Nicolas A CoiaApplicant for Masters of Industrial Design1616 Beacon StreetBrookline, MA 02446This portfolio details my designs, photographs and poetry

PurposeCustom build a bass guitar to fit my personal needs as abassistDesign ElementsContoured body allowing the bass to properly restagainst the player's body and to allow the plucking arm torest in the instrument rather than on itSlightly scaled down body to relieve instrument weightwhen playing in a standing positionCustomized electronics cavity to enable equalizer toswitch between ceramic and steel magnets in the bridgepickupRecessed strap locksEngraved with my a hand carved "signature" giving theillusion of a skeletal structure, bringing a unique life tothe instrumentMaterialsBody: MahoganyPickups: EMGEQ: EMG

PurposeDesign an instrument stand to hold twoinstruments in a space conserving mannerDesign ElementsThe instrument stand allows twoinstruments to sit together, and savesspace by crossing the instrument necks toallow collaborative space consumptionThe center column does not extend to thefloor to portray a floating qualitySmall squares of a soft rug have beenglued to the stands to protect againstinstrument damageThe depth and distance of the hooks allowfor any size or shaped instrument to beheldMaterialsLegs and center column: CherryInstrument holder: Metal hooks wrapped ina red rubberized plasticProtection strip: Soft carpet

PurposeA relaxing and conversation provoking couch. European sizing to be visually lighter.Reclined position to increase comfortDesign ElementsTripod styled base to lighten bulkiness of couch and decrease use of materials andtooling costsSingle leg in the back also increases aesthetics through its swooping lines andstructural capabilitiesFive­degree tilt applied to promote a more relaxed sitting position and make thecouch feel bigger than it actually isMaterialsFabric: Felt or boucleCushion: Dense but comfortable foam

PurposeDesign a stylish and functional desk that can hold up to abusive use. Andovertime show use and age of materialsDesign ElementsHand carved regions in drawer to show beauty of the woods grain and adda sophisticated style and qualityDrawer pulley system underneath to prevent drawer from falling out and toimprove feedback when in use. Proper tension applied will give a niceresistance and substance to the drawers slideTapered legs to add a feminine essence to the deskMaterialsTop ­­ Joined maple stripsLegs (top) ­­ WalnutLegs (bottom) ­­ Wrought ironDrawer ­­ Walnut

PurposeDesign a contemporary desk with a stylistic edge to it. Obtain a lightand airy feeling to open up the users perspective of work. Createprivacy and promote collaboration between individualsDesign ElementsTiered wood tops to create space and allow visual flowAluminum legs to provide privacy to the sitter from guests and allowguests to have their own desk space for small meetingsMaterialsTop ­­ Customized from a standard list. (i.e. maple, cherry, oak, walnut)Back legs ­­ Solid aluminum or wrought IronFront legs ­­ Thin aluminum

PurposeWinter is my preferred time ofyear. The white of a fresh snowreflects the most delicate ofshadows and smoothessurfaces that are normallyedgy and harsh. Capturing thislife in Boston's Chinatown,one of my favorite areas, wasmy motivationCompositionThe warmth of the red brick, Ifelt, contradicted the coldwhite and grey of the freshsnowfall in a beautiful andexpressive wayWinter has the ability to trappeople in their homes, carsand offices, a few of useventually learn to break out ofthese places, just as light willsoon break from the icy cavernwinter has tried to impose onthis lamp

PurposeWinter is my preferred time ofyear. The white of a fresh snowreflects the most delicate ofshadows and smoothessurfaces that are normallyedgy and harsh. Capturing thislife in Boston's Chinatown,also one of my favorite areas,was my motivationCompositionA Pandas natural habitat isusually a warmer climate inChin, on this day however, Ispotted one stuck in asnowdriftSnow has a very unique way ofsitting. Unlike a human, whowill amass an entire object tosecure his position, Snow, onthe other hand, will let itselfform to its surroundings, as ithas so eloquently done hereThis snow bench directlyrepresents my ambitions incapturing the beauty of awinter storm. The shadowsallow themselves to aneffortless expression andmood

PurposeDocument Boston graffitiCompositionGraffiti, just as any art, is a reflection of the artist in their preferred medium. Theculture of graffiti has been built around 'tagging' buildings and structures in hard toget to and sometimes hard to find places, but more often than not, in very public andhigh traffic areasThe graffiti below is showing you its reflection, which happens to be the only artisticmedium it can know. I wanted to bring this piece to life and show it as more thangraffiti and as part of the cityscapeThe second photograph portrays graffiti from a different walk of life, construction.The inside of this cement truck has delivered the world with a gorgeous residue frommany job sites around the city. This is in a sense natural, but isn't concrete graffiti tothe earth?

PurposeDocument Boston graffitiCompositionKeeping with the essence of giving a more tangible life to theworld of graffiti, I wanted to bring humanistic qualities to this trainthrough the emotion of an early morning rise. On every clear day, itis awaken with a brilliant sun, enriching the colors of the train withits warming glowThe below photo is a type of graffiti only produced with a camera.In this photo, I allowed the Boston commuter line to streak the skyand bridge with it's colorsThe third and final photo is an extension of the artists originalpurpose. To make his or her mark with their particular tag

PurposeCItyscapesCompositionBoston at night is when I feel it really sings. I let the city do her singing below. Thecolors in this photo are as I captured them with my camera. Through the longexposure of this picture, I was able to release color in the clouds being reflectedfrom city lights on the Charles RiverNew York City is a city of many things, space not necessarily being one of them.The opposite photo portrays just that, as its world disappears into the distance

PurposeLook beyond the impoverished country of Costa Rica to see thethriving beauty that needs only sunlight and rainwater to flourishCompositionThere are a multitude of plants in South America, I really wanted tocapture the beauty these plants have in both their most affluent aswell as their less coveted statesThis tree and plant broke cultural boundaries in their intimate dancebetween root and leafI tend to find myself drawn to the mysteries the natural world likesto show. Below, this sun dried leaf held a mysterious beauty that Ineeded to shareThe stem of the red flower is a few inches long, easily the mostrecognizable feature of the flower, however I found the very tips ofits stamen to hold a lot of life to them. The closer you get, the moredetail you begin to see

PurposeLook beyond the impoverished country of Costa Rica to see the thriving beautythat needs only sunlight and rainwater to flourishCompositionDuring the summer months, pregnant turtle swim up to shore at the below beach.There, they lay hundreds of eggs in hopes that a small percentage will make itback into the ocean and survive long enough to begin another cycle of life. Youcan relax in the structure and watch this amazing wonder at no harm to the turtlesAlthough tiny and quite beautiful, the delicate mushroom happens to beextremely poisonous. I don't know that I'd venture to sip fresh rain water from itsinverted cap

Eyes of the worldCan see through meEyes of the worldCan peer into meEyes of the worldHave me by the throatEyes of the world wake upWake up and find out who you areEyes of the world, you are my eyes

two silhouettes screaming at the moonwondering what it's like to feellooking around and seeing the othersgathering on the solid wood floortwo silhouettes dancing alongwondering what its like to stealaway from the shadows and into the nightwhere they can be for realtwo silhouettes dancing on the moonlooking down through the fogtwo silhouettes seeing what its likewhen they have finally run from it all

This cool crisp shadowSwaying in my heartThe deep dark beautyScreaming for the partExcrementing my loveInto the hands of a flowerPetals torn and thrownLove showing its powerTime flutters its wings of sorrowTears fall from everglade eyesI reach down to the petalsAnd drink the love that you cry

When lying beneath the sandOf storms which wither away,And you and I we sit besideWater that flows our wayAnd presidential speaks and lies,That FEMA representatives lay down and dieAnother one, a sector four point fiveThe sun it flows right through my eyesA light begines to shineYet nothing has changed in timesof lives, waste, continues to riseAnd gasoline is soaringThe prices are so highYet president bushA tear rolling down his eyeAsks for a compromiseBut isn't he a giantA gas guzzling fiendA millionaire of wealth and owner of the ringConserve your fuel, he saysHis hummer skips on byConserve our gas, he asksHe winks, the prices riseBecause another war on terrorIn the name of gasolineIs happening over seasWhen we have no New Orleans

a rose on firesings its song aloneeveryone stands to watch itits petals, its thorns, its thronea rose on firestands wilted and burnta little girl picks it uplife begins to spurta rose with life comes strong from deathplaced in a water jugand loved with great respecta little girland a rose with no namegrow strong togethertheir roots, their song: the same