PORTFOLIO
KAren ITIN itinkaren1@gmail.com | 571 426 5219
5 week project to design a kitchen appliance to enter into the Electrolux Design Lab Competition 2011
V채rma
Interior coils unevenly toast bread
Can’t see toast as it’s toasting Toast popping can be startling
Settings are sometimes useless or confusing Settings vary wildly between toasters, and range from untouched to charred crisp
PROBLEM: Current toasters are a host of a plethora of problems that have not been addressed since the first modern toaster was produced in 1926.
DESIGN INSPIRATION
This project was designed with the criteria for the Electrolux Desgn Lab Competition 2011 in mind. These criteria included intelligent mobility, personalization, user inspiration, existing technology utilization, and Scandinavian design values.
“Vintage toasters are historic artifacts that track our nation’s design ideals over the past century.” -Eric Norcross, founder of the Toaster Museum Foundation
Scandinavian design often incorporates bent plywood and simple geometry and curves. Modern toaster designs vary in exterior design, but all still have the same internal components and funcitonality and therefore the problems inherent with those components and functions.
Since toasters are most often found in kitchens, understanding Scandinavian kitchen design was also important. Bright colors and clean lines were prelevant in most examples.
OBJECTIVE: To design a toaster that solves common toasting problems and incorporates Scandinavian design aesthetics
SOLUTION: Angled vertical toaster. Bread toasts evenly and consistently falls to the same side when it comes out the other side.
Concept ideation began with the idea that the bread should not be in a static position in the toaster to allow for a more even toasting experience. Several configurations of toasting direction were considered, finally landing on an angled vertical toaster.
A series of smaller windows would allow for more insulating material whilse still allowing the user to see their toast
A series of differentlysized windows gives visial interest.
One big window poses the problem of inconsistent heat insulation
LED screen to choose desired toast darkness
FEATURES
A window to view toast as it’s toasting to ensure the correct level of toasting is an important feature. Progressively bigger windows across the unit imply motion and the larger windows near the done side allow for the most viewing potential at the critical point of the toasting process.
Programmable settings
Eject button
IR plate sensor
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Windows to see toast in progress
Angled design for predictable toast landings and minimal countertop space consumption Programmable settings
Scandinavian aesthetics
One week sketching and modeling exercise to make an ergonomic hand-held electronic device.
calculator
Iterations began with aspirations of making an ambidextrous calculator, but a single-handed calculator allowed for more creative forms.
14 week research and design project to be entered in the 2010 iF competition
equestrian body protector
THE PROBLEM Since many of the obstacles are large and intimidating looking, the horse and/or rider will misjudge how to navigate through them. When the horse and rider fails to clear an obstacle is when most injuries occur. This situation usually results in one of two outcomes: a refusal or a rotational fall. A refusal is when the horse suddenly stops before or while it is taking off to attempt to clear the obstacle. This sudden stop causes the rider to be thrown forward and often results in a fall. If a fall occurs, the rider will either hit the obstacle or the ground which can result in injury. A rotational fall is when the horse misjudges the size of the jump and ends up hitting it with its front legs after takeoff, which causes the horse to somersault mid air. This is the most dangerous kind of fall because it catapults the rider off the horse and the horse can land on top of the rider causing serious crush injuries and in many cases, death. A body protector can help minimize injury, especially to the ribcage and vital organs.
Refusal
Between 2006 and 2008, 16
Rotational fall
riders and 13 horses died of injuries sustained during cross country competitions
There is 1 injury per every 14 hours of cross country riding
20% of injuries sustained require hospitalization
Thoraco-lumbar (mid- and lower back) injuries are the most common
Approximately 60% of serious injuries are to the neck,
spinal injury
spine
head and
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Required safety equipment
1 ASTM approved helmet • Required for all equestrian activities • Must fit properly and have chin strap
2 Body protector • Does not have to carry any safety rating • Protects ribcage and vital organs • Does not protect the spine
3 Medical armband • Contains critical information for emergency personnell in case of a fall resulting in unconsciousness. It includes health history, doctor contact information, insurance information and emergency contacts
4 Gloves
• Give the rider more control and grip on the reins • Only minimally protect hands in the event of a fall
Rider Survey 46 cross country riders were surveyed about their current body protectors. They were asked about what kind of body protector they have, and whether or not they’ve experienced a fall and injuries while wearing it. They were also asked what features they like, what features they dislike, and what they would like to see in future body protectors. This information was used to determine what sort of protection cross country riders need, and what sort of equipment they would be willing to wear. 51% own Tipperary body protectors
The most common injury suffered were head injuries. Other injuries include, neck, back, rib, and arm injuries.
