SMART WOOD HANDLES
company partner
12 weeks
Fall 2023
BRIEF
define and design new market, product
or process opportunities for cambium carbon’s carbon smart wood derived
from a sustainable supply chain.
wood waste is turned into new products, and more trees are planted in their place which can become carbon smart wood
each step of the process is restricted to the immediate area, from salvaging, to processing, selling and tree planting
it is a team effort to save trees from landfills which includes millers, architects, cities, business, and many different individuals
“we save fallen trees from landfill and decomposition, transforming them into valuable products with place-based impact”
OFFERINGS & PARTNERSHIPS
COMMON USES
furniture + cabinets
flooring + frames
sports equipment
tool handles
ASH WOOD
CHARACTERISTICS
hardwood
light colored
smooth-grained
strong + durable
BUGGY BOARDS
As the Emerald Ash Borer continues to eat its way through the ash wood on the east coast, more and more ash trees are falling down, creating boards with unique patterns and textures referred to as “buggy boards” which will
require new uses.
SCALE
Currently, the company offerings and partnerships revolve around large scale projects, which, along with the milling process, produce scrap wood - the perfect building blocks for smaller objects
OBJECTIVE
Just like the trees Cambium Carbon uses are not cut specifically for wood production, scraps are not created for specific purpose, but are byproducts of other processes
MATERIAL
By gluing up a random mix of buggy and non buggy scrap wood, each piece will have a unique look created by different grain patterns intersecting
WASTE TO LATHE
I turned a test piece to better understand the material and technique. I experimented with possible forms, silhouettes, textures, and details using different tools.
IDEATION
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IDEATION -
BRAINSTORM
I started my ideation by exploring two different types of small objects that could be made on the lathe. The first was reversible, stacking candle-holders made for both taper candles and tea lights.
After a concept review with the company, I decided to pursue the second direction: handles with detachable heads.
There were many different handles and attachments to consider. I chose bristle brushes because the handle could be kept for a long time while the bristles are exchanged when they are worn down. This fits into the company’s objective of circularity. Cleaning brushes undergo frequent use and wear, and there is opportunity for various types that could make up a family or product line.
SKETCHING
I produced many sketch concepts for each of the three brush types. I explored form for the palm brush, I considered how angles could be achieved in a round, symmetrical shape from the lathe for a scrubbing brush. And I imagined new ways of attaching bristles to a brush for sweeping.
