ANDREW SIU Industrial & Interaction
2011
JIBUN Jibun is a critical design concept that examines shared experiences. This project is meant to create a forced interaction that externalizes both annoyances and pleasures of a relationship using connected dinnerware.
critical design concept
“The value of a relationship is in direct proportion to the time that you invest in the relationship.”
“Being in what I call a ‘single couple’ with no children, we have fallen into the habit of just doing our thing and not always marking a time in the day when we come together.”
Brian Tracy
“We have nothing in common except that we love each other. But as far as our living habits go, we could not be farther apart. I think this situation is true for many married couples; they simply won’t admit it.”
“Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” Carl Gustav Jung
making process
evoking intimacy & exploring rituals
importance of craft
creating unity & forcing connections
GESTURE Gesture is an assisted communication device meant for cerebral palsy youths. The design uses soft light emissions to enhance simple sign language gestures. This interactive wearable also helps its user display urgency; the lights are programed to blink faster the longer the user is activating it.
co-creation & collaboration
The opportunity to refer to caregivers, educators and therapists also greatly helped me comprehend what the expectations and limitations I would undertake.
To further understand my co-creator, I was required me to participate in classroom activities like dancing, singing and games. Working with Matthew, an excitable, charming, cerebral palsy youth. Initially, observation was the main means of research
We often did crafts together for me to further understand Matthew’s physical and cognitive disabilities.
initial sketching
generative research methodology
Emotionally, I could not understand what Matthew was going through. Therefore, I ran an empathetic generative research seminar with friends who were given no explanation about the project. I limited certain participants with flash cards that could only communicate what Matthew could with sign language
Through this exercise, I learnt that getting someone’s attention was more troublesome than what was trying to be communicated. I decided to simplify my project as a signalling device instead of a device that communicates emotions.
rapid ideation / prototyping
open source learning
prototype refinement
YUGEN Yugen is a yoga hijab in partnership with Lululemon. Some Islamic leaders have banned yoga, believing the practice will weaken religious faith. Other countries have banned the burqa altogether leaving many Muslim yogis outcast from their own religion. The project provides a means for Muslim women to practice fitness and religion without judgment.
the power of storytelling
We began research by visiting yoga classes in the Vancouver area. I used storyboarding as a means to tell the story of my experiences attending yoga classes. From there, positive and negative experiences were labelled with post-its to search for design opportunities.
working with current strategy
Working with lululemon’s current design strategy using a muse as inspiration, I developed a secondary storyboard depicting her experiences. For the most part, every women of different age and background were able to live this lifestyle. But the story changed when I began considering women from different religious backgrounds.
material & construction exploration
final prototype & user testing
ANDREW SIU Portfolio Sample
2011
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