MetaProject 03

The term “Metaproject” is designed to be used as a thematic umbrella referring to an industry partnership which places the student output into a global venue, thereby opening up a transformative platform for the industrial design program and by proxy, the School of Design and RIT.

In the case of Metaproject 03, the partnership is with world-renown avant-garde accessories manufacturer, Areaware and the venue for the student output is the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City.

Metaproject was developed by RIT Associate Professor and Industrial Design Department Chair Josh Owen in 2010 as an industrial design course with an industry partnership to place student output into a global venue.

The course also creates an educational platform for the modernist “The “Design is One” philosophy espoused by Massimo and Lella Vignelli, whose archives are housed in the Vignelli Center for Design Studies at RIT, where they are used as teaching tools.

Designer and Rochester Institute of Technology ( RIT ) professor Josh Owen is at is again with his student project Metaproject 03.

This time around, he has teamed up with AREAWARE, a New York-based company he himself has designed for in the past.

The object of Metaproject 03 was based on toy design with a focus on wood as a material.

AREAWARE was a perfect choice as a partner due to the modernist leanings found in their wooden toys,” notes RIT associate professor Josh Owen, creator of the Metaproject.

Josh Owens and Laura Young

Students from the RIT School of Design explored the properties of wood, and created a collection of wooden toys for AREAWARE that explores the concept of “universal toy” – geared towards adults.

Instead of focusing on grades and theoretical concept projects, students were able to woo AREAWARE with their concepts, two of which were chosen to be manufactured and sold.

Throughout the semester, AREAWARE‘s Creative Director, Laura Young, visited the RIT class several times to guide students on the exploration of wood properties and toy design.

Students designed and produced high-quality, finished and functional prototypes, with materials suitable for manufacturer review.

Project Brief

Each student was required to explore the properties of wood and its use as a primary material in object construction.

They were required to research examples of culturally specific historical and contemporary toys and to define the meaning of Universal Toy.

Ultimately each student will select and research a specific object typology in the domestic sphere and a specific cultural / situational context and respond with an inventive proposal that explores the meaning and notion of how toys integrate into contemporary cultures and lifestyles.

This workshop challenged the student to create a useful and emotive product that argues for a new interplay between user and object to expand and challenge our collective understanding of the way behaviors influence outcomes in the physical landscape.

The objects should be specifically designed in response and in reaction to the contemporary conditions of their object classifications.

They will be realized primarily in 100% sustainable wood in order to make use of its time-tested qualities and to promote an attitude of social responsibility, giving their objects the qualities of a modern heirloom

Students designed and produced a high-quality, finished and functional prototype from actual materials using available on and off-campus resources.

They were expected to carefully archive the process and document the final product with design-control drawings suitable for manufacturer review, graphically compelling use-scenarios and the written word to convey their overall concept.

Students were given the opportunity to art-direct the final documentation of the product using a professional product photographer to deliver press-quality communication materials.

These prototypes were then judged by Areaware for commercialization

Selecting and researching a specific object typology in the domestic sphere and a specific cultural/situational context, each student responded with an inventive proposal.

Presentation and Judging

The Metaproject 03 Student Design Competition event was held on Feb 8th in the Center for Student Innovation at RIT where each student presented their concepts for a universal toy to AREAWARE.

Each student was required to explore the properties of wood and its use as a primary material in object construction.

Students then responded with inventive proposals to explore the meaning and notion of the way toys integrate into contemporary cultures and lifestyles.

The course results were juried by the sponsor’s leadership and by distinguished industry leaders.

Student Presentations

Judging panel > (l) Lydia Okrent, Product Development – Areaware, (m) Laura Young, Creative Director – Areaware, (r) David Weeks, Owner – David Weeks Studio

Creative Director of AREAWARE, Laura Ann Young announces the student winners

Owner of AREAWARE, Noel Wiggins announces the student winners

Congratulations to all the Metaproject 03 student presenters, winners, and runners-up!

Winners
1st – James M. Paulius “Blockitecture”
2nd – Jay Liu “Shapuzi”
3rd – Kathy Beyerle “Fish Flip”

The selected winners will now have their products potentially put into production and sold in the AREAWARE line.

Runners-up:
Megan Lin “Nesting Tree”
Blair Prietz “Jack of All Trades”
Jaclyn Jacobson “Eye Know”
Jeffrey Burell “Strong Men Building Blocks”
Nanxi Yu “Little Biters Clips”

1st Place

Blocktecture by designer James Paulius

Art meets science in this set of nesting hand-painted blocks. The designer’s intent was to create a timeless toy that challenges the user’s creativity and understanding of physical laws.
Material: New Zealand Pine // Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 5 inches

click here to view the full Areaware F / W 2013 Catalogue PDF

ICFF New York

The work of all 22 students enrolled in this senior level industrial design studio course was shown at this year’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in the Jacob Javits Center.