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Don Draper's PC? J. Stephenson answers Core77's challenge to design Mid-Century Modern computer (and seeks Core reader feedback)
We first wrote about Jeffrey Stephenson's killer computer designs back in May, and he wowed us with his Art Deco, Mission-style and Machine Age machines (above), which are not just concepts but working PCs. We closed our entry with a request for a Mid-Century Modern, and Stephenson has taken us up on the challenge!
(A caveat: Stephenson has warned us that this machine, unlike the ones on his site, is "a crude draft" and "not ready for primetime" and that he had no intention of posting it in such an early iteration; but he did want to get some feedback, and agreed to let you Corohounds take a look and offer your opinions.)
His departure point for the design: "What if IBM had invented the PC twenty years earlier? Could this have been a computer used in the offices of Sterling Cooper Draper and Pryce?"
First, some shots of Stephenson's inspiration for this piece, a Danish-made desk from 1964 that he found on eBay:
Now, Stephenson's work-in-progress:
1. Do you find the length of the legs, or the use of woven cane in the front, an issue?
2. Danish modern should be teak, but does this red oak work?
3. I want the design to be light and airy, but are the proportions too thin in the legs and tabletop?
4. How much will people complain about there not being a CD drive? (I don't use them anymore.)
5. The emblem on the front is a big decision yet to be made. I have a case badge from an original IBM I'm considering using, but something classy from the period might be more appropriate.Any suggestions?
Please sound off in the comments! And killer work so far, Jeffrey.
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Comments
Red oak... not as 1950's/60's as you would like it to be - it looks a bit more 1990's. If you made the legs round, it might read a little better. OR go with a glossy red tinted stain - that would help. But the spindley length of the legs adds the feel you are looking for - which makes the proportions appropriate to the period.
The woven caine is beautiful, I wouldn't change that. You could add a bakelite panel and handle (which you could use to incorporate a "Flip down" for a CD drive/USB connection port. (with a chain to keep it from over extending of course). http://www.etsy.com/listing/156705583/vintage-mid-century-danish-modern?ref=shop_home_active for inspiration.
And I would absolutely add a Bakelite Emblem or something like this http://www.artflakes.com/en/products/hood-ornament-of-1960s-moskvitch-car-made-at-soviet-era-zma-car-factory emblem... but changed to IBM.
My two cents:
Logo should be similar to period speakers. Small, brass on lower right corner with the IBM logo.
If you add any buttons for power - need to be able to fire it up - use the period type that were usually square slightly off white, with their name inscribed and filled.
DVD drive not a dealbreaker, but I noticed a piece of wood on the top of the PC shell. If that could pop up ever so slightly, you could hide a thin slot load there.
Or:
Perhaps as an option, a matching case for peripherals that would connect to the main unit by a USB connection. I would go for USB 3. That would then resolve the lack of the DVD drive with less work than the above suggestion, but provide the proper speed for the media drive and whatever else you can put in the satellite unit.
Good luck with this and looking forward to the final product!
Joe
1. I think it would look better as a desk. It needs to be next to one for monitor and keyboard, so why not make it one object.
2. Red Oak is OK with me, you might hand select for small grain.
3. I'd edge band the top either with veneer or shaped solid stock to get a cleaner, more Danish Modern look. You might look at some period DM dining tables to get an idea of how to do this. Lot's of them were built with veneer tops.
4. I would hinge the front with invisible hinges and an oak surround for the door with a reveal at the door gap.
5. A linseed oil and wax finish would look good and be period correct without hiding the wood.
6 I'll echo the vintage speaker cloth.
7. I wouldn't put a logo on it. Too much of a pastiche IMHO.
As for the design: I see no need to integrate the frame work into the PC chassis. From the looks of it, you have created a shrouded PC shelf which I think is very marketable. Make the front grill hinged for access, and people would receive it better. Also the height may have to change to accommodate standard mid-ATX chassis.
The table top could use a little more room above the box to give it a lighter feel.
2: The grain is a little tight and "swirly" perhaps a dark "ashy" stain to mask that, other then that its a good look
3: Based on what I said on #1 your proportions are off due to that overhanging top.
4: Its a little off putting to not see a power button, front i/o panel or optical media slot on a PC case... if the intention is more to "hide" the fact its a PC then its perfect, if you want it to be a MCM PC case I think it needs a slot for the optical drive perhaps a front loading drive slot with a minimal thin frame and a smart chrome looking power button or even a toggle switch and bulb light option.
