We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Charles Randall about their original and creative Longboard design work. Charles Randall is an award-winning industrial designer, that makes our world a better place with their original longboard works.
Charles Randall ("CR") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Air Deck Longboard. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
CR : This design is based on the strength and light weight of a spiderweb. This allows for a durable and light weight design.
CR : The goal was to make a high end long board which could take high impact and deliver outstanding acceleration and agility.
CR : The future of this design is undecided.
CR : We worked on different ideas for several months trying to combine different traits into this project.
CR : This design was pursued based on inspiration and the idea of having a better long board for the competitive and recreational skating community.
CR : Currently I am hoping to sell or lease the production rights.
CR : I am an avid long boarder, and wanted to improve some of the problems we found in traditional boards.
CR : No other designers influenced my work.
CR : This design could be bought by anyone from amateurs looking for a lasting board to professionals wanting light weight durable designs.
CR : It takes the idea of a solid carbon fiber racing long board and makes it lighter, it also can be carried more easily and it's turn radius is not limited by a solid deck.
CR : It is a deck for a long board, but it has open spaces which reduce the weight. The light weight, perforated design lead to the name, "Air Deck."
CR : I used Autodesk Inventor Pro to design this project.
CR : The most unique aspect is definitely the webbed carbon fiber construction.
CR : I worked mainly with my team mate Parker Krueger, but I also got some guidance in modeling from my instructor Frank Rodgers.
CR : Technology will be key in constructing the Air Deck, but it also helped turn an idea from nature into a new innovation.
CR : I used no specific analytical data, but it was influenced by the light weight and high strength of a spider web.
CR : As a young designer I had very limited resources to create this design and I am not an expert in the software I used to develop this project.
CR : I wanted to get my ideas out into the world and start on a career in engineering and design.
CR : I learned more about the software I was using, and I got better at problem solving and tweaking designs to fix minor or major problems.
CR : I am interested in learning more about product designing and engineering. I think this competition was very educational even though I am only 17 years old.
