George Skinner

GCSE RESISTANT Materials Project

Candidate Number: 2666

King Edward VI School Southampton

Centre Number: 58625

Mood Board

Many first time buyers use iPads and laptops to do work and check emails.

Almost everyone will have a tea or coffee in the morning before work and having somewhere they can put it safely is convenient.

In my questionnaire many people asked for the table to have space for CDs, DVDs, magazines and books.

A lot of first time buyers own or small car or bike and have keys for their house

All of these items are very common to have on a coffee table because they are used a lot in everyday life.

Existing Products

Existing products

This table would look good in most house because of its natural and clean finish

This table isn't very expensive but isn't very cheap because it’s made from lots of hardwood

This table is stable, safe and sturdy so will good if there are little children around it

It has a large amount of storage so is suitable for a first time buyer.

It would be quite a heavy table due to the amount of wood used but that is why the table is so sturdy

Questionnaire

40%

60%

0%

Material

Metal Wood Plastic

60%

40%

Style or Storage

Style Storage

80%

20%

Glass or wood on top

Wood Glass

80%

20%

Flat space or drawers

Flat Drawers

60%

40%

Curves or straight line

Lines CurvesLots of people preferred the natural and durable aspects of the wood. With no one wanting it to be made out of plastic because they didn’t think it would be strong enough or make a good enough quality table. Also plastic isn't very aesthetically pleasing. They also liked the grain of the wood and how it had a natural and simple look.

Curves will give the coffee table a more modern look and the straight lines will help to keep the cost down because wood comes with straight lines. Combining the lines and curves will make it affordable but modern and stylish.

60% of people wanted the practical use or storage but I will try to incorporate style as

well.

Having a flat space seems to be a more modern idea because they are easier to access. It also means the user can layout their items how ever they want and they will get more space because it doesn’t get taken up by the draw. It will also make the object easier to access quickly which will be very important for someone living a busy lifestyle.

Using glass on the top makes it easy to wipe clean if something is spilt and gives it a modern look. It also allows the user to be able to see what they have on the shelf.

This questionnaire was completed by 7 people between the ages of 15-23.

Design StylesShaker style is a distinctive style of furniture often admired for its simplicity, joinery, quality and functionality. It was originally made by people for there own use and occasionally to sell but nowadays it is mainly to sell on to the public. It is simple and uncluttered which is what I am aiming for.

Minimalist style is a style where the artist tries to eliminate all non-essentials on the piece. This means that the table is very simple but does its job. A phrase often used to describe minimalism is “less is more”. Like the Shaker style this is simple and uncluttered which is what I am aiming to do with my table.

Modern Italian design is all about making the item look high-quality and contempary. This often means that the furniture has sharp lines or curves and does it’s job very well. It is also meant to encompass many of the traditional Italian values about the family.

Art deco style combines traditional crafts with modern machinery. This means that it is often characterised by rich colours, bold shapes and lavish ornamentation.

I have chosen to do minimalist design I think that less is more and that it creates the best functional tables than the other designs. On the practical side it should also mean that the table is more affordable to a first time-buyer. Minimalist design also looks good in many different types of room so won’t change the look of a room to a bad one.

Primary Research

Housing Joint-Good for putting in a shelf across the inside of a space, if done properly it will make the table look very professional and neat.

Lap joint-Good for putting a sheet of glass or wood across the top of a table. It would have to be done very accurately so that the glass doesn’t slide or move once the glass is on top. Alternatively you could put a few of the rubber sticky balls on the bottom to stop the glass top from moving.

Hinge-It is simply attached with screws and is about £3 to buy so is cheap and easy to add a flap or door to a drawer space. If positioned and installed correctly they can make the table look better and add a useful feature to it.Putting metal pins under the

shelf is easy and cheap but means it can slide and it isn’t very stable. It can also make the table look cheap and as though it wasn’t made very well made but it depends how well the pins have been positioned. If the pins aren’t perfectly opposite each other then the shelf wouldn’t be flat.

I got these pictures from two coffee tables that are similar to the designs of coffee table I have been drawing and researching.

SpecificationsFunction:• The coffee table needs to be able to hold magazines, mugs and other items shown on the mood board.

• Some people may want to store DVDs and magazines so it will need space to be able to hold about 10-20 DVDs and 5 magazines.

• It would be preferable if it had areas to store items such as keys, headphones and a TV remote.

• Also having an easy to wipe clean if a drink is split onto the table .

