The Product Support Space
EXPANDS
– Fourth Floor, 75 Harrington Street
The vinyl cutter can be used to cut
vinyl for signage, stencils and heat
transfers. This dedicated room
also contains the CraftRobo cutter,
which can be used to cut paper
and card.
T
he CCDI’s Product Support services have quietly
been undergoing a transition and the ranges of
resources available is growing to meet the increasing
and diverse needs of craft producers and designers in the
sector.
Simply put, the Product Support space is a place, with
tools and equipment and skilled staff, where you can
experiment, play and get practical advice on how to refine
your products, expand your ranges or come up with
something completely original and new.
Its primary purpose is to provide product support to craft
producers, and other people working or studying in the
design, art and engineering fields. This can take the form of
technical or design advice, as well as assisted use of tools
and fabrication processes.
Formerly known as the FabLab and the home of the CCDI’s
innovative Creativity workshops, the Product Support
space is located on the fourth floor of the CCDI building at
75 Harrington Street.
It’s a facility where people can use tools and processes to
research, plan, design, experiment and prototype. It’s split
into two main areas, the Research and Design Area and the
Tool Room.
The Research and Design Area consists of a central
consultation and planning area, and computers for research
and design. The research computers are there for anyone
to use for product-specific research on the internet – free!
Users of this space can also get assistance in using the
internet as a research and inspirational tool.
The design computers are allocated for specific use. Some
are for designing towards fabrication (machines such as
the laser cutter and vinyl cutter). Others have programs
such as digitising embroidery software. There are also two
computers with surface design software, which can be
used to create patterns, logos and designs for textiles or
prints.
The Tool Room is where most of the machines are housed
and used. Machines include a wide range of conventional
hand and power tools, used for fixing, cutting, marking,
scoring, gluing, sawing and hammering together all types
of things.
Equipment donations to CCDI prototyping space
The CCDI would like to thank the Canal Walk Foundation for their donation which supported the purchase of a hot press
transfer machine, and the industrial design company, ...XYZ, for donating a vacuum chamber machine. Both these machines
form part of the wide range of equipment that is available to craft producers to develop prototype products.
Research and Design areas. This is the central space where
consultations occur and users are assisted in use of the
research and design computers
Research and Design areas. This is the central space
where consultations occur and users are assisted in
use of the research and design computers
The Tool Room is where most of the machinery and tools are. This
contains an area with workbenches and a wide array of hand tools as well
as ample work surfaces. The multifunctional table in the centre can be
used with a variety of hand operated power tools, which are also available.
The laser cutter remains a very
popular machine and is located
in a corner of the Tool Room.
The vacuum chamber is used in
the mould-making process and
was donated by ...XYZ Design.
The line bender is a popular new tool and can be
used to bend Perspex accurately.
This display stand was made during an Orientation
Session using the line bender.
The impulse sealer can seal light
plastics and is a useful packaging tool.
The embroidery
machine had been
fixed after a long
illness and can
be used for digital
embroidery.
The Hot-wire cutter is used to cut Styrofoam and
expanded polystyrene.
The large
band saw is
for accurately
cutting
boards and
Perspex
The electronics and milling benches are located
opposite each other. Milling can be used to
create 3D shapes as well as circuit boards.
The sewing machine and overlocker are
located in the sewing room.
The scroll saw
does finer
cutting
The heat press, or thermal transfer
press, is a useful new acquisition
which was made possible through a
grant by the Canal Walk Foundation.
Then there are also the popular machines such as the laser cutter, vinyl cutter
and embroidery machine.
The belt and
disk sander
is used to
finish as well
as to bevel
the edges of
materials.
More space has meant we can get more useful machines. New acquisitions
include a heat press for transfers, a line bender for bending Perspex accurately,
and a hot wire cutter for cutting foam into all kinds of shapes.
Anyone is welcome to use the Product Support Space to refine an existing
product, create prototypes for new products or to simply experiment and see
what’s possible. In order to use the space you can now make appointments,
which will include a consultation and assisted use of the tools and processes.
Wide range of activities
The newly expanded Product Support Programme has two types of activities
- Individual Consultations and Product Support Sessions. If you need advice
on your product or would like to use the space to work, you can now make
appointments. These take the form of a consultation with a Product Support
staff member, and could include the assisted use of the tools and processes
in the space. This means that access to the space is no longer on a first-come
first-serve basis, but takes place during scheduled one-hour appointments.
Follow-up consultations can be made with the same advisor who originally
assisted you.
Contact: To make a booking for a consultation contact Ashanti on
021 461 1488 or by email on [email protected].
Consultations take place on most afternoons and some mornings.
There are no costs involved although you have to provide your own materials.
Staff in the Product Support Space
We spoke to the staff at the Product Support Space who are eager to work alongside you to make the most of all the
wonderful facilities.
Alan Alborough - Product Support Programme Manager
Alan is a former Associate Professor in the Department of Fine Arts, Stellenbosch
University, and former Standard Bank Young Artist award winner with an MA Fine
Art degree from Goldsmiths College, University of London. He’s been managing and
providing vision for the programme since 2008.
“People have ideas, but these can get lost because they are not nurtured and
people don’t know how to develop them,” says Alan. “We are addressing this
problem by offering a place where you will feel secure and empowered to do what
you want to do. We meet with users on an individual basis to assist them to solve
problems around any process or material. If someone comes here with an idea,
they can develop it through to the prototype.”
Pieter Cilliers - Product Support Facilitator
Pieter, aged 29, joined the CCDI as an intern in August 2008, directly after
completing his M. Fine Art at Michaelis, UCT, specialising in sculpture. The best
thing about the CCDI, Pieter says, is working in a field that interests him and where
he can have an impact on the community. Pieter enjoys all the opportunities to learn
about new technology and tools in the Product Support space – “there’s so much
here, that even I haven’t had the chance to explore all the possibilities,” he says.
Pieter particularly enjoys the laser cutter and milling machines, because of their high
level of precision, and because they enable craft producers to make items that one
simply can’t develop by only using your hands.
David van Staden - Product Support Advisor
David, aged 30, freelanced as a graphic designer after completing his BA (Fine Art)
at Michaelis, then joined the CCDI in 2007 on a part-time basis as an assistant.
“The CCDI is a very people-driven organisation in a dynamic environment,” he says.
The Product Support space truly allows people to develop their ideas, he says,
there are no prescribed formulae. As an advisor you are challenged to interpret
ideas and come up with a solution. He thrives on getting to know the many
interesting people who approach him for advice and the opportunity to draw on all
the facilities and services available to help them.
Caragh Barwise - Product Support Advisor
Caragh, aged 32, joined the CCDI in 2009 after studying industrial design at the
Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Having completed a jewellery course and
made her own products, Caragh thrives on talking to people and helping them to
explore options, to experiment, develop their ideas and resolve challenges. She
admires the CCDI’s leadership style of “authenticity, transparency and inclusivity”
and says the Product Support space staff are themselves always learning as they
work with craft producers and other visitors.
Ashanti Zwedala - Product Support Admin Assistant
Ashanti, aged 24, first worked in the FabLab on a shift basis while studying graphic
design and photography at the Stellenbosch Academy. Now she’s full-time,
juggling administration, reception, product support and workshop responsibilities.
Highlights at the CCDI have included working on 2010 soccer-related events and
at the Design Indaba. Ashanti loves being surrounded by creative people – from
CCDI staff to visitors – and says she learns more every day. She’s amazed at how
many creative people there are in the Western Cape, and her appreciation of the
handmade grows the more she works with producers and designers.