Katie Carruthers Industrial Designer
Portfolio
Hi, I’m Katie A Multi Disciplinary Designer with a particular focus in UX/UI and Digital Design
Skills Adobe Photoshop Illustrator InDesign Premier Pro XD Other Sketch Solidworks Keyshot Sketchbook Pro Experience Web Designer- Oasis Relief ‘15 Design Intern- Pavegen ‘17
Contents
01_ Vita 02_ Multi 03_ Temp 04_ Solo 05_ Split 06_Personal Branding
01_ Vita The Brief: Design a product to meet the current demands from society, regarding environmental care or self care.
01_ Background
The Problem: Awareness surrounding plastic pollution and well-being is continuing to increase and society is wanting to make changes. The skincare industry is a large contributor to plastic pollution and currently lacks the appropriate resources to make beneficial changes. Not only this but many individuals have took an interest in DIY/natural skincare as oppose to shop bought to have more control over their health and well-being, however the current process is complex and time consuming and therefore many resort back to their original purchases.
The Skincare Industry produces 120 billion units of packaging each year
Water makes up over 90% of many skincare products, without it packaging is not required
6 In 10 people do not check the ingredients when purchasing skincare
The Solution: Vita, a Home Skincare device, enabling users to produce DIY skincare products easily in the comfort of their own home. The aim of Vita is to reduce the amount of plastic consumed and offer healthier and natural alternatives to consumers.
Final Major Project- 9 months
01_ Inspiration
01_ Concept
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User turns on device and begins to prepare ingredients for recipe
User inserts blender stem and locks onto locator pin
User adds chopped ingredients to product
User screws lid tightly til secure
on
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User presses buttons to go through blend, heat and mix functions to create mixture
User turns dispenser dial to release mixture
Mixture can now be stored in a cool dry place
01_ Product
Vita allows users to create a personal and environmentally friendly skincare routine at home, using only natural ingredients. The device has three functions; blend, heat and mix. The functions allow for a seamless and efficient production of various skincare products, in a manageable process for users. Vita uses an advanced chopping blade, Heating element and dispensing mechanism to create such skincare products without the need for additional equipment and take the strain of users.
01_ Product
01 Touch controls
02 Advanced blade
03 Re-usable containers
Temperature slider and touch buttons to control device
Advanced chopping blade for hard and soft ingredients
Re-usable storage containers in varying shapes and sizes
01_ App The Device is paired with an App to improve and personalise the experience for users. The Main features include: •Recipe suggestions- tailored to personal skin type and needs •Recipe builder- to create recipes around available ingredients •List/ Reminders- to ensure desired ingredients are available •Forum and Chat- to find like-minded others and talk as a community •Online shop- To purchase Vita essentials and add-ons
01_ Poster
02_ Multi The Brief: Design a product to make living in shared accommodation easier and more comfortable.
02_ Background
The Problem: In most shared accommodation the kitchen is a communal space and can often become over-crowded or difficult to use. Meal prep/Cooking is one particular task that can be especially hard to do in shared spaces, due to lack of room, shared facilities and routine management. Furthermore, most kitchens have a standard cooker with a 4 ring hob and oven/grill. This not only limits what can be cooked at the same time but also creates limited movability and space to each individuals food if multiple meals are being cooked at once. Although there are some solutions available such as singular hobs, they lack features that are appropriate to this environment and therefore have not been targeted at this market.
68% Found cooking in the shared space to be the biggest issue
I often have to change my meal time to work around others
Too many people sharing one cooker, meant not enough space
Solution: A multifuntcional cooking station for one, consisting of a singular hob, storage for utensils and a smart interactive screen for recipes. Increasing the amount of working space within the kitchen environment by separating the hob stations from one traditional stove to multiple stations.
Live Project- 1 week
02_ Research
02_ Concept
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User checks availability of stations and reserves multi station (number 2) for later that day using app
User locates multi station number 2 and removes from storage in preparation for cooking
User unlocks station with Thumb ID and data from app is sent to device using blue-tooth
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User sets up device by pulling out smart screen and chopping board
User finds desired recipe using smart screen and follows instructions
User removes knife from storage space and begins to chop food on chopping board
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User pre heats hob ready for pan and begins to add food
User cooks food and cleans down station
User packs away station and puts away for next use
02_ Product Multi creates an efficient working space through a compact solution, by providing the resources for several kitchen tasks in one product. Due to the size of the product, several stations can be stored and used in small-space kitchens, as oppose to one standard cooker. The space can be optimised to allow for a more relaxed kitchen environment with the potential for several users to utilise the stations at once or connect together for group cooking.
02_ App Multi is paired with a smart-phone app to make time spent in the kitchen less stressful. The app can be used by the tenants to input their individual cooking routine and schedule/book station(s) to meet their needs.
01 Touch controls
02 Chopping board storage
03 Interactive Smart screen
Thumb ID sensor to unlock station, Temperature Controls and Connect button
Chopping Board has storage for knives and utensils to provide necessary equipment
Grease proof Interactive Smart Screen to make cooking with recipes easier and more efficient
03_ Temp The Brief: Design a product to make small space living easier and more comfortable.
03_ Temp
The Problem: Small space living is becoming more popular as house costs are get increasingly higher. Whilst small space living has many benefits such as low cost and maintenance, the resources available for such spaces are minimal at this time. Therefore owners of these spaces have to either design their own custom made furniture or buy standard pieces and adapt. One feature that many owners find difficult to adapt to is the temperature regulation of space. Given the space is much smaller than regular houses and accommodation, less heat or cool air is required and therefore regular heating devices are not suited.
Over 75% of users said finding furniture for space was difficult
Users said small space design is costly due to little resources
Temperature was most difficult to regulate with standard equipment
The Solution: Temp, a portable temperature regulator designed for small space living. Temp includes several modular heating and cooling fans that can be left idle or used depending on the users needs.
Self set project- 1 week
03_ Research
03_ Persona
User Millennials and young adults living in small spaces such as motor-homes, tiny homes and micro flats. Struggling to manage space and live in a cost effective way. Needs Better resources to accommodate the small space available and meet the different needs of such space. Environment Minimalist and Small space living accommodation, lack of room for anything that isn’t a necessity.
03_ Product Temp provides an easy and affordable solution to regulating temperature within small space homes. The device is split into modular pods that can be moved around the home to suit the user needs. This reduces the amount of energy used and thus reduces the cost to heat/cool spaces. Each pod can be individually controlled through the interactive touch screens. Users can control temperature, duration, and set automatic timings. The pods can be stuck onto surfaces with their magnetic back or stood upright depending on the users preferences. Users can choose how many pods they need when ordering the device and their docking station will be built to suit.
03_ Product
01 Modular pods
02 Control panel
03 Charging station
Modular pods allow for temperature to be regulated in multiple spaces
Interactive screen on each pod allows for feedback and control
Charging station shows battery life of each pod and recharges
04_ Solo The Brief: Design a way to reduce the negative impacts of loneliness.
04_ Background
The Problem: Loneliness amongst solo travellers is not uncommon, travelling alone involves many challenges and can often lead to a negative impact on the individual’s health and well-being. In-fact, many individual’s experience mental health problems during their time away as a result of loneliness. The most common cause of loneliness for travellers is social isolation, and although the opportunities are present, there are often barriers that prevent these meaningful interactions from happening.
62% Have experienced loneliness whilst solo-travelling
2hrs+ a day on social media doubles chances of feeling socially isolated
42% Have felt depressed due to loneliness
The Solution: Solo, a discreet wearable device for lone travellers to improve the existing meet up experience. Solo allows for meaningful connections through the use of minimal technology and more face to face interactions, thus, lowering the likelihood of social isolation.
Industrial Design Project- 4 months
04_ Research
04_ Persona
User Solo travellers/backpackers between the age of 18-30, experiencing loneliness and a varying degree of mental health problems. Needs A way of finding like minding others to meet, without the current barriers faced. As well as aiding the symptoms of their loneliness and mental health problems in a manageable and relaxed way. Environment Mostly outdoors or in shared environments/ accommodations such as camping or hostels.
04_ Concept
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User receives wearable with plane ticket and sets up with facebook account and some personal data
User arrives in new location and wearable syncs location. Wearable suggests local event that may be of interest. User decides to attend
User is paired with another traveller for event and suggests meeting up outside venue. User follows navigation to venue.
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Users meet up at venue and get to know each other well. They find they have a lot in common so decide to connect
Users bump wearables together to create connection and now both users become a part of each others circle
User gains points for attending event and making new connection. Points can be redeemed for a variety of travel opportunities
04_ Experience The Wearable allows users to overcome existing barriers to social connections through a number of features, such as; ice breakers, near-by friends, suggested events and activities and more. As well as also using a clean and minimal user interface to avoid over usage in replacement of face to face interactions.
05_ Split The Brief: Design an a way to improve the experience of managing energy consumption and bills.
05_ Background
The Problem: At present many students can find bill splitting a difficult topic of conversation and individuals can often be left unpaid or in awkward situations. This is because most billing companies only allow for one individual to be the account holder, even though no one in the house may be the house owner. This then means that one person has to have the large sum of a bill to be deducted from their bank account and rely on others to pay them back. In many situations this does not always go to plan.
Over 3/4 of users said miscalculating bills was a regular problem
Users found the topic of bills awkward and difficult to discuss
Users felt responsibility of house was not shared equally
The Solution: Split, an easy and manageable way to manage bills for students in shared accommodation. Split not only provides an easy way to divide house bills but it also gives users the chance to split other living costs and track household spending without awkwardness.
UX Project- 1 week
05_ Research
05_ Persona
User Students in shared accommodation with two or more others, struggling to manage and share bills/household payments equally and fairly. Needs A way to manage and split all household payments and bills in a fair and equal manner to avoid awkwardness, missed payments or miscalculations. Environment In student house or shared accommodation, most likely in a communal space.
05_ App Split is a easy and manageable solution to
splitting shared accommodation costs and bills. The app is simple and straightforward, using familiar features from platforms like banking apps.
05_ App The app, includes the following features:
One shared account with several cards- to take the strain of individual users paying more than their share or holding bill accounts in their name Direct debits from users accounts - to ensure every bill is paid fairly and on time Savings Jars- for left over funds and targets Instant spends tracking- to manage money spending and see day to day spends
06_ Personal Branding The Brief: Design a Branding style to represent future work and career
06_ Inspiration
06_ Iteration
06_ Ethos White
Salmon (100%)
rgb 255,255,255 cmyk 0,0,0,0
rgb 255,108,108 cmyk 0,73,48,0
Grey
Salmon (50%)
rgb 99,99,99 cmyk 61,52,52,22
rgb 255,108,108 cmyk 0,73,48,0
Typefaces: Gravity Regular AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMmNnOoPpQqRrSsTtUuVvWwXxYyZz Gravity Bold AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMmNnOoPpQqRrSsTtUuVvWwXxYyZz Gravity Light AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMmNnOoPpQqRrSsTtUuVvWwXxYyZz
06_ Ethos
06_ Ethos
Contact Me Email: katiec.design@gmail.com Phone: (+44) 7894089051 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katie-carruthers-627a60a9 Behance: behance.net/katiecdesi6f60 Instagram: katiecarruthers.design
Thank you For taking the time to view my work