project
Metaproject 15
project
Metaproject 15
project
Metaproject 15
year
2024-2025
year
2024-2025
year
2024-2025
skills/programs
Autodesk Fusion 360, Procreate, 3D Printing, CNC, Industrial Design, Furniture Design, 3D CAD, 3D Rendering, Illustration
skills/programs
Autodesk Fusion 360, Procreate, 3D Printing, CNC, Industrial Design, Furniture Design, 3D CAD, 3D Rendering, Illustration
skills/programs
Autodesk Fusion 360, Procreate, 3D Printing, CNC, Industrial Design, Furniture Design, 3D CAD, 3D Rendering, Illustration
description
The RIT Metaproject initiative pairs students with industry partners to develop products and solutions consistent with the Design is One philosophy espoused by RIT's Vignelli Center for Design Studies. This year, our partner was Rochester-based luxury furniture manufacturer Icon Design.
description
The RIT Metaproject initiative pairs students with industry partners to develop products and solutions consistent with the Design is One philosophy espoused by RIT's Vignelli Center for Design Studies. This year, our partner was Rochester-based luxury furniture manufacturer Icon Design.
description
The RIT Metaproject initiative pairs students with industry partners to develop products and solutions consistent with the Design is One philosophy espoused by RIT's Vignelli Center for Design Studies. This year, our partner was Rochester-based luxury furniture manufacturer Icon Design.
01
the brief
Our goal was to develop a unique furniture solution for Icon Design inspired by the Vignelli Archives, particularly their “Design is One” ethos. We were to study their current offerings and find where they could potentially grow.
01
the brief
Our goal was to develop a unique furniture solution for Icon Design inspired by the Vignelli Archives, particularly their “Design is One” ethos. We were to study their current offerings and find where they could potentially grow.
01
the brief
Our goal was to develop a unique furniture solution for Icon Design inspired by the Vignelli Archives, particularly their “Design is One” ethos. We were to study their current offerings and find where they could potentially grow.
initial sketches
I approached the brief with my personal brand of storytelling, using narrative themes to inspire my forms. These sketches, for example, come from themes like betrayal and imbalance.
Ultimately, these representations of narrative felt too shallow. I felt there was another angle I could approach the brief from.
initial sketches
I approached the brief with my personal brand of storytelling, using narrative themes to inspire my forms. These sketches, for example, come from themes like betrayal and imbalance.
Ultimately, these representations of narrative felt too shallow. I felt there was another angle I could approach the brief from.
initial sketches
I approached the brief with my personal brand of storytelling, using narrative themes to inspire my forms. These sketches, for example, come from themes like betrayal and imbalance.
Ultimately, these representations of narrative felt too shallow. I felt there was another angle I could approach the brief from.
form 1
My first attempt used self-supporting rings to create a circle atop which a glass tabletop could sit.
form 1
My first attempt used self-supporting rings to create a circle atop which a glass tabletop could sit.
form 1
My first attempt used self-supporting rings to create a circle atop which a glass tabletop could sit.
form 2
My second attempt flipped the first and turned it into a luxury beanbag chair.
form 2
My second attempt flipped the first and turned it into a luxury beanbag chair.
form 2
My second attempt flipped the first and turned it into a luxury beanbag chair.
form 3
Many of the comments made toward the first iterations mentioned how busy they felt. This attempt cuts the ring number considerably.
form 3
Many of the comments made toward the first iterations mentioned how busy they felt. This attempt cuts the ring number considerably.
form 3
Many of the comments made toward the first iterations mentioned how busy they felt. This attempt cuts the ring number considerably.
form 4
My fourth attempt involved the use of the half-rings I imagined would be used to manufacture the above tables. Although I liked the simplicity of this design, it felt too derivative of other pieces I'd seen in the luxury market.
form 4
My fourth attempt involved the use of the half-rings I imagined would be used to manufacture the above tables. Although I liked the simplicity of this design, it felt too derivative of other pieces I'd seen in the luxury market.
form 4
My fourth attempt involved the use of the half-rings I imagined would be used to manufacture the above tables. Although I liked the simplicity of this design, it felt too derivative of other pieces I'd seen in the luxury market.
form 5
My fifth attempt took the idea of self-support to its extreme. It also made me more aware of the limitations of ideating purely in CAD. I needed to make sure my designs were possible to manufacture and use.
form 5
My fifth attempt took the idea of self-support to its extreme. It also made me more aware of the limitations of ideating purely in CAD. I needed to make sure my designs were possible to manufacture and use.
form 5
My fifth attempt took the idea of self-support to its extreme. It also made me more aware of the limitations of ideating purely in CAD. I needed to make sure my designs were possible to manufacture and use.
