UNLIMITED CLOCK DESIGN NEVER ENDS
PORTFOLIO DURAND CHO
Human Brain Dominance Instrument (HDBI) Durand Cho
A
D How My Brain Works This is a visual plot of Durand’s thinking style preferences. Key Descriptors represents a general overview of mental preferences in day-to-day life. Work Elements reflect mental preferences at work. Profile Score represents how Durand is normally. Adjective Pairs represents how Durand reacts under pressure.
Profile Score
B
C
Adjective Pairs
COLUMN A UPPER LEFT
COLUMN B LOWER LEFT
COLUMN C LOWER RIGHT
COLUMN D UPPER RIGHT
PROFILE SCORES
57
41
89
116
PREFERENCE CODE
2
2
1
1
ADJECTIVE PAIRS
1
4
9
10
KEY DESCRIPTORS (*MOST DESCRIPTIVE)
WORK ELEMENTS
factual quantitative critical rational X mathematical logical analytical X
conservative controlled sequential detailed dominant speaker reader
emotional X musical X spiritual X symbolic intuitive X talker reader
imaginative X artistic intuitive X holistic * synthesiser simultaneous spatial
analytical 2 technical 3 problem solving 4 financial 3
organisation 3 planning 2 administrative 3 implementation 5
teaching 4 writing 1 expressing 4 interpersonal 4
integration 2 conceptualising 5 creative 5 innovating 5
ADOLESCENT EDUCATION EDUCATIONAL FOCUS OCCUPATION HOBBIES
primarily right HAND DOMINANCE
right some left X
left some right
primarily left
day
equal X
night
none
some X
frequent
ENERGY LEVEL
MOTION SICKNESS
introverted INTROVERT/EXTROVERT
mixed
extroverted X
Durand Cho
☇ durand@ ☇ unlimitedclock.com ☇ 630 200 5174
Education
Experience
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA–CHAMPAIGN (ILLINOIS) BFA 2014 | Industrial Design
PETRONICS Head Designer Urbana, IL | Apr 2014–Oct 2014 Strategizing, researching, and prototyping with co-founders in order to create a company infrastructure, line of potential products, and business plans for the future. Learning what it takes to create relationships with consumers, clients, factories, and investors. Exploring China through the Haxlr8r program in Shenzhen.
Involvement Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) Member | since 2011 Champs of Paign Competitive Gaming for Super Smash Vice President | 2007-2010 UIUC Archery Club Secretary | 2007-2009 Awards & Honors Red Dot Design Awards Tensi Bikeseat Green Toothbrush Semi Finalist | Jan 2013 Caterpillar Merit Scholarship Jan 2013 Skills Solidworks Keyshot Adobe Creative Suite Final Cut Pro Repetier Slic3r Korean
NEUTRAL DESIGN Co-founder Urbana, IL | Apr 2014–Sept 2014 Understanding what it takes in order to start a business. Creating a studio environment and teaching clients the importance of the design process and the community involved with the product. Developing an infrastructure that supports the design process within Neutral Cycle (bicycle company). DESIGN FOR AMERICA (DFA) Design Team Member Champaign, IL | Aug 2013–May 2014 Develop for the Chrysler design team in an interdisciplinary design studio as part of the national DFA network. Acting on opportunities to make impact on issues relevant to driving with age. Creating and maintaining long-term relationships with the Champaign Urbana Senior Citizens community. INTERACTIONS DESIGN AND ENGINEERING OF ADAPTIVE SYSTEMS LAB Research Assistant Urbana, IL | Aug 2013–May 2014 Working with neuroscientists and engineers to develop interactive systems using haptics and brain-machine interfaces to reduce the friction between human-computer interaction. HACK ILLINOIS Design Team Member Urbana, IL | Nov 2013–Apr 2014 Contributing to the theme and organization of the first hackathon event at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. Working with a variety of different disciplines in order to organize a succesful event.
Durand Cho
☇ durand@ ☇ unlimitedclock.com ☇ 630 200 5174
Education
Experience
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA–CHAMPAIGN (ILLINOIS) BFA 2014 | Industrial Design
QUITBIT Freelance Graphic Designer Shenzhen, cn | Sept 2014-Oct 2014 Redesigning the graphics and content for the Quitbit pitchdeck. Creating a storyboard in collaboration with the co-founders in order to tell a better cohesive story of the company.
Involvement Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) Member | since 2011 Champs of Paign Competitive Gaming for Super Smash Vice President | 2007-2010 UIUC Archery Club Secretary | 2007-2009 Awards & Honors Red Dot Design Awards Tensi Bikeseat Semi Finalist | Jan 2013 Red Dot Design Awards Green Toothbrush Semi Finalist | Jan 2013 Caterpillar Merit Scholarship Jan 2013 Skills Solidworks Keyshot Adobe Creative Suite Final Cut Pro Repetier Slic3r Korean
UIUC ID GRAD SHOW Event Organiser Chicago, IL | Aug 2013–May 2014 Nominated as a class representitive in order to manage, organize and be a liason to professors and students. Understanding the wants and needs of the students vs professors vs professionals. Coordinating with TEAMS design, Grad Show Committee, caterers, and IDSA to run a smooth event. SHOW ME YOUR MOVES (SMYM) Event Organiser Champaign, IL | 2007–2013 Help manage one of the longest running biannual major video game tournaments in the midwest. Leading the promotion, planning, organization, booking, management for SMYM 9 (2009), SMYM 11 (2010), SMYM 13 (2012). Made sure the tournament ran smoothly during the event. Advisor for future SMYM organisers. KOFUSION Sous Chef/Expedieter Champaign, IL | Oct 2012–Present Exploring different aspects of the culinary world in order to understand the background of food business and design of dishes. Duties include prep, assistance of creating dishes, timeliness of orders, and exellence of food quality. FIRST ORCHID FARMS Farmhand Orlando, FL | May 2010–Aug 2010 Took a leave of abscence to explore new opportunities in life by starting from the ground up. Was an experience in homelessness and survival without the help of connections. Came back to school a year later with improved character and resolve.
Introduction 8 Paper 10 Housewares 18 Bike Seat 28 Backpack 40 Neutral Cycle 52 Market Madness 58 Conclusion 66
UNLIMITED CLOCK
DESIGN NEVER ENDS Durand Cho
INTRO DUCTION
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Unlimited Clock is a portfolio that shows my journey as a designer. The idea of unlimited clock is that time is never ending and the clock does not stop for anyone or anything. As time flows, evolution is inevitable. All experience gained in life whether it is the study of other subjects outside of design or living among other cultures leads to creating a better experience. I believe that it is important to strive to work hard, experience as much as possible, and always create something that has a lasting impact. For this portfolio, I have chosen these projects that show my work in Industrial Design. - Durand Cho
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PAPER 10
BRIEF Create a shoe made entirely of paper and Elmer’s glue. Bristol paper is the thickest paper size available. The shoe must have at least a 1� thick sole and be able to support your weight. I worked with Alu Liu on this project.
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IDEATION A lot of the inspiration for this project came from Japanese and Greek Culture. When the brief mentioned the 1� sole, my partner and I immediately thought of the Japanese Geta shoe. This also led us to look into Japanese architecture for inspiration. The next thought that came to mind was Greek mythology. The god we wanted to create a shoe for was the messenger god Hermes. This led to our sketching out a multitude of ideas and creating a prototype out of foamcore before moving on to the completed product. 13
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STORY The shoe came into creation when the Goddess Athena commissioned Arachne (the weaver turned spider) to create the fastest footwear for the messenger Hermes. The weaving of the straps and style of architecture of the sole is signature of Arachne’s work. The wings and logos on the shoe show off the speed of Hermes.
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HOUSE
WARES 18
BRIEF Create a product for the International Housewares Association (IHA) Student design competition. The area I focused on was the kitchen.
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PROBLEM AREAS CABINETS
DUST BUILD UP STORAGE SHARP CORNERS
VENTS
GREASE BUILD UP PROPER CARE SHARP CORNERS
UTENSILS STORAGE PROPER USE CLEANLINESS
OUTLETS
ELECTROCUTION WATER OUTLET OVERLOAD
SINK
MOLD/BACTERIA DISPOSAL WATER SPILLAGE
FLOOR
MOLD/BACTERIA WET FLOORS CLUTTERED
STOVE TOP
GREASE BUILD UP FIRE SAFETY FALLING OBJECTS
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The Kitchen As a cook, I have had many experiences working in the kitchen whether it is in a professional environment or at home. The environment at home is very different from a restaurant. With that in mind I looked at different problems that exist within the home kitchen that could potentially be overlooked while at home. While brainstorming ideas, I put out a survey and interviewed a variety of people to see what problems they had in the kitchen. This lead to my focus on the safety and proper care of tools while cooking. I was surprised to learn that many people who spend time in the kitchen know the importance of caring for their tools. The tool that I focused on was the kitchen knife. With a kitchen knife comes the tools associated with it: knife block, honing steels, and sharpeners. I found that users felt uncomfortable using either the honing steel or the knife sharpener. A major concern for people in the kitchen was how age and disease would affect their ability to use the steel. With that in mind, I wanted to find a way to make it easier to straighten knives and keep them sharp while working in the kitchen.
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MARKET RESEARCH
BRAND/ TYPE PRICE
Kapoosh Woodgrain Universal Knife Block
Wusthof Under the Cabinet Knife Block
Shun 11-Slot Bamboo Knife Block
Chicago Cutlery Knife Block Set
Michel Bras Corian Knife Block
$26
$60
$76
$75
$280
$1,725
FEATURE
in drawer
freedom rods
hangs under the cabinet magnetic slots
traditional
traditional with knife sharpener
corian
PROS
large quantity fits in drawer
no specific slot
saves space
stores specific knives
has a knife sharpener on the side
seamless water resistant
CONS
slides around
unbalanced
scratched knives
poor build quality
Rusts easily
expensive
Shun Wetstone Sharpening System
OXO Good Grips Professional Sharpening Steel
Wusthof 10” Sharpening Steel
Messermeister Ceramic rod
Furi Ozitech Diamond Fingers
F. Dick’s 11” Multicut Steel
$182
$15
$40
$30
$25
$179
BRAND/ TYPE PRICE
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Totally Bamboo In-Drawer Bamboo Knife Block
FEATURE
honing steel with 1000/6000 grit wetstone angled at 16 degrees
17” honing steel
magnetic Steel
ceramic
curved steel technology
multicut flat steel
PROS
specifically made for Shun Knives, 3 parts
OXO good grip
collects shaved metal fibers
sharpens knife, no wear and tear
perfect 20 degree angle
no precise angles/ light
CONS
1000 - 6000 grit allows for the knife edge to break easily
rusts easily 17” total length includes handle
cheap plastic handle steel falls out
breaks easily
low quality steel
price
PAIN FACTORS intensity
WOMEN (middle age) intensity
find it masculine
awareness
noticeably afraid
timing
before and after cooking
MEN (middle age) intensity
find it easy
awareness
realize sharp knives are important
timing
before and after cooking
ELDERLY intensity
rare usage as age becomes a factor
awareness
noticeably afraid
timing
rarely before and after cooking
COLLEGE STUDENTS intensity
find it easy
awareness
very few know proper care
timing
almost never
awareness
timing
IMAGE MAPS
Modularity is important in being able to clean and replace parts of products when needed. Functionality is important in the kitchen as countertops become cluttered. The more functions it has, the fewer tools needed and space saved. Price is important in determining the customer’s willingness to buy a product.
there is an opportunity in creating a product that is modular and multifunctional there is an opportunity in creating a mid to low priced product that is multifunctional
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Proof of Concept The picture on the top shows a knife at a microscopic level when it is passed through a steel over 15 times. This leads to the edge breaking. With that in mind I looked at different kitchen technologies that would give a knife a controlled number of passes along with straightening a blade at a 20 degree angle. This is when I discovered and tested the Furi Diamond fingers. This form was what I needed in the Knife block. The fingers keep at a constant 20 degree angle no matter how far they are pushed down. With a smoothed surface, they should have the same effect as a honing steel.
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The System The three knives I focused on for storage on the knife block were the chef’s knife, paring knife, and bread knife. I found that through my interviews, these were the three most commonly used knives in the kitchen.
The left slot and middle slot in the base are for the two different steel finger sizes. This allows for the user to replace them when needed and gives knives the sharp edge they need when pushed or pulled out.
The first part of the knife block is the base. The base is made of wood. It is heavy and stabilized by its weight and the rubber nibs attached on the bottom.
The final slot for the rectangular wooden block is for the bread knife. This is so that the knife can lie sideways. The bread knife is serrated so the finger mechanism is not needed.
The side slots on the base make it easy for the cover to come off in order for the user to clean and reach into the different compartments when needed. The slots on the face of the base make it easy for the user to take out the different mechanisms in the block that straighten the knife. This simplifies the process of cleaning out the block and drying when needed. 25
The Smith Block
USER SAFETY This product keeps the knives sharp and ready to use at all times. Sharp knives not only make cutting easier, but puts less strain on the user.
EMOTION The user does not have to stress or worry about using a honing steel before and after cooking. This can give the user a sense of relief.
