In this project I aimed at creating an innovative room divider which has been heavily influenced by the thousands of Sea turtles and land turtles that are endangered and extinct in our oceans. My project identifies and unifies the intricate shapes and patterns that are seen on the shell of the turtles to create an innovative, freestanding and user-friendly structural divider. Through this portfolio I will present the cyclical research, ideation, development and refinement design practices I used to develop the Shell Divider.

We were first tasked with researching in groups of 5 for the structural project as an introductory activity. By researching in groups, thoughts and ideas were shared amongst each other. Which, I think helps for a better understand and a chance to grow enthusiasm for the new projects. 

Understanding and seeing how shapes from nature can influence your design  practice and products was important in this board. I focused on products that adopted the structure of patterns and shapes from nature. 

The Shell Divider is heavily influenced by the intricate shapes on the shells of the turtles. However this divider doesn't act as just any ordinary room divider. It acts as a remembrance and a piece of our "soon too be distant memory" of what sea turtles were and used to be.  

Fueling the inspiration

I drew the most vital and pivotal sea related problems that are associated with marine life especially turtles and how it affects human beings as well as animals in our water bodies. 

My concept focuses on the shell of sea turtles.

The shape of the pointed triangles was from the Alligator Snapping Turtle which is a land and water turtle look like it can make for an interesting concept. 

Development mock ups inspired by the Snapping Turtle. These mock ups include origami principles of folding. 

From the feedback given from the class and my lecturers. I thought it would be fitting to go back to the drawing board and start sketching from the start. I drew a few sketches based on the critiques I was given. I looked at creating a product that wasn't bulky, hard to manufacture and impossible to make like concept 1. This concept is solely inspired by all the negative and positive feedback I got as well as the intricacy of the sea turtle shells that I passionately wanted to bring out in this divider. 

I created a mood board based on the advice i was given. I made a mood board so that I could feed off of it while i worked on the new concept development. 

Learning how to make my sketches into reality. I made several polygon prisms and joined them together with glue, so I could create a form and structure.  

Variations of my second concept. I made several mock ups to figure out which would look best to represent the shell of sea turtles. 

A collection of all my mock ups created for the Structural project. 

A concept drawing of my final idea. This was for me to understand how it would look and work. 

These are very important for designers. These drawings consist of size, and the sustainability factor of the products being created in solidworks.

Creating 7 part files for the assembly of the Shell Divider.

The Shell divider could be used to divide the spaces between a lounge, study area as well as the tv room.

The Shell Divider can be seen in open plan office spaces. 

The final mockup of the Shell Divider: