ID
ALEX McFARLIN
McFarlin | Fall 2016 1
ALEX McFARLIN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN PORTFOLIO
WHAT’S INSIDE...
5
21
33
41
57
61
75
81
97
101
117
133
01
FIREFLY JACKET
McFarlin | Fall 2016 7
PROBLEM The greatest risk for commuters are
and to encourage drivers to share
motor vehicles as bikes and cars are at
the road and promote cycling as an
odds on public streets. With an average
alternative to driving.
of 700 deaths and 45,000 injuries every year in the US from bike related accidents, safety is a key concern among cyclists. My design goal is to increase to the visibility of the cyclist
McFarlin | Fall 2016 9
RESEARCH AND STATS The most common cause of bicycle related injuries is being struck by a motor vehicle resulting in roughly 29% of all cycling injuries.
45K
BICYCLE RELATED INJURIES EVERY YEAR
700 DEATHS FROM CYCLE/MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISIONS YEARLY
The National Highway Traffic Safety Programs recommends that Bicyclists
clothing during from dawn until dusk. To be noticed when riding at night, use a front light and a red reflector or flashing rear light, and use retro-reflective tape or markings on equipment or clothing.
140-
Distance (m)
by wearing fluorescent or brightly colored
92%
OF BICYCLE RELATED INJURIES OCCUR IN URBAN AREAS
OF BICYCLE FATALITIES OCCUR FROM MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISIONS
Cyclists consistently overestimate their visibility to drivers.
Administration’s(NHTSA) Office of Safety should increase their visibility to drivers
71%
120100-
Estimated Actual
806040200-
Black
Vest
Clothing condition
Vest, Ankles, & Knees
PERSONA The
“SHARE THE ROAD!�
Casual Commuter
Gender Male or female (ratio 3:1) Age 25-40
Commute 2-5 miles to work daily Bike Hydrid or Road Bike Reason for biking Bikes are easier in cities than cars or public transportation. Costs less, easier parking, healthy workout. Design Goals Making biking in the city a safer experience Increase visibility of cyclist All-weather Stylish Moisture-wicking and breathable Seamless daily use
McFarlin | Fall 2016 11
ELERT
Illuminated Cycling Backpack
BrakePack
Smart Backpack for Urban Bicyclists
Lumos
Brake light helmet
Lunative
Ambient Light Hoodie
$70 USD
$TBA
$99 USD
$88 USD
-Fiber Optic Lights -3 Settings -7+ hour battery life -USB rechargeable -RGB LED lights -360 View
-RGB LED Lights -Wireless rechargeable -Bluetooth sync with phone -Turn and brake signals
-LED turn and brake lights -USB rechargeable -Bluetooth connectivity -Accelerometer -360 View
-EL lighting -AA rechargeable batteries -Fully washable
MARKET RESEARCH & INSPIRATION There are a number of products on the market or in development that address visibility in a similar way. The way my product differs is that I utilize the rider’s own arms and torso as the area of illumination. I was inspired by the way car lights developed over the decades to be visible on the sides as well as the front. I reasoned that the same should be true for cyclists.
McFarlin | Fall 2016 13
McFarlin | Fall 2016 15
MATERIALS & CONSTRUCTION After much research I settled on two specialty materials to prototype my jacket: Polartech PowerShield Pro ÂŽ, and Electroluminescent (EL) wire. PowerShield Pro ÂŽ is a superior athletic fleece which I chose because it is water-resistant, moisture-wicking, breathable, and remarkably light weight. The lighting is EL wire, which is not the ideal material for the market version due to its low luminocity, but for the prototype it provides as easy visual proxy for how the turn signals would work. The jacket was modeled after a commercial fleece jacket pattern and altered to fit both my renderings as well as my size. The bus pass sleeve is made from clear vinyl.
McFarlin | Fall 2016 17
McFarlin | Fall 2016 19
McFarlin | Fall 2016 21
02
THE GLAMPIN’ WAGON
McFarlin | Fall 2016 23
100% RECYCLED. MADE IN THE U.S.A.
