Industrial Design Portfolio - 2015
ramirez.sara.v@gmail.com 847 . 217 . 6406 behance.net/SaraVRamirez
SAR A R AM IREZ
SARA RAMIREZ 21 years old and a Junior in Industrial Design at UIC. Passionate about contemporary furniture and housewares. Self-motivated designer who enjoys working independently to explore all aspects of the creative process. I love bold form, unique use of color and clean lines–especially when combined with unexpected or innovative materials.
Index
Branding + Development Group work + Research Ideation + Software Color studies + Sustainable design Skills + Experience Summary + Contact information
RAF SIMONS FOR THE HOME A 3rd year branding project based on the idea of creating a new line of products that a brand does not already produce while staying true to the brand’s identity and presence. My partner and I chose Raf Simons, a menswear designer, who values referencing archetypes, bold forms, and punk and street style influences.
From a close analysis of Raf Simons’ SS15 line, we derived the basic elements that defined the pieces: hidden patterns, applied images, large swatths of elegant pattern, classic forms, and precise craft. These were integral to our ideation and final concepts.
RESEARCH & INSPIRATION
Ideally, materials would be cement, square tube steel, solid hard wood, and glass. These, together with the refined forms, reflect Raf Simons’ main characteristics and fit into the brand.
SOLUTION
skills: branding + development
A chair, side table, and floor lamp. All pieces born from the characteristics we derived from the SS15 line. The pieces work both cohesively and separately in expressing the ideas behind them and reflecting the target user.
A DESIGNER’S SPACE A 2nd year project with the objective of designing a product to improve a designer’s space. My groups area of interest was lighting. We were a group of 3.
We found existing lamps to be either too focused on either form or function. If the lamp was playful, it was not functional enough as a task lamp. If the lamp was strictly functional, it had little to no interactive qualities. We also did extensive research on the psychological effects of different kinds of light to find our final light source: LED.
RESEARCH & INSPIRATION
SOLUTION
Created from ideas based in biology, Zen culture, behavioral sciences, and more, Lumi facilitates productivity and creates a comfortable personal design environment. Lumi bridges the gap between work and play, enabling designers to have a useful task lamp that doubles as something to keep hands busy when it’s time for a break. The bare and honest aesthetic allows the designer to create a reflection of themselves by use of the dynamic form.
skills: group work + research
FURNITURE CONCEPTS A project for personal interest, this a collection of a different conceptual furntiure series. They are each their own form and material explorations. I focused on staying true to each piece’s visual language throughout its collection.
All furniture concepts were explored in Rhino and later rendered in Keyshot.
RESEARCH & INSPIRATION
“FATTY” TABLES
20”
15”
17”
13”
33”
13”
A coffee and side table duo. These tables are an exploration of playful form with refined details and finishes. Dual-tones, within a sophisticated palette, provide a dimension of visual interest and character to the pieces.
The Split tables draw inspiration from Nordic design traditions but with a contemporary twist. They combine natural forms and soft geometric shapes to create a tactile and versatile accent duo. The tables are semi-nesting.
“SPLIT” TABLES
“PERFORATED” SERIES
skills: ideation + software
Each piece in this series incorporates the repetitive, but highly designed, perforated pattern. This collection is an exercise in balancing playfulness and sophistication. The pieces in this series are modern and take advantage of a minimal aesthetic.
CERAMIC REPURPOSING This ongoing personal project is a study on recycling, repurposing, and updating design. There is a growing consciousness of the importance of longevity in a product’s life among many people, especially millenials and a demand for “vintage” products. There is also a popular interest in the handmade and the quality that accompanies it.
Ceramic pieces were found in local thrift stores, cleaned, and given a renewed life with a contemporary color palette and style. The medium was a mixture of glossy and matte spray paint. Although I attemtped to sketch beforehand, most of the colorways were found through experimentation and trial and error.
EXPLORATION & PROCESS
SOLUTION
skills: color studies + sustainability
The pieces have been ruporposed to fit into a collection that reflects both modern tastes and contemporary popular desires for sustainable design.
RELEVANT CLASSES
WORK EXPERIENCE Intern - Haute Living 7 months (current) As an intern, I was responsible for the management of the materials library, helping clients and designers with pricing and other questions, lighting and design the showroom floor, and more. I was also exposed to marketing and web/social media management, brand training, and interior design.
Intern - UIC Office of Sustainability 8 months During this internship, me and 5 other interns conducted research throughout campus to create an online toolkit to encourage sustainable living. My partner and I developed and carried out a poster campaign in two buildings that encouraged community involvement and recognition.
Office Aide - UIC School of Design 2 years At the UIC School of Design’s administrative office, I was responsible for first-point communication with students, faculty, staff, and more. My duties included file management, website updating, poster design, and more.
Studio Assistant - Dzine Studio 3 months As a studio assistant I helped create several of the works shown by Dzine in his Dallas Contemporary show in 2013. Technical duties involved soldering, painting, and applying jewels. Other duties included planning, organization, and packing pieces for transport.
Design Classes (# taken in parentheses) Industrial design (6), graphic design (5), materials and methods (1), digital and analog visualization (2) , and history of design (2). Fine Arts Classes Art history (2), photography (1), sculpture (1), and film (1). EDUCATION & AWARDS Bachelor’s of Design at UIC I’m in my third year of the four year Bahcelor’s program for Indusrial Design UIC.I am also a member of the Chicago chapter IDSA. Presidential Award Program Scholar I am a recipient of the UIC Honors College’s Presidential Award which includes a full ride scholarship. It is an academic award given to about 80 people each year. To retain the award, I complete an honors activity every semester and maintain a GPA of at least 3.7 out of 4
TECHNICAL & PRACTICAL SKILLS Sketching Free hand line drawing, expressive illustration, and marker rendering. Analog and digital. Model Making Proficient in a wide range of materials, including wood, metal, clay, and paper. Comfortable in a workshop or woodshop setting and eager to learn new processes.
Communication 4.5 years worth of graphic design classes dedicated to mastering Adobe Creative Suite. Fluent in English and Spanish. Working proficiency in French.
Summary
3D Modeling and Rendering Rhino and Keyshot. Willing to expand skill base.
THANK YOU!
ramirez.sara.v @gmail.com 847.217.6406
see more of my work at www.behance.net/SaraVRamirez