Manufacturing the Body

Even before getting the final booklet back from Morna she had already stated that she wanted to have the stool body stripped back as she didn't like the marked white paint job and liked the idea of it having a worn metal look. Since this was the case manufacturing the stool started before the final idea booklet was sent back to me.

I tried to sand blast the stool first however after it didn't work I realised that the stool had been given a powder coating and this would either have to be sanded off, shot blasted, or removed chemically.

With a time and cost restraint it mean that shot blasting and a chemical dip were not feasible options to remove the powder coating and therefore I decided to sand off the powder coating.

After all of the paint had been sanded off, the body was put back into the sand blaster to give it a more brushed metal look as the sanding had given it a very glossy finish and after showing Morna both types she decided she would prefer the brushed look.

Designing the User Interaction: Website

I decided to create a website as I thought that this would be the best way to showcase existing work that had been done through the service as well as a way for the different clients to submit some ideas they had and contact details so a more personal approach can then be taken. The website created was done using a company called squarespace.com and this allowed me to use a template and adapts it to my own means.

The different pages are shown below however the quality and sizes are not the best so why not take a look at the real thing at https://recycledrestoration.sqsp.com/

Home Page

Banner at the top of the following pages

Materials and Values Page

Previous Work Page showing before and after shots of different projects

Submit Form allowing clients to get in touch

Testing the Service: Final Idea Booklet

After receiving the booklet and having a discussion with Morna about what she wanted from the stool, a final idea was sketched up and put onto another booklet that will get sent out to be okayed by Morna. This is shown below:

Testing the Service: Getting the Initial Ideas Book Back

After posting the first book out to Morna with my initial ideas sketched onto it, I got it back from her 2 days later with some ideas and sketches done with the red chinagraph pencil. The photos are shown below:

A final idea booklet taking these ideas into account will now be made and this will then be sent to Morna. When a reply is received I will start going ahead with the manufacturing process.

Designing the User Interaction: More Packaging

Now that the size and shape of the box has been designed as well as the sleeve and the branding on it, the right material for the packaging still needs to be chosen. Ideally a gray box would be made. This worked however it was mounting board that was used with a colour layer glued on top. Even though the colour was perfect the top layer peeled off. Another two different materials have been tried and these include a thick card and single core cardboard. I feel this should work better than the double core cardboard.

Images of the card and the single core cardboard are shown open, closed and with a sleeve on them:

At the moment the cardboard is the best option and provides a clean finish and still fits in with the sleeve, however, I am going to test a double core cardboard and see if this gives better results and a cleaner fold.

The Stool: Initial Ideas Booklet

As a new project has been started in order to test the service, an initial ideas booklet has been made and will be mailed as a pack to Morna. Pictures of the booklet are shown below, followed by the packet.

Packaging

Booklet with inlay and sketching utensils

The logo was initially laser-cut in but it did not suit the tone of voice

A sleeve design was decided on, keeping the same typeface

This was then wrapped in parcel paper

This has been sent to Morna and I am now waiting for her to send it back to me.

New Project: Stool

Now that a service has been designed around the previous side table project it needs to be tested. In order for this to take place a new project needs to be embarked on. Morna is going to be used again as I feel it will be most beneficial using the same client to test the service. She has found a stool that she kind of like but it will need some work to get it the way she really wants it. There are some pictures of the stool below: