The IKEA Challenge Begins

We've been limbering up and the day has finally arrived - IKEA Challenge (Day1).

Jamie took us through some drawing warm ups – timed portraits lasting 10 mins, 1 min, 30 secs, and 5 secs.

We talked about our basic understanding of design being “solving the problem”.  However for year 7, 8, & 9 the scope of the “problem” relates to their own experience and breadth of thinking – their own lives, peer group, eventually the wider world.

We also noted you have to choose your wording carefully to open up new avenues of thought – do you say, “design a paperclip” or “design something to hold paper together”.

Getting onto the IKEA Challenge, we began a process of reverse engineering the chair that we had bought: we measured, drew,  and analysed (using ACCESS FM).  It was noted that our 30 minute task could take hours in school because we have accumulated knowledge but we could be starting from complete basics with the kids.

We carried on the day with some isometric drawings (using a “crating” technique).  Then we tried out a bit of CAD on  SketchUp and SolidWorks – making a cuboid, adding features, then creating an initial.