study MODELS

Here are the study models I did for creating a light fixture.
I really wanted to capture movement and how the tree branches flow in the wind.
And how the branches curve from that movement.
I like the organic feel of the last one.
I might split some of them (like the first example) and see how that goes.

sketching IDEAS

These are some sketches for light fixture ideas a while ago.
The inspiration mostly comes from trees whether it be the tree's trunk and its layers, the tree's canopy and branches,  and just how the leaves or branches flow in the wind.



Hopefully, I'll post the study models up soon.

chopstick CLEANING

I've got tons of chopsticks now.
Cleaning batches of chopsticks has been tedious.
The picture above shows the steps in my cleaning process.
They first go into a really really hot water bath.
After that they go into the bleach soak for a really long time.
But hey, they're getting sanitized this way.
Then they go into a dishwashing liquid soak.
And finally the air dry.
Pretty basic, it just takes time for each step.

Now to get some study models done.

my growing COLLECTION..

I'm not going to lie, I thought collecting the chopsticks would be easy.

Turns out... I was wrong. 

I left my bucket at 6 restaurants for one week hoping that all of them would at least remember to collect the chopsticks.

Only about 4 did. Luckily 2 restaurants, Bai Plu and Sushi Saurus, collected way more than enough. 

The other 2 collected a decent amount. 

And the 2 that seemed like they forgot, said they would try harder this week.

Hopefully this week's collection goes better.

Although, I do think I have enough already.
Having more than enough is better though, right?

 

Just some Inspiration...

Jonathan Brilliant

Takeshi Sano

Gathering 

Miguel Herranz Mikado Table Lamp

Jennifer Maestre

Kevin Osmond's Chopstick Cluster

 Arne Quinze

Welcome to projectCHOPS!

This blog will be a way to document my Design Senior Thesis Project.

So to fill you in on everything..
I've decided to choose re-purposing for my project.
Specifically chopsticks.

After doing some research, I found out that tons of trees are being cut down to make disposable chopsticks and only a quarter of the trees cut get used for the actual production of the chopstick. 

On top of that over 70 billion single-use disposable chopsticks go to waste every year just in China and Japan alone.

So why not turn this waste into something useful and fun?
I'm thinking a light fixture and some sort of fun wall accent piece.

Don't really have an exact image in my head for the final result but I'm sure I'll get there eventually.

To start, I need to collect chopsticks.

I bought buckets, made a simple little sign, and lined them with plastic bags.

The end result is the picture above.

 

I went down Belmont Shore here in Long Beach and stopped by all the restaurants that used chopsticks.

Most of them agreed to help me out. And all of the ones who did were the sushi restaurants.

When walking in there, with my buckets in hand, they were a little confused.
The question of the day was "You want dirty used chopsticks?"

And as I answered "Yep" I received weird looks from their faces. 

I'm hoping to get a couple more restaurants to help out because I'll need lots of chopsticks.

We'll see how much I collect next week. Wish me luck!