard to succeed. Because of that, our learning is impeded. Here's an example.Let's say that I want to build a simple stool for my workshop - a utilitarian piece and one where I am free to experiment because I am the only user of the piece. I could use … Continue reading Do You Really Want to Learn? Then Set Yourself Up for Failure
A significant part of table design involves the legs and any framework connecting multiple legs to each other, to the table top, and to provide strength. When it comes to the structure of the table, the joints between the legs and other parts of the table are where damage is most likely to occur. Pulling … Continue reading Designing Furniture: Considerations Around Table Legs and Leverage
One of the projects which I’m currently building, and designing along the way is a pen. It has months of thought already invested and I am building it to be the best. I do take pleasure in using and owning unique and fine writing tools (and other tools, too). I also enjoy indulging myself in … Continue reading Making Without Compromises
