Thesis Prototype Build

I'm designing, building and moderating open source designs as part of my final thesis project at the College of Architecture and Planning at Ball State University. 

What is an open source design? In software, it means that a product is free and the source code is made available and editable. With architecture, it means that the "blueprints" are free and editable. While a simple idea, it takes design and manufacturing power away from companies that horde intellectual property, and gives that power to the people. And now with digital fabrication such as CNC milling and 3D printing, sharing digital designs that could be turned into physical objects is now easier than ever. 

I created osbuilt.org  as a place where makers could share their CNC mill designs for anything in the built environment. One website that inspired me was opendesk , and I tried to submit my designs there, but they make you submit pictures of your furniture, and then people vote on it. Only if it gets hundreds of "wants" do the blueprints get released, or at least the say they are "coming soon." I wanted a better place that could sustain a community of makers, where the blueprints are submitted right alongside the ideas, even if they are juvenile or incomplete. Maybe someone else can pick up the unfinished project and take off with it? Think of how much information never makes it past a group of people that censor it. 

Another improvement to the websites I've seen around the web is to create something more experimental than simply furniture. You could buy a mass produced chair in less time and cheaper than it is to build an open source design with digital fabrication. To have a competitive edge, there needs to be products that are offered on my website that isn't offered by IKEA. Major inspirations for my current projects come from Ken Isaacs, Christopher Alexander and HouMinn Practice's OSWall. 

That is where the idea for the Grid Wall came from, and what I am asking for money for now. The Grid Wall can be downloaded and built by anyone that has access to a CNC router. It comes together with no screws or glues. It has elements that can be plugged in at 4" increments to have different configurations. Most importantly, it acts as a framework to host other designs, such a cabinet unit, a desk component, a sleeping pod or a plant hanger. There is currently a competition to design components for the Grid Wall, with information here.

I built the first Grid Wall prototype out of cheapo Lowes plywood, which worked well enough but it was a bit warped and not too nice to look at. Furthermore, when standing on the floor of the wall, there is more stress than I thought and it needs to be rienforced. In summary I need to rethink a few design ideas and make another prototype. I will also build a few competition entries, which will require more plywood. This time around I'd like to use a nicer grade of plywood to demonstrate its use inside a home, and because it will be presented during my final thesis presentation at the end of May. 

I've estimated that I will need about 8 sheets of plywood ($65-100 each) to create a new wall, and a few components for the wall. There is also the need to buy nuts and bolts for the connections. I'm also giving out a small cash reward for the design competition. Crowd Sourcing and Open Source Design go hand in hand, seeing as most open source companies don't have much income outside donations to support their development. Any extra money donated will go towards future prototypes, contests rewards, or website fees. I'll try to be as open as possible about where I spend any money generated. I'm hoping to raise this money before my presentation. I'll be making my big purchases at the middle of April 2015.

After graduation, I hope to continue developing, moderating and iterating designs on OSBuilt.org and other sites in my free time, because I really do think open source design and digital fabrication are the future, and it's going to change things in a big way. 

Thank you for reading and donating.

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