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Left and right: Aida
Klein, Otis model shop
manager, loads a sheet
of M DF to laser-cut a
template and discusses
laser-cutting perfora-
tions in neoprene.
Middle: Welding metal.
Opposite: Cutting wood
with large saw.
Bottom:
Shaun Redsar
Zygo Teapot.
This junior
teapot project reflects
the theme of bones.
The model was designed
using a CAD software
program and rapid
prototype technology
to create the white
bone-like pieces and
assembly. The metal
ball in the center was
a found object.
I f y o u ’r e l o o k in g f o r a c r a f t s t r a c k a t O t is
C o l l e g e o f A r t a n d D e s ig n y o u w o n ’ t fin d it
in t h e c o ll e g e c a t a lo g . T h e P r o d u c t D e s ig n
d e p a r t m e n t s e e m s t o b e t h e p la c e w h e r e
s t u d e n t s le a r n t r a d it io n a l s k ills o f w o r k i n g
w i t h w o o d , m e t a l, c e r a m ic s , p la s t ic s a n d
fa b r ic s a lo n g w i t h th e d ig it a l s k ills r e q u ir e d
t o k e e p c u r r e n t w i t h e m e r g in g t e c h n o lo -
g ie s . “ S t u d e n t s in p r o d u c t d e s ig n u s e t e c h -
n o l o g y , b u t t h e y a r c n o t t e c h n ic ia n s o r
e n g in e e r s ,” r e m a r k s fo u n d in g c h a ir S t e v e
M c A d a m . “ T h e y a r e c r e a t o r s , a r t is t s a n d
m a k e r s w h o t h r iv e o n d i v e r s i t y a n d e n g a g -
in g in d e s ig n c h a lle n g e s .”
O n e c o u r s e f o r p r o d u c t d e s ig n m a jo r s
w a s f o r a c r e m a t io n u r n , t e a m - t a u g h t b y
J o a n T a k a y a m a - O g a w a a n d R a n d a ll W i l -
s o n . T h e c o u r s e w a s s p o n s o r e d b y H ills id e
M e m o r ia l P a r k a n d M o r t u a r y , L o s A n g e -
l e s , a J e w i s h c e m e t e r y k n o w n a s t h e fin a l
r e s t in g p la c e o f m a n y e n t e r t a in m e n t n o -
t a b le s . T h e H ills id e m a r k e t in g a n d m a n a g e -
m e n t t e a m p la n n e d t o s e le c t a d e s ig n fr o m
t h e s t u d e n t s ’ fin a l p r o je c t s t h a t h a d t h e m o s t
c o m m e r c ia l v ia b ilit y a n d t h e p o t e n t ia l t o
b e c o m e t h e ir “ b r a n d e d ” u r n . T h e w in n in g
s t u d e n t w o u ld r e c e i v e a c a s h p r i z e p lu s
r o y a lt i e s in e x c h a n g e f o r t h e d e s ig n a n d
m a n u fa c t u r in g r ig h t s .
T h e d i r e c t i v e f o r t h e s t u d e n t s , s a y s
T a k a y a m a - O g a w a , w a s t o d e s ig n “ a v e s s e l
054 american craft apr/mayio
Shop photos Robert Apodaca.