5: An emblem badge is a good way to go, I would use IBM's 50's logo combined with there 20s logo, the 50's alone is a little dowdy you can find examples of each at: http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/logo/logo_1.html The ones I mentioned are 5 & 7. And of course a wonderful color scheme would be brass and stainless
The corners should be rounded a bit to give it a sleeker, more danish appearance.
No, the oak doesn't work for it. It should either be stained to at least appear Danish...or the plywood effect should be covered with opaque finish.
Overall, It's not a bad job...just need refinement.
Not a PC of the 60s, but a 60s machine.
The only "PC" from the 60s was the PDP-8, so you might consider that.
I have been predicting that Apple will drop CD drives in 2011 and sell their software on SD cards.
2. It's always hard to judge the colour in screen shots, but on my monitor it looks fine.
3. The tabletop is a touch on the thin side, IMHO.
4. I think access to the CD/DVD is somewhat important, and would expect a lot of ppl to request better access. Maybe a slot fed drive (instead of a tray) would be easier to incorporate? Not sure how often that turns up in a tower. There's also the problem of ports; the last tower I had had them in the front.
5. I think the old IBM badge rocks. That logo is a classic. Yay Paul Rand.
I would have gone with turned, tapered legs, but only because i could buy them off the shelf. If you want to mimic this desk desk more you need to radius the long edges of the legs to smooth them out a bit. Either way, i think the legs need a little more... softness?
I want a picture of the IBM brass you have, I'd be tempted to look for a philco label.... your cool label could be ANYTHING. hmmm try salvage for appliance or car badges even?
The cane looks amazing, does it hinge out so you can access the USB or anything?
Love love love the design, keep on trucking!
Now if you extended that table top waaaaay over and threw on another set of legs I'd be lining up to pay big for this. I actually think that would be more in line with the time. Similar to a huge TV and radio console.
All in all this is incredible work and I am extremely impressed with your work. Keep it up and don't forget to post more pictures.
Let's preface this with the fact that I don't know anything about design; I don't know design, but I'm a nerd, and that's where this is coming from.
I like your design, if you modernized it could be a big hit, I've yet to see decent wooden computers cases of this caliber on the market, and it's definitely a niche area with potential (RE: 'Sandbenders' in the book Idoru by William Gibson).
Now as for your questions:
1, and 3.) The height is good, and so is the physical dimensions, but the proportions are far to light.
Remember, this was almost 50 years ago, materials were not as scarce as they are now, and so designers would not have been so stringent with them. For example the desk you refer to has huge presence, it is long/ wide enough to have a chair, somebody's legs, and a cupboard all along it (from the front to the back, or vice versa depending on your view point).
With a computer case the actual object size is far less, so you have to make it grander elsewhere, hence in my opinion why the legs and the table top are not big enough.
The cane works well enough, although I would also wonder about using a fine mesh, like the one found on speaker housings or a fabric material used at the time.
2.) The red oak is acceptable, and I would say adds to the 'historical accurateness' of it, although don't quote me as such.
4.) No optical drive is forgivable, but no easily accessible USB ports is a crime, imagine Don Draper on his knees, trying to plug a memory stick into the back of his PC, fiddling about, sweat breaking out, hardly able to see what he is doing, thinking why didn't I get the secretary to do this 'simple' task? I don't see it, and therein lies the problem.
5.) I wouldn't worry about a badge/ decal at this point, good design stands out from the rest. When you seen an iPhone from the front, you knows who makes that, and you're not even seeing the Apple decal on the back. Also for this we're assuming IBM made the personal computer 20 years earlier than they did, and we're not mentioning any other PC brands/ makers, so why bother branding, when you're the clear market leader (IBM that is).
As for the brief/ departure point for the design: "What if IBM had invented the PC twenty years earlier? Could this have been a computer used in the offices of Sterling Cooper Draper and Pryce?", the answer I feel sadly is a no.
The offices of Sterling Cooper Draper and Pryce were all about image, this is what these men were about, and it is reflected in every faucet of their lives.
Imagine going to a advertising agency and talking to an ad man. You look over this man's desk, a grand stylish, lovely piece of wood, and the man says "Efficiency, Beauty and Style! This is what we are all about here!" and looking besides his desk (because clearly this is where this PC will end up sitting), and you see a dusty tangle of cables.
I mean this is the way I imagine it, the front towards the ad man, as he uses it, and therefore the back presented to the prospective client, along side his desk, which dominates the room, that is practically a given in any ad man's office.
