CHRISDONALDSON PRODUCT DESIGN PORTFOLIO
2015
CONTENTS PAGE About Me Industrial Design Nomad Hair Dryer Chiro Interfacer Product Design Squash Ball Thrower Mass Manufactured Widget Electronic UV Sensor User Experience Design O2 Bubble Contact Me More coming soon!
PORTFOLIO OBJECTIVE This is a collection of my best work from my first two years of pursuing a career in design. I hope to show a diverse range of skills and ideas that demonstrate to an employer my ability to generate creative and effective solutions and communicate them clearly.
ABOUT ME I am a British product design student currently studying at Loughborough University. Home, for me, is a little village in Cheshire called Alsager. It’s where I grew up and where I was first exposed to the design process. I am not only interested in the products I design but the people and systems that surround them as well. A lot my ideas are about new ways of doing things rather than simply stylistic updates.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
#1
Concepts and creations that solve the problems I’ve derived from client based briefs. A range of sketches, renders and models have been used to explore and develop these ideas.
NOMAD
THE CORDLESS HAIRDRYER
Cords = Weight Weight ≠Travel Cords ≠Travel.
Product Description: Nomad is a cordless hair dryer aimed at young women who like to travel. The hair dryer is powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries which also act as the handle. The Nomad offers a hair drying experience with reduced weight, improved ergonomics and more style.
BRIEF: Redesign a simple travel hair dryer for a luxury market. CHALLENGE: Design a unique solution to introduce a cordless hair dryer to the market and address some of the immediate issues involving users.
Rechargeable Battery:
NOMAD THE FREEDOM TO EXPLORE
The Nomad has a rechargeable battery which interfaces with the hair dryer and the wall in the same way. This eliminates the need for a docking station and simplifies the recharging process.
Ergonomic Handle: The cord has been removed and replaced with a battery. As the battery defines the device’s centre of gravity, placing it within the handle allows for a smoother operation of the device by the user.
Settings Simplified: The settings have been simplified to three 2-way switches: Power (on/off), Temperature (Hot/Cold) and Speed (Fast/ Slow). Charge levels are also indicated by a small LED display.
USER RESEARCH
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Inspiration for the device came from observing the target audience run through their morning routine and asking them about some of the barriers when they take it on the go.
Cords were considered the biggest problem. Their weight and their ability to become tangled frustrated users as it made the experience feel clumsy.
To counteract the weight of the cord and the awkward positions required, users often griped the hairdryer in odd ways risking touching a hot surface.
NOMAD
THE CORDLESS HAIRDRYER BATTERY
The device can be manufactured very similarly to a regular hair dryer. There are three main components which make the Nomad: the nozzle, the housing and the battery.
HOUSING NOZZLE The nozzle contains the heating element, the heat reflective surfaces, and the fan. The nozzle receives power from the housing which is responsible for interfacing and converting power from the battery.
The battery is made up of multiple terraced lithium ion batteries, to maximise space efficiency, and a rubberised silicon shell to provide a matt texture.
CHIRO
CONNECTING ARTIST
BRIEF: Design a electronic product which improves the work-flow of digital artists and graphic designers. CHALLENGE: Design a product that synergises with the standing desk movement making it more accessible for digital artists.
ERGONOMIC RESEARCH 2:
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Blue foam prototyping played a big role in this project. Helping to feel comfortable working positions and build a striking visual image for the Chiro. The finial model is made from Prolab.
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ERGONOMIC RESEARCH: The modern office is evolving with the introduction of the standing desk. However, digital artists are getting left behind due to their specialist equipment. Chiro reduces this restriction by being unbound, hand-held and effective.
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FAST ZOOM WHEEL
ULTIMATE BRUSH CONTROL
24 CUSTOMISABLE KEYS
00 MODIFIER
01 MODIFIER
10 MODIFIER
11 MODIFIER
USB CHARGING STATION
PRODUCT DESIGN
#2
Technical challenges that have been overcome through design. All of this work has been completed in teams and under major deadline constrictions. Teamwork, communication and problem solving feature heavily in the following designs.
