1. Besuch Ganztagsschule Zoberberg - Gemeinschaftsschule

During our first visit to Ganztagsschule Zoberberg – Gemeinschaftsschule, we were guided through the school by the principal, Ms. Sanftenberg-Marasus, and the art teacher. They introduced us to the school's concept of independent and flexible learning and explained how the learning environment supports this approach.

During the tour, we documented key observations about the school's spaces, teaching methods, and the needs of both students and teachers. These insights served as the foundation for the development of our own concepts later in the project.

Miro Board

At the beginning of the project, we collected all of our research and observations on a Miro board and expanded them with additional online research. While this gave us a good overview, we realized that research alone was not enough to fully understand the needs of the students and teachers.

Benjamin and I therefore planned a workshop to gain direct insights from the students. Unfortunately, due to scheduling issues and the students' exam period, the workshop could not take place. Nevertheless, the process helped us organize our findings, identify the most important questions, and create a clearer foundation for the next stages of the project.

Sketches

After the workshop could not take place, we continued the project independently. We refined our design criteria, researched standard dimensions for tables, chairs, and seating, and defined the key requirements our product should meet, as well as potential challenges we might face.

Based on these findings, we began developing a wide range of sketches and later built simple prototypes to test our ideas. This process resulted in a large collection of concepts that served as the foundation for our final design.

1. Prototyp

After exploring and comparing many different concepts, we finally agreed on one design direction that best met both the functional and aesthetic requirements: a central column with rotating table modules. This concept offered a flexible solution that could easily adapt to different learning situations while fitting the school's educational approach.

To test the idea, we began building simple prototypes using cardboard, honeycomb cardboard, paper, and foam. These models allowed us to experiment with different shapes, sizes, and mechanisms, giving us a better understanding of how the furniture could function, feel, and look in a real environment. The prototypes also helped us identify weaknesses early on and further refine the concept before moving on to the next stage.

Bauen

Once we had established a clear design language and put our ideas onto paper, we had a solid vision of what our final product should become. The only thing missing was a name. We chose Pidot, combining the French word pivoter (to rotate) with the English word dot. The name reflects the concept of a central column around which everything rotates, while also symbolizing a central point that brings people together and supports focused learning.

After defining the concept and its identity, we started building a functional prototype to test the rotating mechanism and overall usability. At the same time, we used Rhino 3D to create a detailed digital model, which later served as the basis for a 3D-printed scale model.

Rhino 3D

Plans

3D-Print

The 3D prints turned out very well. A special thanks goes to Mr. Lipeck, who supported us throughout the process and helped us solve a few issues with the print files. Thanks to his assistance, we were able to prepare the models without major difficulties.

Overall, the printing process went smoothly. The material worked well, and the printed models accurately represented the intended shape. At this stage, our main focus was on testing the form and proportions rather than the final color or appearance.

Visualisation

For the visualizations, we used different camera angles and render views from our Rhino 3D model as the basis. These images were then imported into Google Nano Banana 2, where we generated AI-supported studio visualizations of the product. The goal was to create realistic images quickly and communicate the design more effectively than with the 3D model alone.

We also created a use-case visualization to show how the furniture could be used in a classroom environment. Unfortunately, this image was less successful, as the AI generated incorrect proportions, making the furniture appear too low in relation to the children. Despite this limitation, the AI-generated images served their purpose well. They provided a fast and effective way to visualize the concept without investing the time required for detailed photorealistic renderings.

DDS Template

Conclusion

Jaden:
Benjamin 仲係唔會承認佢對我有感情 Es war eine äußerst schöne Erfahrung mit Benjamin zu arbeiten (Ich schreibe auf deutsch damit er es nicht ganz versteht). Wir haben uns ebenfalls sehr sehr gut verstanden und waren in so vielen Hinsichten der gleichen Meinung. Trotzdem waren wir in kritischen Momenten gute Kontra-geber. Daher war die Zusammenarbeit unglaublich schön für mich und ich werde es immer wertschätzen. (grrr… Franzosen😡)

Benjamin:
Travailler avec Jaden fut une très bonne expérience aussi de mon côté (j'écris en français pour qu'il ne comprenne pas). 

We were able to discuss various ideas easily, and it was fairly simple to divide up the tasks according to our respective skills. This good rapport did, however, give way to disagreements, which were always resolved through discussion and finding solutions. This experience taught me how to work with someone who has a different way of working and facing problems.

Merci, Danke & 多謝 🙏🏻

Wir bedanken uns an dieser Stelle bei Herrn Beckmann aus der Holzwerkstatt. Vielen Dank auch an Matthias Lipeck, der uns bei den 3D-Prints immens ausgeholfen hat. Zudem möchten wir uns auch bei unseren Kommilitonen und Freunden bedanken, die uns mit hilfreichem Feedback ausgeholfen haben. Dieses Produkt wäre nicht möglich gewesen ohne die Hilfe von vielen Mitmenschen.