2023
Industrial Design Portfolio Juliana Iacono
Hello! My name is Juliana Iacono and I’m a third year industrial design student at Virginia Tech.
444 S Hill Ave Elmhurst, IL 60126 Tel +1 (630) 880 8330 julianai25@vt.edu
Experience
Education
Skills
Ideation and Visualization Intern 2C Innovation Commons August 2023 - Present Blacksburg, VA
Virginia Tech B.S Industrial Design August 2021 - Present Honors 3.89 GPA
Sports Photographer Virginia Tech Athletics February 2023 - Present Blacksburg, VA
Nazareth Academy Highschool Diploma August 2018 - May 2021 LaGrange Park, IL
Hard SolidWorks KeyShot Adobe Creative Suite Digital/Physical Prototyping Sketching
Packaging Design Intern Virginia Tech University Libraries August 2022 - December 2022 Blacksburg, VA Industrial Design Intern Cruver Design, LLC May 2022 - August 2022 Elmhurst, IL
Resume
Soft Problem Solving Active Listening Attention to Detail Critical Thinking Collaboration Innovative Thinker
I design...
with empathy. Being a true empath has tremendously helped me as a young design professional. I wholeheartedly try my hardest to understand the needs and feelings of the user/group I’m designing for. My empathy for others is a huge part of why I wanted to become a designer, as I strive to help other’s with their problems and genuinely want to make our world better.
for inclusion. Being an advocate for inclusion is one of my biggest passions. As designers, we have the power to change our world for the better by designing with an inclusive lens. During product development, I work hard to consider all potential users that may interact with the product I’m developing, and challenge myself to make adjustments if I see room for improvement.
thoughtfully. From every button, fillet, texture, and color choice, I try to design my products with as much intent and thoughtfulness as possible. If someone were to ask me why one of my products had a certain feature, I want to be able to explain it without hesitation. Whether it’s a feature regarding form or function, I believe all design decisions must have a clear purpose.
Values
Project Gallery
Project Gallery
Process
Process
01.
Luta Improve your posture in the workplace with comfort and style
Time April - May 2023 Skills Prototyping, Furniture Design
Design either a stool or chair with a specific user group in mind that responds to a direct need. 01
Identifying the Need.
“An estimated 50% of people in the industrialized world suffer some form of back complaint and many of these are related to poor seat design.” via blog.sciencemuseum.org
In addition to poor posture, sitting on an improperly designed chair “can decrease your range of motion and weaken the core muscles in the back and side, causing chronic pain and injuries.” via yalemedicine.org
rigid structure leaving the user in a fixed position
commonly seen in schools; uncomfortable structure for young children
deep curve in back is counterproductive to its’ flat seat seat is completely parallel to the floor (middle posture)
back angle is too large (posterior posture)
How can a stool be redesigned to aleviate back pain, optimize bloodflow, and improve posture?
02
User Groups.
03
Sarah
Mike
Leo
Age: 46
Age: 24
Age: 5
Work Location: Home
Work Location: On-Site
Elementary Student
Daily Desk Time: 9 hours
Daily Desk Time: 6 hours
Daily Screen Time: 4 hours
Sarah has switched from working in person to fully remote since COVID hit. She used to get more movement in at work from bouncing back and forth between meetings and going on coffee runs with co-workers. Now, she has hourly zoom meetings and can rarely leave her desk.
Mike is newly graduated and has just entered his first job. During his time studying engineering in college, he was on his feet a lot doing labs and collaborating with others. Switching to mostly computer based/desk work has severely increased his back pain that carries into his everyday life.
On top of sitting at a desk for 6 hours at school, he curls up on the couch to watch his favorite shows right when he gets home. Practicing bad posture at such a young age is a habit that can stick with him forever. It can easily be fixed with the proper tools and constant reinforcement.
Introducing Luta.
5 degree slanted seat that also serves as a handle
legs tapered at 5 degrees
3 levels of structural support that hide all hardware
Luta is a posture-enforcing stool that will make an elegant addition to any home/office space. It’s sleek, unobtrusive design subconsciously improves your posture without even realizing it. 04
Ergonomics Explained.
05
posterior pelvic tilt
anterior pelvic tilt
poor blood flow
sufficient blood flow
lower back pain
back pain mitigated
Product Specifications. floating seat
sleek side profile
14 hidden screws
3/4” oak wood
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07
08
02.
EcoBrush The minimalistic, eco-friendly toothbrush you need in your life.
Time November 2023 Skills Ergonomics, Market Analysis, CAD
Choose a product from Dollar General and redesign it to be sustainable and last a lifetime. 09
Problem Statement.
Electric toothbrushes appear to be the only ones on the market that have removable/replaceable brush heads.
Not only are electric toothbrushes quite expensive, but they’re made of plastic. This leads us to ask ourselves…
How can the average toothbrush be
redesigned to be sustainable and last a lifetime?
10
Meeting Needs & Adding Value.
What task is the product intended for?
Brushing teeth, good dental hygine
How well does it do the job?
Can vary among different types of bristles, as well as how efficient the user is
Does it satisfy a real need?
Yes
Does it enhance the user’s life physically and emotionally?
How safe is it?
11
Physically, yes; emotionally, not so much, but depends on the user
Safe when used for it’s original purpose
Design Impact.
Many toothbrush handles are standard in shape, and not very ergonomic for the hand to hold; this could be improved through a better redesign, considering finger placement through form
Toothbrushes have looked the same forever; not much of the actual length/width/height can or should change, because of the iconography around its form 12
Dollar General Toothbrush Materiality.
Ribbed handle made out of silicone
Nylon bristles in different variations for effective brushing
Commodity plastic (polypropylene), rigid and durable
Information on toothbrush specs
Plastic cover, protects toothbrush
Recyclable cardstock packaging
The many issues this product has led us to develop a potential solution....
A toothbrush with replaceable brush heads made from bamboo and boar bristles
13
Mood Board. locking mechanism bamboo body eco-friendly low cost
sustainable reusable
simple elegant
boar bristles 14
Product Specifications.
Ergonomic, Smooth Bamboo Body
100% Pure, Sterilized Boar Bristles
15
Locking Mechanism. Brush head is inserted into the handle
Brush head is aligned with securement hole in the handle
Brush head is locked into handle by turning it 90 degrees
16
Design Impact.
Bamboo is one of the world’s most prolific and fastest growing plants. This sustainable and renewable material is 100% biodegradable, durable, and affordable.
Boar bristles, although firm are also gentle on enamel and are highly effective at cleaning teeth and gums.
Interchangeable brush heads increases the longevity of the toothbrush.
17
Choose a more sustainable lifestyle with EcoBrush.
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Thank you for taking the time to look at my work!
To view more of my work, visit jiaconodesign.com