DESIGN CHALLENGE The goal of this project was to design
Draft, color, part count and assembly
and CAD a new product to fit into the
are all considerations when designing
line of toys manufactured by California-
injection molded parts.
based Green ToysÂŽ. The company specializes in injection-molded toys made from 100% recycled HDPE which are aimed at toddlers and preschoolers. Their classic lineup features an array of vehicles from submarines to airplanes.They take inspiration from cartoonish depictions of classic American designs, and all their toys are 100% HPDE, so there are no toxic paints or glues.
McFarlin | Fall 2016 25
DESIGN In the spirit of Green Toys®, I drew my
designs lend themselves to injection
inspiration from the 1950’s and 60’s car
molding as they contain large amounts
culture. Additionally, my intent was to
of draft making it ideal for this project.
relate it to the contemporary “glamping”
I chose a color palette that reflected
phenomenon where classic trailers and
the pastel tones which are iconic of the
cars are restored and modified to their
mid-20th century.
original glory. The aerodynamic and bulbous forms present in these classic
McFarlin | Fall 2016 27
McFarlin | Fall 2016 29
Cabin to fit Green ToysÂŽ Character Figures
Fully functional trailer hitch
9 McFarlin
Recycled HDPE
McFarlin | Fall 2016 31
McFarlin | Fall 2016 33
03
ERGONOMIC KNIFE SHARPENER
McFarlin | Fall 2016 35
PROBLEM Inexpensive pull-through sharpeners are convenient and easy to use, but drawing the blade across carbide cutters both damages the blade and creates undesirable results. The edge is marred and left as a burr rather than a true cutting edge. Whetstones produce superb cutting edges, but sharpenering by hand can prove to be both difficult and time consuming. There are a handful of high-end sharpening tools which address this issue, but they are expensive and unwieldy. My goal is to design a product that marries the best of both systems.
SOLUTION A modified kinetic pull-through knife sharpener that utilizes the energy creates by the stroke to drive a pair of ceramic grinding wheels. As the knife is drawn across the rubber drive wheels, the ceramic grinding wheel grinds upwards and across the blade, mimicking the action of a whetstone.
McFarlin | Fall 2016 37
McFarlin | Fall 2016 39
Stainless Steel Body
Sharpener
Rubberized Grip
McFarlin | Fall 2016 41
04
FUEL CELL
McFarlin | Fall 2016 43
DESIGN OBJECTIVE “For over 78 years and four generations,
goal of energy independence in mind, they
UST Brands has sourced and manufactured
are developing the next generation of energy
the finest survival gear and emergency
technologies.
equipment on the market. By maintaining the highest standards in quality and service, UST
My goal is to design and develop a product
innovative products have been saving lives
for UST/Bloom Energy that will empower the
since 1936.�
individual to survive an unexpected urban emergency survival situation.
UST has partnered with the Silicon Valley startup Bloom Energy to develop the next generation of survival technologies aimed at the increasingly urbanized America. With the
McFarlin | Fall 2016 45
SURVIVAL SCENARIO Grid failure is one of the most plausible yet devastating scenarios that could befall the United States. The United States power grid has more blackouts than any other country in the developed world, according to new data that spotlights the country’s aging and unreliable electric system. Every year the US spends between $18-35B spoiled inventory, delayed production, grid damage, lost wages and output caused by severe weather. In 2014 the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the electrical grid a grade of D+ after evaluating the grid for security and other vulnerabilities. The average age of large power transformers (LPTs) in the US is 40 years, with 70% of all large power transformers being 25
North American Regional Reliability Councils and Interconnections
years or older. As a country we are devastatingly susceptible to massive grid failures as we rely on only 3 power grids nationwide. If we were to suffer massive grid failure, people in cities would be stranded without communication, refrigeration, Québec Interconnection
would cease to function.
