A Speculative Collaboration with Casio
Ideation
Design
Prototype
Produce
IDEATION
How can I explore the relationship between my Korean heritage and my American Culture, expressing the contrasting elements through a functional art piece?
Focusing on significant memories from my early life, I decided on four key design elements to feature.
Hanbok 한복: Korean Traditional Wear
With a uniquely memorable texture and a vibrant palette of colors, Hanboks are a significant part of both Korean culture and my childhood.
나전칠기: Mother of Pearl Lacquerware.
A signature Korean aesthetic. This iconic use of Mother of Pearl inlay is a beautiful example of traditional Korean craftsmanship.
Skateboarding : Counterculture
A integral part of my American culture. Skateboarding has cultivated counterculture, individuality, and creativity within me.
Y2K: Transparent and Blobular
Made popular in the late 90’s/ early 2000s, Y2K style gave birth to some of the most unforgettable and groundbreaking products of our time. Commonly characterized by bright transparent materials and flowing blobular forms.
DESIGN
Experimenting with contrasting design elements through sketching, I found inspiration to push boundaries and create something unique to myself.
From tight tolerances to complex curves, the models were edited frequently to reflect insight from the prototyping process.
PROTOTYPE
From the final sketch forms, 116 physical prototypes were created. Experimenting with wood blocks, clay, and 3D printing; each different material helped me identify key features and forms to integrate into the final watch shape.
