Liam Vollbracht Industrial Design

Industrial designer and student at University of Cincinnati, College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning (DAAP).

Gather
Facial Exfoliator
Efflorescence
Visualization
Co-op

vollbrlj@mail.uc.edu
+1 513 657 9919
@liamvollbracht

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Gather
Bedside table made from machined soft maple. Designed to create intentional space for the items you feel close to.

Objects play many roles in our lives.
In addition to serving as functional and aesthetic tools, objects become imbued with personal significance as time passes. The objects we choose to keep with us reflect how we see the world, and ourselves.

Exploring the relationships we hold with our objects can help us to better understand ourselves.

Gather is an exploration of human-object relationships.



The initial concept came about when I observed how objects could function as tools for expression, particularly in the context of the bedside table. I noticed that people like to keep objects of personal significance beside them as they sleep. 

Seashells from a treasured vacation, a perfume gifted by a loved one, a favorite color of nail polish. All of these objects work together as a system of personal expression. 

Through this project, I sought to use furniture as a tool for exploring the relationship between object and identity, specifically within the intimate context of the bedroom.

Inspiration


Giorgio Morandi
Still Life paintings
1920-1964 I was inspired by still life painting, particularly the work of Giorgio Morandi, who produced still life paintings from 1920 until his death in 1964. 

In contrast with the still life painters of the 16th and 17th centuries, Morandi’s work is far more impressionistic in nature and features objects with minimal ornamentation. 

There is a meditative quality to the work. Still life painters spent hours carefully studying the forms, textures, and material qualities of their subjects.  Lola Dement Myers
 Ceramic trays
2020-2021 Lola Dement Myers is a contemporary artist and designer who created a series of experimental ceramic trays as a part of her studies at the Art Institute of Chicago. 

By subverting the traditional language of plastic dining trays, Lola uses the negative space to create discursive vessels which do not command any one function.



Initial Ideation

Going into ideation, I knew I wanted to use solid wood and CNC milling to achieve the form. Solid wood was a set material constraint for the project. I focused on simple joinery and the ability to pack the table flat.
Laser Cut Wood Veneer
Basswood Models, 1/8 scale. 
Tiny objects used as placeholders.
Pine 2x4s
Laser cut surface test.
Final full scale model

Prototyping

Prototypes were constructed from 1/4” basswood with laser cut wood veneer to experiment with different surface designs. This exploration informed what would eventually become the surface’s final design. 

The final full scale model led to an extension of the central well and modifying the proportional relationships between the base and the surface.  

Soft maple
Lamination process
Finalized Dimensions
Milling process
Fresh off the CNC
Hand-finishing joinery
Polyurethane Finish

Fabrication


The design was fabricated using soft maple. 

Lumber was jointed, planed, sawn, laminated, and planed again to ensure a flat surface before machining. Each of the four parts were made using a single CNC machine operation. 

Lastly, a warm satin polyurethane coating was added to prevent warping and highlight the natural beauty of the material.
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