Popsicles would be amazing right now

All we have left to do is hang our well! I can’t believe we pulled this off! I also can’t believe I haven’t washed my hair in 4 days. But that’s another story.

Also: David, thanks so much for the long hours, the funding, the encouragement, and the engineering. Despite the 19,000 hour days, this project has been so fun. The next time you do this project though, you’d better clone yourself so each group can have a David.

Everyone better be reading our Tumblr.

So. Exhausted.

We had a change-of-venue for building our full-scale models: David’s shop. Plus side: it doesn’t have a closing time. Down side: it doesn’t have a closing time. The first night, we were there from 8:00 am to midnight. Last night, we were there from about 11:00 to 3:00. Doesn’t sound that bad right? 4 measly hours? No, I mean 3:00 am. We’re getting inhuman amounts of work done. The tiredness is worth it. This project has morphed from a fairly run-of-the-mill GTCOA workstation boring project, to like a covert vigilante project with a purpose. We don’t actually get the funding that was promised us, so now, $700 in, we’re going to hold an event to help defray the cost and let Atlanta have the opportunity to see our work.

To see our progress, check out our Tumblr. We’re updating it like crazy with pictures and mess-ups and the fun stuff that keeps us awake.

No sin las cucarachas

We got attacked by a cockroach this morning while we were doing some experimentation with counter heights.

Also, our ice dispensers are going to serve GOOD ICE. You know what good ice is, everyone does.

crap

My life is super crap right now. I hope the project can be not crap and maybe cancel out the crap that is my life.

Die iBar

This is ridiculously cool. Our bar will be even cooler! Because our light-up surface will make sense and actually help the bartender out.

We got a week added onto the project, which is awesome, because we had planned well enough to put this whole thing together -and excellently- on the old timetable. This new time is like luxuriousssssss. We have time to make our pretty concept prettiER.

Let’s make wallets!

Ok, three words: Stingray. Leather. Supplier.

Found it!

Megabarasaurus!

We have SO got this. Our bar is going to be super great. We have great great technologies to integrate into it, and great visuals.

We have a “Minority Report” type tabletop with interactive menus and tabs and ways to get the bartenders’ attention. Best of all, that technology exists.

We have vertical ice dispensors that will glow and refract, and also keep the bartenders from having to crouch.

We have an automatic lighty up drink dispensor thingy that is super cool.

Also, we’re going to weld our full-size study model, and our scale model will be a looks-like, not just white.

BARRAS!

Check this out! Give them money! Spread the word!

Is it possible to do a five-week project in 2.5 weeks? Yes! Well, Yes We’ll Try!

We’re working on five concepts AS I WRITE THIS. They are excellent.

We really want to hit a few main concepts to really maximize the efficiency and ease of use of bartender stations: Make it so they don’t have to do 180-degree turns as often, reduce the amount of crouching to reach things, and reduce the amount of sensory and cognitive involvement by the bartender so they can concentrate on making drinks.

1. The reduce the number of 180-degree turns, we want to put the most common reasons for turning -the glasses and the register- at the front of the bar near the workstation so the tenders dont have to interrupt their “flow” to close a tab, or to grab a glass. It will also reduce fatigue.

2. To reduce the amount of crouching, we are mainly focusing on the method of ice dispension. We want to ice to be stored vertically so that the tender does not have to crouch and scoop for every drink. this will also reduce fatigue.

3. To reduce the sensory and cognitive requirements, we are proposing an interactive bartop that is touch-sensitive, and alerts the bartender to a new customer wantin g a drink by lighting up under their hand. Also, we are proposing a weight-sensitive, LED-wired well to alert the bartender with light when a bottle of alcohol is running low, so they can replace it at a time thats more convenient to them.

Arriba! Vamanos!

Kite!

I made a kite! And it worked! Look!

I made it out of a garbage bag. It’s sustainable.

WhoA

We’re back! We survived our immersive ATLtoNYC adventure, and even managed to learn some stuff. Check out the website for updates! Number of design firms visited: 11. Number of NY must-see tourist sites attended: 1. That’s dedication. I didn’t even buy anything besides food.

Thanks to all the firms who hosted us, and interrupted their day to show us a taste of the real world. Also, thanks especially to Crush + Lovely for the bagels after our 15-hour bus ride and frantic subway trip. Lifesavers.

The real world is, frankly, pretty terrifying. I think I’m having a little bit of a designer’s version of a mid-life crisis in college… Also, I think Georgia Tech needs to rethink its decision to require ID students to take Physics and Calculus. We don’t need it, I swear!

ATLtoNYC was an awesome and intimidating and revealing and intense sabbatical into the future, but now it’s back to the real world. The world where you have 3 projects due on the same day, and IDSA conference in all of the days leading up to it. I’ll be fine if the world can spin slower and allow more hours in the day.