Bridge - Agnes Mitchenburg
Our group started our design planning by deciding the structural components that would contribute to a strong bridge. We knew that we wanted the roadway and railing design to add aesthetic, rather than structure, so the majority of structure comes from underneath the roadway. We made groupings of spaghetti, which we then arranged in diagonal "X" patterns and additional horizontal supports. The railings of the bridge consist of triangles, and the two sides are connected by an abstract patterned roof. Suspended from the roof is a triangle, which was inspired by a lone piece of spaghetti we found hanging by a thread of hot glue early on in the creation process. The last addition to the bridge was colour, as we added orange dotted lines on the roadway, and a green/blue to the roof.
Though the roadway itself was strong, the bridge failed because it was unstable. The undersides that were in contact with the two surfaces from which the bridge was suspended, were uneven, which caused the bridge to fall over. Next time, I would make the roadway wider to balance the weights better. Additionally, I would add flat block like surfaces underneath each end, so that it would be impossible for the bridge to tip over. The addition of a more horizontal railing would also have been beneficial, as it would secure the weights so they were not sliding off the roadway.
Ultimately, the bridge we named Agnes was strong, but failed in the environment it was placed in. Though our group had a consistent vision throughout the creation process, looking back there are many design elements I would change. However, the overall design process was a learning experience, and I was able to gain a greater depth about design after witnessing successful groups.
Though the roadway itself was strong, the bridge failed because it was unstable. The undersides that were in contact with the two surfaces from which the bridge was suspended, were uneven, which caused the bridge to fall over. Next time, I would make the roadway wider to balance the weights better. Additionally, I would add flat block like surfaces underneath each end, so that it would be impossible for the bridge to tip over. The addition of a more horizontal railing would also have been beneficial, as it would secure the weights so they were not sliding off the roadway.
Ultimately, the bridge we named Agnes was strong, but failed in the environment it was placed in. Though our group had a consistent vision throughout the creation process, looking back there are many design elements I would change. However, the overall design process was a learning experience, and I was able to gain a greater depth about design after witnessing successful groups.