FELIX YIU SELECTED WORKS 2016–2018 felix.yiu@berkeley.edu
CONTENTS ARCHITECTURAL STUDIO THE CONVEYOR CITY
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SPRING 2018 | UC BERKELEY | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN IV Site Analysis + Design + Diagramming + Drawing + Rendering + Modelling
LOFT
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SPRING 2017 | UC BERKELEY | INTRODUCTION TO CONSTRUCTION Parametric Design + Fabrication + Diagramming
S TA C K
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FA L L 2 0 1 6 | P E R S O N A L P R O J E C T Conceptual Design + Fabrication
UNFOLD
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FA L L 2 0 1 7 | U C B E R K E L E Y | A R C H I T E C T U R A L D E S I G N I I I Precedent Study + Diagramming + Modelling
URBAN FRAMES
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FA L L 2 0 1 7 | U C B E R K E L E Y | A R C H I T E C T U R A L D E S I G N I I I Site Analysis + Design + Diagramming + Drawing + Collaging + Modelling
D E S I G N C O N S U LT I N G D_SIGNS
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FA L L 2 0 1 6 | B E R K E L E Y I N N O VAT I O N | C L I E N T: T H E H O U S E User Research + Spatial Analysis + Visual Design + Prototyping
A ‘CASE’ STUDY S P R I N G 2 0 1 6 | B E R K E L E Y I N N O VAT I O N | C L I E N T: P O D O L A B S User Research + Precedent Study + Persona Development + Product Design + Prototyping
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ARCHITECTURAL STUDIO These projects focus on architectural design that range from formal and c o n c e p t u a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n , p r e c e d e n t s t u d y, t o s i t e - s p e c i f i c i n t e r v e n t i o n s .
THE CONVEYOR CITY A City with Conveyor Belts Running Across the US-Mexico Border
* C h o s e n P a r t i c i p a n t o f t h e 2 0 1 8 – 1 9 ‘ Tw o S i d e s o f t h e B o r d e r : R e d e f i n i n g t h e R e g i o n ’ E x h i b i t i o n a t Ya l e U n i v e r s i t y
SPRING 2018 | UC BERKELEY | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN IV I N S T R U C T O R : R AV E E VA R N C H O K S O M B AT C H A I PA R T N E R : PA R A M A S U T E J A Site Analysis + Design + Diagramming + Drawing + Rendering + Modelling
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XL: GLOBAL SCALE
F o r a l o n g t i m e , b u t e s p e c i a l l y r e c e n t l y, t h e U S - M e x i c o b o r d e r h a s
blend of natural and cultural richness found nowhere else on either
By tur ning the border from a line to be crossed into a focal plane
been a topic of heated contention. Drama and politics aside, could it
side of the border that radiates and spreads to adjacent regions?
d e s e r v i n g o f i t s o w n g l o r y, T h e C o n v e y o r C i t y o f f e r s a n a l t e r n a t i v e
be that the border is more than just a one-dimensional line between
A place that efficiently operates as a major network connecting all
lifestyle and cultivates a new culture in an area that was once
two countries, but a place that maximises its unique geographical
transportation hubs and a metropolis where robust job growth and a
marginalised.
location to create linkage to all cities? A place that boasts a unique
growing economy attract people to move there?
The Conveyor City connects with fellow cross-border cities.
The connection expands with other neighbouring cities.
A network of cities reaching deep into both countries is established.
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TRANSPORT HUB
FULFILMENT CENTRE
ART GALLERY
TRANSPORT HUB
FULFILMENT CENTRE
THEATRE
TRANSPORT HUB
FULFILMENT CENTRE
WILDLIFE
INITIAL COLLAGE STUDIES I performed these conceptual collage studies before diving deeper i n t o f i n e - g r a i n e d d e s i g n . To d i r e c t l y c o n f r o n t i s s u e s o f p e r m a n e n c e / t e m p o r a l i t y a n d s e g r e g a t i o n / t r a n s g r e s s i b i l i t y a t t h e b o r d e r, I c o m b i n e d the programmes of transportation hub and fulfilment centre, which e m p h a s i s e t h e m o b i l i t y o f h u m a n s a n d g o o d s r e s p e c t i v e l y.
