Brian Kennedy
Design Portfolio 2015
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Moti A new wearable interaction that allows for the exchange of subtle emotional cues for partners in long-distance relationships.
Brian Kennedy 5 months, 2014 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 2
Ren & Cassie live over 10,000km apart...
Tokyo, Japan
Ren is a recent college graduate. He works M-S from 8am to 6pm.
Chicago, Illinois
Cassie is a university student. She keeps a busy, inconsistent schedule
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60%
of respondents said they dealt with a difference in time zones [Time differences] limit communication times, but lines up some key moment of free time.
If he has to work the whole afternoon, we aren’t able to talk. By the time he comes home from work, I’m already in bed. We would both get frustrated and it put a strain on the time we were actually talking to each other. Sometimes we just miss speaking to each other because the other went to bed just as the other woke up.
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*In a survey of 100 LDR participants
Current product-scape
Meaningful
Intimacy through technology
Target Solution
In-convenient
Practical
There is opportunity for a practical, device that can help build intimacy over distance.
Gimmicky 5
Wearable tech - Tangible user interfaces - Intimacy through technology
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Concept Selection With wearables as the forefront of technology, how can we use them to change the way that we communicate with one another?
Wearable bracelet that allows for communication of mood and feeling through light & color.
The product should be able to improve non-verbal communication and instill a feeling of closeness by helping to build intimacy. 7
10 “interactive� prototypes were made for user testing
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Getting prototype feedback To review the prototypes, I returned to talk to some of my initial interview participants to get their feedback on the concept. They told me which concepts fit best into their lifestyle and chose their 3 favourite designs.
“Tapping is easier than pressing or pinching. It also feels more intimate. Like a tapping language.”
“You don’t want people to assume that it is just a mood ring.”
“About the color…. The definition of color will change between cultures.”
“Constant communication builds trust. Technology today allows LDRs to be possible & enjoyable” 9
Feedback analysis
State switch Single button Squeeze action large Touch Strap Circular dial Tactile strap buttons Dedicated cue buttons Squeeze action small Square Half Dial
1 2 3 -
1 3 2 -
2 1 3 3 -
1 2 3 -
1 2 3 -
2 3 1 -
7 6 9 9 8 0 0 0 0
1.4 2 2.25 2.25 2.6 0 0 0 0
After compiling the data based on the multiple rankings given by the testing participants, the features of the top prototypes were taken and fused, taking into account the comments from user testing. 10
Resolving time display & input Dual time displays
Single time display & squeeze action
Single time display & button press Chosen for familiarity & simplicity 11
Introducing Moti Smartwatch for communicating emotion & presence over distance
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Signing up to use Moti The Moti mobile app is plug’n play. Set up your Moti watch to sync with your long distance partner.
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Fully customizable moods & colors Neutral
Longing
Irritated
Sad
Enthusiastic
Calm
Colors were chosen based on user feedback and psychological research. They can be customized by either parter at any time. 14
Hardware interactions Moti watch face doubles as the main hardware button.
The color ring is a capacitative touch wheel.
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Interaction: Sending cues Quickly and easily send emotional cues to your long-distance partner.
Home State
Shows your time, partner’s mood
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Single tap display
Select mood cues to send
Multi-directional gesture
Mood cue sent, return to Home
Japan Tokyo Time (UTC +9)
United States Central Time (UTC -5) 17
Moti uses an included wireless charging for a cord free experience
Qi wireless charging standard Because the watch utilizes LEDs, bluetooth, & touch pad, it requires charging on a daily basis. 18
Component overview
Rear casing Inductive charging ring Magnetic adhesive backing Lithium Ion battery PCB / motherboard Stainless casing RGB LED strip Capacitative touch ring Translucent button
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Immerse A bathroom of the future project targeting bathroom relaxation with a focus on rapid product ideation & development.
Brian Kennedy, Ani Lagos, Collin Akkeman, Amanda Tiberi 1 Week, 2013 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 20
What makes a bathroom relaxing?
Environment
Aroma
Cleanliness
Solitude
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Ideation process
Beginning with 12 total concepts, brainstormed in 1 hour time frame, we each pitched 3 concepts that were eliminated by voting rounds of our peers based on merit & feasibility.
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Bathroom projector
Mist machine
Backlit faucet
Fragrance fan
Floating meditation timer
Glowing room divider
Electric towel
Glowing temp. orb
LED mood candles
Massage bath pillow
Mini heat lamp
Bath salt infuser
Voting rounds
Ideation
Sketch Modeling
Project Focus
Glowing room divider
Massage bath pillow
LED Mood Candles
Bath Salt Infuser
Concepts were developed throughout the process, until the bath salt infuser was chosen. 23
Empathic modeling was an important step to identify pain points...
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A soak requires 1/3 cup of salts minimum
Findings: 1) Salt dissolves best when the water is the hottest. 2) It takes more salt than anticipated for the benefits to take effect. 3) The salts take time to dissolve in the water. Getting in too early results in salts not dissolving entirely.
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Benefits of using bath salts regularly include...
Reduced stress
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Improved circulation
Reduced tenderness
Soothed irritations
We set out to create a solution that could be enjoyable for users of all ages.
