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alubind

informalist aluminium ring binder Name: ______________________________________ Class: ____________

contents

1. Contents 2. Video notes 3. Aluminium information sheet 5. Informalism information sheet 7. Homework question sheet 9. Design brief 10. Project overview 11. Surface finishes 12. Concept sketches –example 13. Concept sketches 14. Design development 15. Class test 17. Working with Aluminium 18. Riveting information sheet 19. Flow diagram 20. Product reference 21. Concepts of objects which could be re-designed in Aluminium 22. Homework - Ron Arad 23. Evaluation

Denotes work sheet Denotes information sheet

Collate all sheets according to this contents page and place this page on the front for presentation.

assesment

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designability group pty ltd 2002

alubind Video notes

Materials Design Catalyst Graphics Making Surface Finishes

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alubind Information sheet - aluminium

Aluminium is a silvery-white, non-ferrous metal (containing no iron). As metals go it is quite soft and has a fairly low melting temperature (680 degrees). Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust, but was only in the mid Nineteenth Century that it has been used as a pure metal. This is because aluminium naturally occurs as an ore (mixed with oxygen) called bauxite. Even though scientists knew aluminium existed it was very difficult to separate from oxygen to get pure aluminium. Normally heat was enough to separate a metal from its ore, but this was never really going to work for aluminium. It wasn’t until a few scientists were experimenting with the effects of passing electricity through liquids that they saw the possibility of separating aluminium from its oxide. They liquified aluminium oxide, passed an electric current through it and drained off pure aluminium. This whole process is called electrolysis.

The electrolytic process.

Not surprisingly aluminium was first considered quite precious because it was so rare. The first objects designed from aluminium were luxury items such as medallions and coronets. Napoleon impressed his dinner guests with aluminium cutlery. The key to making more objects from aluminium was the development of electricity. Extracting aluminium needs so much electricity that often whole power stations are built for the job. Making electricity is not such a hard thing to do, but it is not very environmentally friendly. Burning coal is a common way to make electricity, so to make aluminium two holes in the ground have to be made – one to get the bauxite out of and the other to get the coal out of. A good way to reduce the impact is to recycle. If all the hard work of extracting the aluminium is already done, why throw it away? It has a low melting temperature and not much more energy is needed to melt it and then re-use it. Aluminium is now very commonly used in industry, around the home and in sport. Pure aluminium is actually a bit too soft and malleable to be useful so other metals are mixed with it such as titanium, magnesium, and lithium to change its properties to make it totally suited to how it is being used. These mixtures are done at high temperatures and are called alloys. If you want to make something form aluminium then there are a wide variety of standard forms to choose from including foil, sheet, plate, tube, extrusions, bar, rod and wire. Designers are attracted to the many possibilities aluminium has to offer. As it is suited to a range of production techniques and can be given many different surface finishes. One of the first designers to really start exploring

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the properties of aluminium was Dutch designer Gerrit Rietveld who designed this chair in 1942. He set himself the task of designing a chair entirely out of one sheet of aluminium. It was a good challenge, but he didn’t quite make it. More recently Marc Newson has designed the Lockheed lounge also using sheet aluminium. He has pop-riveted hundreds of small pieces onto

a fibre-glass base to come up with a truly original approach. The lounge is probably uncomfortable and easy to slip off, but it is now hailed as a design classic and has propelled Newson’s design career.

Another design classic is the Bailetti coffee maker. It is a classic for a totally different reason. It is humble, cheap and popular. It was designed in 1930 and is still readily available today. Aluminium is a good conductor of heat and this coffee maker uses this property well.

Bailetta Coffee Maker. 1930.

Armchair prototype. Gerrit Rietveld. 1942

Lockheed Lounge. Marc Newson. 1985.