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TRANSPORT HUB
FULFILMENT CENTRE
OFFICE
TRANSPORT HUB
FULFILMENT CENTRE
RESTAURANT
TRANSPORT HUB
FULFILMENT CENTRE
URBAN PARK
INITIAL COLLAGE STUDIES W ith transportation hub and fulfilment centre as base, I mixed and matched other programmes to create an activity and diversity that leverage the unique border condition not found elsewhere in either the US or Mexico.
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L: TERRITORIAL SCALE The Conveyor City is really a network of cities linked to one another b y a s e r i e s o f c o n v e y o r b e l t s r u n n i n g a c r o s s t h e U S - M e x i c o b o r d e r. The conveyor belts transport both people and goods, eliminating t h e n e c e s s i t y o f h i g h w a y s a n d a u t o m o b i l e s . S t a r t i n g a t t h e b o r d e r, the conveyors reach into deeper regions of the countries, eventually establishing a constant and endless exchange between the countries.
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M: CONTEXTUAL SCALE T h e p r o j e c t h o n e d i n o n t h e b o r d e r c o n d i t i o n b e t w e e n Te c a t e , C a l i f o r n i a , a n d Te c a t e , B a j a C a l i f o r n i a . I t i s n o t t h e s p e c i f i c i t y o f t h e s i t e t h a t w e f o u n d i n t e r e s t i n g , b u t q u i t e t h e c o n t r a r y. I t s g e n e r i c n e s s strengthens the premise of the project: The Conveyor City does not overtake whatever used to be there, but grows from and adapts to the existing urban fabric. In this particular iteration, the City includes a transportation hub, a fulfilment centre, a convention centre, a cultural centre, and blocks of housing.
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SECOND FLOOR
THIRD FLOOR
S: BUILDING SCALE Agricultural fields are dispersed amongst all the other programmes at the lower level and act as a food source. These belts facilitate cross-border movement and ultimately bring forth a new urbanism that boasts self-sufficiency but all the more recognises the importance of interdependence between cities and countries. While spread out h o r i z o n t a l l y, t h e C i t y i s s t r a t i f i e d v e r t i c a l l y w i t h r e s p e c t t o s p e e d : T h e highest conveyor belt is reserved for people and goods that travel at the fastest speed across the longest distances, while the belts on the ground level serve local traffic and transport needs.
GROUND FLOOR
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FORMAL STRATEGIES
PROGRAMMATIC TYPOLOGIES
FIGURISATION
DIVERSIFICATION
MONUMENTS
CONVEYORS
TRANSPORTATION HUB
HOUSING
CULTURAL CENTRE
PROPAGATION
FRAGMENTATION
FIGURE-GROUND I
FIGURE-GROUND II
FULFILMENT CENTRE
CONVEYOR CONNECTOR
CONVENTION CENTRE
CONCEPTUAL COLLAGES
INTERSECTION
FIGURE-GROUND JUXTAPOSITION
TRANSPORTATION HUB
CONVEYOR BELT
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SECTION CUTTING THROUGH TRANSPORTATION HUB & CONVENTION CENTRE
SECTION CUTTING THROUGH TRANSPORTATION HUB & FULFILMENT CENTRE
CONCOURSE OF TRANSPORTATION HUB
PUBLIC CORRIDOR ABOVE HOUSING
CONVEYOR BELT
INTERIOR PERSPECTIVE IN TRANSPORTATION HUB
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LOFT A 1 2 - f o o t - t a l l P r e - f a b r i c a t e d Wo o d e n To w e r
*Recipient of Special Recognition Award at CED Circus Spring 2017
SPRING 2017 | UC BERKELEY | INTRODUCTION TO CONSTRUCTION INSTRUCTOR: DANA BUNTROCK PA R T N E R S : G A B R I E L L A M , PA R A M A S U T E J A Parametric Design + Fabrication + Diagramming
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PROMPT + PROCESS
MATERIAL + ASSEMBLY
This design-build project is designed to reach the ceiling of
The design was fabricated primarily with digital means like laser
Wurster
we
cutting. The fins (vertical elements) are broken up and fastened to
generated a series of dynamic forms by superimposing a sequence
Hall
at
UC
B e r k e l e y.
