Section 001 is an annual collaborative studio made up of Industrial Design and Architecture students from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning. This term we were tasked to reimagine, redesign and renovate the Sambur Lab, a private maker space laboratory for UC’s Industrial Design students.
“I dislike how dirty it is. There’s always dust in here and I feel like I’m breathing it in when I spend extended periods of time here.”
— 3rd Year Industrial Design Student on the condition of the Sambur Lab
Current Sambur Lab:
Printers are routinely out of order
Sambur lab window is blocked
Storage of miscellaneous materials
Unorganized material storage
CNC Tormach machine
Sewing machines not maintained
Research
Observing bigger maker spaces.
We began our studio by visiting local manufacturers to understand how prototyping can look on different scales. Cincinnati Inc. was one of them.
As students, we were the main users.
We then created a workshop to better understand how different students utilize the lab. We wanted to establish what power was allowable to us as students. How could we actually make the lab a better place?
Sketch ideation
We started sketching concepts based on the areas we established from our workshop. We then created teams for the following areas:
3D Print Group
Branding and Layout Group
Seating Group
Sewing Group
Storage Group
Table Group
Sewing Group
Members:
Kathleen Meyer, ID student and Creative Director
Julie Jiang, ID student
Jianna Lee, Architecture student
Opportunities
Machines are not maintained
No needles or bobbins provided
Storage not utilized
Thread is not provided
Covid-19 forced us to re-adjust our plans.
Our goal was to work with industry partners to fabricate our designs, but this was not possible regarding the situation.
Our work was stopped momentary, but we quickly re-gained our line of communication virtually. We set up creative directors between the teams so important decisions could be designed as a group and enforced by team directors. My role as a creative director was making sure my team members were staying consistent with design choices and deadlines were met.
Sketch exploration
Initial CAD
CMF exploration
Final iteration
Stitch
Following the same material and form factors as the rest of Sec 001 furnishings, students can more effectively utilize the great capability that is our sewing machines in the Sambur Lab.
Stitch is a storage system that supplies pattern making paper for students to ideate with and a fold-able ironing board. The unit also has locked sewing kits that help secure the supplies within the unit.
.
Ironing board modeled by Jianna Lee
Frame components modeled by Kathleen Meyer and Julie Jiang
Components modeled by Kathleen Meyer and Julie Jiang
Powder coated frame
Stitch addresses the lack of sewing supplies provided for students in the Sambur lab.
The storage unit is meant to encourage and supplement the tools needed to prototype and ideate soft goods.
