randomwalkdesignlab

FIGMENT minigolf pavilion

2011-05-30T21:46:00.001-04:00

I just completed the design and installation of the FIGMENT minigolf pavilion on Governor's Island in New York Harbor. The minigolf course is an important revenue stream for the FIGMENT arts festival and the pavilion is a clear center and organizer of the huge traffic flow through the area. The pavilion was designed to provide shade for the volunteers staffing the course and make it easy to dispense putters, balls and scorecards. The steel frame and CNC cut plywood parts were made by Digifabshop of Hudson, NY. It's roof was designed using a stressed skin, 'semi-monocoque' plywood structure often used in aircraft construction, and the entire structure was inspired by a 50's 'googie' aesthetic emphasizing traffic flow and signage as important parts of the design. It offers clear queuing, and the counter-top ball ramp is also an arrow pointing directly at the first minigolf hole.

Many thanks to Damon Hamm and all of the volunteers who helped grind, paint and assemble it.

More photos can be seen in this flickr gallery.

CNC cut pewter casting experiments

2011-05-24T22:18:00.000-04:00

Moldmaking and casting progress, routing
MDF with the CNC and melting pewter with
a propane torch

Governor's island themed medallions, based on
illustrations drawn by Alex Roediger of
Dust Art Collective.

Medallions for the FIGMENT fundraiser

wax positives of finger hooks

final pewter finger hooks casting

pewter tile based on an illustration from
one of the Exquisite Weapon panels

Condo Interior Designs

2011-05-16T10:56:00.000-04:00

Some quick renderings of the designs from our Ill-fated India St. house. I designed this renovation of the upper floor apt for our use. Lots of built-in shelving and lighting in the form of a CNC cut plywood grid, folding extension table and integrated upper kitchen cabinets and range hood. Since we lost this house, it won't be happening, some of the ideas might get recycled into our new place though.

Our Wedding Chuppa

2010-08-31T20:45:00.001-04:00

We had a retro-futuristic wedding, with a sci-fi chuppa. Update:
Just posted on offbeatbride.

Wooden Flower, based on a cherry blossom

2010-06-17T13:31:00.001-04:00

Exquisite Weapon

2010-06-17T12:16:00.001-04:00

About the Piece:

The Exquisite Weapon is an interactive installation that evokes Governor's island's historical and transformative nature. The piece is in the shape of an unexploded bomb, with maple seed fins and other biomorphic elements. The weapon illustrates a temporary interruption in the destructive nature of creation. Its skin is composed of two-sided cartoon-like illustrations which evoke the dual nature of the island, its military significance and future ecological harmony. The occupiable cage-like interior of the piece allows the user to rearrange the skin's narrative into their own preferred juxtaposition of the horror of war and an eden-like beatitude. The weapon's tail displays a rotating teleidoscope that allows one to experience the view of a seed falling to earth or the path of a bomb bent on destruction.

The ipaddle

2010-04-13T17:18:00.003-04:00

Here it is, the newest magical and revolutionary product from Cupertino...cut in birch ply wood on the CNC, also available in masonite, below. Update! Looks like Apple's director of Developer Relations is now in possession of one of these.

Mug design

2010-04-04T23:16:00.000-04:00

A fun cafepress creation for my soon-to-be father in law. He really likes being retired.

My CNC setup

2010-04-04T23:08:00.000-04:00

This is my Fireball CNC router. The case is lined with foam soundproofing. I'm using a small trim router with a 1/4" collet. I had a dremel on there for a while, but it was really lacking in power.

This case comes apart in two pieces. The bottom part houses the power supply, vacuum, and lots of spare parts and materials.

When cutting MDF, there is some kind of static reaction with the soundproofing and the vacuum hose. Interesting formations.

2009-11-11T23:08:00.000-05:00

Dinoball, The Instability of Form

2009-10-18T22:27:00.004-04:00

A project just completed for the Decompression event in NYC:

A cross between a teacup fairground ride and a teeter totter, The Instability of Form (aka Dinoball) is an interactive sculpture. It will have three dinosaur heads mounted on it, and the riders' collective motion can lean it back and forth encouraging one dinosaur over another. (The piece can also be spun on wheels) The three heads express the continuity and instability of forms in nature as they evolve. Each one is slightly different, and the circular nature of the piece asks the question: "which came first, the chicken or the dinosaur egg?"

2009-09-18T12:17:00.002-04:00

Start with a laser cut, press braked, powder coated part. Make 3 and rotate them around one another: A coffee table with nesting parts and easy assembly

2009-08-20T19:06:00.000-04:00

A dining table currently in the works for CNC fabrication

Stem table in birch and bamboo now up on Ponoko

2009-07-21T23:22:00.004-04:00

Recently added to Ponoko. link

custom fruit bowls/baskets completed

2009-07-21T17:24:00.005-04:00

I designed these as a wedding present for a couple we know who just got married. Some of their favorite animals are monkeys and turtles, so I incorporated the animals into the baskets. This is the start of a mass-customizable line of like items soon to be sold in the store. They are made from stained, laser-cut birch plywood.