IRIS MILANO
CHIOREAN Product Designer-Maker Portfolio
irischiorean@hotmail.com Iris Milano Chiorean _chio_design_
ABOUT ME Hi I’m Iris! 3D Design Student in my Final Year of studies at Northumbria University Newcastle. Specialised in Product Design, I am a designer-maker that focuses on crafts, inclusive design and sustainability. This portfolio will show a glimpse into some of my university projects; from concept ideas to completion, followed by photography and styling of the products.
Margi Flatware Collection Manufacturing process of the spoon |2019|
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
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CONTENTS PROJECTS
TREES OF SENSES SUSTAINABLE SENSORY TOYS 2020 | 12 WEEKS
MARGI SILVER PLATED FLATWARE 2019 | 12 WEEKS
DOT PORTABLE TABLE LAMP 2020 | 10 WEEKS
OSLO MODULAR FURNITURE 2021 | FMP
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
PROJECT 01|
TREES OF SENSES SUSTAINABLE SENSORY TOYS
12 weeks | 2020 Broadleaf woodland thinnings are immensely underutilised, therefore the aim of this project was to create collectable higher value toys from thinnings that promote sensory play. Sensory play is fundamental to mental development as it helps shape nerve connections in the brain’s pathways - an activity also beneficial to adults experiencing dementia, Alzheimer’s and brain injuries. Produced from thinnings, Trees of Senses isn’t purely a collection of sustainable sensory toys but a project which advocates inclusivity of all members of the community, starting from toys which are suitable for a variety of children and adults to jobs that accommodate the needs of employees.
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
TREES OF SENSES | SENSORY TOYS
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
TREES OF SENSES | SENSORY TOYS
Based on the dimensions and proportions developed through the 1:1 paper models, I processed some timber components to get a better understanding of the weight of each toy. As shown in the photographs, the tree slices/wooden components aren’t rings that are stacked upon the tree trunk like the previous paper models because at this stage I was focusing on testing sizes, weights and potential textures. This test also gave me the opportunity to test green thinnings in terms of how they react to being processed and drying over a longer period of time; all components require to be child safe so it was important that the bark didn’t start peeling/flaking off once the rings dried fully.
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
TREES OF SENSES | SENSORY TOYS
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
TREES OF SENSES | SENSORY TOYS
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is an overlooked condition, in which the brain has difficulties receiving and responding to information that comes through the senses; affecting at least 1 in 20 of the general population. The Trees of Senses provides opportunities for children and adults to actively use their senses as they explore the world through ‘sensory play’ which is crucial to mental development as it helps shape nerve connections in the brain’s pathways - beneficial for adults living with dementia, Alzheimer’s and brain injuries. The collection of toys, consisting of three abstract trees, was designed to have elements that encourage the use of all 7 senses because children and adults learn best and retain most information when they engage their senses.
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
TREES OF SENSES | SENSORY TOYS
Produced from broadleaf woodland thinnings, Trees of Senses is a collection of sustainable sensory toys that encourage children and adults to explore and engage their senses to expand their language, cognitive growth, motor and problem-solving skills while learning about the significance of woodlands. The forms of the sensory toys were inspired by three iconic trees of different species to educate children about the importance of conservation and variety within woodlands – the trees being the Sycamore Gap, Major Oak and General Sherman. When designing the toys, sustainability was at the core of every design decision from how the timber will be sourced to processed and finished so therefore, all the stains used on the components were derived from natural ingredients such as onion, turmeric and beetroot.
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
PROJECT 02 |
MARGI SILVER PLATED FLATWARE
12 weeks | 2019 Margi, originated from the Romanian word ‘margine’ meaning ‘edge’ due the collection’s handle design, explores the processes and issues related to designing for volume production. The assignment was intended to enable me to begin to explore and develop my individual approach to form making, surface finish and product semantics in relation to the design of mass manufactured products. In this project, planning every detail was crucial in avoiding the trap of ‘sculpting’ an unreproducible three-dimensional design solution. Flatware, the most ubiquitous of objects form part of a group of products that we all use on a daily basis. As such, they could be described as being very well understood in terms of design. However, function and practicality aside, flatware offers the product designer the opportunity to become immersed in subtle form generation and materials manipulation.
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
MARGI | FLATWARE
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
MARGI | FLATWARE
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
MARGI | FLATWARE
This project was the first opportunity at university to plan the product photoshoot and stylise it to match the target market. Since the flatware collection was produced from silver-plated brass, the collection would be classed as higher-end. Through this photoshoot I wanted to not only highlight the modern design of the flatware but also reflect its exclusivity. However, as seen in the cover photo of the project, I also conducted a lifestyle photoshoot which shows the collection’s appeal to everyday use.
