DCG Project 2013

Probably going to come out around the last week of September.

I'm looking forward to it, I love SolidWorks (though I've yet to get a copy for myself ) and like doing it but my teachers is fairly hapless! I think we're really behind on the drawing half of the course, and some of the more basic things on SolidWorks he doesn't even know :mad:

I would dearly love something like a smartphone, last year (a perfume bottle) was fairly hard, trying to improve that would've been tough!

nariek1 wrote: »

H.L = Lectern
O.L = A Clock
Both projects a decent.

I presume that's this years?

Sounds good, a lectern allows for a lot change and imagination in it's design.

nariek1 wrote: »

H.L = Lectern
O.L = A Clock
Both projects a decent.

Ah jaysus a lecturn sounds crap How do you know this for sure though?

So what are people's thoguhts on the DCG Project for higher level 2013? Bit boring right?
"Carry out a design investigation of the physical form and features of modern lecterns"
My imagination is drawing blank

Barster wrote: »

Anybody have any tips for the project as a whole? , need at least a B2 in the subject need all the help I can get thanks greatly apprecited , starting output 1 as we speak ... any design ideas?

Best advice is to avoid the temptation to simply copy/pasting text/images from Internet for output 1, instead have precise detailed text with neat, accurate sketches and crucially evidence of primary research eg your own pic's of artefacts and cuttings from mag's catalogues etc. For the Solidworks section ensure 2 have at LEAST the minimum of 5 distinct parts, keep it relatively simple as u won't get extra marks for over elaborate modelling but have measurements as accurate and realistic as possible. For section B, in general new concept gets more marks than modification output.

Mayo_Boy wrote: »

Anybody have a link to the brief? I did the fragrance bottle last year

http://t4.ie/Assessment/LC-DCG/Assignment/DCG%20Student%20Assignment%202013(EV).pdf

nariek1 wrote: »

Best advice is to avoid the temptation to simply copy/pasting text/images from Internet for output 1, instead have precise detailed text with neat, accurate sketches and crucially evidence of primary research eg your own pic's of artefacts and cuttings from mag's catalogues etc. For the Solidworks section ensure 2 have at LEAST the minimum of 5 distinct parts, keep it relatively simple as u won't get extra marks for over elaborate modelling but have measurements as accurate and realistic as possible. For section B, in general new concept gets more marks than modification output.

This post pretty much says it all. I did my Leaving 3 years ago, simple projects done well always get the best marks. I went on to do Architecture in DSA and the same still stands. So no copying / pasting from internet - nice simple explanatory sketches instead, evidence of your own research and a well managed, sophisticated model and you will be fine.

I think that it would be more valuable to the project to compare a traditional lectern and a modern one. Considering the positives and negatives of various improvements, both technological and aesthetic, would give you a basis for your further investigations; and also allow you to use these points (lets say the negatives) as a solid foundation for possible improvements in your own design.

JackTheGrinder wrote: »

Cool, still haven't starte on output 1, can't get any layout/ideas I like. I'm going to do two pages for output 1 - brief history page and exploration of brief page, then two pages for output 2, contrasting two lecterns with key features first and then two detailed sketches examining the more specific details of the two. do you think that sounds ok?

Sorry I was late replying, I was busy with work the past few days. That sounds pretty good but I haven't read the brief for the 2012 DCG project yet. I'm not sure if it is still run by T4. Can somebody post a link to the brief or contact me with a private message to e-mail me a PDF. Maybe if I read into it a bit more I can offer some better advice.

I've just gone through the brief trying to pick out what they are looking for and I've included some quick questions that could get ideas going in relation to Output 1.

Modern lecterns are available in a wide range of shapes, forms and materials.

[Try to research a few different types of shapes, even ones that you don't particularly like. They want to see that you have looked at every style and understand how they are different. Figure out why some materials are better for the purpose than others. The texture and warmth of wood are nice properties for a lectern, because people will be resting their hands on it and engaging directly with the material, whilst for example, carbon fiber or some other FRP will allow you create forms that would be too complex for traditional construction, at the expense of the texture and workmanship of wood.]

Originally they consisted of a sloping surface with a ledge to hold a book, dictionary or other papers while its user read or lectured from a standing position.

[This could prompt an investigation into the ergonomics of the modern lectern, or how well they fit the body. What is the ideal distance from the eye that a person should read a book? Does this distance correspond with reading from a lectern? Can it be improved by raising or lowering the height of the shelf? Etc.]

More recently many lecterns facilitate multimedia presentations with built in sound systems, auto cue, etc.

[Once again, a thorough investigation into all types of multimedia facilities will be required here. They want to see that you have researched all possibilities and that you own design is well informed. I'm not really sure of what examples to give here, but I presume you could research speakers, volume controls, lighting controls, maybe a docking station for a laptop or iPhone? Think about the devices people use on a day to day basis, would it be good to be able to work on your presentation on your iPhone on the way to work and to then play it straight to the projector?]

(A) Carry out a design investigation of the physical form and features of modern lecterns.Your design investigation should include a brief exploration of the development of the lectern over the ages.

[See information above. With regards to the development of the lectern over the ages you could maybe do it in a timeline format, going from the very first lecterns all the way up to the present day, showing key changes along the way. Maybe the first lecterns were just a rock for example, something that differentiated the speaker from his audience. Maybe the next step was that a platform for a book or paper was introduced, and then a touchscreen etc etc..]

I probably started ranting there for the last bit but maybe you will get an idea or two from it. When you are looking for stuff on the internet, Google searches can be good, but a lot of the time your just going to get a very narrow view of what a lectern could be. I.e if you all search for 'Lectern' 9 times out of 10 they will be all alike. A good way to think outside the box is to sift through design websites. You probably wont find any lecterns but for example you might find a cool chair, or a table, or even some material or shape that you think might work with the project. Here as some ideas:

www.notcot.org

http://www.designboom.com/design.html

http://www.dezeen.com/

http://www.flyingarchitecture.com/category/3d-models/furniture-3d-models/

I'm finished my modern lectern on solidworks now, not lookin so bad just need to sketch up and old one and compare and contrast them, then I'm onto makin' my own one.

Bit of a dodgy project to be honest, lecterns in all fairness...