AIDANSMITH
DESIGNPORTFOLIO
AboutMe.
Profile. I am a detail-driven, highly motivated, award winning Industrial Designer. Graduating with a 1st Class Honours in Design for Industry from Northumbria University Newcastle. Having a huge ambition for design, believe that products should be made with a sense of curiosity and passion and I am always striving to achieve new skills and techniques with a driven aptitude and strong motivation to learn and develop. Having studied and worked within various areas of design such as Graphic Design, Product Design and Photography and working with a range of international clients, I have always worked with a strong, open-minded and empathic approach to design, always aiming to imporve my skills and development but helping others along the way.
Experience.
AIDAN SMITH INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER
Contact. email.
aidansmithdesign@gmail.com
social.
linkedin.com/in/aidansmithdesign
tel.
+44 (0) 7701324980
1st Class Honours BA (HONS) DESIGN FOR INDUSTRY //
2015 - 2019
N o r t h u m b r i a U n i v e r s i t y, N e w c a s t l e
Q u e e n E l i z a b e t h S i x t h Fo r m
Stanl ey Bl ack & Decke r // Oc to be r 2021 - Pre se n t Industrial Designer for Stanley Black & Decker working primarily within the companies Outdoor sector. Working owith global teams and markets to develop new and exciting products for a variety of global brands within the SBD Group.
Industrial Designer
Maj ori ty Audi o / / June 2020 - Oc to be r 2021 As the only Industrial Designer in a small design team, I have been fortunate to take on a large design role within the company. Everything from 3D visualisation of Majority’s entire catalogue of products to be used across e-commerce platforms as well as social media. I have also played a key part in new product development, creating new ranges of products, refreshing the brand image and overall bringing in-house design to the company.
Innovation Design Consultant
Education.
A LEVEL - GRAPHIC DESIGN, P H OTO G R A P H Y, M E D I A S T U D I E S / /
Industrial Designer
2013 - 2015
Achievements. CATEGORY WINNER Student Packaging Designer of the Year 2017 FINALIST - HIGHLY COMMENDED Design Innovation in Plastics 2017
Innovi a Technol ogy / / Se p te m be r 2019 - Ju n e 2020 Working as an Innovation Consultant I was able to use a wide range of design skills from CAD, sketching and Product visualisation to design thinking and photography and film making. These skills allow me to work with some of worlds biggest clients in the Healthcare, Consumer, Mechanical and Design industries.
Design Intern
LEG O / / February 2 018 - Ju l y 2018 Working as part of the ‘Student Frontend Team’, I was involved in the prototyping and concept development of new sets, themes and also bricks within LEGO. It is a great experience allowing me to develop my workshop skills and also my 3D modelling and development.
Technical Skills.
Personal Skills. PROBL E M S OLVI N G PRES E N T I N G T E AM BUI L DI N G T I ME MAN AG E ME N T ORGAN I S AT I ON
Category Winner Student Packaging Designer of the Year 2017.
Finalist Design Innovation in Plastics Competition 2017.
Student Project Winner Live Student Project for Taylors of Harrogate.
Student Project Winner Live Student Project for Hallmark.
May 2017
July 2017
September - November 2017
December 2017
f i n a l i st
Design Intern Design Intern at LEGO.
Innovation Design Consultant Design consultant at Innovia Technology, Cambridge
Industrial Designer Industrial Designer & 3D Visualiser
Industrial Designer Industrial Designer
February 2018 - July 2018
September 2019 - June 2020
June 2020 - October 2021
October 2021 - Present
01 I I LA - Audio Reactive Speaker
04 Toothpaste Dispenser
02 Pedlock
05 Majority Audio
03 Non-literal Form
06 Sketching & Rendering
Contents.
01One.
iILA
I I LA - Audio Reactive Speaker Final Major Project.
IILA is an audio reactive speaker, immersing you into the music through visual and tactile interaction. With it’s unconventional looks, IILA is a speaker that is designed to react and respond to the music that is being played, providing a new sensory experience. By rippling and reacting to your music it creates a more personal and immersive experience, allowing you to listen and watch your favourite songs and artists.