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
PROJECT 03|
DOT PORTABLE TABLE LAMP
10 weeks | 2020 The term table lighting refers to a huge range of designed objects that share some basic common attributes. Some table lights are task lights, designed to increase the luminance of a given area and to aid the completion of specific tasks or activities. Others are designed to create lighting effects that control or enhance ambience within a room/ environment. Dot lamp is a modern portable table lamp designed with inclusivity in mind, from manipulating the light direction and changing its intensity to charging the lamp’s battery. Although the purpose of this project was to apply battery powered technology to create a portable lamp, my focus was ensuring the lamp can be used by variety of users regardless of their mobility and dexterity which is evident in the handle, the switch and wireless charging system.
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
DOT | PORTABLE LAMP
Throughout the research stage, I was highly drawn to railway lamps but also contemporary lamps that took inspiration from railway lighting which can be seen in the previous sketches. Using my initial sketches, I started creating cardboard and foam models to refine dimensions and features, each model being more developed than the previous. At this stage, it was important to create rapid prototypes rather than completed models in order to refine all the elements that make up the lamp as quickly as possible due to the project’s restricted time frame.
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
DOT | PORTABLE LAMP
As mentioned previously, inclusivity was a major part of the lamp’s design so therefore when developing the electronics, it was important to ensure that the lamp’s functions can be easily accessed and operated. In terms of the switch, as seen in the photographs, I chose a touch sensitive switch which is incorporated in the base of the lamp as a brass disc; a switch with a larger surface area will be more accessible by a variety of users than a button switch. In terms of light bulbs, I chose to use 3 white light LEDs as they create an evenly dispersed light that is suitable for working whereas when reflected into the brass disc, the lamp produces warm light for a more relaxing atmosphere. The housing for all the electrical components as designed on SolidWorks and 3D Printed.
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
DOT | PORTABLE LAMP
Due to the March 2020 lockdown, this project was stopped just before the manufacturing stage, so I don’t have a physical final prototype. However, the following renders show all the elements of the lamp (including electronics) and how the components come together to form the completed Dot Portable Table Lamp.
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
DOT | PORTABLE LAMP
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
DOT | PORTABLE LAMP
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
PROJECT 04|
OSLO MODULAR FURNITURE
FMP | 2021 The Oslo Lounge Chair, part of the Oslo Capsule Collection, is a proposal that responds to the demand for products that withstand the ever-changing trends and test of time through upgrades, repairs, and remanufacture. Produced from two side frames, a seat, a backrest and 4 legs, the Oslo Lounge Chair is a display of real minimalism – real minimalism has been attained when one cannot eradicate anything else from the design to enhance it further. Governed by circular economy principles, The Oslo Lounge Chair has been produced from modular components for methodical manufacture and to enable repairs and upgrades – an effort to combat the current linear economy.
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
OSLO | MODULAR FURNITURE
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
OSLO | MODULAR FURNITURE
Material specification has been a large part of the design process, from ensuring they meet minimalist principles in regard to colouration to considering their sustainability in the long run. Manufactured from sustainably sourced white ash, 100% hemp canvas and powder coated tubular steel legs, the Oslo Lounge Chair is a blend of recycled and natural carbon sink materials.
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
OSLO | MODULAR FURNITURE
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
OSLO | MODULAR FURNITURE
Composed of a lounge chair, two-seater sofa and a coffee table, the Oslo Capsule Collection, furniture driven by modularity and functionality, is a reaction to today’s throwaway society. Through the use of flat planes, clean lines and inconspicuous colours, this minimalist furniture collection has been designed to accompany the user over a long period of time without disturbing any aspects of their environment.
OSLO | MODULAR FURNITURE
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
OSLO LOUNGE CHAIR
H 815MM, W 720MM, D 660MM
MATERIALS. WHITE ASH, MILD STEEL, HEMP CANVAS, LEATHER.
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
OSLO | MODULAR FURNITURE
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
OSLO | MODULAR FURNITURE
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
PROJECT 04|
BLM DIGITAL ILLUSTRATIONS
Personal Project | 2020 BLM is a collection of 3 Digital Illustrations that I created during the Black Lives Matter Protests of 2020 as a response to the issues many societies are facing every day. In this current world it’s not enough to be non-racist, we must be proactively anti-racist which I was trying to share through my artwork. Inspired by the results and changes millions of people were making by standing united against discrimination and calling out all the problematic racist remarks online and most importantly offline, I wanted to create a collection of illustrations that reflected all of their efforts.
AMPLIFY BLACK VOICES ILUSTRATION I
IRIS MILANO CHIOREAN | PORTFOLIO
BLM|DIGITAL ILLUSTRATIONS
WHITE PRIVILEGE
CASUAL RACISM
ILUSTRATION II
ILUSTRATION III
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME! Thanking for taking the time to review my portfolio and I look forward to your kind feedback!
irischiorean@hotmail.com Iris Milano Chiorean _chio_design_
Margi Flatware Collection Stylised Photoshoot |2019|