Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

internship summer 2008

Design of the Media Center’s Literature Shelf.

Inspired by the exterior of the Science Factory. Also, it features large cutout letters attached to the top of the Literature Shelf, instead of a sign.

I worked on designs for the Media Center this weekend. I used a 3-D modeling software, Google SketchUp. It is a free application and not difficult to learn. (It is called CAD for dummies.) I had just become aware of it after seeing it on a exhibit design blog. The blog links to designs created using it.

On display are the “snapshots” I took through the process of designing. Included are comments and thoughts I had while working.

This design orients the Literature Shelf to the left of the closet. I decided to draw the curtain surrounding the adjacent exhibit in order to get a better sense of the space.

This orientation opens the interior of the Media Center’s space from the other direction. Having the opening from this side eliminates the encroachment of the black curtain from the space’s walkway, or opening. The literature shelf is against the curtain.

Choosing the left or right orientation of the literature shelf will depend on two things:

• How much floor space can be devoted to the Media Center? The orientation to the right of the closet allows for the smallest Media Center space because it eliminates the need to clear a walkway away from the curtain. If space isn’t an issue then the right orientation isn’t necessary.

• If the curtain is going to be an issue with the foot traffic into the Media Center? It may not be a problem.

Regardless, the Literature Shelf is flexible, by hinging together the two sides of the shelves it will enable the Media Center’s space to shrink or expand.

Here, I added some circle seats. I filled in the closet space to house an outline of a TV screen and shelf. (I don’t have a good idea of how the closet opening is envisioned, as yet. It probably will not be closed off as it is depicted.)

Overhead view.

These images are to scale. I’ve measured the curtain to be 6 feet. Each side of the literature shelf is 4 feet across. The closet opening is 4′ 10″ wide.