Using
parametric
design,
one another using lap joints, while the rings (horizontal elements)
o f i n t e r s e c t i n g c i r c l e s a n d t h e n s t a c k i n g t h e m v e r t i c a l l y.
are connected to the fins using notches.
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IMAGINATION + PROJECTION F o r m l o s e s m e a n i n g w i t h o u t c o n t e x t a n d p r o g r a m m e . To i n s t i l i n t o t h i s p r o j e c t a s o u l , w e i m a g i n e d t h e u s e o f t h e s t r u c t u r e a s a bookshelf, and modified the design so that light tubes could be inserted within the structure for illumination and wayfinding. The orientation of the fins and depth of the rings were also optimised to support book storage.
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S TA C K A Collection of Sculptures Produced by Laminating Solid Surfaces
FA L L 2 0 1 6 | P E R S O N A L P R O J E C T Conceptual Design + Fabrication
ACRYLIC
This series of solid-void studies began with making a few subtractive interventions into simple cuboids.
transforms the space that was defined originally by the surfaces of the volume. Devoid of site and scale, this
The cuboids are then modelled and reconstructed with the operation of lamination, which recreates and
e x p e r i m e n t f o c u s e s o n t h e w a y f o r m a n d m a t e r i a l i t y c h a n g e s o n e ’s p e r c e p t i o n o f s p a c e .
PLYWOOD
CHIPBOARD
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UNFOLD P r e c e d e n t S t u d i e s o f Tw o J a p a n e s e B u i l d i n g s
FA L L 2 0 1 7 | U C B E R K E L E Y | A R C H I T E C T U R A L D E S I G N I I I INSTRUCTOR: RUDABEH PAKRAVAN Precedent Study + Diagramming + Modelling
FACADES EXPLODED
PRECEDENT STUDY MODEL
KENGO KUMA: ASAKUSA TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE If you do not lear n precedent, whatever that is, you do not lear n the discipline and you can never change it.’ – Peter Eisenman
This series of diagrammatic precedent studies uses the operation of ‘unfolding’ to ‘unfold’ r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h i n a r c h i t e c t u r a l d e s i g n . I n t h e A s a k u s a To u r i s t I n f o r m a t i o n C e n t r e , a p a r t f r o m s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e b u i l d i n g ’s s p a t i a l o r g a n i s a t i o n a n d e x t e r n a l p e r f o r m a n c e , t h e f a ç a d e s c o m m u n i c a t e t h e d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e ‘ p u b l i c ’ a n d t h e ‘ p r i v a t e ’ . P a r t i c u l a r l y, t h e p r o j e c t i o n a n d r e c e s s i o n o f p l a n e s c o n t r o l p r o m i n e n c e , w h i l e t h e d e n s i t y, o r i e n t a t i o n , a n d p l a c e m e n t o f t h e w o o d e n l o u v r e s m o d u l a t e v i s i b i l i t y, t h e r e b y c h a n g i n g t h e p e r c e p t i o n o f p u b l i c a n d p r i v a t e s p a c e . FACADES UNFOLDED
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FACADES UNFOLDED
SANAA: GIFU KITAGATA APARTMENT BUILDING I s t u d i e d S A N A A’s u n o r t h o d o x h o u s i n g p r o j e c t i n K i t a g a t a w i t h t h e
i n d i v i d u a l u n i t s t h a t c o n s t i t u t e t h e b u i l d i n g . F i n a l l y, d i v e r g i n g f r o m t h e
Through this, I discovered how the architect treated the ‘public’ and
same method. First, the massing of the building is unfolded, as if it
old method, I developed a series of isometric diagrams to highlight
‘private’ façades of the building and units differently depending on the
is an origami construct. The same operation is then repeated to the
and reveal relationships between isolated elements of the building.
site condition they each engage with.
