The portfolio of Chengyuan Wei.
Bamboo Project 2
Material and industry design
Team work at Anji, Chinese Bamboo Town
For HAPE company
As a second step of bamboo material exploration, we went back to China together with the Germany group and doing the next step design in the Bamboo Town, where is full of fresher bamboo.
Everyone in the group should design a product with bamboo material during one month.
My design is a Half-Wheel Toy Car.
Concept and brainstorm
When I was a kid, I think I saw a bicycle (maybe in dream) with half a wheel, but it can move. That’s why the sketches were there.
Later I tried to figure out a structure design to realize my dreamed toy car. And after I made a simple sample of one wheel, I found that this structure of wheel can made silvery sound when it’s rotating.
This extra benefit from the structure and bamboo material can help the toy car causes more fun and attracts more children’s attentions.
Prototyping
I conducted all the process by myself, including structure design, choosing material, processing of bamboo with machines, testing and modification of the prototype and the final assembling. Also, I did get lots of help from the workshop master here.
The final product
After painted varnish, the half wheel toy car was finished. Then I gave it to some kids and saw their reflections. To my surprise, they were so interested in the toy that cannot even put it down!
At that time, as a junior, this project brought me the feelings I never had. The experience gave me more passions and confidences for becoming an outstanding product designer.
Other works
Here’s a collection of works by the whole team. During several times’ brainstorm, various ideas came out and most of them were achieved at the end of the project.