Size: • It must be the ideal dimensions to hold all the items yet not overwhelm the space it is in or be too small for all the items to fit on.

• The usual specification for a coffee table size is Length: 800-1200, Width: 500-800mm, Height: 300-500mm. I got these measurements from my existing products and primary research.

Aesthetics:• It must be a simple and clean design with only the necessary areas for a first time buyer. It has to incorporate the style and function.

• Most people preferred to have a wooden coffee table with maybe a glass or polished wooden top so it is easy to clean.

Cost:• Many first time buyers won’t have very much money to spend on a coffee table so are probably looking for something cheap and practical.

• The price range they will be looking at is about £30-£100 so my budget will be £50

Customer:• The customer for this product is a first time buyer so they are probably young and looking for something modern, functional and stylish.

• They may also have young children so they probably wont want the to be shark edges.

Materials:• Most people in the questionnaire wanted a wooden coffee table. The benefit of using a wood is it can be cheaper than alternatives like metal.

• I would use a hard wood because they are sturdy and clean wood but they are more expensive than softwoods.

• People also like the natural feel of the wood and find it normally works with the space that they’re going to put it in.

Safety:• They may also have young children so they probably won’t want the to be shark edges that could be dangerous for the child.

• It also has to be stable so it isn't easy to knock over or wobble so items could fall off the table.

• The child may also use the table to help themselves to stand up which could be dangerous if it wobbled as they may fall over or knock items off the table.

Environment:• The table is going to be designed for someone who is likely to have little space in their house or flat, because they are a first time buyer so are unlikely to have

a large house with lots of storage areas.

• By making out of wood it will be more sustainable than if it was made completely out of metal.

• The table is likely to be in a living room. It is likely to be near a TV or electronic device so will need space for controllers.

Initial Ideas 1

Initial Ideas 2

Initial Ideas 3

Developed Idea 1

With this design the glass might not be quite safe in the middle because the table is 1877mm long. I then decided to change this table by making it shorter so its was only 1000mm long and I made I shorter so the glass would be more stable in the middle. I might put a strut in the middle if the 6mm glass is still not strong enough.

Also having the table this way up means that there isn’t actually that much space on top of the table. Having the legs coming out the side may also be a trip hazard and means it takes up a lot more floor space.

This table would still not be safe because the base is still very small so it would not be balanced. So I made the angle that the sides go out on less so that the base could be longer. Also the glass going across the top wouldn’t be strong enough in the middle especially if you had children in the house. On top of that buying a sheet of glass that big would be very expensive so wouldn't be practical to use. I decided to make it 450mm wide because it is a good width and it will make it easier when getting the wood because the Cherry comes in 200mm and 50mm wide pieces.

As you can see from the graphs to the right manufacturing the table will use very little energy, air and water. However, the materials and transport does use a fair amount of all three. The graph underneath is a comparison as if the table was made from aluminium and as you can see it would be much less sustainable. I wanted it to be sold in Europe I found that it would be cheaper to then make it in Europe after comparing the results to manufacturing it in another continent.

Developed idea 1This table is suitable for use. It has a base that is wide enough and long enough to be stable if it was knocked or had heavy items put onto it. I would also put 4 feet on the bottom of the table in the corners so that it can be adjusted just in case the floor isn’t flat so it will be more stable because it may rock if the floor isn’t a flat surface with a flat base. Having the smaller piece of glass brings the cost down and buying a sheet that big will cost about £30.

I could make the top surface out of wood or out of acrylic but the wood may hold moisture if something is spilt on it and in may start to warp over time and may lose its shape and not stay flat, which isn’t very useful as a coffee table. If I chose to make to top out of a coloured or clear acrylic it ma look a it tacky and cheap which is not the look that I am aiming for. Also the acrylic is brittle so will break easily if something heavy is put on it and will scratch very easily so isn’t really the right material to use.

I like this table the most because it looks good but is still a functional table and conforms to the design brief. It also uses what most people like on the questionnaire but I have decided to go with a glass top instead of wood because it will be easier to clean if something is spilt on it and gives it modern look.

To make this table I made one half of it then I mirrored it so that it would be exactly the same on each side. It also meant that making the table on SolidWorks was quicker saving me time in the long run. I then made the glass top separately with the right measurements then assembled them in a separate file.

I used a flat storage space instead of a drawer space because it is more versatile as you can use it for items any shape and you can put it anywhere on the area. Also people on my questionnaire preferred it to the draws. I think this table has the best balance of function, price and style which is what a first time buyer wants.

