3 Simple Design Projects
Estimating building costs and selecting materials

Starting with small projects, and building up to house design, select materials, estimate costs and design plans for building.

design process

  1. Use existing plans for basement utility shelves to estimate how much they would cost to build and how long it would take.
  2. Given the dimensions and design criteria, design a bookshelf to fit in the classroom. Choose your own materials and dimensions within the constraints.
    1. Use the design process to come up with a design.
    2. On graph paper draw your design, the supplies, cuts and assembly directions.
    3. Is your design S.A.F.E.? Explain why it is or is not.
  3. Given the design criteria, design a holder to allow computers to sit on the floor, without touching the floor.
    1. Use the design process to come up with a design.
    2. Build a 1" = 1' model of a computer and your design.
    3. On a separate paper draw out a design, the supplies needed, cuts and assembly directions.
    4. Consider innovative solutions.
    5. Is your design S.A.F.E.? Explain why it is or is not.

Use this spreadsheet to calculate your costs and time for each project.

Project 1:

basement shelves

Project 2: Bookshelves

bookshelves
Bookshelves:   2.5' wide,  10"-12" deep,  2.5'-3'tall

Create sketches and a model of different joints for the simple bookshelf model ---> model

<--- for this bookshelf, create a sketch on graph paper including dimensions.

Answer in the Advanced Design OneNote notebook:

  1. What kind of wood or shelving will you choose? Why?
  2. How will you join the shelves? Why?
  3. Use the identify problem, brainstorm and design process to come up with a design.  
  4. Describe some of the criteria for these shelves in addition to their size. Describe possible ideas you brainstormed.
  5. Paste your cost estimates for materials and labor from Excel into the notebook
  6. Is your design S.A.F.E.? Explain why it is or is not. 
  7. Write the steps needed to go from raw materials to building your bookshelves for somebody who has never built shelves before. (at least 5 steps)
  8. Reflection

 

 

Project 3: computer stand

computer