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designability group pty ltd 2002

alubind Information sheet - Informalism

Pentagon Group – R Sommer, W Laubersheimer, R Muller G Arens & M Voggenreiter

In 1985 a group of five German designers set out to produce a series of one-off objects which would challenge the accepted norms of industrial design. They called themselves Pentagon and designed traditional objects such as shelves, chairs, tables, lamps, and beds. However, instead of using traditional materials such as hardwoods and laminates, they used much more industrial kinds of materials such as steel and concrete. They even made use of objects, which they just found. Pentagon displayed their work in their own gallery and generated a great deal of interest. Materials not usually found in the home suddenly became respectable enough to be used for furniture. Steel (often untreated), wire, rectangular tubing, tractor inner tubes, and sandstone slabs were rediscovered. This was in contrast to the fine finished forms seen in previous design styles, and represented a strong departure from the ideals of Modernism. Whilst Modernism was focused on the idea of perfection, informalism does not hide from decay, and imperfection. It is coarse and brusque, but in many ways more honest. This attraction to the ‘unfinished’ is perhaps indicative of a dissatisfaction with the utopian ideals of Modernism. Although the group has rarely used the term themselves, their approach has been labelled as ‘informalist’. The word ‘informalism’ indicates their relaxed approach to, and even disregard for the widely accepted dictates of ‘good design’. The success of this style challenges Raymond Loewy’s seemingly sensible statement that “ugliness does not sell”. Informalism is about the poetry of the unfinished.

Kangaroo Chair 1989. Lauberscheimer

Car jack shelf unit 1986. Lauberscheimer.

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Since 1985 many more designers have experimented with informalist ideas. The style gives the designer unprecedented freedom in choice of materials and finishes. Whilst no longer considered truly Avant-garde, the objects are certainly on the bounds of acceptable product design. They testify to the creativity of the designer, and show that even outlandish ideas have merit. There is a certain transparency in the object - it seems easy to get to know the designer. Whilst the agenda is quite different to other design philosophies it is easy to see some of the overlaps informalism has with green design and Australian vernacular.

Chambre A Air Shelf Unit 1987. Muller Informal design seems to provoke the following questions: • Do objects have to be made from traditionally beautiful materials in order to be

considered beautiful? • Has mass production caused us to overlook some materials and fabrication

techniques? • Do we have the tendency to over-process materials, or is there value in the ‘found

object’? • To what extent can useful objects be considered art?

Commode 1988. Lauberscheimer.

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alubind Homework questions

1. What is meant by the term ‘alloy’?

2. Why was Aluminium first used as a jewellery material? 3. Give three reasons why it is environmentally sound to re-cycle Aluminium. 4. Draw an example of extruded Aluminium. 5. What does Informalism set out to do? 6. Why has Informalism been successful?

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7. Answer one of the questions stated at the end of the sheet on informalism. Develop an argument and provide examples to support your view.

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designability group pty ltd 2002

alubind Design Brief

Background Aluminium is a useful industrial material but designers also recognise its strong aesthetic appeal. For this reason all manner of objects have been re-designed using Aluminium. Objects normally made from plastic such as lunch boxes and telephones can be given a new identity when re-designed in a new material like Aluminium. The attraction with Aluminium is that it not only evokes a strong sense of the industrial, but it also is very appealing aesthetically. Designers find this dual nature a rich source of ideas. Such an approach is in keeping with the tenets of informalism, which aims to use industrial materials such as steel and concrete in the design of everyday objects such as furniture. These materials are normally used in applications where aesthetics are not a consideration. The informalist approach however, creates aesthetically interesting environments using these unexpected materials. The result is something quite robust and rustic, but rarely ugly. Any material can have aesthetic merit, it just depends on how it is treated. Aluminium offers an excellent opportunity to redesign objects according to informalist ideas. Brief Re-design and make an A5 folder (binder) which can be used as a design diary or sketch book. Parameters: • Your folder will hold A5 sketch paper; • It will use a piano hinge and binder ring provided; • All joins are to be riveted; • Pay specific attention to the finish of the product as a main part of the design (refer

to the design paths for initial ideas); • Avoid reproducing pictures or text of any kind for your design. It is easier and more

effective to think in terms of simple geometrics. • Consider safety - make sure your folder has no sharp edges. Submission: • A set of concept sketches (on design sheets and in fineliner) indicate your ideas for

possible finishes; • A flow diagram explaining the processes you will need to make your folder (see flow

diagram information sheet). • A final product. • An evaluation. . Extension: A presentation rendering with title and background

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designability group pty ltd 2002

alubind Project overview

Parts list Part No.