02
playing with rings
I stumbled into the use of rings as a focal point while in CAD. Rings are basic, but their ability to interact with themselves presented many opportunities for narrative. The sculptural outcomes also fit into ICON's catalog, between their organic forms and geometric forms.
02
playing with rings
I stumbled into the use of rings as a focal point while in CAD. Rings are basic, but their ability to interact with themselves presented many opportunities for narrative. The sculptural outcomes also fit into ICON's catalog, between their organic forms and geometric forms.
02
playing with rings
I stumbled into the use of rings as a focal point while in CAD. Rings are basic, but their ability to interact with themselves presented many opportunities for narrative. The sculptural outcomes also fit into ICON's catalog, between their organic forms and geometric forms.
03
printed prototypes
After creating a handful of designs in CAD, I 3D printed around 30 half-rings and tested whether they could actually self-support. This process helped me reach my final design.
03
printed prototypes
After creating a handful of designs in CAD, I 3D printed around 30 half-rings and tested whether they could actually self-support. This process helped me reach my final design.
03
printed prototypes
After creating a handful of designs in CAD, I 3D printed around 30 half-rings and tested whether they could actually self-support. This process helped me reach my final design.
borromean rings
In the process of experimenting with the rings, I accidentally created this interlocking configuration of rings. After some research, I found that a name existed for this layout: The Borromean Rings.
borromean rings
In the process of experimenting with the rings, I accidentally created this interlocking configuration of rings. After some research, I found that a name existed for this layout: The Borromean Rings.
borromean rings
In the process of experimenting with the rings, I accidentally created this interlocking configuration of rings. After some research, I found that a name existed for this layout: The Borromean Rings.
1: cnc foam
First, I CNC'd my half-rings out of foam. Due to the ring shape, the half-rings were cut in halves.
1: cnc foam
First, I CNC'd my half-rings out of foam. Due to the ring shape, the half-rings were cut in halves.
1: cnc foam
First, I CNC'd my half-rings out of foam. Due to the ring shape, the half-rings were cut in halves.
2: gluing
I then used foam-safe glue to assemble the half-rings.
2: gluing
I then used foam-safe glue to assemble the half-rings.
2: gluing
I then used foam-safe glue to assemble the half-rings.
3: spackle
Finally, I applied spackle to the foam to protect it from the corrosive spray paint I'd apply later.
3: spackle
Finally, I applied spackle to the foam to protect it from the corrosive spray paint I'd apply later.
3: spackle
Finally, I applied spackle to the foam to protect it from the corrosive spray paint I'd apply later.
04
manufacturing
We were expected to produce a half-scale grey model for the final. I was operating on a budget, so large-scale 3D prints were out of the question. So I went for CNC'd foam.
04
manufacturing
We were expected to produce a half-scale grey model for the final. I was operating on a budget, so large-scale 3D prints were out of the question. So I went for CNC'd foam.
04
manufacturing
We were expected to produce a half-scale grey model for the final. I was operating on a budget, so large-scale 3D prints were out of the question. So I went for CNC'd foam.
05
results
The final product came out strong and traveled to NYC for the International Contemporary Furniture Fair... nearly. The foam prototype stayed in Rochester while a new, 3D-printed version took its place.
05
results
The final product came out strong and traveled to NYC for the International Contemporary Furniture Fair... nearly. The foam prototype stayed in Rochester while a new, 3D-printed version took its place.
05
results
The final product came out strong and traveled to NYC for the International Contemporary Furniture Fair... nearly. The foam prototype stayed in Rochester while a new, 3D-printed version took its place.
© 2025 by Sid Shukla. All Rights Reserved