Into the known

This report details a design process that generates new forms from mundane materials and tools. By utilizing a structure of limitations to establish artificial constraints, making becomes a sort of game where the designer must negotiate the rules and objects in order to achieve a solution. The best results come from setting up explicit limitations about the type of manipulation permitted, establishing design objectives, specifying the material or tool to be explored. Throughout the process of designing a structure of limitations affords the designer a critical distance from the assumed uses of common materials and familiar tools resulting in new forms, and often unexpected results. Self-assigned parameters help the designer gain control over rules and constraints established by clients.