Bio-inspired storage concepts

Concept 1 – Bookshelf inspired by human vertebral body

This concept is inspired from the vertebral body of human. I found human vertebral bones very interesting as they are very rigid, solid and structured but at the same time it also have liquid-like properties that possibly resulted from the S-shape of the whole structure. 

The core of the shelves that holds the structure together (the tall cylinder in the middle) shows a strong resemblance to the human spinal cord while the ‘leaves’ of the shelves resemble the vertebral bones. It is flat at the back as it is placed against the wall and from the side view we can see that the shelf have contours that is almost shaped like number ‘3’ or ‘S’ (rising at the top, then goes thinner in the middle and then goes bigger to the end). 

The shelf is designed to store books as it is placed against the wall but it is not necessarily limited to books, it may extend to other objects. But despite of the physical function of this shelf, the other aim of this concept is to evoke emotions to the users, to have the same feeling we have when we see human bone structures; the feeling of strength and power.


Concept 2 – Shelves inspired by termite’s nest

For this concept I got the inspiration from the complex structure of termite’s nest. The nest consists of many horizontal layers which are connected by spiral staircases. Termite’s nests are punctuated by a maze of tunnel-like galleries that effectively provide air conditioning as well as allow the termites to move through the nest. There are several entrance to their nest and they are well protected. 

Like the actual nest, this shelves consist of many horizontal layers that are stacked together, creating space to store objects from books, DVDs, or it can be used to store shoes and sandals as well. Mimicking the spiral staircases of termite’s nest, the structure of this shelves are well supported by stacks of layers (possibly using MDF sheet) that support each other balance.

Concept 3 – Spice rack inspired by honeycomb

Honeycomb has been an inspiration in many design process, I believe because a hexagonal structure uses the least material to create a lattice of cells within a given volume. What I’m trying is to apply this geometric efficiency as a solution in designing storage for small spaces. 

This spice rack is made from fabric or some kind of material that is elastic (I’m still keeping my options open). It can be flat-packed when it’s not used and while we are using it, it only needs to be hooked. It also has the flexibility to store more or less as required.


Which one is your fave?
Feedbacks are welcome!

ciao!

Project 1 Studio 2011 - Mortar & Pestle

Rationale
Besides its unusual shape and the way this mortar and pestle assembled, the main thing that distinguishes this product from the one in the market is the expanding shape of the pestle towards the lid. Not only it has a fitting diameter handle for our handgrip, this shape also prevent our hand slipping over the pestle and at the same time it reduces the power needed to hold the pestle tightly while using it. Furthermore, the concave interior of the mortar aims to avoid the objects being spilled out during pounding and grinding.

I actually put a lot of time sketching and making mock ups to get the best size and shape of these tools. The main difficulty is to make the size of the mortar and the pestle in balance but not to put aside the overall look as they are also stand as one piece. The size and shape of the mortar will affect the size and the shape of the pestle and vice versa. Finally I arrive at this size where the mortar is not as small as the one used in medical place and not as big as the one in the market (those big stone and granite mortar) but big enough to make sauce or paste.

Another main feature of this tool is its material, which is stainless steel. The reason why I choose stainless steel over other material is because it has some technical properties that offer some benefits such as;

• Strong and long lasting 
• Better than stone because it is cohesive and corrosion resistance; small bits of the mortar and pestle won’t get mixed with the objects 
• Better than wood because it is not absorbent and non-porous; won’t absorb/ trap the ingredients being ground and prevent the growth of microorganisms from the food particles that are left in the mortar and pestle surface
• Non-reactive with alkaline or acidic foods so it is safe either for food preparation or medical use
• Easy to clean; dishwasher safe

Technical Drawings in A1 (Click the image to get better resolution)

Feedbacks are more than welcomed :)

Sydney Design 2011 Festival

Some sketches of my favourite product design from 5 exhibitions in Sydney Design 2011.
Feedback is welcome, enjoy :)

ciao!

Bronte beach & Connections

sketches + notes

Again, i'll be happy to hv some feedbacks :)

ciao!