DIY Rembrandt Press Printing Press by Bill Ritchie

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DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?

BR : Rembrandtshuis etching press

DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?

BR : We wanted a working model, a miniature of a 17th Century etching press.

DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?

BR : We plan to incorporate the working model into a multimedia game.

DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?

BR : Eighteen months.

DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?

BR : The concept was an inspiration pursuant to a serious hybrid learning game.

DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?

BR : We plan to develop the manufacturing and production concurrently with the game mechanic.

DI: What made you design this particular type of work?

BR : Our passion for educational games and toys related to the art and history of printmaking.

DI: Who is the target customer for his design?

BR : Parents who seek educational and fun games related to art and technology.

DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?

BR : The multimedia aspect, our intent to make a toy the assembly of which develops transferable skills and, when assembled, merges into new technologies such as web-based activity.

DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?

BR : "Wee" refers to the Anglo-Irish expression of something tiny, "Woodie" refers to the fact the press is almost entirely wood material, and "Rembrandt" refers to one of the stellar artists in history who used a press of the design - and the reconstructed and functioning press at Rembrandshuis Museum, the Netherlands.

DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?

BR : We used CNC routing machines and conventional wood shop tools, plus computer graphics software and laser printers.

DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?

BR : That it represents printing technology, education and design for mechanical self-replication

DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?

BR : As a team we collaborated, bringing our specialized skills in academic and mechanical engineering to bear on the design.

DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?

BR : Technology will permit mass customization of the design and semi-automated production for the market.

DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?

BR : Analysis included displaying the design in CNC demonstrations to wood workers and included families with children, giving them models to try out at home for extended periods.

DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?

BR : Finding the exact balance of mechanical limitations of the CNC router, software, and types of wood.

DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?

BR : Previous year results with another printing press design (2012-2013).

DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?

BR : Patience and the value of feedback from trial experiences and the importance of long-term planning.

DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?

BR : The place o literature and web technologies related to real products - so-called "Internet of things."