Western Interconnection
Eastern Interconnection
NPCC RFC SERC
FRCC MRO SPP
Interconnection Source : North American Reliability Corporation
TRE WECC ASCC
and even public transit. Life as we know it
Texas Interconnection
“Of all possible disasters, this is the one that could truly end life as we know it.� -Dave Steen, Survivallife.com
McFarlin | Fall 2016 47
INSPIRATION & PERSONA Eve is a 30-year-old PhD researcher from Chicago, Il. She lives with her husband and young daughter in a small suburban home. She drives a Nissan Leaf, listens to NPR daily, and considers herself a free-thinker. Shorlty after moving into her home she upgraded all her appliances to be more to be more green. She purchased energy efficient electronics, a tankless water heater, LED lights, a gas furnace, and double paned windows to make it through the frigid Chicago winters. She wants her global footprint to be small. She’s keen on modern technology and adores her urban Chicago lifestyle.
McFarlin | Fall 2016 49
TECHNOLOGY & DIRECTION Bloom Energy has developed a revolutionary new fuel cell system that can generate enough energy to power a home with only 40 notecard-sized cells that run directly off your natural gas line. These cells convert natural gas directly into electrical energy with greater efficiency than any other commercially available power source. The fuel cell would be installed similarly to a water heater or stove with a gas line in and ventilation ducting going out. The device’s size would be comparable to a tankless water heater and would be installed on the wall of a garage, basement, closet, or laundry room.
McFarlin | Fall 2016 51
McFarlin | Fall 2016 53
McFarlin | Fall 2016 55
McFarlin | Fall 2016 57
05
STAPLER
McFarlin | Fall 2016 59
THE RED STREAMLINE STAPLER An ergonomic and stylish accessory for the desktop lacking in color. Featuring stylish chrome trim, fire-red finish, and a comfortable under-grip for hand-held use, this stapler will undoubtedly make a fashion statement the entire office will admire.
Bring a little color to your desk
McFarlin | Fall 2016 61
06
TEA MAKER
McFarlin | Fall 2016 63
OBJECTIVES & OPPORTUNITIES The challenge is to design a simple tea brewer with automated steeping, but at a low cost and with a small footprint. Tea is a carefully controlled brew process where leaves are steeped in hot water for 3 to 5 minutes then immediately served. Once brewing is complete tea leaves must be removed as over-steeping can result in a bitter, acidic flavor. Since tea making is a time-sensitive process, many people neglect to brew properly and often have a poor tea drinking experience.
MARKET RESEARCH Compared to coffee, there have been remarkably few technological advancements in tea brewing. AREA OF OPPORTUNITY
Most of the tea accessories on the market are manual strainers or infusers. There are only a handful of automated tea makers available and most of them are either bulky or overpriced. Krups offers a reasonably priced convection tea kettle that boils and brews, but it offers no brew time settings. On the other end of the spectrum
PRICE
Breville makes an automated tea maker that controls everything from water temperature to brew time, but it retails for around $250.
FEATURES
McFarlin | Fall 2016 65
PERSONA The tea lover and the casual tea drinker who are looking for the same treatment as coffee drinkers everywhere. They are people who hold their tea to a higher standard and who desire better than Lipton bags, but don’t want to be tied down with grandma’s tea set.
McFarlin | Fall 2016 67
DESIGN I decided on a magnetic infusing system that automatically raises and lowers a basket to properly brew the tea. In order to achieve this I would need a perforated tube in the center of the kettle to allow for travel and straining of the leaves. I decided glass would be the ideal material as it is heat resistant, long-lasting, and shows off the brewing process.
McFarlin | Fall 2016 69
SHORT
STOUT
McFarlin | Fall 2016 71
To use the kettle is simply fill with water, reattach to the base, and add tea to the infuser...
Turn the kettle on using the control wheel and the infuser will automatically lower into the heated water. After 3 minutes it is ready to serve
McFarlin | Fall 2016 73
McFarlin | Fall 2016 75
07
SOAP BAR
McFarlin | Fall 2016 77
The purpose of this project was to create a soap bar design that both evokes the rugged beauty of the American National Parks as
IDEATION
well as provide a utilitarian functionality for the outdoor adventurer. It should be a souvenir for both the practical minded and the nostalgic.
