H-GC: DTP Homework Tasks
All Higher Graphic Communication candidates now have 23 days left to complete their thematic presentation. Due to the school move we have lost some time and we know require you to complete the bulk of the DTP tasks in your own time (this can be at home if you have the internet and a computer or in school during lunchtimes and free periods).
Over the next few weeks you will be completing your CAD models, producing a range of technical drawings and concentrating on the rendering of your final model.
Please visit the Higher GC page to download:
- Task Instruction Sheet
- Microsoft Word Template Files
- SQA Exemplar Folio
- St. Augustine's Pupil Exemplar Folio 2009
- DTP Common Commands in MS Word
You will also need to use your Leckie & Leckie course textbook and your A-Z of DTP in order to complete these tasks.
If you have any questions please see your teacher.
S3 WWS: Shaker Table
Both of the current S3 wood working skills classes recently completed our unit 1 project, the shaker table. The project requires pupils to produce 4 sets of haunched mortise and tenon's using both firmer chisels and mortising machines. They are also required to use a smoothing plane to produce the iconic shaker style legs. A selection of some of the finished projects can be seen below along with the beginnings of the next project, a wall mounted CD shelving rack.
Dieter Rams: “Less, But Better.”
This short video is an introduction to the functionalist designer, Dieter Rams. The former Director of Design at Braun (1960 - 1995) revolutionised the way that consumer products both looked and worked. His impact on the design world is still felt today with product designers like Jonathon Ive from Apple emulating and developing his minimalist approach to consumer product design.
Dieter Rams has famously provided designers with his own guide to successful design. These are now known as the "10 commandments". They are:
- Good design is innovative
- Good design makes a product useful
- Good design is aesthetic
- Good design helps us to understand a product
- Good design is unobtrusive
- Good design is honest
- Good design is long-lasting
- Good design is consequent to the last detail
- Good design is concerned with the environment
- Good design is as little design as possible
Have a look at the video below and leave a comment telling us what you think:
- Do you like the work of Dieter Rams? Why?
- Do you prefer the work of Apple and Jonathon Ive? Why?
- Do you think Apple ripped off/copied Dieter Rams or improved upon his work? Why?
- What do you think of the 10 commandements?
- Are their any other products (electronic products, buildings, furniture....anything at all!) you know of that fit in to this style of design? Leave a link so we can take a look.
The Design Museum in London currently has an exhibition of Dieter Rams work up until the 9th of March 2010.
S3 C&D: CD Storage Device
Mr. Todd's S3 Craft & Design class completed their CD Racks prior to the move to the new school. This project primarily focuses on manufacturing and finishing processes when working with wood. Pupils also cover all required K&U associated with this topic. The project helps develop the pupils abilities to mark out, cut and shape, drill, assemble and finish their wooden products and is an ideal practise task to ready pupils for their S4 project.
2P4 Metal Product Design
2P4 have just finished their main design project for S2. They tackled a more commercially orientated brief to come up with prototypes for a small candle holder that could be mass-produced by a manufacturing company. They had a more in-depth look at the design process. In the workshop they tried more advanced metalwork techniques such as 'hollowing' and 'soft-soldering'. Most students produced innovative and eye catching designs. They enjoyed using the modern equipment in our new department. Well done.
Evaluation questions:
What sections of the design folio did you do well?
What sections do you think you could improve?
What parts of the making did you enjoy?
What practical work do you think you could improve?
Did your design work out as you imagined?
If you were do doing the project again what would you change or improve?
1P4 Metal design project
1P4 were the first ever class to use the metal workshop in our shiny new department. The pupils completed the making part of their metal product design project using some of the brand new equipment. The next step is to evaluate the project. Here are some questions to consider:
What sections of the design folio did you do well?
What sections do you think you could improve?
What parts of the making did you enjoy?
What practical work do you think you could improve?
Did your design work out as you imagined?
If you were do doing the project again what would you change or improve?
Rendered CAD Animation – Servo
We’re in the New School
Things have been very hectic but we're in the new school and just about all the boxes have been unpacked. The first week passed surprisingly easily and without incident. We are still testing the new machinery and the "snagging" complaints are being fixed.
Pictures and further information to follow soon...
In the meantime check out what Mr Collin got for Christmas (not him flying though!)
New Department Spy Shots…
Mr Collin went on a tour of the new school again & the department seems to be almost completed. It's going to be a big change when we move in after the Christmas break. The building still has a furious amount of activity going on both inside and out.
The accommodation consists of;
- 2 Multi Purpose Workshops ( 1 Wood / 1 Metal focused)
- 2 Design Rooms
- Finishing Room/Saw Room
- Graphics Store/Technology Store
- Staff Base
Check out these shots from Friday:
Wood Focused Workshop
Metal Focused Workshop
Design Room 1
Design Room 2
(more)Wood Focused Workshop
Meet the Makerbot
Check out this introductory video to the Makerbot. This is an open source rapid prototyping machine which allows you to print in 3D using fused deposition modelling.
I know that some of you will read this and be saying: "Well Mr. Todd, what exactly does that mean?" Well, it means that you can make a model (in ProENGINEER or another piece of 3D modelling software) then "print" the object in a durable plastic called ABS (the same plastic that Lego and mobile phones are made of). Enjoy the video!