Cigarette Rolling Machine: During my first design studio in architecture school I was given a project to design a tool in three weeks for a hypothetical client. I decided to make a cigarette rolling machine that could grace the desk of a Philip Morris executive.
I made it from a solid block of mahogany which resulted in a really interesting grain pattern on the lid
I spent every waking hour for three weeks trying to get the roller finished in time. Despite a terrible sinus infection, which came from sanding without a dust mask, I got the roller finished just in time for my review. The professors reviewing my work were smokers which prompted the question. "Does it actually work?" I pulled out a bag of American Spirit tobacco (grown by Native Americans) and rolled them two perfect filterless cigarettes. Naturally, I got an "A" and my roller was displayed in the student show at the end of the year. I have been hooked on design ever since!
