Bingham Dance Fliers

I have recently designed fliers for the Bingham School of Dance.

Newspaper Tables - Phase 2 - ARTicle

I decided to re-visit my idea of newspaper tables recently. Getting the idea from a competition brief, which asked you to design a product relating to a film from your continent. It gave a list of films, of which I chose Notting Hill.

After watching and analysing the film, I decided to create a new table design out of newspaper, as the press is a dominant feature throughout the whole movie.

I wanted to give the table a slightly stronger feel, with a more modern style, which relates to the relationship between the two main characters.

ARTicle

The curved edge represents the female,
and the straight edge portrays the male.

The newspaper sticks are drilled and
steel rod passes through to support the structure.

ARTicle - Scene

Newspaper Tables - Phase 1

Designing a table out of paper, was a challenge set in my first year or study. We had to create 2 tables, one out of paper and one out of another material, they had to be the same size, have the same structure and be the same weight.

I decided to create mine out of paper sticks, made by me, using a special machine borrowed form a local Girl Guide Group. I had first made these when I was a member of the Guiding community, and remembered how strong they were and how easy they were to produce.

After creating the sticks out of newspaper, I searched for a material that would be a similar weight and structure. I decided to use wooden dowelling, just over 10mm in diameter, and cut them to the length of the newspaper sticks.

I used string as my bonding agent and tied the sections together in the same way for both tables.

Same size, same structure, same weight.

Milk Light - Exhibition - Neocon East - Baltimore - October 2011

Milk Version 2 Travelled to the Neocon East Exhibition in October, to be exhibited alongside other products in the Mbrela Collection.

Milk Light - Version 2

After finishing University, I continued to develop the Milk Light, with the support and backing from my Tutors and the University.

After some thought and more research, it was decided that the Light should have flat edges to stand on, when upright and tilted. This would make it more stable and would prevent the need for a stand.

I created a new Rhino Model and this was sent to Interior surfaces (To create the base) and then a company in China (To Make the shade). Making the shade out of a lighter plastic material would also help the balance.

Milk Light - Exhibition - International Contemporary Furniture Fair - New York - May 2011

After the trip back from Milan, it was time to do a quick turn around to get a couple of the products ready for shipping to America. The Milk Light was chosen to travel so a new crate was made and it was packed up and shipped to New York. A couple of weeks later I followed it, and arrived in New York on the second day of the exhibition (Unfortunately I was unable to get there earlier as my Dissertation was due in!)

We were there for the remaining days of the exhibition. The atmosphere at this exhibition was completely different to Milan. There seemed to be more people to talk to, but this may have been because everyone spoke English! It was also a lot smaller and there were less University stands, so it felt like we were actually part of the design companies exhibition. The great thing about this exhibition was that I got to meet people I had been talking to via email from the IDSA (Industrial Designers Society of America)

Mbrela Products in New York

Denrug - Created by Becky Field, Vincent Pascual, Brenden Feucht, Greg Sunderman and Joseph Rimmer

Milk Light - Exhibition - Salone Satellite - Milan April 2011

After the 'Milk Light' was manufactured, it was time to give it some exposure.

The Milk Light was exhibited as part of the collaborative collection from, The University of Lincoln, San Jose State University and Philadelphia University, under the name mbrela. We had a large stand in the middle of the Salone Satellite section of the Milan Cosmit exhibition. This is the section where new designers and students present there work.

After Party at Zumtobel

This exhibition was an amazing experience. Giving us the chance to brush shoulders with some of the worlds leading design companies. And giving us an idea of what it takes to be a designer or work within the design industry.

We took part in every part of the show, from set up, to meeting the people and then take down. It was an exhausting couple of weeks, with flights and then the

journey from our camp site every day to the exhibition, which meant walking, then a bus journey, then the metro and then the same back every night. But it was all worth it! I don't think it would have been the same if we'd have stayed in a nice hotel, with hot showers and real beds!

Milk Light, all boxed up and ready to go home.

From Left to Right: Dave, Adam, Kelly, Lotte, Fran, Brian and Joe

The last ones standing!

Milk Light in the making

Picking up the project in third year, meant getting it manufactured, ready to go on display at exhibitions. To do this I would need money!

I was encouraged to apply for the University Enterprise Grant for small businesses. This meant doing a Dragons Den style proposal to set up my own design business, and start my company with my lighting design. Fortunately they liked my proposal and I was awarded the grant which meant I had the money to manufacture my light and attend business lectures and classes to learn other aspects of setting up and running a business.

With the money in place I could start looking into materials and companies to manufacture my first prototype.
It was decided that my first lamp should be a show piece to take to exhibitions, made out of Corian by DuPont and manufactured at Interior Surfaces in Sheffield.

I was able to meet with the manufacturers and discuss my design before it went into production. I also travelled to Sheffield to watch exactly how my lamp was being made.
The company also allowed the filming of the manufacturing process.