Description Material Dimensions Quantity

1 Top piece Aluminium 235x195x1.6mm 1 2 Piano hinge Steel 230mm 1 3 Binder ring Steel as supplied 1 4 Lower Piece Aluminium 235x235x1.6mm 1 5 Rivet Aluminium/Steel 4mm diameter 9

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designability group pty ltd 2002

alubind Design Ideas

These design paths can help you generate your own Alubind ideas. Remember to consider all the surfaces, not just the front. It is best to avoid reproducing pictures or text of any kind. It is easier and more effective to think in terms of simple geometrics. 1. Surface textures

• Using 400-800 ‘wet-or-dry’ with water will give a satin finish which will hide scratches.

• Use brasso and a rag to polish the surface so that it becomes reflective. Any scratches will need to be removed prior to this with ‘wet-and-dry’.

• A circular wire brush in a power drill can give some burnished effects.

• Scratch patterns in the aluminium with

a scriber and rule or engraver

2. Masking

A combination of the above finishes can be achieved with masking using either masking tape or contact adhesive cut with a sharp knife. This approach can be used to make striking patterns. (this is not suited to burnishing as the masking tends to be pulled off by the spinning wire brush)

3. Adding

Add almost anything in sheet form to the front of the folder. Extra Aluminium can be cut, polished and riveted.

4. Subtracting

Drill holes, cut out shapes or change the profile of the cover.

alubind concept sketches - examples

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designability group pty ltd 2002

alubind Design Development

• Draw an accurate front view of your chosen design showing finishes. • Show any dimensions which will be helpful when you are making the design. • The scale is 1:1. The outline of the folder is shown below - just draw in your design.

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Insert Class Test here

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Insert Class Test here

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designability group pty ltd 2002

alubind Working with Aluminium From the information in the demonstration fill in the following table. Equipment Use Safety Marking out

Cutting (only be needed if you are adding another piece of Aluminium to the folder)

Filing

Drilling

Joining

Finishing

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designability group pty ltd 2002

pop riveting Information sheet

Pop riveting is a quick and easy method of fastening sheet materials. There is always a good side and a bad side. The rivet consists of a mandrel and a sleeve. The mandrel is pulled through the sleeves, which swells. The stem of the mandrel snaps off in the pop rivet pliers. Step 1 Drill a hole through all pieces of sheet material. They can be aligned,

held together in a vise and drilled all at once. Step 2 Load the pop rivet pliers. The handles need to be separated in order for

the rivet to be inserted properly. Step 3 Insert the rivet into the hole from the good side of the join, and squeeze

the handles of the pliers. Step 4 Re-open the handles and slide the pliers further over the stem of the

rivet. The steel stem should break off leaving the rivet holding the sheets together.

To remove rivets, simply re-drill a hole through from the good side.

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designability group pty ltd 2002 Flow

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product reference Alubind homework

Find pictures of five items designed in Aluminium. Photocopy them (may need reduction) and cut and paste them below. Indicate what they are and who designed them.

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designability group pty ltd 2002

Ron Arad Alubind Homework

1. What sorts of objects has Ron Arad designed? 2. What materials does he use? 3. What sort of response do you think he wants people to have when they see his

designs? 4. How would you describe his design style? 5. Draw a picture of an object designed by Ron Arad which you find noteworthy in

some way (you don’t even have to like it). Use the space below. What is it called and when did he design it?

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alubind Evaluation

Upon completion of your product, answer the following questions: 1. Explain the effect you aimed to achieve in the surface finish of your product.

2. What were the main challenges/difficulties you faced when trying to achieve the desired effect? 3. How would you make your product if you had to do it again? What changes would you make?

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4. Is your product easy to mass produce? What modifications would you make if you had to make 100? (use the space provided to draw your changes)

5. What kind of people would like your design most? 6. What other products could be redsigned using this method with Aluminium? 7. What other materials could be used to make an informalist folder?