ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
How does form relate to function?
How does symmetry impact design?
STUDENT EXAMPLES
PROCESS PICTURES
ARTIST EXAMPLES
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
For this project, you will create a helmet out of cardboard. You may work with a partner. You will be graded separately.

REQUIREMENTS
Prep (15 points):
  1. Research: Spend some time looking up helmet designs that interest you. Google terms such as: “medieval helmet,” “knights helmet,” “gladiator helmet,” “cardboard helmet,” etc. Print out/screenshot photos of several helmet ideas that you like. - 5 points
  2. Sketches: Do two different sketch ideas. About 5-10 minutes each. - 5 points
  3. Paper Version: Create a version of your helmet using paper. Experiment with different designs. Troubleshoot problems. - 5 points

Form (55 points):
  1. Coverage: The helmet must cover the head and some of the face. - 5 points
  2. Size: The helmet must fit. - 5 points
  3. Resources: Have your photos and drawings near you at all times. - 5 points
  4. Craftsmanship: The helmet must be carefully constructed and be neat and clean. No unintended structural abnormalities. - 20 points
  5. Originality: The helmet itself must be creative, original, and interesting. - 10 points
  6. Decoration: The helmet must feature at least 3 (4 if you’re working with a partner) original decorative elements (mohawk, spikes, wings, feathers, creative cutouts, trimming/edging, horns, pattern work, etc.) - 10 points

Surface (10 points):
  1. Color: The helmet must be painted. The paint should appear cleanly and carefully applied. - 10 points

Safety and Clean Up (20 points):
  1. Safety: The student followed safety guidelines for the duration of the project. Blades and scissors were used carefully and as instructed. Glue guns were unplugged and put away after use. - 10 points
  2. Clean Up: The student cleaned up cardboard scraps and scraped up dried glue. Tables were washed if necessary. Paint brushes were cleaned and put away. - 10 points

Effort (20 points):
The student took time to develop their ideas fully.  Many new techniques were tried. The student made excellent use of class time. - 20 points (10 or 5 points for lesser effort)

​Reflection (5 points):
Self Reflection. - 5 points

Total Points: 125 
Possible Extra Points:
  • 5 extra points if the helmet has movable parts
  • 2 extra points if the helmet features multiple colors or an interesting paint job
  • 8 extra points for any extra, well crafted and applicable accessories (swords, breastplate, coat of arms, flag, belt, etc.)​
ADVICE FROM STUDENTS
  1. ​Take time on the sketch because that will really help you out when you make your helmet. The sketch helped me to visualize it and focus. 
  2. Making the helmet first out of paper was helpful because it was easier to manipulate than cardboard so you could experiment and make things more easily. You could also used the paper parts as tracers.
  3. Focus on making correct measurements. Double check everything.
  4. Try the helmet on often to make sure it's still fitting correctly and that eye/mouth holes are correctly spaced. 
  5. It's OK to mess up because you can always go back and fix it. 
  6. Think a couple steps ahead before you start. 
  7. Take your time but stay on task.
  8. Focus on your craftsmanship. 
  9. I used utility knives for big sections, heavy duty scissors for small sections or curves, and X-Acto blades for small sections or curves. Use scissors to help clean up messy cuts. 
  10. Hot glue was messy. Using a piece of scrap cardboard to clean up messy drips of hot glue was very helpful.