Major Project

My Major Project was a lighting design that originated from a model I made in 2nd Year. Our task was to come up with a sculpture which represented the word and theme 'White'

My initial model was created with two milk bottles, a mirror, a china bowl and a piece of silk. I felt that it represented 'white' because it looked fairly simple and soft but with some structure. I tried to create the illusion of a ballet dancer, in a tutu.

The next task was to transform your sculpture into a light, whilst changing the colour of the object to black.
To do this I simplified the form, stripping it down to just two milk bottles. Painted the inside of the bottles black but leaving one end transparent. I then put a light in it and the idea was that when you tipped the whole piece upside down the light would turn off, using a tilt switch.

The only problem with that was, you couldn't tell if the light had turned off, as it was painted black and would just shining on the surface it was placed on.

The next development was to add a curved base, so when the sculpture was tilted the light would turn on and when standing upright, it would be turned off. This then caused the problem of how to make it stand up.

After months of experimentation, the light was able to be self supported. With the use of ball-bearings in the base the light had enough weight at the bottom to counter balance the shade. The base also had a slight lip which it could rest on to stop it from tipping over.

This was where I left the project at the end of second year.

University: Third Year (2010 - 2011)

My final year of study was highly focused. We had three projects, Futures, Dissertation and Major Project.

Futures - We had to come up with a character that represented ourselves, to be made into a vinyl figure type character. Mine was called Fran.K and it's features were a Knight helmet, a pony tail and Tap Shoes.

Dissertation - My dissertation was titled 'Why are interactive products so important in our lifestyle?'. It explored how we as a humans have come to rely on our interactive gadgets, and what this may result in.

San Jose State University
Art and Design Building

Major Project - We had a choice of two routes to take, either a collaborative project with San Jose State University and Philadelphia University in America, or a solo project. I initially chose to be part of the collaboration, coming up with ideas under the theme of 'Play'.
However after some thought I decided to continue with a project from second year, which my tutors and I decided would be a better project, as I could take it through to manufacture. This meant I would be doing a solo project, but would also be able to make contributions to some of the collaborative projects.

The Studio, San Jose

San Jose, Philadelphia and
Lincoln Students

We visited San Jose State University in California, to continue with the collaborative projects. We stayed with American students and lived like american students for a week. We also visited design consultancies - Whipsaw, in San Jose, and Frog Design and Astro in San Francisco.

Janet Ravens School of Dance,
Show

During my final year of study I also took my Advanced 2 Tap exam, and took part in two dancing shows. I decided not to compete with the Cheerleading squad as I wanted to focus on my work, but I still attended training sessions when I could!

University: Second Year (2009 - 2010)

In my second year at University, I moved from student halls of residence, to a house with some friends.

Lincoln Jets Cheerleaders
National Competition

I continued Cheerleading and joined the University Gymnastics Society to improve the skills needed for Cheerleading.
I also started to attend Adult Tap classes at Janet Ravens School of Dance. And performed a solo at Newark Palace theatre, in the Bingham and Hykeham Schools of Dance Show.

Inside the Guggenheim

I continued to work hard at my studies, working on longer projects, spending hours in the studio working, sketching, modelling and rendering.

Alice, Kelly and Me
(Top of the Empire State Building)

I also went on my first international trip to New York. Where we visited museums (MoMA, Guggenheim ) and design consultancies - Rockwell Group and Material Connexion. Whilst also taking in the culture and being tourists.


I also, with two friends (Kelly and Alice), made a trip to Milan to visit Salone Satellite Exhibition, as we were hoping to exhibit there the following year. This was an invaluable experience as it gave us an insight of what was to come and what we needed to do to prepare for our final year of study.

University: First Year (2008 - 2009)

I moved to the University of Lincoln in September 2008, and enrolled on the BA(Hons) Product Design Course.
Then based in Harrison House, we were set several small projects and challenges throughout the year, working individually and in groups.

I also joined the University Cheerleading Squad, The Lincoln Jets, which competed in national Competitions and cheered for the University Sports Teams.

I continued with my dancing, joining the University Dance Society and continued to study Tap, attending Hykeham School of Dance, to complete my Advanced 1 Exam.

Life Before University

Me in my dancing uniform (aged about 7)

Lived in Nottinghamshire, with my Mum, Dad, Brother (Andrew) and Sister (Becky). Always interested in Art and Crafts, making things, drawing and painting. Very active child, joining in every sport I could, especially Football and Dancing. Attended Bingham School of Dance from the age of Three, taking many examinations in Ballet, Tap and Modern. Also attended The Urdang Academy, associate scheme in London for four years.

Gained 11 GCSE's, 1 AS Level (Biology) and 3 A Levels (Maths, Art and Product Design), from Toot Hill School and College, leaving secondary education in 2008.