7 in 10 Brits feel that they need to spend more time relaxing and not worry about work and other issues.
Can we change the way in which we listen to music through a more immersive and personal experience?
68% of smartphone users stream and listen to music on a daily basis. With the lack of down time and relaxation and the consumption of music on our phones, listening to music now can often result in a disconnect and lack of emotional engagment.
Floating Frame
Wall Mounted
Wooden Frame / Fabric Internal
The Concept. IILA is designed to react and respond to the music that is being played, providing a new sensory experience. By rippling and reacting to your music it creates a more personal and immersive experience, allowing you to listen and watch your favourite songs and artists.
Watch the music.
Long Sustained Notes
Heavy Beat
Steady Rhythm
Casual Listening
Combining the two worlds of art and music to showcase a new expression of sound.
Frame Profile Exploration
Arduino Coding and Breadboard
CMF Exploration.
I explored a wide range of CMF options when designing IILA. As it is a speaker that places in the home I wanted to create something that can be configured and tailored to you, fitting perfectly in the home enhancing your listening experience. English Oak
A natural rich colour, providing a wonderful contrast to the modern home. Eye catching and engaging from every angle.
Maple
With a more neutral tone,the Maple frame is great for any room. Impress guests with the beautiful clean lines and contemporary minimalist look.
Classic
Inverted Classic
Outer Cut
Internal Round
Chiselled
Rounded
Large internal chamfer with a detailing external chamfer. Catches the eye at any angle.
Large external chamfer with a smaller internal cut. Great if you want to make a statement.
Red Oak
With a fiery finish, Red Oak is excellent in all rooms in the home. With a thin yet dark grain, the Red Oak has lovely contrasting tones.
Similar to the Inverted Classic but with a softer internal radius, creating a seamless transition from frame to fabric.
A much softer frame with a small external cut and a larger internal radius. Delivers a subtle and relaxed appearance.
Ash
Similar to the Oak but showing the beauty with it’s larger grain and deeper detailing. Ash is perfect with a lightly coated beeswax finish to allow for the grain to catch the eye in any scenario.
Walnut
Strong, bold and will withstand the test of time. The Walnut frame is great in providing a darker, brooding atmosphere whilst still supporting a sophisticated and mature appearance.
A blend between sharp and soft creating an unusual yet engaging profile. A lovely combination of characteristics.
Simple yet effective. A rounded off seamless curve. Ideal for anyone.
colour palettes
Cross Weave
Extensive range of colours, with a tough and hard wearing texture. Great to look at but also to get up close and ,‘feel,’ the music.
0562
0566
0038
0974
0202
0124
Two Tone Weave
Similar to the standard Cross Weave but with a two-tone colour pallet. Revealing each colour when stretched and rippling, creating a unique effect from whatever view point.
0148
0148
0590
0166
0171
0130
0159
0932
0926
0526
0162
0511
Pique Knit
With a textured, waffle weave surface, Pique fabric is great if want more texture and tactility whilst still maintaining a pleasant and soft appearance.
pastel
rich
Model Making.
Oak Frame 20mm internal chamfer 7mm external chamfer
Elasticated Fabric Single colour cross weave, providing elasticity and stretch
Waxed Frame Waxed frame to protect but still provide a natural finish
Woven Fabric Hard wearing, tactile weave
The Interaction. To create a more personal and immersive experience, the interaction you have with the speaker is also very important. The control panel is covered in a hard wearing woven fabric with capacitive touch capabilities. Enabling you to turn it on/off, adjust the volume and also select tracks simply through the use of gestures and capacitive control. Bringing back the connection between the user and the music.
On | Off
Gently gliding your hand across the control panel of the speaker easily turns it on and off. Bringing a more personal approach to the way you interact with music.
Volume +|-
Glide your hand up and down the control panel to adjust the volume of your music.
Next | Previous Track
Quickly swiping will enable you to skip or return to the previous track you were playing. Making it an easy and quick gesture to maximise listening time.
Play | Pause
Tapping anywhere on the control module will allow you to play and pause the music. Simply tap again to re-immerse yourself in the music .
