File:Final design.jpg
The display case mounted onto the Wall of Fame at Zane Middle School


Abstract

The purpose of this project was to create a display case to be mounted on a wall in the main office of Zane Middle School to hold picture frames of the faculty. The display case was designed to look professional and aesthetically pleasing. The Framed Four was united by the Engineering 215 - Intro to design class at Humboldt State University. We worked with clients Trevor Hammons, Teresa Pambianco, as well as office staff members Erin Barres, June Bricco, and Danielle Muniz, to bring this project together.

Background

Humboldt State University's Engineering 215 - Intro to design class has been partnering with Zane Middle School for a few years now. Zane identifies problems around their campus and engineering students fix these problems throughout the semester. The Framed Four was given the Hall of Fame in the main office at Zane. There, 54 pictures of Zane faculty were displayed in 5x7 nonidentical picture frames. These frames were hung directly onto the wall by inconsistent nails that presented them in a crooked and disfigured way. The wall overall looked sloppy and unprofessional. Our job was to revamp this wall, and display the faculty pictures as well as the school in a more professional and creative way.

Problem Statement and Criteria

The objective of this project is to redesign the wall of staff pictures at Zane Middle School which currently has mismatched picture frames. Some of the requirements for this is it must be safe, sturdy, updatable every year, and include the awards and principal's picture.

Criteria Importance Constraints
Safety 10 Must comply with safety constraints set out by client. Must not have sharp edges and must be earthquake proof.
Aesthetics 9 The way the project looks is must appeal to the faculty, parents, children, and client and should have some aspects of organization.
Accessibility 9 The project must have pictures that can be easily replaced and updated.
Durability 7 The project should be very stable and safely attached to the wall, so as not to fall. It should also be built to last 7-10 years.
Cost 6 Must have a total cost under a $400.00 limit.

Description Of Final Project

Figure 1: The Mounted Display Case

The frame, shown in Figure 1, is a large frame made of wood that is 4x14 feet and is designed to house the staff and faculty picture frames. The backing of the frame is made up of two sheets of CDX plywood that are each 7x4 feet. These two sheets of plywood combine to make the back end of the frame equaling a total of 14 feet. A hole was cut where the fire alarm is located on the wall. The borders are made of 2x4 wood boards built into a rectangle and attached to the plywood sheets. The dimensions of the rectangle board are 4 feet tall on the sides and are cut at 7 feet to match the plywood sheets’ dimensions. The frame is painted with a dull black paint and red and yellow paint were used to create a splatter effect along the background. The frame mounted on the wall by drilling through the back of the plywood and into the studs behind the wall at multiple intervals along the length to make it more secure and earthquake proof.

Figure 2: The Picture Frames

There is a total of 60 picture frames inside the display case, organized in four rows of fourteen. In each row the picture frames rotate between landscape and portrait orientations to make more space. Each picture frame also had the back removed to highlight the splatter paint on the plywood. These frames are 8x10 and have a silver and black border. The pictures inside the frames are 5x7 and are centered in each frame, and inside the display case there are 56 frames of faculty members, which are the teachers and the secondary staff. The frames are hung up on small nails that go through a hole in the frame and into plywood backing. Above the display case, there is a single row of four picture frames. In these frames lie the three assistant directors and the principal.


Figure 3: The Wings

There are two spread falcon wings to be placed on either side that are 15x35 and are covered in painted feathers made by students at Zane Middle. The feathers are 4x2 and overlap each other to give a realistic look to the wings. The feathers are in alternating colors of yellow, red, and white, as they match the school colors of Zane. They are made of cardboard and paper and are hung above the entire display case next to the principal and counselor’s photos.


Prototyping

File:Framed Four Prototype 1.jpg
Prototyping

Costs

The cost of construction for the Hall of Fame Redesign is summarized in the table below. This accounts for all the materials implemented in the design and all the materials used to build the design.

