Artist Inspiration Project: Pine Cone Nightstands
Beginning Sketches:
Process:
Inspired by Japanese architect and designer Oki Sato, the Pine Cone Nightstand puts a spin on design, incorporating function, fun, and sustainability. Inspired by my home and childhood in the Pacific Northwest, I used the imagery of a pine cone and twisted it into a household item. My original sketches imagined a pine cone stool. However, upon further consideration, I altered my designs to the final nightstand. I found that this fluidity and change that I experienced in my design process was similar to Sato's, as he believed that a designer does not make goals, but that their goals find them along the way. Similar to Sato, I also designed this product with notions of eco-consciousness. Being from Oregon, an area that boasts a booming lumber industry, I decided that this product would be built from reclaimed wood and finished with a coat of glossy paint. I began drafting my nightstand on paper, eventually moving to Adobe Illustrator for a smoother look. With trial and error in angles, colors, and gradients, I improved my original sketches, resulting in the pine cone form seen below.
The final product of the Pine Cone Nightstand is a magazine cover and spread. After completing the sketches of the nightstand, I fit them into two different bedroom scenes. I then created a description, color palette, and detailed sketch of one of the shelves. These images serve the purpose of helping viewers to imagine this design in their homes, holding their items.
Final Product:
