Inspired to Design: Could You Create A Rug Like This in SolidWorks?

Despite the fact that it looks like a very large, very colorful, yet well designed, doily, this is one of the winners of the lucrative 2008 Red Dot Design Award. This year alone 3,203 designs were entered ranging from textiles, like this fancy rug, to technology and just about anything else that spans product, conceptual and communications design.

MohoDesign from Poland is the outfit behind these unique rug designs, and yes, they are made from 100% pure wool pile.

Making a rug in SolidWorks.You gotta be kidding.
I know, a futuristic electro-mechanical trap floor with automated balance control and sensory absorption relays would be much cooler, but what I found interesting about these rug designs in particular, is how simple the idea is and how easy (and fun) it can be to create something like it in SolidWorks. Want to know how to do it?

Here’s my example and the SolidWorks example file for you to play with:

1. Sketch some shapes
   I started with a 5 foot extruded circle, then started a sketch. This was kind of random. I used spline, arcs and circle tools a lot.
   
2. Mirror the sketch
   Real simple. Just make sure the design will mirror well.
   
3. Create a Sketch Pattern
   Select the sketch and do a quick circular sketch pattern. Try not to overlap the sketches.
   
4. Cut Extrude through all
   Yep, just cut those crazy shapes out. If it doesn’t work quite right, try adjusting some of the sketches or pattern instances.
   
5. Make it look fancy
   Change materials or bring it into Photoshop to make it a little prettier. There’s your rug.

There’s some places around you can send for custom rugs. It’s not the cheapest, but those places do exist. You could even create tabletops, room dividers, or a fancy facade for your home made from wood or steel and have it constructed at a local sheet wood/metal shop. You could also go to Ponoko and share your design with others.

What do you think? Time to make a rug?