22% own Charles Owen body protectors
83% believe that their body protectors helped prevent more serious injury
15% know the BETA rating of their body protector
Helmets and gloves are the most common safety equipment worn in addition to the body protector
67% know if their body protector is ASTM approved
Bulkiness, awkwardness, discomfort, restrictiveness, and lack of ventilation are common complaints
70% have experienced a cross country fall. All were wearing their body protectors during the fall
Feeling of security, flexibility, adjustability, and lightness are positive features
22% of those falls resulted in injury
More neck protection is a feature many of those surveyed would like to see in future body protectors
Popular body protectors are manufactured by Tipperary, Charles Owen, and Hit-Air. Body protectors are rated by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA). BETA offers three levels of approval. BETA 3 level is the only appropriate level for the sport, but the most popular vests only carry a BETA 1 rating.
Body protection for other equivalent sports such as motocross and mountain biking is much more extensive and effective, seeing as these sports carry similar risks but have fewer injuries overall than cross country horseback riding
The body protector is broken up into three parts: the undershit, the chest protector, and the spine protector. Having three different parts means that the sizing of each part can be chosen based on the wearer’s proportions. Inflatable body protectors are becoming more and more popular, due to the decreased size and increased effectiveness in preventing injury.
d3o and expanded polypropylene are both lightweight, impact-absorbing materials often used in body protection equipment
Level 1
The final base layer design is made of a breathable spandex shirt with incorporated d3o panels that protect the collarbone, shoulders, ribcage, and hips. This shirt can be worn during the whole course of the competition, providing additional protection and comfort throughout the day.
Level 2
The chest protector features EPP panels that protect the ribcage and collarbone. The segmented panel design allows the chest protector to be formfitting. Velcro closures on the side allow the rider to adjust fit to comfortably protect all sizes of chests.
Level 3
The spine protector features a line of EPP panels down the back and an CO2 cartridge-propelled airbag folded into the top. The trigger tether for the airbag attaches toward the bottom left of the spine protector for minimal obtrusiveness. Leftside placement will help the rider to remember to unhook it from the saddle while dismounting to avoid accidental triggering. The spine protector wraps around the back and attaches via velcro straps on the shoulders and sides.
Level 4
The airbag automatically inflates when the trigger tether is broken. It is folded into the top of the spine protector with plastic snaps keeping it in place than can be easily detached when the airbag inflates. When the airbag is inflated, it wraps around the rider’s neck, therefore minimizing or preventing serious neck injury.
13 week group project to solve a problem involving water with Ayan Bhandari, Ollivia Ford, and NIck Abbot
Luna
The water problem we chose to address was conserving water in the home. Through a long series of iterations and discussions, we finally settled on designing a bathroom faucet.
We iterated until we decided to make a form that was unlike any other bathroom sink, but was still intuitive to use.
In addition to sketching, to achieve a unique yet intuitive form we also made several models of our ideas to test their usability.
The final result was Luna. The faucet: innovated
Material change dictates touch
Glowing rings indicate water temperature Part line indicates movement
Water spout
Touch controls
Internally housed controls
17”
8”
6”
Unique sink basin design
Laminar flow is quiet with minimal splashing against sink
Along with the faucet, we designed a sink that reflects the faucet’s design features. This sink allows the user to pool water for various uses without wasting water filling the whole basin.
Luna’s unique interface allows for pre-heating and pre-cooling of water, saving hundreds of gallons of water per year that are wasted waiting for water to get to the correct temperature. The roling action allows for a range of angles for a variety of uses
laminar flow nozzle
Luna faucet prototype
Finally, a working prototype was constructed out of our model we 3D pritned from Solidworks and Rhino files as a proof of concept