Pencil Box Project

Connecting Your Personal Designs to Surface Area & Volume

In this project, students will go through the Hawken Design Process again to design a 3D object to adequately store desk items like pens and pencils. We will build upon the design principles learned during the vinyl sticker signage project and be able to identify and use personal icons, words, or quotes to personalize our box to our own identity. This project features a strong connection to math units for Surface Area and Volume, measuring and designing a box using length, width, and height. Upon conclusion of this activity, students will fabricate a 3D wooden pencil case using a combination of Inkscape, Makercase, and the Innovation Lab Laser Cutters.

Variations will include:

Design features (i.e., more than one "cubby" in the box), based on student readiness
Overall Dimensions, but the box does need to hold pencils, pens, and other common desk "materials" needed during acadmic work
Name, logos, icons, words, quotes, phrases to personalize pencil box. You will have the option to personalize 1 side of your finished product using the engrave feature of the laser cutter; and can personalize all sides of the case using paint or other post-production art tools.

Days 1 & 2: Understand, Ideate, Design

Step 1: Understand

Conduct Research
Learn Everything You Can About Your User (yourself!)
Ask Great Questions
Examine Existing Models - what do you already have that you would consider an introductory piece? How does it explain who you are?
Engage in a Personal Interview
Specific for THIS project:
- Think about why a desktop pencil case can be helpful to you. What purpose might it serve for you personally?
- What items do you need to hold/store/organize?
- How could you share/show about your identity on the outside of your box?
- Measure items that will need to go in the container to get a sense of the dimensions you should work with.

Step 2: Ideate

Generate, Generate, Generate! Come Up With As Many Ideas As Possible!
Work Fast - Sketch Quick, Jot Down
Make A Vision Board
Gather Samples That Inspire You
Make quick, rough sketches to visualize the shape you're considering
Specific for THIS project:
- Would an open container be better for your needs (put a lid on it or always open?)
- Will your container hold your items upright, or will they lay down?
- Where will the container go on your desk?

How to Draw a Cube

Step 3: Design

Build A Model
Make A Blueprint
Consider & Try Out Materials
Make 1 Change With Each new Prototype
Start With Easy Materials (Paper) & Work Up To More Complex
Get To One "Really Good Draft" To FABRICATE
Specific for THIS project:
- Think about what your pencil case SHAPE might look like- wait for another step to really consider how you will personalize it.
- Draw three different prototypes labeled with possible L, W, and H
- Draw a final blueprint sketch of your box, showing the front face, and possible personalization. This design should have your best neatness, craftsmanship, and attention to detail. Use the video linked here to guide your final drawing.