This table is made from teak and has then been polished. It gives the table a great appearance but just wouldn’t be cost effective to use as it is much more expensive than cherry.

Developed Ideas 2These top graph shows if this table was made out of cherry and the bottom shows it if it was made out of aluminium. As you can see the cherry table uses far less energy and slightly less water but actually uses more air. After comparing the results from if it was manufactured in Asia and Africa I found that it would be cheaper to build it in Europe if it was to be sold in Europe.

To start of with I made this table on solidworks by making one box then copying it so that I had three identical boxes that I can then attach to each other. I then rotated the middle one so that there was some storage open to the other side and so that it was blank down the back of the table.

It was very easy to make on solidworks because it is just a square that then need to be extruded. You cant see it this image but if I made this table I would drill a series of holes in the side panels so that the user would be able to adjust the height of the shelves by changing where the metal pins are plugged in.

When making the table I would probably stick the boxes together using glue and maybe a few small screws to help keep them held together if the table ever needs to be moved.

Developed Idea 2I will put 4 small feet on the bottom on the table so it can be adjusted so that it is horizontal and stable on any type of floor. This would be a benefit to all the users because many houses don’t have a perfectly flat floor so it gives the user the opportunity to adjust and make the table flat and stop it from rocking if the floor is tiled. I will also add sticky patches to the bottom on the glass to stop it from sliding and to keep it stable. It will also provide the glass with a little bit of support in the middle.

I have chosen not to make this table because the design is not very original and is a bit boring. It is quite a functional table especially if you out a few draws into the cubes so you had some separate storage.

Using a wood like cherry I think is good because it is cheap, has a good grain and it is a hardwood. It also comes out a nice colour when it is treated at the end of the assembly.

This is the same table but made out of ash. I had the option of using ash for my project but I have decided against it because it is a very lightly coloured wood and I don’t think is suitable for use in a first time buyers home mainly because of it’s colour. If something was spilt onto the table which I fairly likely over its life time it wood show up on the wood and would be very obvious to other people.

PROS: • This table will be fairly easy to make. This

is because there are no curves that need to be made and there are no difficult processes that I will need to do.

• The material costs won’t be very high as it will be made out of cherry.

• Provides a lot of storage.

CONS:• It’s boring to look at as it has to

curves although in my questionnaire people preferred clean straight lines to curves.

• Has sharp corners on the edges that could be a safety hazard.

Developed idea 3

As you can see these two sets of graphs are almost identical. The cherry uses slightly less energy overall but it is very close. Again this table would be cheaper to make in Europe if you were then going to sell it in Europe.

With this table I had the same problem with my first table as it was simply too big. So I lessened the angle on the sides so it had a bigger base and so it wasn’t as long. I have the supports down the side of the glass to keep it strong. I also chose to use glass again because without the glass I think it would look a bit boring and making it out of acrylic wouldn’t be a good idea because it would scratch easily and it is brittle.

To make this table on solidworks a drew the basic layout in lines then made it 3D by using the extrude feature. Like the other table I will put 4 small feet on the bottom so that it can adjusted and made flat because a table isn't very useful if it isn't flat. Like the other tables I will try to make it as safe as possible because it may be bought for a household that has small children.

To buy the wood and glass to make this table would also cost a lot of money increasing the price of the table for the buyer, which is another problem with building a table of this size.

Developed idea 3I will make the table using a hardwood such as cherry or oak but probably cherry as it is cheaper but still gives a good finish. As there are no curves the table can be made of separate bits that are jointed with a and glued. I can then sand it down to give a good finish to the table. Again the glass top will be held on with a lap joint to hold it well and stop it moving. With this table I decided to put struts down the side to keep the strong in the middle. The design is more original than the developed idea 1 but doesn’t provide as much storage but is more stylish. This is why I have decided to build the developed idea 1.To make the structure of the table I am going to:Cutting the panels of wood out wouldn’t be too hard because they’re all square and flat there is no need to shape the wood however joining the wood will be much harder then it would for the other tables especially on the right hand side of the table where the 2 pieces of wood join at an angle.• Use a housing or mortis and Tenon joint to hold the middle shelf in place.• I could use a mortis and Tenon joint to hold the other joints together or I could

use a butt joint or mitre joint which may need to be strengthened by dowels.

Pros:•It has a lot of storage space.•Looks modern and stylish.•Has a easy to clean top surface.•Universal storage space so almost anything can be stored in it.