M A S S M A N U FA C T U R E
INJECTION MOULD TOOL Prac
tical
Expe
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M E C H A N IC A L D E S IG N
SQUASHBALL THROWER e were w r u o f f o In a team nd build a n g i s e d o required t ng device i w o r h t l l a a squash b te against e p m o c d l which wou hich w e e s o t s n other desig mum throwing axi achieved m re drawn e w s n g i s e distance. D lly analysed and ica up, mechan settled on the We compared. nfident in o c t s o m lt fe bility. a i l design we e r d n a ruction both const
E LE C T R O N IC D E S IG N
UV SENSOR PROTOTYPE An electron ic prototype was designe d and house d which detec ted levels of UV radiation an d suggested a suitable SP F factor to the user via a display. Th is project utili sed a micro chip PICKIT and MP lab software to design and t est the system.
USER
EXPERIENCE
#3
Forward design thinking for the digital age. A collection of projects that focus on the application of technology and the people involved.
What if instead of pulling us apart, technology helped to bring us closer together. The mobile age has divided the house hold into two factions: Protechnology children and anti-technology parents. By improving communication channels by utilizing existing technologies and systems that are common in every family home, we can help families live on a unified front once more.
USER EXPERIENCE
THE O2 BUBBLE . e s e h t k to l a t s i g th n i k a ! M Simple
How it works: The O2 Bubble takes existing hardware around the home and connects them via the family router. A universal communication network is opened allowing smart TVs, gaming systems, computers, tablets and mobile phones to send and receive text, audio or visual messages in a non-intrusive manner. This allows parents to step into their children’s digital realms without generating feelings of resentment associated with other methods of controlling technology.
INTERACTION DESIGN
KEY INTERACTIONS Families login with a shared account. This account contains all the family users and their connected devices. A single account is used as it allows changes to be made to the whole family.
The homepage summarizes the members on the shared account with the one currently logged in highlighted. Tapping a picture will open options such as quick message.
The send message screen shows every device you can send a message to and organises them by category. Devices can be toggled to receive the message, allowing an adjustable level of alert. Global navigation will consist of a never ending scroll. All parts of the app will be accessible by scrolling either up or down. There will also be a small icon that opens a menu with set bookmarks, increasing navigation speed.
Sub-menus allow the users to fine tune who they want to send their message to. Tapping a category will zoom in, showing the user the additional information depending what category they are in.
Major setting configuration is done through the Bubble website. Keeping these setting separate to the app means settings are hidden from children.
INTERACTION DESIGN
STORY BOARD 1 work for to g in o g is m u M ) 1 to leave the day and wants chores to the children some e summer do, seeing as its th don’t have holidays and they school.
INTERACTION DESIGN
STORY BOARD 2 1) Dad is coo king dinner. It’s alm ost ready . Everything is good to go except everyo ne else is upstairs.
2) She uses the ‘to-do’ feature on Bubble. This allows her to make a list and set little reminders that will notify the kids throughout the day.
, the children 3) Later in the day their chores are reminded to do is lets them by their devices. Th rdingly and plan their day acco ce that they n a ch e th e is im in m ores. forget to do their ch 4) When mum comes home she find every thing has bee n done. This low ers her stress because now she can relax and lowers the ch ildren’s stress because they never felt forc ed to do anythin g.
3) The ide to send al thing to do is a before d Bubble 10 min utes in That wa ner is ready. y, notified his family wil lb n have tim on-intrusively e and e are doin to stop what they g.
up. However t u o sh ld u o c e H ) 2 and can feel rt o ff e f o t lo a is is th ily doesn’t m fa is h if g n ti ra st fru also doesn’t It . ly te ia d e m im t c rea e to find a give anyone any tim p what they o st to e m ti t n ie n e conv are doing.
ly is ready i m a f le o h 4) The w . Everyone e m i t n o t a to e essage and m e h t d e v i rece nstairs. made it dow
CONTACT ME
CHRISDDONALDSON@HOTMAIL.COM
2015