PRODUCT DESIGN
VASCU L A R CH A I R A furniture design project as my graduation project. Exhibited at :ParanoID at 2012 Young Designers Exhibition in Taipei, Taiwan. Also published on :ParanoID, yearbook of Shih-Chien University.
DATE
SEP 2011 - MAY 2012
In a primary school science experiment, I recall one day dipping celery into red ink to observe the vascular tissues packed within. When breaking the celery the rugged irregularity of the cross-section would be exposed. I remember that the resulting lively red lines would be irregular and unpredictable. In this project, Vascular Chair, I wanted to expose such normally hidden structures and patterns of objects without covering them with flat surfaces, and in the process beautify them to make them stand out. Human body lines are also acquired to provide the users with not only visual enjoyments but also comfortable user experiences.
Va s c u l a r C h a i r
F R O M O BSERVATION T O SI MULATION When trying to cut vegetables and fruits and observing their cross-sections, there will be a variety of perspectives arising depending on the direction and method of cutting.
Cut vertically (in line) with the vascular tissues Too regular
Cut perpendicular (across) with the vascular tissues Too regular
Break with hands Fantastic!
Development of first model
Va s c u l a r C h a i r
E V O L UT I O N OF S HAP E & ST Y L E The shape of the chair is derived from observation of plants with clearly visible vascular structures such as celery and lotus roots. This was formed such that it became practical in accordance with the curves of the human form. Each intersection point was linked with a straight line to create a sense of ‘order from chaos’.
Irregular lines from curved surface
Irregular lines from slanting cross-section
Va s c u l a r C h a i r
B U IL D IN G T HE MODEL
Red sutures were used to highlight the edges. The main construction is composed of many cubes. Velcro is placed over the fringes of the chair. The underlapped paper board is covered with deep blue emulsion paint. The chair’s edges are lined with red knitting wool the emphasise the overall form. The final product looks like a plant stem soaked into red ink, the vascular bundles are filled with red colour.
Va s c u l a r C h a i r
I N S P IR E D BY T H E P HENOMENON O F C A PIL L A RY ACT I O N I N P L ANTS
To incorporate this natural phenomenon into furniture, the original tubal structure is emphasised and exaggerated through a shape with a wide top and a narrow bottom. This is done to highlight the red lines on the surface of the chair. The slender body looks like a plant stem, surrounding the vascular tissues within. The initial concept comes from imagination of specific visual effects, bringing natural scenes into a home environment, creating a new mode of living.
Va s c u l a r C h a i r
‘Vascular Chair’ uses lines as surfaces, and soft materials to create a sharp visual effect, bringing homeware a new lease of life and providing users with fresh inspiration.
Va s c u l a r C h a i r
Cassimere & paper board 490 x 580 x 1342 mm
TIME HEALS Gift design project
DATE
APR 2010 - MAY 2010
Death is the inevitable part of human life. No matter how much someone who has passed away is missed, their passing is a burden for both the living and the deceased person, because the deceased did not hope to bring their family and friends suffering. This project is an object that could console those who are experiencing the death of their friends or family. As time goes by, this product will also change as if to remind people, ‘hey, time will make everything change, and you should change as well! Do not feel grievous any more!’
Time Heals
If someone you care about leaves you... Would you rather Keep one thing that can always remind you of them or Keep one thing to help you forget the sorrow ?
SC ENARIO Choice 1 This gift reminds you a b o u t h i m / h e r, k e e p i n g you company just like what he/she did. Choice 2 This gift encourages you t o l i v e h a p p i e r, h e l p i n g you learn to say goodbye.
E M O T I ONAL A C C EP TAN CE
The most relevant emotions of leaving someone you care - anger, fear, and sadness.
Most mammals easpeicially human being have strong emotional reactions such as anger and sadness. We have such feelings associated with loss, despair, disadvantage, failure, or other conditions. The coping mechanisms of negative emotions is very important since it helps people to deal with their situation. Often, when we have an uncomfortable feeling, our first reaction is to reject that feeling. We may tell ourselves that the feeling is a ‘bad feeling’ that we do not want to have. But this can make it feel even stronger and more out of control because we subconsciously focusing on our strong emotion. In cognitive behavioral therapy, it is suggested to plan some positive event as a distraction from the emotional pain. Distraction is not about trying to escape or avoid a feeling. With distraction, it is implied that you eventually will return to the feeling you were having. So it is also important to learn to accept your emotional experiences without judging them or trying to change them, but to ‘live’ with them and learn how not to suffer from them.