2-5 yrs
20-45 yrs
55+ yrs
Playtime & bubblebath sessions for kids
Relieving mom’s stress after a hectic workday
Soaks to reduce swelling due to an aging body
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Concept testing scenario
Testing proved that the enough salt could be dissolved by the running facet. Once this was confirmed, we did some quick ideation. What is the best system of delivery? We settled on a “open� concept that would still feel complete even if no bath salts were being used. A small mesh sachet should be filled with salts and placed in the mouth of the facet. 28
Continued ideation...
The infuser was switched from a cup style infuser to a small sachet to avoid a disposable feeling.
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Immerse
Bathroom fixture for a relaxing lifestyle 30
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Curry Companion Product design targeting the high end food storage market in India. An exercise in designing for culture and connectivity.
Collaboration with World Kitchen Asia Pacific
Brian Kennedy, Loh Min Hwe 5 months, 2012 National University of Singapore
After making home visits to learn from Indians living at different socio-economic levels throughout Singapore, we learned that eating with the hand is a common experience across India
Bite-sized portions
Flowing movements
Gentle gestures
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Meet Bharti “I eat with my hand at work. It’s about tradition, but it also feels more natural.”
Bharti is a professional but even in the workplace she wants to be able to eat her food in a familiar and comfortable manner.
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Identifying user, task, & environment Eating with the hand
Middle Class Indians
For meals away from home
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Two different eating experiences Tiffin Lunch Carrier A commonly used meal container in India, often contains rice, curry, dal, and chapatis (spicy meats).
Affordable, durable material
Stackable, secure food compartments
Handle may limit convenience May leak liquids & sauces Heat retention is poor, difficult to reheat
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Banana Leaf A natural eating utensil, used for special eating occasions, emphasizes eating with the hand.
Large, flexible, waterproof Food is easily accessible Used to help cook & flavor food Cannot store or carry food Cannot be reused
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Current product-scape
High End
Current products on the market only partially meet the needs of the Indian consumer.
Kitsch
Elegant
Glass and ceramics represent the bulk of premium kitchenware Tupperware and Lock & Lock are prominent storage container brands Proliferation of plastic kitchenware and storage in the lower-range
Low End
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What if we could combine the elegance of the banana leaf with the usefulness of the tiffin?
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Initial concept ideation - Design for eating with the hand
A concept with a feasible folding mechanism, partnered with a natural pulling action was chosen. 40
Concept refinement
Concept refinement focused on improving the folding action & other functional aspects like the lid / shape. 41
Testing insight: increase reliability
Design is functional, but appears untrustworthy.
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Wall fold mechanism redesigned to improve stability. Promotes confidence.
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Curry Companion expands to create a larger eating surface
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Comments on manufacturing
Candidate materials Main shell: Polypropylene Joints: Thermo Plastic Elastomer
After a consultation with...
Both materials... • Are food-safe • Can form complex shapes • Are highly reusable • Have excellent heat resistance
Orca engineers stated: Co-injection moulding is possible for high production volume, and various surface finishing.
Engineering firm, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Consider reducing the footprint to only two food sections for better mold flow to help ensure variable thicknesses are achieved.
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Two dividers separate portions to keep the meal fresh 1
2
4
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3
5
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Slam Ball Packaging Packaging mock-up for multiple sized fitness slam balls, modeled after Crane packaging in Australia.
Brian Kennedy 1 week, 2014 SKY Worldwide Export 48
Die cut specifications
6 kg 9.1 x 9.1 x 9.1 in (23.2 x 23.2 x 23.2 cm) 9 kg 9.7 x 9.7 x 9.7 in (24.7 x 24.7 x 24.7 cm) 12 kg 10.3 x 10.3 x 10.3 in (26.2 x 26.2 x 26.2 cm)
The packaging die cuts are essentially the same for all three sizes. Some graphics had to be resized. Product photos taken by Brian (or used with permission)
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Graphics overview
Front
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Side
Back
Top
Some of the companies design guidelines were kept in-tact, while some liberties were taken with others, specifically the side and the rear designs. 51
Graphics overview
Each size is also differentiated by color, product number, a small decal identifying ball weight/size. 52
The final mock-ups rendered using Solidworks and Photoshop. 53
Refrigerator Icon Exercise After a brief field research stint at local suppliers, I felt there was an opportunity to re imagine icon sets for the refrigerator.
Brian Kennedy 1 week, 2014
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Interior food icons
Bread
Fruits
Vegetables
Eggs
Meats
Desserts
Milk
Drinks
Condiments
Ice
Ice cream
Pizza
Icons made to indicate where food items should be placed inside the refrigerator or freezer. 55
Exterior dispenser icons
Temperature Controls & Display
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Temperature Icon
Hot / Cold Water
Ice Controls: Cube, Crushed, Off
Ice Boost
Measured Fill
Exterior dispenser icons
Volume Control: Levels 0-3
Lock / Unlock Toggle
Water Filter
Light On / Off Toggle
Alarm Notification
Air Filter
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Icon panel mockup
Context Example #1 58
Context Example #2
Ex. control panel logic Temperature Display
Toggle Options
The stylized render can be customized to present iterations to consumers during usability testing. Would also be important to take into account the engineering constraints of the display panel.
Water & Ice
Extra Features
System Notifications
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Thank You
Brian Kennedy hello@briken.co
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