Rideable Final Project
For my final project for parametric product design (PPD) class, I’m planning on going to a place a few men have boldly gone before.
Reflecting on the words of Timothy Leary, I can’t help but think of the contradiction of what his definition of the act of surfing means, and the reality of the object that enables the act itself.
Surfboards, at least the majority of them, are made of materials that derive from oil and are very unnatural in nature. Epoxy resins, fiberglass, and other highly toxic and inorganic materials are some of the components used to produce surfboards; and no, they are not recyclable. How come we live to Timothy’s words and be the futurists leading into where men ultimately want to be if we are contributing to the destruction of that very place?
In my project, I will examine materials, construction and design in order to produce an eco-friendlier surfboard. I will construct the board through the waffle method.
I have already found a few resources of people that have made surfboards at home either with a similar approach or through 3D printing or cardboard shaping.
I will be heading to California in the month of May, so I’m aiming at having a surf-able prototype by then to be able to test it in real waves.