I experiemented with the National Parks emblem, a cairn, and soap eggs in a loofah nest
FINAL Loofah pad cast into rear
Packaging that details the design
Translucent amber glycerin for an antique quality
Embossed design of USGS survey marker.
McFarlin | Fall 2016 79
McFarlin | Fall 2016 81
08
SEEING iDOG
McFarlin | Fall 2016 83
OBJECTIVE & JOURNEY The objective is to design or improve a
spark our imagination. They could be
smart device accessory. The product
anything so long as we could relate them
should be portable, interactive, and should
back to a smart device, but we were
take advantage of the processing power of
encouraged to avoid of existing phone
smart phones.
accessories.
The design process began with a scavenger hunt for inspiration. As a class we were tasked with finding objects to
McFarlin | Fall 2016 85
PERSONA & GOAL Ken is a 40 year old entrepreneur with
asked him about ways his user experience
advanced macular degeneration. He
with technology could be improved he said
is legally blind, he cannot drive and he
he didn’t want to have to use something
has difficulty reading any text. Since his
different. He wanted his experience to be
blindness came on late in life, he never
identical to everyone else’s.
learned to read braille and absolutely refuses to use a walking cane. He does not
My goal is to design a smartphone
wish to be seen as disabled. He relies on
accessory that makes Ken’s life easier.
Siri to text and make phone calls.When I
McFarlin | Fall 2016 87
iPHONES & THE BLIND Most people don’t realize it, but the iPhone is designed to be entirely accessible to the visually impaired. iOS’s Accessibility mode offers a VoiceOver function that reads the screen to the user. The user only needs to drag their finger over the screen to hear what function they are touching, then they double tap to select.
GUIDE DOGS RESEARCH Guide dogs are are an invaluable resource for the visually impared. They are trained to lead their owner around obstacles and warn them of changes in their path. However guide dogs have limiations. Most are red-green color blind and cannot interpret street signs. They also can cost anywhere between $17K and $20K to train and are valued upwards of $40K, and only live around 10 years.
McFarlin | Fall 2016 89
McFarlin | Fall 2016 91
McFarlin | Fall 2016 93
McFarlin | Fall 2016 95
Stereo visual sensors Wide angle visual sensors
Smartphone App will provide guidance and auditory feedback
Direct connection to smartphone
Tactile feedback ridges
McFarlin | Fall 2016 97
09
ROCKET CAR
McFarlin | Fall 2016 99
CHALLENGE The goal was to design a C02 powered car with dimensional restrictions aimed at holding a cartridge and an imaginary driver. The project is a form study with size constraints.
McFarlin | Fall 2016 101
10
HONDA CIVIC
McFarlin | Fall 2016 103
DESIGN CHALLENGE The purpose of this project was to design the next generation of Honda Civic. I was tasked with replicating the spirit and style of the current Honda Civic, while imaginging how the car will evolve 5 years in the future. My goal was to incorporate emerging technologies and materials while adapting for the changing fashions. The Honda Civic is both the quinessential economy car as well as an affordable sports car, and my design should reflect that.
McFarlin | Fall 2016 105
WEAKNESSES
STRENGTHS •
Reliable
•
Decreasing sales
•
Routinely ranked as a top compact car
•
High cost for its class
•
Hybrid models
•
Bland styling
•
Technology (ie: Eco Assist, voice recognition)
•
Redesigned interior is cramped
OPPORTUNITIES
THREATS
•
Increasing fuel prices
•
Popularity of Toyota hybrids
•
Demand for green vehicles
•
Large market with both more conservative and more sporty designs
•
Loss of youth popularity
Brand
Honda
Ford
Chevrolet
Volkswagon
Nissan
Name
Civic
Focus
Cruz
Golf
Sentra
MSRP
from $18,290
from $18,960
from $16,170
from $17,995
from $16,480
31/41
29/40
28/42
31/43
30/40
143-205
123--160
138-151
150-170
124-130
1.8L 4-Cylinder
1.0L 4-Cylinder
1.4L 4-Cylinder
1.8L 4-Cylinder
1.8L 4-Cylinder
2.4L 4-Cylinder
2.0L 4-Cylinder
2.0L 4-Cylinder
2.0L 4-Cylinder Diesel
MPG HP Engine
McFarlin | Fall 2016 107
INSPIRATION & IDENTITY
T W E N T Y- S O M E T H I N G
A D V E N T U R O U S T E C H - O R I E N T E D FUN and DETERMINED YUPPIE HIPSTER WORKAHOLIC WEEKENDER FASHION SUIT
HOODIE-WEARING
AWARE
and
with
TIE
CHUCK
TAYLORS
RESERVATIONS at the TAQUERIA QUINOA BURRITO SALAD CHEAP BEER and ORGANIC COFFEE with IRISH CREAM WORK WEEKEND
HARD GETAWAY
PLAY
HARDER
ECONOMICAL
NINE SPORTS
to CAR
FIVE DRIVER
McFarlin | Fall 2016 109
McFarlin | Fall 2016 111
FINAL DESIGN
McFarlin | Fall 2016 113
CLAY MODEL After completing the final rendering,
for the top, side, and front view, I added
I developed them into a final set of
details using a myriad of carving tools.