The only way I can see this being solved is either everything wireless, which is not practical (also impossible for USB storage for example), or having all the cables under the PC, like for example in the Apple Cube.
The other thing is that the technology in the 1960s was all new, everything we have now, your grandfather could look at and identify, there has been no real innovation for the past 40 years, all gadgets are just smaller, with a larger radius. The technology of the 1960s was all plastics and metals, look at typewriters. That was exciting new technology, so it had to look shiny and futuristic!
Even now, 10/ 20 years on (depending on your perspective), since PCs making it into peoples' homes, they're not housed in wood, it seems a possible, but not currently implemented concept. I doubt if at the time of inception they would have even considered wood.
In saying all this, I really do like your current design, I just feel it a pity that you are constrained with an erroneous brief, and look forwards to seeing your design marketed in the near future.
Sam Davies.
4) USB drive?
Now for the comment on your current project - which is of course totally subjective ^^:
1. The legs appear a bit too flimsy; if the edges would be filleted with a bigger radius they would appear lighter; I'd prefer the legs actually longer to give you more cleary for the top-plain and also more space to the floor for the housing thus making it more floating and airy;
I am not very keen on the woven cane for such a big surface - somehow this reminds me of a rabbit hutch ^^ - I think a solid wood front would work best
2. Red Oak works just fine; although you could try a little redish stain, if you are still not satisfied
3. see comment #1
4. well, if you make it a unique piece then you can dictate the use(ability); but I think most people still use a drive - not only for new software, but also for music-CDs, movie-DVDs and lets not forget burining for backup etc. - anyway as a buyer I would feel safer if I at least had this option.
5. why not keep it simple and just add a suitable handle? Would work espeically if you habe to open the front for a drive...
6. I hope this helped a bit :)
7. Good luck and keep up the awesome work - it's a real inspiration!
1.not a problem for me
2.red oak=perfect
5.the classy ibm will propably work better with the oak in my opinion!
anyway that's a nice project!
Maybe incorporate a brushed aluminum or a burnished brass face plate with a power button or rocker switch, USB port and you could even stamp the logo into the plate. Maybe you could give some physical information that isn't normally seen on the computer screen. Like needle gauges on CPU usage.
I don't see an issue with leaving out the CD drive. Unless you'd like to load programs onto your computing device.
Looks great and cool idea.
Good proportions
and front ports please! its a hassle to dig at the back of the tower to plug an ext hard drive in.
If the logo matches with the time then it would be sweet.
2. Teak would be preferred, but it looks great as it is!
3. the proportions are right, but need some sort of cutaway on the legs
4. If you make it look sleek without one and make sure theres an available USB port (Perhaps on even ontop, or in the top table piece of wood facing front)
5. Ibm is very much a 1980's robotic looking logo, it would work, but theres better alternatives. You should maybe make your own 19'60ish logo, perhaps taking inspiration from the diners and logos of engineering companies from the era.
Of course this is only what i would do, and i know for a fact i could never get something to look anywhere near as good as yours does now! I would definatley pay for how it is in its current form, amazing work.
vipclubmn.org/images/LogoGroupz.jpg
I think it would drive me absolutely batty if the machine in question was meant to be a desktop, daily-use machine. As a network storage server, it would work very, very well, though. You might be able to sneak a slot-loading drive in there somewhere, though it'd require either creative mounting, or cutting a hole in the weave. There's no reason people couldn't pop an external drive onto whatever desk they're using, though, if they need one badly enough.
The only other comment I have, is that you might want to consider how cables might be managed in the back. Even a monitorless network server will still require a power cable. Maybe a pair of discreet hooks, or a routed-out channel in the back of one leg? If you can get the cable to the floor, I think, most people can make it disappear.
Finally, I'll second what hipstomp said--awesome work, it looks great! =-]
Still looks pretty cool though:-)
(1.) I think the length is good, but what about the placement of the pc. With the detail on the top of the pc case it seems cramped. It would be nice to have and area comfortable enough to put my arm all the way through.
Then there is the question of if you want that area to be used. Maybe an area to discretely place your scotch while at work??
(1.2)I like the cane but right now it reads very much as a speaker. You probably wont have that issue when you do detail work.
(2.) The thinner the better. Make the pc float!
(3.) I can't remember the last time I used a cd
(4.) I suggest a good lock so you can hide your deepest secrets of your various stolen identities and such.
good job and good luck
The cane is great and reminds me of a Panasonic reel to reel that had speakers covered in a similar weave.
