Country Pick 2017 / / Student

Stone

• Company
  Savannah College of Art and Design, United States
• Lead Designer
  Kenneth Macalino, Aziz Alsunusi, Yu-Fang Huang, Tom Rouine, Amy Jones
• Design Team
  Aziz Alsunusi Yu-Fang Huang Tom Rouine Amy Jones
• Project Link
  view
• University
  Savannah College of Art and Design

The main goal was to provide a more calming
atmosphere when using a computer in a
workplace. Working on a computer can often
be a stale and even cluttered experience.
Research around tranquil experiences led the
team to the meditation culture of Asia, in
particular zen gardens. Since small zen
gardens have already appeared on our
desktops, the team wanted to bring the
relaxing experience forward in another
workplace product. From here the team looked
forward into its competitors and its target
market. Aiming the product into a higher end
consumer. Subtle details and wise material
choices were a few of the things that the team
considered, along with a distinct design
language. From the zen gardens the team
chose to bring the stone arrangement, as a
symbol of balance and harmony, into the
computer riser. This added to the choice in
natural materials, to keep it connected to the
stone aspect, such as aluminum, white maple,
linen and ceramic. During the ideation phase,
the product design focused on the functionality
of the computer riser and how it could interact
with the speakers and sub-woofer. After many
concepts the design was finalized to include a
ceramic planter, which would house a small
plant, bringing forth the zen garden once more.
The final stages of design considered the
human factors behind the product. Looking into
relationships between the human dimensions,
the desk, seat and computer, to create the
optimum experience possible. Finally, the team
took to the computers to begin CAD modelling.
While in this stage the team considered all
manufacturing elements. The design utilizes
various manufacturing processes such as, high
pressure die casting, slip casting and CNC.