greeting mirror
mirrors are inherently confrontational objects. You often catch yourself by surprise, or see a version of you that does not match how you feel. the mirror can be the beginning of a great day, or an unhappy day. greeting mirror is an object that allows you to greet yourself, and gives you the control to see yourself when you’re ready.
the concept of mirroring is imbued within the details of the object. the wood veneer is sequence matched and mirrored, providing a physical mirroring of the grain that can be touched. the dimensions of the mirror are 72 inches by 27 inches. in this way, the object manifests as the result of mirroring. there are two mirrored hinges, and the finish on the door handle allows it to mirror itself.
the connection of the mirror to the ground provides a continuity to the experience of greeting yourself. your environment is extended through and beyond the mirror. by this, there is an expression of potential that is within the greeter.
the raw, unstained oak blends softly into your surroundings. the brushed aluminum hardware sits harmoniously with the natural material. to protect the object, the wood is treated with a hydrophobic nano-coating to repel moisture and dirt.
ideas
this project grew from the idea that objects should be made in such a way that they have a good relationship with the people that use them. initially, there were two concepts used to try and find opportunities for this:
1. instead of
an object made or used in a different way but with the same result
2. inevitability
an object that was prepared for the inevitability of its usage
prototyping
several prototypes where made to find a comfortable size and shape
after finding a more comfortable size, 3D models and plans were created. there were several iterations to narrow down detail decisions.
virtual reality prototyping
because the size of the object was quite large, it was difficult to make full size prototypes for each iteration. instead, the changes where made to 3D models, and these were presented in virtual reality.
building
once the design was finalized, the mirror was constructed in a bedroom. he frame is solid red oak, with an mdd backing. the door is comprised of foam panels veneered in red oak. the aluminum hardware is imported from japan.
final
an aluminum base was added in the end to allow the mirror to stand freely in a gallery.
