Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
A2 Design project - Designers Desk
- Thread starter LERsince1991
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Seems like a great bunch of ideas from everyone. Very intuitive, a bit like Apple 
Cant wait to see the finished product.
Cant wait to see the finished product.
Shouldn't be waiting long the worktop was picked up from school on thursday, it has been sprayed today and will be drying over the weekend. Will be delivered back to school on monday so I will try to post some pictures then
Can't wait... I hate handing my work over to someone else... If they ruin it
I don't like to think about it... He gave me a good price for it but its bloody expensive. I got it for about half price, hes not making any money from me since he wants to support my school project.
Will be soldering and connecting the electronics on monday, also making the drawer organiser. Trying to sort out what I will be doing about the legs and sheet metal over the weekend.
Can't wait... I hate handing my work over to someone else... If they ruin it
I don't like to think about it... He gave me a good price for it but its bloody expensive. I got it for about half price, hes not making any money from me since he wants to support my school project.
Will be soldering and connecting the electronics on monday, also making the drawer organiser. Trying to sort out what I will be doing about the legs and sheet metal over the weekend.
Whoa! dont wanna see this thread die!
And feel the same way when handing my work over to my teacher to have a look. Scared if they drop it or something like that. BTW doing GCSE resistant materials
And feel the same way when handing my work over to my teacher to have a look. Scared if they drop it or something like that. BTW doing GCSE resistant materials
I Know what you mean, its easier being a Product Designer, as many are mock-ups, but if the final product has a fault in it somewhere, a month or 2 of work is gone all over the floor.
Im sure it will be fine, he wants to support your project, i think he realises how important it is to you.
Im sure it will be fine, he wants to support your project, i think he realises how important it is to you.
It's Here
Got it back today from the paint factory
Amazingly pleased with it. It has got a glossy white polyeurithane (something like that) paint. It is sort of plastic/ruber based which means it's not brital but has porperties of rubber. like if you stabbed it with a nail, the nail would go in slightly but when removed the paint would slowly sort of 'heal' itself and the hole would disappear If it was acrylic based he said it would chip, especially the corners.
He told me to let it set so its really rock solid for about a week then get some tcut or something similar and give it a buff and polish and it will be nearly as smooth as glass ^^ Amazing
The photos definatley do NOT do it justice, you need to see it first person and touch it I will take some better photots tomorrow in better lighting with a camera and not an iPhone.
The deadline is end of next week so I have my work cut out. I think I will have to make the legs out of MDF due to time, cost and availibility.
I've also wired the speakers on. Will be blasting some tunes tomorrow lol
YAY, I was so worried about getting it back but extremely pleased.
Got it back today from the paint factory
Amazingly pleased with it. It has got a glossy white polyeurithane (something like that) paint. It is sort of plastic/ruber based which means it's not brital but has porperties of rubber. like if you stabbed it with a nail, the nail would go in slightly but when removed the paint would slowly sort of 'heal' itself and the hole would disappear
If it was acrylic based he said it would chip, especially the corners. He told me to let it set so its really rock solid for about a week then get some tcut or something similar and give it a buff and polish and it will be nearly as smooth as glass ^^ Amazing
The photos definatley do NOT do it justice, you need to see it first person and touch it
I will take some better photots tomorrow in better lighting with a camera and not an iPhone.The deadline is end of next week so I have my work cut out. I think I will have to make the legs out of MDF due to time, cost and availibility.
I've also wired the speakers on. Will be blasting some tunes tomorrow lol
YAY, I was so worried about getting it back but extremely pleased.
Attachments
Finish looks great! Not surprised your pleased
I got it nearly half price and it still cost a good lump of my cash. Don't want to say how much though. He was a sound guy and he does a lot of work for a family friend, plus the fact it was for a 'school project' (god how I hate to class it as a school project). But ya he gave me some off but was still expensive but definatly value for money.
Soldered all the electronics on except the power socket but that doesn't get soldered. I will try to buy that over the weekend and sort it out first thing next week. I also fixed some small bits of leather to the cable tunnel (the hole in the desk) so it was a bit nicer since it was awkward to paint.
A few more pics in better lighting. Shame you can't hear it, it rocks having sound coming from my desk and YES it all works perfectly
The worktop has been put into a storage room now until final assembly so no more pics of that until its 100% finished!
I'm sorting out the legs at the moment so they should be cut out form CAD machines early next week ready for glueing, sanding and finishing (not sure how yet, I can't get them made from metal at this time, maybe replace them some other time). I found some liquid sprayable metal but its way to expensive for the starter kit (like $4000-$6000). Shame because it will actualy be metal then with no seams instead of a finish to imitate metal.
Attachments
Urgent Opinions Needed
Deadline is end of next week and the legs are still just a CAD drawing.
I've made an alteration in the design which would allow the legs to be made easier from a strip of metal. I do NOT want to comproimise the looks and styling of the desk, I just want to make sure this alteration visually works.
Basically I've changed the thickness of the legs, from 50mm to around 15mm thick. It would be possible to then get these squares made, possibly from a single strip of thick metal which would then be very tightly bent on the corners whilst being heated. This should be extremely strong and the change in design is growing on me.
I've attached the images below. Please post your thoughts.
Cheers.
Deadline is end of next week and the legs are still just a CAD drawing.
I've made an alteration in the design which would allow the legs to be made easier from a strip of metal. I do NOT want to comproimise the looks and styling of the desk, I just want to make sure this alteration visually works.
Basically I've changed the thickness of the legs, from 50mm to around 15mm thick. It would be possible to then get these squares made, possibly from a single strip of thick metal which would then be very tightly bent on the corners whilst being heated. This should be extremely strong and the change in design is growing on me.
I've attached the images below. Please post your thoughts.