The Assembly. CNC Steel Mounting Bracket
Wooden Frame
12V Power Supply
Powering Speakers + Servos
Internal Housing/Frame
Fabric clips on
Wooden Frame Hooks On
Main Body Fabric
Capacitive Touch Electronics + Conductive Sheet
Internal Frame Screws into Bracket _ Securing frame
MTM Stereo Speaker Arrangement Mid Woofer - Tweeter - Mid Woofer
Servo Motors Control Module Fabric - Clips On
MTM Stereo Arrangement
Mid Woofer - Tweeter - Mid Woofer Perfect for anyone, the arrangement provides a wide listening angle and can be heard clearly from any corner of the room. The arrangement can be easily positioned vertically or horizontally and still provide rich, in-depth sound. Ideal to focus on listening and also watching the speaker transform.
Servo Matrix There are a series of servos evenly placed throughout the body of the speaker. These servos are programmed to respond to the audio signal that comes through by analysing volume intensity within a song but also frequency levels.
18 x 20kg Servos 5” Mid Woofer 1” Tweeter
5” Mid Woofer
Alternative Configurations.
Room renders showcasing the different settings and scenarios. IILA can be configured and tailored to you, these renders were created to demonstrate the various different rooms it can be placed in.
Final Product.
iILA
Not your conventional speaker, creating an immersive and personal listening experience.
Watch the music.
Pedlock.
‘Design a product for independent travel, primarily in plastic, that will provide a more comfortable and less stressful travel experience.’ Pedlock is designed as a deterrent and makes securing your bike safer and easier, making it less vulnerable to theives. As it locks in between the chain it results in the bike being unable to use, immobilising the bike. It is located on the pedal it providing a subtle and unique commuting experience, whilst still providing extra security. Pedlock was short-listed and a Finalist for the Innovation in Plastics Competition 2017
f i n a l i st
commuter. fixie. city rider.
easy to fit. unobtrusive.
theft. vulnerable. cheap.
sustainable. recycled. affordable.
insight.
Bike locks come in a wide range of sizes and they are often difficult to carry, easy to break or even secured incorrectly, making bikes vulnerable to thieves
opportunity.
To create an bike lock integrated into the bike to make securing the bike easier and to act as a deterrent around potential thieves
Ben | Designer “As I work in the city; my bike is my main way of commuting to and from work. Carrying big locks and chains is always a hassle and uncomfortable to carry, especially when I need to lock it for a few minutes.“
KeyInsights
Difficult to carry
Poorly Secured
Not easily visible
244 238 148
227 65 18
249 201 0
246 233 77
227 15 19
250 181 19
248 234 58
219 185 183
213 148 48
233 192 81
223 79 72
189 77 97
User Journey.
Replace
Fit
Cycle
Pedlock is placed on the crank side of the bike, to allow it to position in between the chain and chain stay.
Screw Pedlock onto the crank arm, as the design is similar to existing pedals it can simply be screwed on.
Use the bike like normal as Pedlock is non-obtrusive and feels and looks like a standard pedal.
P
Park
Secure
Once you have parked up the bike Pedlock can be used to quickly secure the bike.
Using the key to unlock the beam and slide in between the chain and the chain stay. Creating a lock and deterrent on the bike.
P
Slide the beam out, fixing the beam to be placed in between the chain stay and chain. Resulting in a quick and easy use deterrent.
f i n a l i st
Moulded Polycarbonate
Semi transparent reflector outer with micro-prisms formed inside to create a reflective surface
Aluminium
Torx screws, barrel lock and locking pins made from aluminium
Injection Moulded RTP VLF 80211 EM HS (60% long glass fibre) Nylon long fibre compound with excellent strength & high impact resistance Great mould-ability with the availability in a range of pigmentations
Variety of colours
The beam has a variety of colours enabling it to be seen from a distance
03Three.
Non-literal Form.
Non-Literal Form is an exercise that explores the form, communication and product interaction. This results in a design with no clear function but with an instantly recognisable interaction, communicated to the user only through its aesthetic. Inspired by the words of SHARP and FLOW, it allowed me to focus on a specific aesthetic within the form and details.
