Levels

Autocad technical drawings

Rationale

My design "Levels" is a cocoon inspired clothing storage system for folded clothes and underwear, aimed at people who move around a lot, particularly university students.  A cocoon, which is a casing, spun of silk by many moths and numerous other insect larvae, essentially acts as a storage system for the larvae as it undergoes metamorphosis, cocoons can be formed almost anywhere, but usually amongst trees or bushes, hanging off leaves or branches away from the line of sight of predators.

The design is a flat packable storage that is made out of stretchable silk-like fabric encased around a wire structure.  The design being flat packable and so light weight acts as a simple solution those seeking fast and easy storage, once compressed it becomes easily portable.  The design has several rings which are held by the fabric and is gravity fed, it has a hook on the top, which allows it to be hung almost anywhere.  The rope that connect the storage unit and the hook is also adjustable, which means how high or low the storage system hangs is adjustable.  The back of the storage system is flat which allows for it to sit still when hung against another flat surface such has a wall or corner.  The storage system is opened from the front which opens vertically, and is held shut by Velcro. 

A major issue with storing clothing that i have come across in my research is the issue of moths.  Months are notoriously known for eating away at stored clothes, but this is a misconception.  It is not the actual moth that eats away at the clothing but its larvae who feed on woollen fibres.  Moth balls are commonly used, but are actually very poisonous and contain pesticides.  I combated this issue through research and found that lavender acts as a natural repellent of moths, and utilised this into my design.  In my design I have incorporated a small pouch which hangs inside the storage system, which may be used to hold lavender leaves which can ward off moths, alternatively I have infused the fabric with lavender essence to radiate the lavender scent to also act as a repellent to moths.

Blog comments

http://christine-x.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/bioinspired.html?showComment=1332687177483#c7801185018921463376

http://fooides.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/2012-ides2161-project-1-bioinspired.html?showComment=1332687324663#c6182022242013559959

http://dominicsee.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/arachni-key-holder-reminder-paper.html?showComment=1332689506353#c3293618271627249816

http://dougcusack-ides1031.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/studio-project-1-biomimetics.html

http://rowenagoodall.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/final.html

Mock - ups and work in progress

Initial concepts

Video blog : An inconvenient truth!

The documentary "An inconvenient truth" provides a wonderful insight into what the impact of global warming and climate change has on our earth.  The earth that we humans occupy has been around for hundreds of millions of years, which is reason enough for many to believe that it will last for many more hundreds and millions of years.  Because the earth is so vast and enormous many believe that the things we do, do not have a impact on the wellbeing of our planet, but this documentary brings to light that the actions of our humanity and what we do everyday has a very real affect on the world as we know it.

presented by Al Gore the documentary gives insight on the effects of increasing pollution, green house gases and global warming.  he brings to light that the atmosphere is so thin that we are able to change it composition, and we have been allowing the atmosphere to thicken due to the pollution caused by carbon emissions.  Carbon emissions is increasing at a alarming rate all over the world, and we need to investigate a way to reduce this rate.

Furthermore Al Gore continues to speak about the irreparable damage that has been inflicted upon the earth through the choices and decisions that humanity make as a collective.  Temperatures continue to sky rocket, which in turn diminishes the thickness of the ice caps.  this leads to the extinction of certain species that rely on those ice caps or any species lost due to the bleaching of coral reefs.

More and more people are becoming increasing aware of what the effect of global warming can have on our planet, and many people and countries are taking the initiative to combat pollution and emissions.  one such country is China who is producing higher milage cars that meet new environmental standards.  this is a huge step and such actions have ditto effects on others, such as America, who are also aiming to take this step, since they are one of the largest emitters of carbon emission.

This documentary has enlightened me about the terrible effects of pollution and carbon emissions,  it hight lights that global warming can have an damaging impact on the planet, the animals, plants , environments and the people who inhabit it.  if we do not change our attitudes to global warming now, our days will soon be numbered