Cons:•It will be difficult to make because of the angles involved.•It will be very expensive.•Shape edges that would be unsafe.•Probably too big for a first time buyer.

In the questionnaire people preferred lines to curves. This table is very much about clean and crisp lines but it will be very difficult to build because of the angles that the lines are at. They also showed that the preferred style to storage. I think that this table gives a large amount of storage and is still stylish.

On the left is the same table but it is rendered with aluminium so that

you can see what it would look like as something else. It wouldn't be practical to use aluminium, because it would be very expensive; it would scratch, and it wouldn't look right.

JustificationThis design is original, practical and it has 3 flat storage areas and a glass top that has 4905 cm² of storage. It is also within all the specifications and looks modern and stylish. However it doesn’t offer and concealed storage so may make organization a bit difficult. It isn’t made of much material so will be quite easy to move around a house. To build this table I will use a hard wood probably cherry because it has a good grain and has suitable attributes to make a table. 80% of people in my questionnaire preferred flat storage space instead of draws so I have incorporated this into my design. I have also added curves and straight lines into this table so that it looks stylish but the curves on the centre tray wont be very easy to make. I will put 4 feet on the bottom of the table will also allow it to be adjusted for any type of surface.

This design complies to all the design specifications but it is a very boring design and is very uninspiring. It is very universal and customisable as you will be able to move the shelf inside each of the boxes. It will be fairly heavy and hard to move around the house. This too has no concealed storage but the ability to change where the shelves are will be useful. It will be very easy to make as it is just three cubes with a sheet of glass on top.

I like this design but I think it will be quite hard to make. It has 2 storage areas again that are flat and a glass top like the other 2 tables. The angles of the table give it a sharp and almost aggressive look and it also wouldn’t be suitable for a house with children because of the low pointed end. This too would be quite difficult to make as you would have to join the pieces at an angle not perpendicular like the second design.

Modelling

I made two models out of card, acetate and sellotape. I made two models one 1/10th scale and one that was 1/5th

scale. I made the 1/10th one first and I found that the flat space area was too low. This meant that there was no space under it and the was a lot of space above it that was just too big. It also made the table look out of proportion.

I also found out whilst making the models that the glass might need to be supported in the middle. This could be done my adding another centre strut if I have to but if I buy safety glass then I am unlikely to need to have a support as it should be strong enough to support itself and any items that you may want to put on it. Whilst making the models I found that it was very hard to get the angle right on the arms so that will be very important because otherwise the glass top and centre strut wont be the right length.

I increased the height of the centre strut of this table so that the flat space would be higher which then meant I had to make the centre strut longer because of the angles that the 2 arms are going out at. I also found that the model had a tendency to lean over to one side. If I make the joints properly on this when I make it then that should not happen, but if there is any wobble in any of the key joints then the table will wobble and move slightly every time it has something put on it. This movement will then make it worst over time so it is very important that the joints on the corners are well done.

Orthographic

Side view

Top View

Front view

Isometric view

Materials listMaterial/colour

Length Width Depth Quantity Cost(£)

Cherry 5000 500 22 2 54

Cherry 690 500 22 1 37.80

Cherry 390 500 22 1 21.60

Cherry 210 500 22 1 10.80

124.2

Production Plan

Process Materials Time Tools Method Health and Safety

Base Cherry 2 lessons G-clamp, router, metal rule, pencil, glass paper and cork block, mallet.

• Curve the ends on the bottom so that when its attached to the arms it gives the curves on the bottom.

• Cut a housing joint for the centre strut half way across it.

• Wear goggles and a apron.• Be careful when using the

router.

Centre Strut

Cherry 2 lessons G-clamp, chisel, mallet, glasspaper and cork block, pencil, metal rule, Tenon saw., wood adhesive

• This piece just needs to have two sections on the end cut off so that on the ends you can’t see the joint.

• Wear a apron and goggleswhere appropriate.

Flatspace

Cherry 2 lessons Assorted clamps, wood adhesive, glass paper and cork block.

• This piece doesn’t actually need to have much done to it, it just needs to be prepared for the joint by giving it a light sand.

• Apron and goggles when using machines.

2 arms Cherry 3 lessons Assorted clamps, chisel, mallet, glass paper and cork block to make it smooth.

•Cut a gap to create a housing joint so that the centre strut can fit in and will stable and strong.

•Apron and making sure to use the chisel correctly.

Glass top Safety Glass 1 lesson •This needs to have the sticky silicon pads stuck onto the bottom.

•Be careful when moving the glass as it will be quite heavy.

