Headboard Design | vivianmarinadesign

HEADBOARD DESIGN
(Digital Fabrication)

Skills:

woodworking, sketching, digital fabrication

Tools Used:

sketchbook, Adobe Illustrator, Rhino 3D, cnc machine, nail gun, handheld router, sanders

Course:

Digital Fabrication (DES 130T)

Duration:

5 weeks

What piece of furniture can I make that will introduce me to furniture

design while using digital fabrication tools?

My role: designing, constructing, and presenting the headboard

INTRODUCTION

For this assignment, we were challenged to create a 3D object of our choice using the digital fabrication tools in the Fabrication Lab. I knew I wanted to explore furniture design, but I wasn’t quite ready to dive into complex three-dimensional construction. Instead, I wanted to design something flat and something that could only be made using the CNC milling machine.

RESEARCH

After deciding to make a headboard for my room, I researched pricing online and explored different design possibilities to determine the best form for my piece.

DIRECTION

I collected my key visual inspirations and put together a mood board. The concept is a carved wooden headboard with a form that feels alien, sharp, organic, and cyber-like, while the overall presentation remains feminine, artistic, and delicate.

THUMBNAIL SKETCHING

I wanted to bring my ideas to life by getting them out of my head and onto paper. Sketching allowed me to explore different possibilities for the headboard’s shape, structure, and overall aesthetic. Here are some of the initial design concepts I came up with.

SKETCHING

I experimented with illustrating the alien-inspired form multiple times, refining the shape to find the most compelling design. After settling on one that stood out, I sketched it symmetrically - first in pencil to map out the structure, then in pen to create a smooth, clear, and polished visual representation.

ILLUSTRATOR

I then digitized the sketch by using Adobe Illustrator. This allowed me to refine the shape and ensure symmetry.

RHINO 3D

I then imported the vencor and began to experiment with the 3d form in Rhino.

MATERIALS

I went to Home Depot to source wood. I went with maple plywood because of its strength and versatility.

CNC MACHINE

I put the design into the new program, as the CNC machine has its own vector software, added relief points, and perfected the design. I then went to the computer attached to the machine, inputted all the material information, and watched the machine carve out my design. I carved it out twice for my desired thickness.

CONSTRUCTION

I sawed off all the relief marks, glued the two pieces together, and used a nail gun to reinforce the piece. This took patience and the usual "trust the process"!

WOODSHOP EDITS

I used the handheld router and hearing protection to curve the edges. This process proved there are a lot more edges on this piece than I realized. I also used a handheld chisel to dull out the sharp edges.