orthographics. From there I made a
A water transfer vinyl was then added
template, which I used to make a MDF
to simulate the windows and lights. The
frame, a foam core, and a rough clay
whole process took roughly 1 month to
form for the car. The clay was heated
complete.
to soften, applied in layers and then carved to match the orthographics. Once a final silhouette was established
McFarlin | Fall 2016 115
McFarlin | Fall 2016 117
11
3D PRINTER
McFarlin | Fall 2016 119
DESIGN CHALLENGE To design two models of 3D printer
designed to convey a sense of quality
enclosures. One will be a high-end,
and finesse. The student model will be
low-volume printer enclosure that
more cosmopolitan, utilizing large-scale
targets the professional architecture
manufacturing processes, inexpensive
design office. The other will be a low-
materials, and interpreting the original
end model that will be the “student
design for broad appeal and more cost
model� for schools of design. The high-
effective manufacturing.
end model will be both professional and chic, made of lavish materials and
McFarlin | Fall 2016 121
A BRIEF HISTORY OF 3D PRINTING
1981
1984
Additive manufacturing fabrication method with photo-hardening polymer is invented
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
Ballistic Particle Manufacturing (BPM)
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM)
Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)
mid-1990’s
Solid Ground Curing (SGC) Powder-bed Laserjet (3DP)
2000’s
2010’s
“Additive manufacturing” becomes the umbrella term for all methods of 3D printing
As 3D printing becomes cheaper it becomes more available to the consumer market
The process matured and diversified, allowing 3D printing to compete with subtractive processes .
INTO THE FUTURE
Bioprinting Scientists are now in the research stage of printing human tissue, creating layer-by-layer cellular patterns which can form organs.
Architecture 3D printing offers a lighting-fast solution to the housing epidemic that plagues many major cities.
Fashion Although currently relegated to the runway, some say textile printing could be as revolutionary as the sewing machine.
McFarlin | Fall 2016 123
RESEARCH Extrusion
FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication)
Light Polymerized
DIW (Direct Ink Writing)
Powder Bed
SLA (Stereolithography)
Wire
SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) SLM (Selective Laser Melting) 3DP (Powderbed Laserjet) EBF3 (Electron Beam Free-Form Fabrication)
Heating material, such as ABS plastic, extruding it, and layering it onto the print bed. Each layer cools and fuses together before the next layer is laid down. Composite “inks” of metal or ceramic are deposited by a head from a nozzle to form layers. Uses Photopolymer resin and a light to cures layers. Uses a laser hardening specific particles in a bed of powered material. The powdered material hardens when crushed together, or “sintered” by the laser slowly revealing the structure.
ABOUT 3D PRINTING
Similar to SLS but the laser actually fuses the metal particles together.
3D Printing is an umbrella term used to describe
Layers of adhesive are used to bind power together in a 3D form.
several additive manufacturing processes, each with their own advantages and drawbacks, and designed for specific purposes. Above I have broken down the four main types 3D printing and given an explanation of how they work.
Uses a focused electron beam in a vacuum environment to melt metal.
