From sketches to tested objects.

These four projects show how I developed my designs around dimensions, materials, manufacturing processes, print cost and assembly.

Fusion 360 CADTechSoft 2D manufacture filesResin + laser prototyping

Explore the projects in 3D ↗Browse the full making diary ↗

Cyberset's illuminated orange diffuser and layered octagonal frames — **Cyberset**Layered plywood, acrylic and warm illumination.

01 · Foundation

Measure, draw, make.

Brief I learnt core workshop processes, then designed a Bauhaus-influenced keyring for laser manufacture.

I used Bauhaus research, measured drawings and TechSoft vector work to test my keyring design. I kept it as a design experiment and did not make a physical version.

I researched construction methods and made measured drawings.
I extracted shapes from my Bauhaus visual research.
I treated material thickness and joint geometry as design constraints.

Inspect the drawing-led 3D reconstruction ↗

Digital reconstruction of the unbuilt Bauhaus keyring experiment — Bauhaus keyring · digital reconstruction of an unbuilt design experiment.

02 · Fantasy Light → Cyberset

How I chose an original direction.

Brief I designed and made a light around the theme of fantasy for a defined user and setting.

I first explored ideas including a Peter Pan scene. Through visual and product research, silhouette studies and five physical revisions, I developed Cyberset: my layered cyber-sunset light.

Inspect the TechSoft-led 3D reconstruction ↗

Cyberset with warm orange illumination — **Cyberset** · plywood, acrylic and warm illumination.

Sketchbook development comparing visual references and explaining the choice that led to Cyberset — How I chose the original route and defined my layered plywood method.

Build photographs and final photographs of the illuminated Cyberset light — **Original evidence:** assembly, surface finishing and the completed illuminated form.

03 · Organic Forms → Mushroom Tissue Stand

My first CAD design was too expensive.

Brief I responded to “Organic Forms” with a tableware design for an identified target audience.

I combined biomimicry, product and price comparisons, user needs and material experiments to design a tissue, toothpick, salt and pepper stand. I redesigned one solid mould half, estimated at over £50 in resin, as a printable shell estimated at about £9.

Mushroom Tissue Stand with open tissue tray and slotted wooden cap — **Mushroom Tissue Stand** · three heads with separate functions. Explore the assembly and tissue feed ↗

Fusion 360 development of a two-part mould, ending with a costly solid resin-print design — **First version:** solid mould geometry, alignment holes and print estimate.

Fusion 360 redesign showing a hollow printable shell and the lower resin estimate — **Redesign:** shell construction, printable walls and a materially lower estimate.

Initial estimate>£50one solid mould half

Revised estimate≈£9one printable shell

04 · Angles → Light Fixture · externally set assignment

How I worked across two CAD systems.

Brief I responded to the externally set theme “Angles” and resolved a final outcome during the ten-hour practical exam.

I developed my concept through artist synthesis, customer and retailer mapping, force research and material experiments. I used Fusion 360 to establish the layered assembly and 6 mm LED-strip clearances, then TechSoft and card prototypes to find spacing and alignment problems.

I distilled my research into texture, perspective, structure and pattern.
I used Fusion 360 to check my layered assembly and component clearances.
I tested card prototypes before committing to final materials.

Explore the light fixture in 3D ↗

Angles light fixture with cyan illumination and layered geometric details — **Angles light fixture** · cyan illumination.

Sketchbook diary showing the ESA design developed in Fusion 360 and TechSoft 2D Design — I translated my Fusion 360 assembly into TechSoft cutting layouts.

Sketchbook page showing laser-cut layouts and card prototypes for the ESA design — I used card prototypes to adjust the base layer and visual alignment.

Progression

How I learnt to test my designs.

01
Draw accurately
I use dimensions and material thickness to make my designs manufacturable.
02
Build early
I use physical prototypes to find assembly and visual problems.
03
Change the answer
I redesign when cost, printability or alignment reveals weaknesses in my first version.

More engineering work.

I have brought together my interactive CAD models, 3D-printing timeline and production-tooling work on my main engineering page.

Design & 3D ↗Email me ↗