UNIT TYPES UNFOLDED
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WINDOW + PRIVATE CIRCULATION
PRIVATE TERRACE + PUBLIC HALLWAY
PUBLIC CIRCULATION
UNIT TYPE
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URBAN FRAMES A L i v e - w o r k H o u s i n g P r o j e c t o n B r o a d w a y, O a k l a n d , C A
FA L L 2 0 1 7 | U C B E R K E L E Y | A R C H I T E C T U R A L D E S I G N I I I I N S T R U C T O R : R U D A B E H PA K R AVA N Site Analysis + Design + Diagramming + Drawing + Collaging + Modelling
APERTURE AS ‘GROUND’
APERTURE AS ‘FIGURE’
E L E VAT I O N A S G E N E R AT O R
A B S T R A C T S PAT I A L C O N S T R U C T
The elevation is not merely the final result of architectural design, but can also be an initial generator of
The spatial construct explores two primary faces with opposing natures: aperture as ‘figure’ and aperture as
space. Through an abstract spatial construct, this project begins by understanding the solid-void field
‘ g r o u n d ’ . M o r e o v e r, w h e n t h e c o n s t r u c t i s c u t , i t p r o d u c e s s i m i l a r r e a d i n g s i n p l a n a n d i n s e c t i o n . T h e f i e l d
c o n d i t i o n s m e n t i o n e d i n C o l i n R o w e / F r e d K o e t t e r ’s C o l l a g e C i t y i n e l e v a t i o n ( r a t h e r t h a n i n p l a n ) a n d
lines in the plan below are drawn to punctuate the space produced by the parallel arrangement of the walls.
e x p l o r i n g h o w s u c h c o m p o s i t i o n c a n l e a d t o m o r e l e g i b l e f a ç a d e s t h a t d e s c r i b e p u b l i c a n d p r i v a t e s p a t i a l i t y.
ELEVATION (APERTURE OVERLAY)
PLAN
SECTION I
SECTION II
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SITE READINGS (GROUP WORK) A s a s t u d i o , w e w o r k e d o n t h r e e d r a w i n g s o f B r o a d w a y i n O a k l a n d , i n s p i r e d b y r e a d i n g s b y K e v i n Ly n c h (The Image of the City), Aldo Rossi (Architecture of the City), and Colin Rowe/Fred Koetter (Collage City).
T h e f i r s t d r a w i n g f o c u s e s o n Ly n c h ’s a n d R o s s i ’s i n t e r e s t i n l e g i b i l i t y, a n d m a p s t h e s i t e i n a x o n o m e t r i c b y h i g h l i g h t i n g t h e f a ç a d e s a l o n g B r o a d w a y. T h e s e c o n d a n d t h i r d d r a w i n g s e e s t h r o u g h t h e l e n s o f R o w e / Koetter and their interest in figural street space, mapping the streets and any void in the street/private boundary as solid.
BUILDINGS AS VOID
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STREET AS SOLID
BUILDINGS AS VOID
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LIVE-WORK HOUSING
‘SITE ELEVATION’ Based on the site readings, I gave my abstract spatial construct an
a t o t a l o f 2 9 6 u n i t s . Ta k i n g i n t o a c c o u n t t h e b l o o m i n g a r t s s c e n e
incorporates multiple amenities that cover different aspects of the
architectural scale, context, and programme. By aggregating multiple
in Oakland, the project seeks to provide housing, exhibition, and
work of artists, enables them to collaborate with each other across
c o n s t r u c t s o n e a b o v e a n o t h e r, t h e m a s s i n g o f a h o u s i n g p r o j e c t i s
coworking studio space primarily for artists of various disciplines
media and disciplines, and even activates the ground into an arts
produced. The project comprises four buildings that occupy their
(and their families), including but not limited to visual arts, conceptual
fair/gallery space akin to the way the First Friday festival activates
own individual blocks on Broadway in the city of Oakland, providing
arts, textile arts, and performing arts. The affordable live-work space
Te l e g r a p h A v e n u e .
SITE MAP OF BUILDINGS WITH ARTISTIC PURPOSES
SITE PLAN
SITE ACTIVATION DIAGRAM
O a k l a n d ’s a r t i s t i c c o m m u n i t y h a s s e e n e x t e n s i v e g r o w t h i n t h e
The four proposed buildings wrap around the block to create
The courtyards add to the current collection of public spaces,
last decade, but there is still far from enough viable workspace
an urban condition on the street and simultaneously define a
mid-block breaks, and parklets, connecting traffic arteries and
and affordable housing to meet the needs of resident artists.
courtyard behind it as another space.
stimulating urban movement.