Cheers.
Attachments
Assuming the metalwork is being done by an external company have you considered welding instead (assuming you want the right angle look as in images) - just slice the metal at predefined lengths and then weld it at right angles
The metals most likely going to need to be polished when its all finished anyway due to discolouration from the heat treatment.
Personally I'd be concerned with the 'tight' bend even with 15mm metal. If it's got a decent radius on the corners then obviously this will make a difference but your pictures don't show that there is one.
As to the legs (assume wooden) you could try a 'chrome' paint after some heavy priming as this can come out pretty good if done correctly (look at some 'chrome' modified cars)
The metals most likely going to need to be polished when its all finished anyway due to discolouration from the heat treatment.
Personally I'd be concerned with the 'tight' bend even with 15mm metal. If it's got a decent radius on the corners then obviously this will make a difference but your pictures don't show that there is one.
As to the legs (assume wooden) you could try a 'chrome' paint after some heavy priming as this can come out pretty good if done correctly (look at some 'chrome' modified cars)
I like this option more than the original design. I'd take LeviG's advice and cut the metal and weld instead of bending the metal. You'll get better angles and much tighter corners. This desk would not work with rounded corners on the legs. So I'd take that into consideration. The welding would be simple and you could do that yourself if you know how.
Ok thanks for the advice. I didn't want to cut 4 strips and weld them together because I thought the welding points and just generally the corners would look messy. But i suppose if it is them sorted out and finished properly it would be good.
When comparing these thin legs to the original, the original looks rather chunky.
Thanks for the advice
When comparing these thin legs to the original, the original looks rather chunky.
Thanks for the advice
Waiting on the legs, speaker grilles and perforated box atm, going to be powder coated steel. Its the easter holidays so I took my baby home to finish it off. My rooms an absolute tip because I threw everything well ou the way to get it in. using half an old chip board desk to rest it on (with lots of bubble wrap).
Nice to use it for a bit
Everything has worked perfectly in terms of electronics. so I don't have to rip it apart to fix something (actually thats not true, it is mostly replaceble and fixable)
Got an exhibition at college in about a month or less so I'm getting some extremely high renders and photos done to be printed on A3 for that
Nice to use it for a bit
Everything has worked perfectly in terms of electronics. so I don't have to rip it apart to fix something (actually thats not true, it is mostly replaceble and fixable)
Got an exhibition at college in about a month or less so I'm getting some extremely high renders and photos done to be printed on A3 for that
Attachments
That looks fantastic! Great job! It look amazing and so professional! I would buy that any day!!!! PLEASE post more pictures when its fully done! simple the best desk ever!
simple the best desk ever! That looks fantastic! Great job! It look amazing and so professional! I would buy that any day!!!! PLEASE post more pictures when its fully done!
I may have to sell it but I'm not sure if i want to because its a once in a very long time exclusive and I've put so much love aswell as other things
into designing and making it. Will have to see what happens.Thanks for the comment
I agree - fantastic!
You've done an excellent job. Can't wait to see it with it's powder coated steal additions - sounds like a great way to finish it off.
You've done an excellent job. Can't wait to see it with it's powder coated steal additions - sounds like a great way to finish it off.
The metalwork is being done and should be finished by around 20th maybe sooner, maybe longer... I can't wait though...
I'm going to clean up and clear out my room today as I have just bought my first ever mac yesterday (2.4GHz Macbook). I'll take a few shots with it all set up on my desk soon
Can't wait for the metalwork though, it just sounds well cool. It's being laser cut and powder coated
I'm going to be entering some competitions soon once it's done, could be £1000 for the 16-18 year old design comp and will find some more
I'm going to clean up and clear out my room today as I have just bought my first ever mac yesterday (2.4GHz Macbook). I'll take a few shots with it all set up on my desk soon
Can't wait for the metalwork though, it just sounds well cool. It's being laser cut and powder coated
I'm going to be entering some competitions soon once it's done, could be £1000 for the 16-18 year old design comp and will find some more
The metalwork is being done and should be finished by around 20th maybe sooner, maybe longer... I can't wait though...
I'm going to clean up and clear out my room today as I have just bought my first ever mac yesterday (2.4GHz Macbook). I'll take a few shots with it all set up on my desk soon
Can't wait for the metalwork though, it just sounds well cool. It's being laser cut and powder coated
I'm going to be entering some competitions soon once it's done, could be £1000 for the 16-18 year old design comp and will find some more
Sounds good. I'm looking forward to seeing it completely done. And congratulations on getting the Macbook. I'm sure it looks much better perched on the desk
Hey people,
Thanks for all the interest and support. Unfortunately I've let slip a bit, way too much work on atm to get round to posting things. I'm STILL waiting on the metalwork... May not be done in time to mark but I'm still getting it.
However there is a small update, the principle has decided to pay for the metalwork (legs and grilles). This is excellent as they are really expensive and I was worried. In return for him paying this I am re-designing the whole school, sort of like modernising it, the budget isn't much though so I'll have to work on that. (~£10K)
I WILL post updates the day I get the legs for everyone...
Thanks again
Thanks for all the interest and support. Unfortunately I've let slip a bit, way too much work on atm to get round to posting things. I'm STILL waiting on the metalwork... May not be done in time to mark but I'm still getting it.
However there is a small update, the principle has decided to pay for the metalwork (legs and grilles). This is excellent as they are really expensive and I was worried. In return for him paying this I am re-designing the whole school, sort of like modernising it, the budget isn't much though so I'll have to work on that. (~£10K)
I WILL post updates the day I get the legs for everyone...
Thanks again
Great looking desk. That website in the OP has to be one of the most intuitive website I have ever come across....I love the page flipping, and how you can drag the pages.