D E S I G N - E N G I N E . C O M :. Photoreal Showcase

Maxi Chair By HiLo Design
Chair Modeled in Pro/ENGINEER and Rendered in Pro/DESIGNER by Bart Brejcha

Maria Studnicka email
Q: Where did the designer or engineers go to school?
A/I Studied Media Studies at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Q: What research took place before the project kickoff?
A/There has been not much in the way of hard research at this point. I thought it'd be cool to use something tactile such as high gloss fiberglass. Ultimately though the form was conceptualized from a very unglamorous form of a feminine hygiene product.

Q: How were tools like Alias Studio, Pro/DESIGNER, Rhino, 3d Max, FormZ, ICEM Surf, Pro/ENGINEER, Unigraphics, Catia, Solidworks used to prove shape and form.
A/Forms were envisioned in Smart Sketch by Intergraph. Guided by the information from Smart Sketch drawings and additional input from, the model was proved in Pro/ENGINEER and rendered using Pro/DESIGNER or CDRS

Q: Was the use of the available design tools allowed to influence the ultimate shape of the product?
A/We tried to not allow this to happen. We wanted to stay as true to the original concept of the form as possible.

Q: Were the visualization efforts helpful in eliminating an iterative product from going to a prototype stage?
A/ I believe it will be this kind of project but the prototype stage has not yet been started

Q: What innovative tooling issues or problems were solved to get to manufacturing?
A/We'll find that out when the time comes.

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end of 'Maria Studnicka' Bart Brejcha can be reached at mariawelles@yahoo.com

Ken Creal

					Perspective view
		front view			side view

1. Where did the designer or engineers go to school?

The Industrial Designer, Kenneth Cheng went to school at the University of Alberta, located in Edmonton, Canada.

2. What research took place before the project kickoff?
For this project he ran a few stress analyst, cad simulations and mock-ups, because the unusual shape really pushed the limits of the stainless steels.

3.How were tools like Alias Studio, Pro/DESIGNER, Rhino, 3d Max, FormZ, ICEM Surf, Pro/ENGINEER, Unigraphics, Catia, Solidworks used to prove shape and form.
We have actually used Pro/Engineer and Pro/MECHANICA for the preliminary stress analysis. But the modeling was done in Rhino, while 3d Max was used for texture, lighting, and rendering.

4.Was the use of the available design tools allowed to influence the ultimate shape of the product?
Tool is a very important part of the process but aesthetic appeal and material restriction ultimately determined the shape of the chair.

5.Were the visualization efforts helpful in eliminating an iterative product from going to a prototype stage?
This project is in the concept stage, but for this project, the 3d model can be rapidly translated to laser-cut the material. Moreover, doing it on computer was a real time saver when creating a cutting schedule.

6.What innovative tooling issues or problems were solved to get to manufacturing?
It is not being manufactured yet.

512MB RAM 800mHz Pentium III Render time: 1600 X 1200, 1:30 min __________________________________________________________________
end of 'Ken Creal' Ken Creal can be reached at kenc007@hotmail.com

By HiLo Design
Q: Where did the designer or engineers go to school?
Scime: I studied Industrial Design at the Institute of Design at IIT and at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Q: What research took place before the project kickoff?
Scime: This project evolved on a part time basis over the course about 12 months. For me new designs and ideas are not only conceived in my head but are to a greater degree developed there before I pick up a pencil and paper. I me I think do this to certain extent more than other designers. I gave a lot of thought to considering what the posture, stance and materials I want for this chair. Of course I did do some sketching. After that I spent a great deal of time developing and proving the design in a new 2D CAD program I like called Smart Sketch by Intergraph. I consulted with a hand-full metal fabricators. In this process I designed the chairs frame so it is composed of three pairs of structural elements. The tubular legs/arms, stretcher bars and the seat/back structural support bars are all repeating matched sets. This reduces set-ups in manufacturing and keeps the cost down.

Q: How were tools like Alias Studio, Pro/DESIGNER, Rhino, 3d Max, FormZ, ICEM Surf, Pro/ENGINEER, Unigraphics, Catia, Solidworks used to prove shape and form.
Scime: The form was somewhat developed and proven in Smart Sketch by Intergraph. Then A 3D model was developed for presentation using a hybrid of Pro/Engineer and Alias Studio. I used Pro/ENGINEER to model the stainless steel frame. I then imported the frame into the Alias Studio environment to create soft felt seat/back form and render the final result.

Q: Was the use of the available design tools allowed to influence the ultimate shape of the product?
Scime: For me its not about allowing the tool to "influence" me or the form. I simply use the appropriate tools to accomplish what I want.

Q: Were the visualization efforts helpful in eliminating an iterative product from going to a prototype stage?
Scime: I would say it was a good aid. All though I wonder if some people are over reliant on this approach and have not fully developed the foresight or ability to see and work through these issues in their minds eye. I would compare this to a person who is dependent on using a calculator and is not able to run the numbers in their head. On the other hand I think when working on intensely organic forms these visualization tools are very powerful.

Q: What innovative tooling issues or problems were solved to get to manufacturing?

Scime: It has been certainly nice to be able save my drawings as a dxf. file and use them to program the water jet cutter to fabricate the majority of the frames components. This is a major time and cost saver. I also hope to us this approach for the die cutting operation in making the felt sling seat/back.
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end of 'HiLo' Paolo can be reached at marcscime@yahoo.com 773.395.1727

Jasper - Modeled in Rhino & rendered in 3D Studio Max and animated using Flash and Vecta3D

Jasper was conceived as both a physical and virtual installation. It explored and expressed a variety of themes surrounding design such as semiotics, simulacra, fashion and the philosophy of design in general. A quasi-manifesto, it reflected my developing philosophies about design as a young designer.

Cross Your Legs - Modelled in Rhino and rendered with Flamingo

Designed with the idea of the frame and legs hinged at a single point - able to rotate and fold flat. The seat would be a molded plastic or a self-skinning polyurethane - much like the one used for Christophe Pillet's "Y's" Chair for Capellini

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end of 'Jasper' Paolo can be reached at dejesus@iinet.net.au

1. Where did the designer or engineers go to school?
Um....self taught, no degree. Took a 20 hour class with DESIGN-ENGINE|EDUCATION in Chicago
2. What research took place before the project kickoff?
Just keeping my eyes open
3. How were tools like Alias Studio, Pro/DESIGNER, Rhino, 3d Max, FormZ, ICEM Surf, Pro/ENGINEER, Unigraphics, Catia, Solidworks used to prove shape and form.
All Alias
4. Was the use of the available design tools allowed to influence the ultimate shape of the product?
Absolutely. A pencil never hit paper.
5. Were the visualization efforts helpful in eliminating an iterative product from going to a prototype stage?
Well its not there yet.
6. What innovative tooling issues or problems were solved to get to manufacturing?
What I'm thinking is that I would like this chair to be cast aluminum and tubular aluminum, and then spot weld the whole thing together (kinda like a bicycle). Who needs bolts to loosen up anyway?
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end of 'Chris Daisy' Chris can be reached at chrisdaisyrules@hotmail.com 773.383.0261