Essay of Timelines

Matthew S. Hall
History of I.D.
10/24/2008
R.I.S.D.


My designing philosophy most commonly consists of whatever I make being functional! I have made many miniatures since the mid 80’s starting around the first grade- all of which were functional. I like using “real” materials which are used on full-scale versions of the items I replicate. I have made several kinds of hand tools ranging from mini hammers, hatchets, piece-pipe tomahawks, knives and anvils to custom parts for realistic radio controlled trucks. It always bothered me how toy makers would use plastic for everything! Real tools and other things I replicate are usually made from metals and wood with only some parts being plastic. I want things to last! No more disposable junk that just breaks when you play hard! I still design parts for the radio controlled trucks and am currently working on a chassis design in collaboration with a company out of California who specializes in the hobby. My designs incorporate the effects of physics, nature and playing hard to come up with the most reliable working parts.
In my first timeline I researched the Ford Motor Company because of a long interest in the nostalgic Ford Mustang. Knowing that Ford started back during the Industrial Revolution with the Model T I thought it would be interesting to cover some of the popular styles Ford produced over the century. Looking back I wish I had developed more points to talk about in the timeline such as great design advancements in the automobile company’s history, with safety, reliability, style and performance.
For my second timeline I chose the history of the flashlight. I have always had an admiration of good flashlights. Good being that that they were made to last and preferably had longer run times with the battery and ultimately the brighter= the better. I think this was my best timeline so far with how I covered some of the advancements in technology over the century of flashlight history from simple functionality to style/fashion and reliability to building some current outstanding/ long-lasting batteries and incredible light power.
My third timeline was a research of chairs. Functionality and style were of the main focus here. The timeline started with the famous “Morris” chairs. I found the Morris chairs to have many which incorporated good functionality with adjustable back rests and good high quality woods and jointery. I love how they would expose the joints of the chairs construction being of the high quality mortise and tennon types. I like the simplicity and sheer function of a design.
The Bauhaus chairs were the next subject to cover in this timeline. I only found a few of the Bauhaus chairs appealing being that most of the ones I saw were merely a form of style derived from the Industrial Revolution and new manufacturing techniques at the time. I found the Bauhaus chairs to be more of a certain style more so than of much functionality so I wasn’t as appealed by their styles of design. The latter half of my timeline consisted of a new concept chair were you purchase a steel cube and a sledge hammer to form your own chair by beating the cube into a chair of some sort. I don’t really like this because it doesn’t really have any fitting style to contemporary styling of my taste. It’s not adjustable in any sort unless you beat it into it and then you can’t really put it back in any previous position. It’s simply a form of expression where I think it portrays frustration in order to form a chair by beating the steel cube with a sledge hammer into some sort of sitting utensil.