TECHNOLOGY CHOICE PolyJetÂŽ PolyJetÂŽ printing is a cross between stereo-lithography and extrusion printing. Photopolymer resin is deposited in layers and instantly cured with UV lights attached directly to the print head. It is capable of full color printing. Rotary Table A rotary table printer allows for the largest print sizes with the smallest footprint. Instead of a large XYZ printer track, the print instead only has to move in the X and Z directions and the table moves below it. Ideal for saving desk space.
McFarlin | Fall 2016 125
PERSONA Tom is a 60 year old San Francisco
in college studying design. He doesn’t
based architect. He has spent the
see himself as a typical consumer as
last 35 years developing the urban
he avoids cluttering his life with wasteful
landscape of the Bay Area during the
excess. His office is minimal, but also
rise of the tech industry. He values
elegant, as is his house. He drives a
creativity and ingenuity above all other
Tesla model S, shops at Nordstrom, and
skills and has surrounded himself with
takes pride in being different than the
art for the better part of his life. His wife
dull office crowd.
is a career artist and he has two kids
McFarlin | Fall 2016 127
McFarlin | Fall 2016 129
LOW VOLUME This model is designed to be a highend 3D printer chassis produced using low-volume manifacturing techniques including casting, die punching, and wood lamination. Drawing inspiration directly from architecture, I used similar materials such as wood laminate, concrete, stainless steel, and tinted UV glass. The design is suppose to convey a sense of luxury and finese.
Molded concrete
UV Resistant glass
Brushed Stainless steel sheet
Cherrywood Laminate
McFarlin | Fall 2016 131
Anodized Aluminum Corian®
Anondized Aluminum
Acrylite® OP-3
HIGH VOLUME This version is a simplified “box” shape designed to look similar to the low-volume concept but be manufacturable at highvolumes using stamping and die cutting. I took inspiration from mid-century modern architecture and tried to give the printer a stable, grounded presence. I wanted something that still looked “high-end” but could be made from inexpensive plastics. The final model is made from aluminum, Corian®, and acrylic.
McFarlin | Fall 2016 133
12
MEASURABLES
McFarlin | Fall 2016 135
PROBLEM 2015 was the first year ever Americans spent more on dining
in college or who are living on a budget. However, home-
out than on groceries. As more Americans rely on restaurants
cooked meals are the easiest way for us to control our diet and
than ever before, cooking for oneself is an ever rarer
health, and with a rising rate of obesity, cooking is something
occurrence. For many young adults, cooking poses too much
that should be encouraged.
of an inconvenience to commit to. What often stands in the way is access to a well-stocked kitchen. Pots, pans, TupperwareÂŽ, measuring cups and spoons, and dish ware are all expensive items that few young adults want to invest in, especially those
SOLUTIONS In order to encourage cooking among young adults, college
adding additional features I would increase the overall utility
students, and urbanites, I decided the best way was to simplify of the product. Simply put, a Swiss Army Knife for the college the task for them. Cooking takes time, space, and money, so
kitchen. Cookware when you need it, dishes when you don’t,
my goal was design a product that could reduce all of those
and with very little space needed. The bowl and cup function
for the user with something they might already own or buy. My
as measuring cups, the spoon as a measuring spoon, the plate
idea came from the MyPlate guide published by the USDA.
as a nutrition guide, and all 3 dishes as storage containers.
I thought that the literal depiction of the nutrition guide could be superimposed on utensils and dishes. Furthermore, by
McFarlin | Fall 2016 137
COLLABORATION In collaboration with DSGD197, and with invaluable help from my teammates, a logo and design strategy for the product was developed. To the right is an array of logo designs that my team created to fit the product name “Measurables” and the tag line “functional minimalism”. The logo was designed to reflect both the functionality of the Measurables as a measuring set as well as the minimalist lifestyle it is intended for. A special thanks to:
Stephanie Acedillo
Jose Castro
Christine Tapawan
Sikeli Cama
McFarlin | Fall 2016 139
MEASURABLES
McFarlin | Fall 2016 141
THANKS