Just a bedside table

For our first project we watched the documentary film Objectified by Gary Hustwit and then using the film as an inspiration create a 3D object in tinkercad. The film explored the ideas of designers around the world and their perspective on design. I learned a lot from the hour long documentary about design, for example how good design should feel natural and never even cross the mind of the user.

For my object I decided to make a simple bed side table but with some features added in to it. The part in the film that stood out to me the most was the quote by Jonathan Ive, " Indicator has a value when it is indicating something but if it's not indicating something it shouldn't be there". I never had the thought of a design that is visible when needed but when not in use it becoming invisible. When I thought about that concept I started noticing many things around me that are visible even when not in use and the thing that jumped out at me were the charging cables for electronics. Micro USBs, lighting cables, adapters and such are needed when charging the electronic but when unplugged they are just left in the outlet with the wire sticking out. So for my object I thought it would be great if the bedside table top was a wireless battery charger so just by putting your phone on the table the phone will automatically charge.

Another thing I learned from the film is that getting rid of unneeded clutter and simplifying can achieve the objects goal successfully. Since the table would need energy to power the wireless charger, adding a built in lamp would clear more space on top and hide the lamp as part of the table when not in use.

 power cord in the back to power the charger and lamp