Aquiloni
ECAL Diploma Project
2015

As a culmination of my graduate work at ECAL I decided that I would create a product which I would self produce and would help me, as I prepare to open a studio. I knew that the item, whatever it was, should be not too large, easy to ship and would have to be manageable to produce.
I was drawn to the ingenuity of kites and camping tents, and this became my starting point.

Inspiration Image - Paul Kramer, Stretch Domicile Tent for Sierra Designs 1981- Found on aqqindex.com

My research led me through sporting equipment, textile supply and through an exploration of past works by people like Bruno Munari, Isamu Noguchi, or George Nelson.

I landed on the idea of using a minimal number of rods which would interact with a non-stretchable textile, each element holding the other in tension. This image shows my first 'successful' prototype, but it was actually my 11th prototype for this project. I would go on to create 24 total different variations and prototypes before coming to the final solution.

Through the process of prototyping, I landed on 2 distinct shapes each with 4 color variations.

Because my intent was to manufacture and sell these pendants, the design of the product went much further than just the physical elements of the shade. I had to develop a brand, and to do this I wrote a short business plan, and dealt with many of the logistical aspects from sourcing to distribution.
This culminated with a website that I built as a online shop. www.aquiloni-shade.com

I presented all of my work in June of 2015, at ÉCAL, in the setting of a 'Pop-Up Shop' where I had the Aquiloni available for sale, and demonstrated the ease of putting them together.