Time Heals
M AT E R IA L S & P R O D U C TI O N P R O C ESS
melting wax
making molds
filling molds
I tried two different kinds of material first: Polyster resin it memorises the shape of the hand of the departed person;
polyester resin
wax
breaking wax into small pieces
Wax it changes shape with use.
In the end, I chose 'wax' as the main material due to its changeable quality over time. Body temperature, friction and collision gradually make the sharp angle of wax gradually disappear and become rounded.
WHY WAX ?
stripping formworks
installing circuits
A phone is applied as the design form, since it will help people to recover by interacting more with others, and find happiness from others. This is not for people to quickly forget those who have passed away, but to help them to face the sorrow calmly.
Its shape changes because of: Body temperature time passes...
Friction Collision feeling hurt...
not hurt anymore!
Time Heals
The crystals are like the memories accumulated from the past. They’re beautiful but they hurt you at the same time. Time will heal the pain of memories. The memories will not disappear but the pain will.
Wax 227 x 82 x 250 mm
This is a first-prize competition-winning project produced for gaming mouse design competition ‘MAKE IT REAL!’ in July 2013. I worked as part of a team of 3 designers: Ivy Liang (me), Jack Hsieh & Tung Wu. We subsequently continued to work with Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. on this project on final product details and as part of the manufacturing process. My main contribution to this project included concept forming, sketching, colour planning, rendering, logo design & branding.
DATE
JUL 2013 - OCT 2014
‘Raptor’ is designed for professional gamers who compete on fast-paced FPS (first-person shooter) games using a specific ‘claw grip’ mouse hold.
Raptor
CON C E P T We planed to apply biological simulation on the design and the image of the mouse to emphasis its agility and aggression. The ‘velociraptor’ dinosaur name is derived from the Latin meaning ‘agile seizer’. This dinosaur had specially-evolved second toes which it tapped on the ground to sense movements of potential prey. These toes also had long sickle-shaped claws which could kill instantly.
B IOLOGICA L SIMULATION Raptor has many bionic symbols. All the curves from different parts of the mouse come from the form of animal claws. The top (grip) layer is designed with rubber material that is inspired by the skin of a raptors’ back. However the key aspects of bionic design incorporated into the product were achieved through observation of specific requirements of gamers, such as the ‘claw grip’ posture.
MOUSE GRIP TYPES
Palm grip
Claw grip
Fingertip grip
- Natural and relaxed for the hands; - The most popular grip type.
- Agile; - Suitable for fast gliding and provide the feeling of control.
- Everything about tip grip is designed around speed.
Raptor
C L AW G R IP This idea of poise is comparable to the fast pace and posture of gamers playing FPS games with their index fingers using high-specification computer mouses. Gamers using the ‘claw grip’ have to arch their hands such that they resemble claws. This is done to maximise clicking speed and reduce clicking errors when undergoing fast-paced FPS games. Thus we sought to focus on applying bionic design concepts through observation of the specific requirements of gamers, such as those related to posture.
The higher back part of Raptor provides stable support for gamers’ hands. Furthermore, there are concave surfaces on both sides of the mouse, allowing gamers to hold and fix the mouse firmly in order to quickly lift and move the mouse. The front part of the mouse has a gentle curvature which can reduce the contact area between the fingers and the mouse, avoiding accidental drag and mis-hits, so users can click left and right keys more quickly and sensitively.
FIRST 3D MODEL & PROTOTYPE
Raptor
FINA L MA NUFACTURING MODEL Weight Adjusting System 83g net weight of the mouse is perfect for FPS gaming style. Extra 1.8g & 5.3g tuning weights allow you to personalize the feel and control.
Anti-slick Rubber Grip with Ideal Shape for Comfortable Gameplay Anti-slick ergonomic rubber grip and matt coating surface reduce wrist strain and maximize comfort during extended use.
On-the-fly DPI Switching 800/1600/3200/4000DPI adjustable switch with synchronized indicator for quick on the-fly DPI adjustment.
Sniper Hotkey for Precision Shooting Well-positioned sniper hotkey allows you to immediately lower the resolution by holding this button while aiming the target, so that you can shoot precisely for every single headshot.
Plastic & rubber 118 x 72 x 38 mm
SPACE X PEOPLE
回回 HU I HU I This project started from ‘Design in Motion Taipei International Workshop’. Our group was formed of 6 students from 3 departments (industrial design, architecture design & communication design). My main contribution to this project included concept forming, fieldwork, video (script, taking video & editing), graphic and branding design, and exhibition space setting. DATE
JUN 2013 - SEP 2013
The function of a city changes with time. We believe that design at its core is based on the needs of humans, and that the subject of city renewal should involve the entire populace of a city instead of select individuals, to create a more profound design in the city space. In this project, our objective was to turn an unused space in Taipei into a lively and functional space.
