Product Development
From a sketch, we started turning the idea into reality. The frame was a standard we have developed in our larger frames so the focus was on creating the teddy bear.
Bear Sculpt Development
Based on the rough sculpt, we noticed that the position looked strained. We did a quick paper cutout to bring the head closer to the frame so it would appear to be resting to convey a more comfortable and cozier feeling.
The sculptor added more volume to the teddy after the first round. The update looked good but the eyes were creepy so they had to be adjusted. We also limited the inset of the paws on the frame to avoid technical difficulties we had previously faced in production.
For the next round, we applied fur texture to provide contrast to the smooth frame. We used our existing bear ornament as reference. We made it heavy enough to account for the texture loss in die casting. The ears were also adjusted so they didn’t look like Mickey Mouse
The images above show the final approved sculpt. We sent the actual piece to our vendor for costing and sampling. They created a a mold directly from this sculpt.
Final Design Specifications
Along with the final sculpt, we sent the design specifications for costing and sampling to our vendor. The main frame was an established element which had to be resized and made sure it carried the characteristics of the Aram brand - the forged borders and the soft ripple surface on the interior panel. Other requirements were also included in detail. We also provided Pantone colors for the baby blue and baby pink versions.
Design, Details & Concepts shown hereon are the exclusive property of Michael Aram Inc. and may not be reproduced or used without written consent of an officer of Michael Aram Inc.