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STREET ELEVATION
The public, street-facing façade of the buildings features a group of
city can be seen and understood. The pivot doors on the ground floor
windows as the ‘ground’ sequenced to fragment the view towards
allow the exhibition hall and the street to bleed into one another and
t h e c i t y, c r e a t i n g d i f f e r e n t ‘ c o n s t r u c t e d p e r s p e c t i v e s ’ u n d e r w h i c h t h e
create a thriving urban condition.
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COURTYARD ELEVATION
T h e o t h e r, m o r e p r i v a t e f a ç a d e f a c e s t h e c o u r t y a r d a n d f e a t u r e s t h e
recreational spaces for residents such as lawns, sand pits, and
windows as the ‘figure’ that reveals the interior public space to the
musical fountains, as well as artistic spaces for artists to mock up
e x t e r i o r. T h e c o u r t y a r d i s c o m p o s e d o f v o l u m e t r i c e x t r u s i o n s a n d
and display their artwork and sculptures.
extractions in a similar vein as the ones on the façade. They create
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ARTIST LOFTS
UNITS
MEETING SPACE
ARTIST LOFTS
UNITS
COWORKING SPACE
ARTIST LOFTS
UNITS
EXHIBITION HALL
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PARTIAL THIRD FLOOR PLAN
The exterior and interior walls, with the exception of party walls, share
to be adaptable to modular development. Despite the repetitive spatial
t h e s a m e t h i c k n e s s t o e n f o r c e a s e n s e o f s p a t i a l c o n s i s t e n c y. A s a r e s u l t
a r r a n g e m e n t , h o w e v e r, t h e r e a r e s t i l l d e s i g n v a r i a t i o n s t o b e o b s e r v e d a s o n e
of aggregation, floor plans are repetitive in nature, allowing the design
travels through the building.
PARTIAL SECOND FLOOR PLAN
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INTERIOR – COWORKING SPACE
INTERIOR – 2-BEDROOM APARTMENT
INTERIOR – 2-BEDROOM APARTMENT
CHUNK MODEL OF APARTMENT COMPLEX
EXTERIOR – BROADWAY SIDE
EXTERIOR – COURTYARD SIDE
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D E S I G N C O N S U LT I N G These projects were done using human-centred design principles for reallife clients, with a scope encompassing research, design, and prototyping.
D_SIGNS Signage Designs for a Startup Incubator
FA L L 2 0 1 6 | B E R K E L E Y I N N O VAT I O N | C L I E N T: T H E H O U S E PA R T N E R S : T I G E R F U , G E O R G E H E I B E L User Research + Spatial Analysis + Visual Design + Prototyping
00 ABOUT THE HOUSE
storage
maker space
living wall
T h e H o u s e i s a s t a r t u p i n s t i t u t e t h a t i s h o m e t o B e r k e l e y ’s
what they need, when they need it. My team performed an
innovators. W ith a coworking office location on Bancroft
extensive UX evaluation and offered a signage overhaul to
Wa y, T h e H o u s e h e l p s b u i l d f o u n d a t i o n s f o r g r e a t b u s i n e s s e s
optimise the space.
whiteboard space
informal meeting rooms
with a support platform providing founders at all stages with
workstations
01 RESEARCH: SPATIAL ANALYSIS
conference room
kitchen
USER WORD CLOUD reception retail space
02 SYNTHESIS: KEY FINDINGS We asked residents of The House to mark up a floor plan
was used to draw a heat map, revealing areas that need
indicating which areas they used the most and the least
proper signage. A system of exterior signage and interior
f r e q u e n t l y, a n d d e t e r m i n e d t h a t s o m e o f t h e s p a c e s a r e
signage, including branding, labelling, and wayfinding was
underused owing to the lack of proper signage. The results
subsequently developed.