Only a purist would complain at the oak, however, most of the Danish furniture used/uses oak legs. I've never understood why.
the table top needs to be as thick or thicker than the piece of wood the computer case is sitting on i.e. the bottom of the box. I am assuming that the lack of CD is due to the weave being permanently mounted? The lack of a CD is not a show stopper but in the instances where you'd need to have it, you'd be pulling the CPU out to work on it. Functionally, that would be a bit of a pain but I do understand. Others would not... I wold like an Opel style circle and lightning bolt?
http://usr.audioasylum.com/images/y2009/03/22343/fisher_001.jpg
Wouldn't some type of discreet hinge on the front solve the CD -ROM issue?
2. Totally works
3. No, proportions are spot on.
4. Ask a PC, I'm a Mac
5. The Apple logo would look pretty sweet! Or something with lightning bolts. Or some slab serif, wide-kerned type.
ps as you can see I'd like one for a iMac, please! But aside from that, lovely work, well done.
http://shop.ebay.com/items/vintage%20hood%20ornaments?_dmd=1&_sop=12&rvr_id=&MT_ID=69&crlp=4767219128_9404&tt_encode=raw&geo_id=1&keyword=vintage+hood+ornaments&adgroup_id=1730473058
looks great though!
or look at the radios of the era for inspiration. I don't really think an authentic IBM logo makes sense. In this alternate reality, I would have to expect that their design department would come up with something better, although the PC's in the 80's certainly proved this wrong.
The wood is really nice, but I (personally) would like a darker stain. I am not a wood expert, but something a bit closer to the inspiration would look better IMHO.
I almost think that moving the CPU down slightly may look a bit better. It certainly is airy feeling, but it seems almost top heavy. You're limited due to the height of the case, but when I look at the inspiration, the drawers are in the top 1/3 of the overall piece. There just isn't as much space there, so it seems a little bit "heavy".
I also have to think about the period electronics as well. The radios were big honking consoles. I would think that that computers would follow suit. Heck, due to the "workflow", I would expect it to be the *entire* desk.
Ok, you asked for criticism, so that was it. But I do want to say, that it looks *awesome*. I'm a huge mad-men fan, and I think that this is gorgeous.
This is just kind of a fun "take" on the steampunk kind of movement.
Take care, and it looks great!
You've done great work here--keep it coming!
2. The red oak works fine. Teak is an endangered wood.
3. If that thickness will support the PC fine, then use it. Again, the spidery legs are why it works.
4. People need to shut up sometimes. The CDROM isn't the issue. The lack of USB ports are.
5. A plain gold V. Wide and tapered. It should be gold/brassy, not silver, to go with the red oak and rattan.
1) I think the leg length looks fine. I would hope the top ends up around 27-30 inches from the floor, making it a nice end-table height. The woven front looks like metal screen in the photos. I'd prefer to see a 6-sided weave. I think that is appropriate for mid-century modern. Another possibility is a coarse woven linen, if you could get enough air through it .
2) I'd certainly prefer teak, walnut or even black cherry in solid wood or bookmatched veneer. The oak isn't bad, but it seems anachronistic.
3) The legs and top are definitely too thin. That was the first thing I noticed when I saw the work-in-progress. Definitely, yep, especially the legs. I would also bullnose the edges on both. The top might benefit from more overhang on the sides, too. Proportions look nice from the side, but a little tall/skinny from the front. The grain (figure) on the top and bottom rails of the box should be horizontal, too, like a picture frame.
4) The lack of a CD/DVD would be an issue for me. How about letting your emblem be the drive front?
I'm looking forward to the finished product.
+ I think the caning is a great solution. The fans will probably need the extra ventilation in the front. The natural look of the cane matches the wood just fine, and to me is a vintage texture.
+ I don't have a problem with proportions here. having the table top float above the box does lend an airy feel. I'm no expert on Mid-century Modern, but it seem common to see a juxtaposition of heavy and thin, (picture thin hair pin legs on all sorts of chairs and even dining tables from that era.)
+ It's safe to nix the CD drive. Nearly all younger people work off jump drives or externals now.
+ I almost think it cheesy to put an emblem badge on the front. Part of the fun is putting the PC out of site. If you feel so inclined, though, the box and cane makes me think of old stereo speakers my dad used to have. so how about a badge from Realistic or Pioneer?
check out the look of these puppies:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310188553850&rvr_id=&crlp=1_263602_263622&UA=WXF%3F&GUID=179f88b11290a0645c71dda1ffdbeef4&itemid=310188553850&ff4=263602_263622