Product Influences. Sharp+Flow
Final Model.
04Four.
Toothpaste Dispenser.
Toothpaste dispensers can be difficult to use, especially when it comes to the end of the toothpaste, resulting in a lot of wastage. This project allowed me to focus on the packaging of FMCG products and how they can be improved for the consumer. I developed and re-engineered a toothpaste dispenser to make it easier to user. This packaging won the ‘Dispensing’ category of the Student Packaging Designer of the Year 2017 competition.
dispensing. opening. closing.
difficult to press. wastage of toothpaste.
elderly. children. disabled.
insight.
Due to the awkward positioning of the pump, it can often be difficult for the young and elderly to use, resulting in wastage and an uncomfortable user experience
opportunity.
Develop a new and interesting way to improve the interaction and use of a toothpaste dispensers for the consumer, by reducing waste and focusing on an inclusive product
Sarah | Office Manager + Mum of 2 “Brushing the kids teeth on a night is always a hassle, there’s a lot of mess and now that the children are getting more independent having them brush their teeth on their own without the difficulty would be great. ”
KeyInsights
Difficult to use
Wastage
Messy
Pushing sideways still creates a downwards force to form pressure in the tube, resulting in toothpaste being able to be dispensed.
05Five.
Majority Audio Cambridge, UK
In my role at Majority I have found that I have taken on more than just an Industrial Designer role. Being in a small team I have been fortunate to take on a large variety of design challenges in the company . Everything from 3D visualisation of Majority’s entire catalogue of products to new product development and graphic design and marketing Creating new ranges of products, refreshing the brand image and helping to bring an in-house design team to the company.
Role & Responsibilities: - 3D Visualisation - Products - Packaging - Social Media - Videos - New Product Development - Photography & Video Production - Graphic Design & Marketing
Product Visualisation.
As part of my day to day I will create a wide range of visuals of various Majority products to used across social media, press releases, Amazon content and much more. Here are a few examples, from interior/lifestyle shots to more abstract product images.
Video Rendering & Production.
Video featured on the Channel 5 television show The Gadget Show.
Majority Audio YouTube Channel
Brand Refresh. The past 12 months I have played a key part in the refresh and overhaul of the brand image and identity. Transforming the brand from a budget audio company to a sophisticated and modern lifestyle audio brand. These changes have helped us see an increase in product sales, along with attention from press/media and retailers.
Slate
Mint
Hex: #2f3942
Hex: #b3d7b8
CMYK: 79, 62, 50, 54
CMYK: 35, 0, 35, 0
RGB: 47, 57, 66
RGB: 179, 215, 184
Title Heading. Sub-Heading Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat.
Font: Roboto Bold Tracking: Kerning: Optical Leading: Same as font size Alignment: Left Font: Roboto Bold Tracking: 0 Kerning: Auto Leading: Same as font size + 50% Alignment: Left Font: Roboto Regular Tracking: 0 Kerning: Auto Leading: Same as font size + 50% Alignment: Left
White
Black
Hex: #ffffff
Hex: #000000
CMYK: 0, 0, 0, 0
CMYK: 100, 100, 100, 100
RGB: 255, 255, 255
RGB: 0, 0, 0
Website Refresh.
As part of the brand refresh I was also involved in the redesign and creating a new website. Working alongside a web developer I created new imagery and also refined the user experience making it a much easier and accessible website across all platforms. www.majority.co.uk
Sustainable Packaging. Working with external packaging companies I have had to opportunity to redesign Majority’s product packaging (graphics & product) to be more sustainble and eco-friendly. This was done by using Kraft card and using a single colour, one side print. By doing this, it has also improved the unboxing experience and has created a more premium and memorable user interaction.
Sketching & Rendering
In my spare time I enjoy doing digital sketching and rendering to help practice my skills and learn new techniques. Using software such as Keyshot, Adobe Photoshop & ProCreate I create a variety of different imagery from products to more abstract content.
ThankYou.
AidanSmith @ a c s mi th. i d ai d an s mi thd e s i gn @ gma i l.c om l i nked i n.c om/ i n / a i d a n s mi thd e s i gn