Supporting ideas into prototypes
Western Cape craft producers and designer makers, as well as others working in or studying design, art and engineering, now have an expanded venue for exploring their creative ideas and developing new products.
The product support space includes research computers where people can search for internet resources.
Known as the Cape Craft and Design Institute’s (CCDI) Product Support Space (PSS), the facility in Harrington Street, Cape Town consists of the former FabLab (an assisted DIY computer-aided design/manufacturing environment) which has been expanded with research and design computers plus a wide range of new machines.
Full-time specialist staff are on hand for technical and design advice, and to help with the use of tools and fabrication processes. Safety is paramount and the staff are all trained in first aid.
Laser-engraved fabric and heat-transfer vinyl makes an interesting combination in this design by Carynn Underhill, a Product Support Session participant.
The service is free, provided that users make an appointment for a one hour session consisting of a consultation and assisted use of the tools and processes. Follow-up consultations can be made with the same advisor.
“The space is essentially an assisted DIY environment, where you can progress from idea conceptualisation to its physical manifestation with the appropriate support, infrastructure, tools and equipment,” said CCDI Product Support manager Alan Alborough.
CCDI Product Advisor David Van Staden (centre) shows session participants some different types of heat-transferable vinyl.
“Ideas can get lost because they are not nurtured and people don’t know how to develop them. We are addressing this problem by offering a place where you will feel secure and empowered to do what you want to do. We meet with users individually to help them to solve problems around any process or material.”
The PSS is divided into two main sections - a research and design area, and a tool room. The research and design area consists of a central consultation and planning area, with computers for both research and design.
The four research computers are available for product-specific internet research.
The design computers use open source software, as well as sophisticated two- and three-dimensional software. Some are for designing towards fabrication (such as the laser and vinyl cutters), while others have programs such as digitising embroidery software. There are also two computers with surface design software, which can be used to create patterns, logos and designs for products such as textiles or prints.
CCDI Product Support Space heat press
The tool room houses a wide range of conventional hand and power tools that can be used for fixing, cutting, marking, scoring, gluing, sawing and hammering together all types of things. There are also other popular machines such as a laser cutter, a vinyl cutter and an embroidery machine.
Newly installed machines include a heat press for transfers, a line bender for bending perspex accurately, and a hot wire cutter for cutting foam into all kinds of shapes.
Contact
The Product Support Space is located on the fourth floor of the CCDI building at 75 Harrington Street, Cape Town. For consultation bookings contact Ashanti Zwedala on 021 461 1488 or email productsupport@ccdi.org.za. Website: www.capecraftanddesign.org.za
Note to editors:
The Cape Craft and Design Institute (CCDI) was set up in 2001 as a Section 21 company in a joint initiative by the Western Cape provincial government and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Its mission is to be a best practice institute developing people to build profitable enterprises with marketable products for global markets in an enabled environment. It is now a catalyst for sustainable enterprise development and one of the largest and most successful of government’s Special Purpose Vehicles.
See www.capecraftanddesign.org.za
Issued by: Judy Bryant Communications
On behalf of: The Cape Craft and Design Institute
Contact
Judy Bryant | judybryant@telkomsa.net |083 2867168
CCDI Product Support manager Alan Alborough | 021 461 1498 |alan.alborough@ccdi.org.za
CCDI Product Support facilitator Pieter Cilliers | 021 461 1498 |pieter.cilliers@ccdi.org.za
CCDI Communications Manager Marjorie Naidoo | 021 461 1488 |
marjorie.naidoo@ccdi.org.za
