KRAFFT SPINNING WHEEL
Spinning as a craft has devolved since the industrial revolution and it is estimated that currently, there are only 51-100 skilled crafts people in the UK able to spin to a professional standard (Heritage Crafts Association, 2018). KRAFFT aims to introduce spinning to a new audience through a new product format and an updated material palette. As much as KRAFFT is a functional product, it is intended to be a 'conversation piece' within it's own environment. KRAFFT is as much a piece of furniture as it is a tool for spinning yarn.
Spinning is one of the 150 crafts listed in The Radcliffe Red List of Endangered Crafts and it's viability has decreased since the industrial revolution. The typical spinning wheel is made from hand turned timber components and flat sheet CNC components and put together with standard allen key fixings. The design of spinning wheels hasn't drastically changed in the past century. To prolong the viability of the craft, the KRAFFT spinning wheel aims to introduce spinning to a new audience through a contemporary design and an updated material palette.
The project went through a development phase consisting of 6 months of work. From initial concept sketches right through to detailed CAD and the production of a working prototype. Local supplies were used for processes such as metal spinning and powder coating, the remainder of the prototype was produced in-house at the university workshops. Software used includes; InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Keyshot and Solidworks.
Initial response to the project has been very satisfying. It seems the aim of creating a piece of furniture that is also a functional tool for spinning yarn has been achieved, as when sat in an environment the prototype model gets a lot of attention and results in a lot of conversations being had. The mechanics over the alignment of the flywheel and the flyer/bobbin assembly has been a big learning experience throughout this project as accurate alignment allows for a more smooth running/rotating components.
The project will be exhibited at the following events:
Sheffield Institute of Arts degree show, 7th to the 22nd of June.
New Designers - Week 2, 4th - 7th of July.
View the project on Behance - https://www.behance.net/gallery/65682263/KRAFFT-SPINNING-WHEEL
Copyright - Oliver Sunderland ©
Design ist wahr gewordene Phantasie,Vorstellungskraft und Kreativität.Weiter so!!!
Why do I get the impression that the very important function of the spinning wheel has utterly been neglected. The spinning wheel is being referred to as a piece of furniture. The aim of the designer was to make it look good.. something is wrong! A spinning wheel is not a piece of furniture, it is a tool - why hasn’t effort and studies concentrated on its ability to spin fleece? Does it spin finer fleeces too? What s the bobbin capacity? Is it a double band wheel?
Looks stunning...
A pity that the poor person using it has to sit staring at a rotating disc. For many the craft of spinning is social (and whilst there aren't many professional spinners there are thousands who make yarn as a hobby). Even for using in the home, who wants to sit in the living room with their partner, and not be able to see them over the giant spinning disc.
I'd love to see more innovation in spinning wheel design, but it need to consider the actual spinner beyond just looking beautiful.
I love it Oliver! It looks amazing.