Materials Quantity Cost
Picture Frames 60 $99.02
Paint Rollers 20 $3.50
Paint Brush 1 $4.25
White Mistint Paint 1 $1.99
Yellow Mistint Paint 1 $4.99
Red Paint 1 $13.99
Black Paint 1 $31.99
Wood Boring Bit 1 $4.99
Jigsaw Blade 1 $2.59
Sandpaper 1 $2.39
Drywall Screws 40 $3.79
Hardware Screws 30 $8.10
2x4 Wood Plank 8 Donated
7x4 Plywood Sheet 2 Donated
TOTAL $181.59

Costs (Hours)

The picture below illustrates a pie chart of the total design costs in terms of hours for the design.


Framed Four DesignHours.png

Testing Results

The results of our final design show that the frames used were initially very fragile, and placing them on the design with no backing leads to it being even more fragile when being handled. The problem was with just glass and the main skeletal frame of the picture frame, it looked aesthetically pleasing, but could come loose or break easily. The testing proved that there may be a need for sturdier frames, and in the mean-time adjustments to explain how to carefully place them on the design.

Another issue that arose was the necessity for the frames to be perfectly straight, to have it stand out as a better design from the original Hall of Fame Wall. When first put up, the frames had holes in the top center so to be hung on nails on the display case. These holes however in our design were unique and not centered perfectly, so frames tended to slide or tilt sideways. To fix this Velcro circles have been placed, to ensure the frames (as well as the staff pictures) on the wall all are secured in place and straightened. This eliminates tilting and gives the project the needed ordered look, making sure it isn't mismatched and uneven.

How To Build

The following table is a set of step by step instructions to show how to build a display case to house pictures

File:Framed Four CuttingWood.jpg
How to build a display case to house pictures

Maintenance

Maintenance of the display case and the picture frames is important for keeping them looking professional and at their best.

Schedule

Weekly

Minimal maintenance will be required for the display case and frames, as they will be left alone the entire school year. However, the display case and frames are black, so dust will be more visible when it settles over time. Regular dusting of the display case is appropriate for this situation.

Yearly

The picture frames should last two to five years, given they are handled carefully and mindfully when taken off the display case. The pictures themselves should be replaced each school year to keep the faculty up to date.

Long Term

The display case should not need much maintenance, but if the paint begins to fade over the years, fresh paint will help it look its best.

Instructions

File:Bpack bike trailer - demo 1.jpg
How to Maintain the Hall of Fame

Troubleshooting

This is how to troubleshoot basic operation. For complex issues contact the custodial staff or the Eureka School District Carpenter shop.

Problem Suggestion
Picture frame is sideways or not straight Make sure it has a Velcro circle placed on both the picture frame and the display case to ensure a locked position. If missing replace the missing piece
Faculty photo inside the picture frame is sideways Adjust and straighten it by removing it and re-centering/positioning it straight within the frame using the Velcro circles
Picture frame falls apart Buy identical frame and drill hole in the top (depending on portrait or landscape orientation) and replace on wall. Additionally, add the two Velcro circles on the board and frame
Velcro loses grip or is too old to function Buy rolls of Velcro circles, and replace in the location of old Velcro
Nails come loose Buy small picture frame hanging nails, and gently hammer into the same hole (or new location on the board as close to original nail hole)

Discussion and Next Steps

The finished Hall of Fame Wall is a sturdy display case that will serve its purpose while also providing a pop of color and intrigue to the Main Office of Zane, with a more aesthetically pleasing way of displaying faculty photos. The Framed Four was excited with the overall product of the Hall of Fame Wall and was happy to be able to participate in redesigning the office at Zane. We hope the display case can influence others to construct similar designs that can further portray how important the teaching staff is in their communities. The next steps of this project are to repaint the main portion of the display case when the paint fades in 7-10 years, in order to keep it eye catching. Another important next step is to purchase more sturdy frames for the photos so as to not have to be replaced as often and to withstand the wear and tear of being handled.

Suggestions For Future Changes

  • When buying wood,
    • look for pieces with minimal defects (scratches,splitting, or holes)
  • When buying picture frames,
    • purchase 5x7 frames
    • buy in bulk from places that ensure long lasting quality
  • Take the dimensions of everything multiple times and have others double check as well

References

See Help:Footnotes for more. Template:Reflist

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