The first project in IAR 102 Studio was a project about dining tables. I chose to pick a dining table design from 1 designer on 5 different continents (see the first post under IAR 102). From there, we were asked to choose one of the five tables from our board and pick design elements and properties that we felt that it had. Once we did that, we had to make a sketch model (in about 10 minutes) from whatever we could find around the studio.
Karim Rashid's Flap Table:
Here's my sketch model of Karim Rashid's Flap Table:
We then had to make the same table in scale, using a 1":1' scale:
Then we remade the table to work out any kinks in craft, etc:
For this version I made my base a little shorter, stopped inverting the colors, and put an edge around the table so the board under it did not show.
Then we chose a plan from four dining spaces provided and came up with a parti of our concept for the design:
Concept parti~Juxtaposition of circles and straight lines, color, contemporary, space-saving
Because my dining table is so small and none of the dining spaces seemed entirely appropriate for it, I decided to convert my space into part of a studio apartment. This is my working floorplan with all of my notes along the way.
We were also tasked with designing and making a model of a "sideboard," however, we were encouraged to think of a sideboard in a non-traditional sense. My first idea for a sideboard was to take the lines of a mid-century modern cabinet and put a contemporary twist on it by use of color and materials. I intended for the sides and top to be a very slick white surface with sliding doors and the back in orange. Here is my sketch model for that sideboard design.
I needed to challenge myself to design a "sideboard" that pushed some boundaries. The next piece I designed was a short shelving unit. Each course of shelves are a different color, in keeping with the contemporary design of the space, and are movable. I then considered stacking it on top of the unit above, but it was still too traditional. I scrapped the idea of using the cabinet as a base and decided, instead, to make the shelving unit taller.
Here you can see the colors of the shelves.
This is a top view with the shelves adjusted in a non-linear orientation
And finally, this view of the shelf indicates the size compared to the scale figure.
After making the table and sideboard and designing the space in plan, we made sketch models of the space. I chose to make mine out of whiteboard and to scale (1":1'). After making the sketch model of my space, I was challenged to consider the windows and ceiling. Originally, my windows were 8' and the mullions were on a grid and predictable. I changed the mullions to echo the circular shapes and forms found throughout my space and further emphasize the concept of circle vs. straight lines. I also put a grid of beams on the ceiling with sound dampening fabric woven through. The beams in the grid pattern did not work with the rest of the design the way I had hoped, so I changed the ceiling to a series of sound-dampening circles of varying sizes; some were lighted to add light to important parts of the room (art, sideboard, and seating area). For this project we also had to incorporate a piece of artwork from the Weatherspoon Art Gallery on the UNCG campus. I chose a kind of creepy looking Claes Oldenburg and a large, colorful painting by George McNeil.

Claes Oldenburg: Symbolic Self-Portrait with Equals
George McNeil: Bedlam Place

These are perspective drawings of the space. Notice that they still indicate the shorter shelves on the original sideboard as a base and the beams on the ceiling.
The chairs that I chose for my table (Karim Rashid' Flap Table) are by Calligaris in orange. I also chose a colorfully patterned chair by Starck as side chairs in the seating area.
Calligaris Ice Chairs in Orange
Mademoiselle by Phillipe Starck
The final model of my (dining) space came together using the original concepts from my parti.
Ceiling detail
This was a great project for me. It challenged me to push my design threshold and to continue to think more creatively.