Glass top

Arms

Flat space

Base

Centre strut

I choose for my table to be quite wide. This means before I can do anything that the wood to make the table came in smaller pieces that had to be glued together before I could do anything. I did this using PVA glue and sash clamps. Once it was glued I had to use a metal scraper to take any remaining black spots off and to make the joint smooth.

Quality Control/ManufacturingAs you can see in these two photos I started off by gluing the wood together to create the piece I need to make the table. To ensure that it was done to good standard I started off by matching the different bits of wood so that down the seam it would look similar on each side. To protect the wood from the clamps I placed a bit of scarp wood in between them so that it didn’t leave a indent. To give the best result I also put the two clamps on the end so it would give the most even pressure across the wood. Then I flipped it over and put a clamp on the other side in the middle so that I would stop the wood from bowing and applying pressure to the centre.

In these two photos you can see the spots left on the

wood from the glue and the clamps and the markings where I tried to match the wood. On the right hand side you can see the tool that I used to get rid of the marks. I did this to all the bits of wood even if they didn't have the markings because it gave the wood a very smooth joint that you could barely feel so would make the table better quality.

In these photos I am sanding the wood with glass paper and a cork block to make it smooth so you couldn't get and splinters and to give it a better finish for after I had treated the wood. I used different grades of glass paper starting with the most coarse going down to the finest at 240 so that it would be the best quality again. I did this to all the pieces so that they would be the same. After this I sanded the edges to remove the saw marks where the had been cut previously.

Quality Control/ManufacturingThis is the main structure of my project. To make sure that the router went straight across the piece of wood I used a guide. Using a router opposed to a chisel meant that the slot was exactly the right size so that the centre strut wouldn’t wobble around. It also meant that the slot on the flat space is exactly the same. I also added glue so that the joint will be more durable.

I used a template that I printed off of Solidworks so that the angles were as exact as I could make them. I then changed my production plan because I was running out of time. I decided to screw the arms to the flat space and base. To make sure that they were as similar as possible I put a strip of masking tape across the table, this helped me so that I knew I was drilling in the same line across the table.

To help me when I was screwing it together I used clamps. This meant all the pieces were held in the exact position that they needed to be in. Once I had screwed them I removed the clamps and other sides were the same.

Before I drilled the screws in to the wood I drilled a pilot hole using a long drill bit. This meant the screw stayed going in the right direction and didn’t split the wood. A few times the drill bit came out the top of the flat space so I used wood filler so you couldn’t really see them anymore.

124The final stage of my project was to chisel off the ends of the plugs. On most of them it left a nice smooth plug that looked very neat. Some of them did crack as I was going through them though. To make it look good I used wood filler. This gave it a very similar finish to the normal plug. To make them the same colour as the rest of the table I used the same wood (cherry) and used the same finish.

Plug Drill holes

EvaluationDesign Brief• The design brief for the coffee table was to make a multi-purpose, modern style, small coffee table, aimed at the first time buyer. The product could include some

storage space. Design and make a coffee able for this market.

• My finished design fits the design piece as it is modern and small that may fit in the price range of a first time buyer. It has a large amount of storage space and is suitable for someone who may have small children. I also think that it is a very multifunctional as it can store many different items varying in size. Having the flat spaces allows the user to arrange the items however they want.

Production Plan• The production plan was very easy to follow but on some of the more complicated steps I didn’t follow it as I found some easier ways to do it. For example on the

arms I used counter sunk screws with a plug over the end as it was easier and it created a stronger joint. For the more basic steps I followed the plan very closely. I found that it took a lot longer than I had planned. This was because I didn’t take into account the time it took to get everything out then tidy up after I had finished. It also took longer to scrap the glue so it was flat when I first glued the bits of wood together to make it the right width

Modelling• I found that the modelling was a very useful exercise. My final was very similar to one of my developed ideas with the only difference being the sizes. The modelling

helped me decide on my final measurements as it put everything into proportion. Especially for the base of my project because in the first model the base was a practical size even though it looked good on SolidWorks. Without modelling the table I wouldn’t have realised that the base was the wrong size.

Final Product• I was very happy with how my table ended up looking. I feel that I did the right amount of preparation for the project and that I had done enough research to

complete the project without many problems at all. I think it works affectively and looks very stylish, I also think that it fulfils all the design specifications.

• I do feel that the joints where the large flat space meets the arms could have been a it neater on each end as there is a slight gap where I got the ends cut at slightly the wrong angle.