HuiHui 回回
F IE L D W O R K At the intersection of Xinsheng South Road and Heping East Road in south-east Taipei, at the entrance to National Taiwan University, the following issues can be observed:
The bicycles and motorbikes left on the footpath are an obstruction to pedestrians; The pedestrians and the cyclists use the same lane (the sidewalk); The large junction overpass is not gaining sufficient usage as a zebra crossing is situated underneath this overpass.
HuiHui 回回
F IR S T C O N C EP T S
VIDEO
With the above-mentioned issues, we concluded that we should seek to find ways to reduce the wastage of public space. To proceed to potential resolutions we proposed three distinct concepts as ways of modifying this space:
http://vimeo.com/116438736
Based on the concept of a treehouse, we built a platform above the sidewalk for the pedestrians with the cyclists on the ground. We also further set up an information desk at the bus stop for maps and brochures. Through separating the pedestrians and the cyclists into two different lanes, and providing a bus shelter, a significant amount of space efficiency could be gained.
The arcades and alleys outside NTU are mostly occupied by motorbikes. The space for pedestrians is very limited; when cars pass by, pedestrians are caught between the vehicles. Hence we came up with the idea of paving the bricks from the sidewalks to the alleys. Furthermore, we painted the information of local shops on the bricks, so that the visitors could be easily guided to various local places of interest.
*This is the video of the first 3 concepts. Not the final result.
With the zebra crossing underneath, pedestrians do not bother using the overpass on Xinsheng South Road and Heping East Road intersection . We considered that building a sky café (overpass café) and placing Ubikes on the overpass may be an effective way to make use of the space. With Daan park and community nearby, we sought to offer a place for people to stay during their leisure time.
HuiHui 回回
5 W: w h e n / w h o / wh ere/wh at /h o w
Mini 4WD Racing
T HA RW
OVER -PASS
Dating Events
Discussing about Policies for Student Demonstration
Sushi Train Bar
Taking Music Videos
Language Exchange
Theme Parties
Exhibitions
Night Views
Rest & Relax
Racing
2nd Hand Book Markets
Flower Market
Exercise
Restaurant
FO
Surrounded by the Daan Forest Park and many churches and temples for different religions, the overpass could be a place for people to rest and gather. So the unused public facility would become a serviceable space.
Fashion Show
Music Events
Children
Tourist
The Elderly
Street Performer
Design Student
Daan Forest Park
Gym Coffee Shop
BACKPACKER
STUDENT
INDIE HIPSTER YOUNG ARTIST
sa re
t hi
in
Chien Kuo Holiday Flower Market
School
YOUNG DESIGNER PASSERBY
a
RE
Pet
ʼs
Individual Band
at
W Student
wh
Family
W eople H Otract p
Designer
at
Hipster
W
to
Backpacker
w
HE
H
M ho
FO
R
W
O
Hotels
Cosplay Gatherings
Church
Free Items
Live House
Identity
Fortune-telling Store
REST & RELAX CULTURE EXCHANGING
HE
N
Fortune-telling Store
Summer/Winter Vacation
Air Conditioner
Weekday
Advertisement
Weekend
Facebook Management
Record Store
Midnight
Bookshop
Festival
HuiHui 回回
We named the overpass hostel ‘HuiHui’(回回), which indicates ‘going home’ with the symbol of preparing the travellers a place like home. The interior designers and artists decorate the dormitories with their artworks seasonally and the cost per night for the dorm is 100 NTD per person (about £2). We also established a website for booking and offering various room styles for the visitors to choose from. The launch of the website would enable the designers to publish and sell their works, gather crowds, and offering a platform on which to be seen.
HuiHui 回回
R E D E S IGN DETAI L S
Enclose the overpass with glazing & install air conditioner;
Public restrooms are located at each of the 4 corners
The main thoroughfare is 1m wide
Auto check-in - when booking on the website, backpackers can get a QR (mobile phone access) code to access their auto check-in; Ve n d i n g m a c h i n e f o r h o s t e l s e r v i c e - o f f e r ing food, drink, and other hostel services; Management & cleaning.
There are rooms with artists’ and designers’ works The size of each room is 1.5x2.2m
The cafeteria provides a fantastic view of Daan Forest Park
HuiHui 回回
Backpackers can choose and book for rooms on HuiHui’s website. When the art works are off from the exhibition, they will be avaliable online. The story, events, and artists introduction can also be found online. The website is also accessible on mobile devices.
VIDEO http://youtu.be/8ItQq1ZaigA redeFinal video presenting the rede sign, the website, and how this platform work.