The View [Maker Coin]

The overall dimensions of the Maker Coin is 6 cm in diameter and 1.25 cm in thickness. (With the extension of the base, the total diameter measured with the extension is 0.1 cm larger in diameter.)

Overview and Background

When designing this Maker Coin, I treat the coin as a piece of art with variations that is not simply a regular coin. Below is the sketch when brainstorming for the design:

The concept that I eventually chose is inspired by a few art I made before: a window framing the view.

For this maker coin, the view wasn’t completely filled. Considering the coin with a single color couldn’t fully express the color of the view, I made the decision to leave a negative space for the sky. This open space allows the users to create their own unique view by framing the sky next to them.
 

Design Choices

• After looking through a few samples, I saw the potential to decrease the border and to add space for the interior negative space. The design was changed from a gradual slope inward to a vertical frame-like border and 0.15 filet. 

• To add more variety and detail, an extension of the frame was later added. The radius of the frame with extension ended up being 0.35 cm (0.3 cm + 0.05 cm).

• The extension was filet as well to create the smoothness along the frame design.

• When transferring the design into SolidWorks, more measurement of the sun were added to help position the sun.

• The ray of the sun was also filet on the outside to make the whole design of the outer sun more connected. (0.2 cm filet)

• A half oval was added in the inner sun to make the sun more three dimensional and it looks like a sunny side up.

• The borders of the mountains were filet asymmetrically (0.25 x 0.2 cm) to create a gentle downwards curve while the edge were filrt symmetrically (0.8 cm).

• Two functional holes was added at the top so it will have the ability to be hang instead of simply sitting somewhere on the table (the hole was with radius of 0.2 cm and filet of 0.05 cm)