FAMILIARITY The user does not need to know how to use a honing steel in order to keep their kitchen knives sharp. The process of properly taking care of the knife is much easier.
MAINTENENCE Because of the straightening system in the knife block, knives can be easily maintained. The knife block is modular making pieces easy to replace when they are worn out. This saves the user from buying a new set or block.
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BIKE SEAT
BRIEF Design concepts for the Red Dot Design competiton. I had a multitude of ideas but chose to focus on the bike. I found that the cycling culture was gaining ground around the world and wanted to see the things I could learn from the community around me.
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Interviews
In order to learn more about cycling, I decided to get involved with the cycling community around me. While working with, interviewing, and learning about the cyclists in the area, I was able to gain insights on the comforts and dangers of cycling in the city. I was surprised to learn about how much time these people spend on their bike. The users almost always rely on their bikes for transportation. This could mean a bike ride anywhere from 10 minutes to over an hour.
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Besides the bare neccessities, the majority of cyclists I interviewed did not spend money on their bike. Keeping this in mind, I thought about the essential parts of the bike and what is needed for a comfortable ride. The seat and handlebars are two important parts of cycling in order for the cyclist to have comfort. I decided to focus on the seat and learned about how it affects the posture of the body and the importance of comfort during a ride.
Dynamic Body HIGH FLEXIBILITY Those with high flexibility are able to sit comfortably with the majority of pressure exerted on the sit bone.
MEDIUM FLEXIBILITY Those with medium flexibility shift their weight putting pressure on both the sit bones and genital area.
LOW FLEXIBILITY Those with low flexibility tend to shift their weight towards the genital area causing the hips to lean further back on the saddle. Pressure is focused mainly on the genital area.
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Ideation With input from the community and friends that I made while being involved with cycling group in the area, we were able to come up with a concept and design for a bike seat that could be universal for all cyclists and give a comfortable ride. At first we thought about making the middle cover a nylon weave, but eventually the idea evolved into multiple materials in order to create a more personalized look for the riders and a variety of comforts for the users while keeping the design simple.
SHELL
CARBON REINFORCED NYLON 66
• High tensile strength • Chemical & weather resistant • High usage temperature
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INNER COVER
NYLON MICROFIBER WEAVE
• • • •
Adapts to many forms Moves and flexes with body High tension where needed Water resistant
RAIL STEEL FUSION
• • • •
High end steel alloy Lighter than titanium Higher corrosion resistance Vibration absorbsion
Dynamic System
STEEL RAILS Vibration-absorbing form and material for high performance when traveling long or short distances.
FLEX GROOVES
WOVEN COVER
Cuts made in specific areas of the frame in order for the saddle to conform to the user. As the user moves his/her thighs up and down, it bends to give comfort and tension.
Nylon microfiber laces woven to provide flex and tension with the user’s body. They provide tension in critical areas while adapting to the user. Due to the material’s nature it provides the same flex and tension in all areas. 33
Reflection After completing the project I went back to the bike seat to see what I could improve. I learned that the flex groove placement needed to be changed in order to provide a better flex. The frame of the saddle would be great for many users but the center could always be changed in order to create a better flex to accommodate a variety of users. With that in mind, I decided to change the inner cover to create a multitude of styles and materials that could let users customize their seats to their liking. This would also help with a fascinating ad champaign as well.
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Designed by you. Flexes to you.
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which one are you?
bamboo
Designed by you. 36
which one are you?
leather
Flexes to you. 37
which one are you?
carbon fiber
Designed by you. 38
which one are you?
kevlar
Flexes to you. 39
BACK PACK 40
BRIEF This is my senior thesis. I chose to create a backpack because I believed that it would help me understand the intricacies of materials, manufacturing, fashion, and design of backpacks in the real world. This project led me to discover new techniques, ideas, and technologies that improved my knowledge of what is possible within the realm of soft goods. 41
IDEATION I researched different materials and technologies used in soft goods. I was particularly influced by techwear. What is techwear? Techwear characteristics: 1) Materials with enchanced properties. 2) Design that offers more than the usual. 3) Construction beyond the normal.
I found it interesting that techwear and its fashion were being pushed in countries like Japan and Germany, but had not fully been explored in the States. There are very few companies in the US that explore this area and and those that do do not push the boundaries as far as foreign companies do. I wanted to take this ideology of urban wear and see where I could go with it in my project involving carry.
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BUILDING After sketching out several ideas and researching various materials, I decided to start building the backpack. The process was long and tedious, but I learned a lot about why bags are built a certain way. It is important to understand what is possible and what is not and why seams are present in certain areas of the bag.