welcome area
underuse
overuse
HEAT MAP
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03 PROTOTYPE: INTERIOR SIGNAGE
WAITING AREA
LIVING WALL
WORKSPACE
MEETING ROOM
LIBRARY
STORAGE
RETAIL AREA
KITCHEN
PHONE BOOTH
BRAINSTORMING SPACE
MAKER SPACE
RESTROOM
INTERIOR SIGNAGE SYSTEM
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A ‘CASE’ STUDY Accessory (Case) Designs for a Portable Camera
S P R I N G 2 0 1 6 | B E R K E L E Y I N N O VAT I O N | C L I E N T: P O D O L A B S PA R T N E R S : E U N I C E K I M , VA R N A VA S U D E VA N , V Y L U U User Research + Precedent Study + Persona Development + Product Design
00 ABOUT PODO Designed by Podo Labs, Podo is a wireless ‘stick-and-shoot’ camera that turns any surface into a photo booth. With your phone acting as both the viewfinder and remote, you can simply stick, snap, and share. My team was tasked to 1) provide insight into its market
audience,
2)
synthesis
those
findings, and 3) design accessories for the camera so that they fit into each
Large pixels on sensor and ring of flash produce high-quality images.
unique use case.
Full rotating hinge lets you shoot at any angle
Micro-adhesive sticky pad grips just about any surface.
App comes with features like video, time lapse, and photo booth mode.
01 RESEARCH: PERSONA DEVELOPMENT
ARTHUR
BRIDGET
CARLOS
DAISY
ELAINE
44-yr/Professional User
26-yr/Adventurous User
32-yr/Routine User
17-yr/Fashionable User
72-yr/Limited User
‘ I l i v e f o r p h o t o g r a p h y, l i t e r a l l y. I l i k e
‘YOLO, ya know? I vlog about how I
‘I like recording moments of my life with
‘ M y h a i r, m y n a i l s , m y c l o t h e s , a n d
‘I try to stay in touch with the current
experimenting with different techniques
live life to the fullest all the time, but I
m y f r i e n d s a n d f a m i l y. H o w e v e r,
my
my accessories are all an extension
trends and connect with my grandkids.
and
but
s t i l l h a v e n ’ t f o u n d t h e o n e d e v i c e t h a t ’s
smartphone
me
o f m y c h a r a c t e r. U s i n g m y p h o n e j u s t
I’d like a camera that is easy to use,
sometimes traveling around with all my
handy but versatile enough to record
the best balance of affordability and
feels too basic, and I want to be able
e a s y t o c a r r y, a n d i f i t d o e s n ’ t e a s i l y
bulky equipment just to do a couple
and do justice to all the stunts I do, like
p h o t o q u a l i t y, a n d a D S L R i s w a y t o o
t o c u s t o m i s e m y c a m e r a s o t h a t i t ’s a s
break
shots is kind of a hassle.’
rock-climbing and roof-hopping.’
expensive and complicated.’
unique as I am.’
‘cause sometimes things just happen...’
positions
of
p h o t o g r a p h y,
camera
doesn’t
give
e v e n i f I d r o p i t , e v e n b e t t e r,
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02 SYNTHESIS: KEY FINDINGS
COMPLEMENT
CUSHION
CUSTOMISE
The accessory has to highlight the strengths
Podo is delicate, especially at the lens and
An
of Podo, including its small, portable, and
h i n g e , a n d e s p e c i a l l y w h e n i t ’s u s e d i n h i g h -
the otherwise bland camera into a trendy
accessory
manoeuvrable nature.
risk situations.
gadget.
product needs to be cost-effective.
accessory
is
an
COMPETE
opportunity
to
turn
While
s e c o n d a r y, is
not
the
price
an
tag
of
afterthought.
the The
03 PROTOTYPE: ACCESSORY DESIGN CONCEPT 1: THE STRESS CUBE
CONCEPT 2: THE WRISTBAND
PLUNGER
WELD
SKIN
BUTTONS
WEDGE
Designed to cater mostly for the Routine
Although this concept targets the
Users, The flexible skin doubles as a bumper
Adventurous
and
a n d a f i d g e t t o y.
Users,
application
its
Fashionable can
extend to everyone.
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