• Due to the time constraints that we were under I had to take a few short cuts which I would have done differently if I had had more time. For example, having to use screws to hold the base and flat space to the arms caused a few small cracks even though I had drilled a pilot hole. This is particularly noticeable on the base but I managed to fix it by using PVA to stick the cutting back into place then using wood filler so you couldn’t really see the gap. On the top of the flat space there were also a few small holes, I think I dealt with those the best way that I had available to me. You can barely see them and the space is still flat which is very important as they are in one of the biggest storage areas.

If I were to do it again• If I was going to build my table again I would make sure that I was more careful with the gluing so I didn’t have to spend so much time scraping off the excess glue. I would also be

more careful when making out the angles that I needed to be cut so that there weren’t any gaps to make it look neater and more professional. I wouldn’t change the way I assembled the table but I would be more careful when drilling the pilot holes into the wood. This would save me time as I wouldn’t have to use filler and it would make the table look better as it wouldn’t have the drill holes coming out of the flat space. Finally, I would have been more careful when chiselling the ends of the plugs. I spent quite a lot of time filling the gaps where the plugs had chipped it would also make the table look better as a finished product.

Specifications EvaluationFunction:

• The coffee table needs to be able to hold magazines, mugs and other items shown on the mood board.

• Some people may want to store DVDs and magazines so it will need space to be able to hold about 10-20 DVDs and 5 magazines.

• It would be preferable if it had and area to store items such as keys, headphones and TV remote.

• Also having an easy to whip clean if a drink is split onto the table .

• My table has plenty of space to be able to store a variety of items. It doesn’t have any specific storage areas but the spaces are universal. The glass on top is easy to wipe clean if there is an accident.

Size:

• It must be the ideal dimensions to hold all the items yet not overwhelm the space it is in or be too small for all the items to fit on.

• The usual specification for a coffee table size is Length: 800-1200, Width: 500-800mm, Height: 300-500mm. I got these measurements from my existing products and primary research.

• My table is Width: 500mm, Length: 970mm, Height: 410mm. However, the glass top is 1100mm x 600mm so it will over the edges of the table slightly.

Aesthetics:

• It must be a simple and clean design with only the necessary areas for a first time buyer. It has to incorporate the style and function.

• Most people preferred to have a wooden coffee table with maybe a glass or polished wooden top so it is easy to clean.

• My table has a very simple but functioning design. It will look stylish in many different types of room as it is made of lightly coloured wood with a clean glass surface.

Cost:

• Many first time buyers won’t have very much money to spend on a coffee table so are probably looking for something cheap and practical.

• The price range they will be looking at is about £30-£100 so my budget will be £50.

• Due to the materials used in my table it will be at the top end of that price bracket. Just the wood alone cost £124 with the glass costing about £50. This is a bit of a problem as if I wanted to sell the table I would have to sell it for about £180 which is way above the price range I set.

Customer:

• The customer for this product is a first time buyer so they are probably young and looking for something modern, functional and stylish.

• They may also have young children so they probably wont want the to be shark edges.

• To make the table safe around young children I have rounded all the exposed edges. The glass has sticky pads on the bottom so it won’t slide. It is also made of 6mm safety glass that has bevelled edges.

Materials:

• Most people in the questionnaire wanted a wooden coffee table. The benefit of using a wood is it can be cheaper than alternatives like metal.

• I would use a hard wood because they are sturdy and clean wood but they are more expensive than softwoods.

• People also like the natural feel of the wood and find it normally works with the space that they’re going to put it in.

• I used cherry as it is a fairly cheap hard wood.

Safety:

• They may also have young children so they probably won’t want the to be shark edges that could be dangerous for the child.

• It also has to be stable so it isn't easy to knock over or wobble so items could fall off the table.

• The child may also use the table to help themselves to stand up which could be dangerous if it wobbled as they may fall over or knock items off the table.

• The table is very sturdy as I built it out of thick wood so it will not wobble or flex. All the edges have been rounded including the glass. The width of the table makes it very hard to knock over.

Environment:

• The table is going to be designed for someone who is likely to have little space in their house or flat, because they are a first time buyer so are unlikely to have a large house with lots of storage areas.

• By making out of wood it will be more sustainable than if it was made completely out of metal.

• The table is likely to be in a living room. It is likely to be near a TV or electronic device so will need space for controllers.

• My table is a medium sized table. I didn’t want to make it too small because then it wouldn’t be very useful but if it is too big it will take up the whole room so wouldn't look right.