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“depth within simplicity” PANTONE Black C
PANTONE Cool Gray 10 C
PANTONE 7479 C
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Materials: Cordura YKK Zippers 550 Paracord Ariaprene Suede Nylon Slide Block Cobra Buckle
Large: Height: Width: Depth:
44cm 32cm 30cm
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Materials: Cordura YKK Zippers 550 Paracord Ariaprene Suede Nylon Slide Block GT Cobra Buckle
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Medium: Height: Width: Depth:
40cm 27cm 28cm
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Neutral Design In the college campus of UIUC, there is a local bike ship called Neutral Cycle. I was contacted by the owner Tim Chao to help him start something new. I collected a team of people in order to create a studio for them to thrive in. Our goal was to show the importance of design. We collaborated to create videos, graphics, products, and services for the small cycling start up.
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Interior Design
reception office
pantry
office
heater
main entrance
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bathroom
whiteboard wall storage
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DESIGN STUDIO The studio was able to help Neutral Cycle come out with multiple designs and bring people in from different cycling societies in order to gain better insight into the community around them. We were able to come out with multiple designs for their website, services, and products. One of the main products the studio came out with was a tool-kit along with a pannier bag.
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MARKET 58
MADNESS
HAXLR8R I went to China with the start up company Petronics to go through the Haxlr8r program. While I was there, I was able to learn a lot about the market and factories in China. The program was very fast paced with a lot of knowledge given about the nature of start ups and kickstarters. The market in China is vast and enormous. I was able to learn a lot about bargaining, figuring out the in’s and out’s of the market along with getting to know vendors. 59
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Manufacturing It was an eye opening experience to see where products are created and developed and to observe the manufacturing processes performed by the workers in China. I found that the insight factories can give is very important. This comes with communication and how different parties can cross language barriers. While designers may only know certain techniques and machines, the factory workers themselves know a lot more about the machines they use and processes that can create similar effects, if not better, than the results the customer wants. Working closely with a factory ensures quality control. A great relationship can help with completing orders along with creating better products in the future. One thing that needs to be taken into consideration is the sustainability of products and materials. The amount of materials available may seem enormous, but the waste produced is just as daunting.
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Deconstruction Reconstruction While creating a new product, deconstructing and reconstructing products gave me a better understanding of how it was created. Through this process, I was able to understand what was needed in order to create a product and the engineering behind it. When prototyping a product, investigating an already existing product can give insights into creating different mechanisms with similar effects. It also sheds light on what kind of manufacturing techniques, along with types of technology, are used in order to decrease costs. I found that many companies use different solutions to produce the same effect. While some use stock parts and mechanics already in place, others use their own engineered systems. What is interesting is how the build of materials (BOM) can change based on one part of a product.
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OTHER
In addition to my passion of Industrial Design, I have many other interests. These hobbies shown below add to my repertoire. I believe that these interests help to broaden my view of the world along with being part of a multitude of cultures and sub-cultures that exist today. I have worked in a great many restuarants, traveled to compete in gaming, taken classes for dance, studied photography/cinematography to understand and take pictures and videos of my travels, and am currently working on side projects that can involve different facets of design. 66
Dance
Cooking
Pro-Gaming
Photography
Graphic Design
Running
Cinematography
Service Design 67
CONCLUSION Industrial Design is not just about creating a great product, but also about creating a great experience. Even though I have worked on a multitude of projects, I am confined to these few pages to show a portion of what I am capable of. Even in detail, there are details within details that could be added to the projects that I have showcased in this portfolio. I realize that even if these projects are “finished,” I can always see the problems that I’ve made or opportunities I’ve missed and what I could have done to make it better. This feeling is probably a universal truth among people that strive for something greater. I hope you enjoyed this small exploration of my interest in Industrial Design. I will most likely continue documenting my endeavors on a website I am building, unlimitedclock.com. Let’s design the future together. Design Never Ends -Durand Cho
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THANK YOU FOR READING
Photography By: Durand Cho Joshua Chung Alu Liu Vicki Ortiz Models: Kaito Choy Hana Yaginuma Special Thanks: Antonio Belmontes Dan Corkum Seth Chiam Zong He Chua Elliot DeVries Drake Gashkoff Sooji Kim Sean Kung Zhenmin Li Kelly Lin Rosanna Myers Joseph Principe Elizabeth Reuter John Seo Fred Ting Shan Wei Ray Zhou 69