Pedestal

I had a fresh look at the pededal on the bench and payed with positioning and decided it could work quite well. With an indent in the table the top can be located, also the post can possibly act as a place to insert a bin for waste. I looked a the configuration of the storage undernieth. I think I will make this of mesh or metal wire, the airability had very good feedback. I also looked at the hatches, which are still being worked on. I likethe idea of correan on one side and wood on the other – this become a functional object – heatproof surface or bread board/ tray/ cheese board.

1:1 Model

Back to the sketch modelling, this time 1:1. It was amazing seeing the table at actual size. It made the project so much more real and there were many things that I noticed for the first time. Here I have put round legs on an angle for the table which I quite like, and make for a simple strong frame. For the bench top I have gone for a pedderstool mount which I am not convinced about but allows me to easily slide the table in which is very important for reducing the footprint and making the table smaller and more intermit.

Sketch Models

Here is a sample of the sketch model development. The table I choose to focus on was a rounded at both ends which felt accomidating and social. Part of the table splits off to form a smaller table, this leaves a more compact kitchen island, but still with plenty of seating for kids to do homework or informal eating.  The platformed prep surface I prefered was to one side of the table because of the longitudinal flow. However, on post inspection I suspect this is less desirable due to the arrangement of people sitting. It seems less social when half the people eating are not across the table from one another.

Prioritising Features

User Feedback and Analysis

Discussions and interviews with potential users of the kitchen island concept a number of usefull points have been highlighted and ideas generated.

Some of the highlights were as follows:

The size of the table may be constrictive, being suited to a small number of kitchen layouts. Making it more flexible in orientation or layout or even modularity could be an improvrment.

There is a perception that more storage could be integrated for kitchen things.

The bins do not seem usable at this stage, they need to allow cleaner transfural of scraps (via shoot or something) and they need to be easily removable for emptying.

Rounded corners were seen as a great safety factor for children.

The size of the prep area could be slightly smaller, especially if there were space, at hand, to put food and utensils etc.

The number of seated people can be six as standard (less than the current design) but should be able to stretch to eight.

Group Mind Mapping

This is the output for a group mind mapping session regarding thoughts on the BASE concept design (SHAC’09 project part one). This was carried out with product design students working on other SHAC’09 projects. The discussion was found to be very productive, covering both concerns about the BASE concept and creative ideas for the second part of the project.

Beginning Stage Two

The beginning of  stage two will be the analysis of the BASE design concept in stage one.

I would like to create a focus group of other students doing the SHAC’09 product project.

I also would like to take the concept back to the potential users in the form of a simple objective presentation. This should stimulate a constructive discussion on its form and features.

Also see how it stacks up in kitchens being built right now within New Zealand.