Cloud Shelf
Cloud Shelf
| Revision | Service | Quoted Duration | Actual Duration | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | CAD Design | 5 Days | 5 Days | 5 |
| B | CAD Design | 5 Days | 2 Days | No Rating Provided |
Buyer Request
Design a reversible shelf with a decorative cloud wall for manufacturing. Shelf should come in three standard sizes with fasteners and assembly instructions.
Parametric Design
I placed a lot of emphasis on ensuring that each dimension was properly labeled and linked parametrically. Not only is this important for simplifying the modification process, but it also allows for the project to be scaled to all three sizes without having to change individual features.
DFM
Given that the project was to be sent to manufacturers and later assembled by the end user, I opted for straightforward screw placements in easy to access locations. In total, only three screw varieties were used with two of which having the same diameter but different lengths.
While rendering, I found it hard to visualize the different orientations of the shelf without providing environmental context. To improve the readability of the render and to provide the buyer with a higher quality product, I extruded a false wall to mount the shelf against.
This project helped highlight the immense utility of being able to constrain dimensions together in order to have a well organized parametric design. Pragmatically building the model and linking related dimensions allowed for the entire project to be so much more dynamic. Changing the length of the shelf to any of the three specified dimensions simply required changing one variable and allowing the surrounding features to update and accommodate the change. This dynamism had the added effect of making other modifications easier as well. I could easily backtrack to where the feature needed to be adjusted and make the change in a similar manner.
In addition to improving the efficiency of my CAD workflow, I spent a lot of time working on the renders for the project. The buyer didn’t initially request any renders however, I thought they would appreciate a visual prototype to show their manufacturers the end design. I selected materials to align with their initial vision and created additional environmental details to provide more context to the fixture of the shelf. In the end, the buyer requested additional renders so they could use them for their own advertising purposes.
Buyer agreed to use for portfolio. Technical Drawings available at request.