I think that one of the hardest things to do as a creative maker is to take care of ourselves.
When we're gripped by a project, it can be like we're possessed. We'll work on them for hours, fine-tuning and fixing, and tell ourselves we can take a break as soon as we're done it. Then we'll see something else in relation to what we're working on, and jump to that. Or maybe, we'll be unable to find the solution we like and we'll troubleshoot until we do.
When surveying my target audience in the target space it became blatantly clear that this wasn't just a personal problem - makers need something to help remind them to take care of themselves.
Thus I decided to create the wellness clock to help remind people to take care of themselves.
The Wellness Clock is a kind of cuckoo clock that will live within the Makerspace on campus, where I know a lot of makers will congregate; and, should the photocell detect a certain light level, the waterwheel will go off and gently break concentration.
Why bells? Because it sounds a bit like water rushing! Hopefully, that will remind them to either drink some or take a bathroom break!
Most of the pieces were made by cutting mdf and acrylic with the laser cutter available on campus.
Warning, the laser cutter can be really loud!
I then treated them with acrylic paints, a watered-down wash for the wood and sponging for the stone, and stuck them together. The roof is foam that's been cut and engraved before also getting the muddy acrylic bath :)
In order to make the motor controlled water wheel, I had to 3d print a piece to connect them.
