Lily Karatzas
INDUSTRIAL AND INTERACTION DESIGNER
2nd Place
PRISM SHOWER CADDY
Savannah College of Art and Design’s Industrial Design department partnered with Umbra to create unique pieces of décor to add to one of Umbra’s collections. Umbra’s founder, Paul Rowan, challenged us to “design a FRESH and ORIGINAL design for Umbra. No derivatives. No novelties.” This design should stand out through simplicity and functionality and aesthetics and specifications should be consistent with Umbra’s design language and brand. The design should be easy to manufacture, assemble, package, distribute, and market. This competition took place over ten weeks. To receive feedback on our developing ideas we could post on the Umbra blog.
Paul would then provide us personalized feedback. Our class would also video conference with Paul every two weeks, during which time he would review each individual’s progress and new ideas. Umbra has recently been using the Scandinavian design language. Scandinavian design uses light tones, minimalist forms, and elegant use of lines. Umbra’s recent designs have used light woods, gold metal finishes, white paints, ceramics and fractilized design. I wanted to add to the Umbra brand by creating something that was beautiful in form, as well as functional and unique.
I D E AT I O N
Shortly into the Umbra design competition, I focused in on a design for a shower caddy. I wanted to create a caddy that expressed Umbra’s design style and delivered a unique interpretation of the object. I started by designing a gold caddy with one shelf. Paul commented that I should ideate upon the form more. I used Rhinoceros to create the form because it seemed the easiest media for Umbra to understand through a blog. I continued developing my project by researching what people want from a shower caddy. Shower caddies often slide off the shower pipe fitting and shampoo bottles fall out of the caddy if it is accidentally bumped. With these problems in mind, I created a caddy with shelves that cradled bottles at an angle, making it much harder for them to tip out. I also added a rubber fitting over the top loop to prevent slipping. This change complimented the increasingly triangular form I was perfecting. Next, I focused in on what people put in shower caddies. After some research, I designed a caddy that fits four bottles and has a tray for soap or a razor. I continued to prototype using the measurements I had derived from my research.
I like the prism idea, but this design is not expressing the form well enough. It looks utilitarian now. Try other explorations. - Paul Rowan, Founder Umbra
PROTOTYPING I began prototyping in wooden dowels. I chose this medium because it was easy to quickly prototype a rough model. Later, I used metal wires and JB weld. The construction process started by printing out full size orthographic views on the plotter after modeling the form in Rhino. I ran into an issue when the JB weld I had bought would not bond metal to metal. I continued my prototyping by buying a new type of epoxy. I modeled the final form in nine- and twelve-gage galvanized steel wire. The wire was cut with wire cutters and a Dremel bit and then formed together with industrial JB weld epoxy. Bending the wire to a small radius by hand was very difficult. Sharper bends could easily be made in production on industrial machinery. Once the final prototype was assembled from wire, the metal frame of the model was then sanded and painted
with white primer, re-sanded, and a final layer of gold spray paint and clear finish were added. On an industrial scale, The Prism Shower Caddy is created from bent steel rods formed together with an industrial spot welder. The form is then electroplated with gold. The shower caddy holds four shampoo, conditioner or body wash bottles and has a dish for soap and razors. The bottles slide in at an angle, which allows easy access and solves the problem of bottles falling over. The top loop of the caddy is fitted with rubber tubing for a better grip to the average size shower pipe. The rubber fitting makes unsightly and faulty suction cups unnecessary. The Prism Shower Caddy reflects the Umbra aesthetic and transforms the traditional shower caddy from a utilitarian object to a functional and stylized accessory for your bathroom.
PROTOTYPE
VENDOBOX
In September 2014, a group of designers gathered to create a vending machine. Vendobox is the result. This high-tech vending machine greets you upon approach. It has a touch screen and can vend up to forty boxes. The boxes contain materials that students need working in our shared creative space at Gulfstream Center for Design.
VENDOCOIN -
A unique vending machine deserves an equally interesting form of currency. Vendocoins are an exclusive currency embedded with special RFID chips.
XYZ AXIS -
Vendobox uses an XYZ axis mechanism, similar to those on a 3D printer, to dispense boxes. The pushing arm moves into position when the user inserts a coin, and a small stepper motor pushes the box out.
ENGAGING INTERFACE -
An ultrasonic sensor lets Vendobox know when a customer gets close and responds by asking them to come buy a Vendobox. Vendo then leads the user through each interaction.
MEETING NEEDS -
The items vended are essential to the difficult times during midterms and finals. Each box features essentials including: instant coffee, lip-balm, EmergenC, disposable toothbrushes, and of course candy. The vending items are broken up into three categories: stamina, health, and treats. WHAT WE SELL
Treats
Stamina
Health
Assorted candy
Coffee
Toothbrushes
Stickers
Emergen-C
Lip-balm
Inspired by the home 3D printer, the MakerBot, we devised an XYZ mechanism. From sketches we created a half-scale model to test the validity of our concept.
XYZ AXIS We used K’nex to model our early designs for an internal mechanism.
XYZ AXIS After creating a half-scale model, we built a Solidworks model to determine exactly which parts we needed to order. Our finished mechanism consists of a rack and pinion gear set as the Z access, which pokes out the Vendoboxes. This rack and pinion is mounted on a platform attached
to linear ball bearings that slide up a set of parallel precision steel rods, which form the X axis. The X axis slides back and forth between two more precision steel rods that form the Y axis. All axes moved up and down with rubber belts attached to 3 stepper motors.
XYZ AXIS The final mechanism is controlled with a code inspired by CNC machines and 3D printers, both of which operate in an XYZ format. Our team mounted the finished XYZ mechanism in a welded steel frame so that it could easily be removed and repaired or modified. The mechanism
stands about six feet tall. We mounted the mechanism inside Vendobox, behind the boxes, with L brackets. The mechanism is programmed to move along a grid holding 40 boxes. When a coin is inserted and an item is selected, the stepper motor will translate circular motion into linear
motion of the rack and push the selected box at least halfway of its width out of the grid so that it falls onto a platform. After a space is cleared, the steppers will guide the rack to the next spot in preparation for additional customers.
VENDOCOIN
Vendobox uses a special kind of currency - the Vendocoin. Vendocoins are a skewed version of a cube or vendobox made of cast plastic. Within the cast plastic is a passive RFID chip. This chip is sensed by Vendobox with radio signals. Once the signal is registered, Vendobox accepts the coin as payment. The cast plastic of
Vendocoin is painted to match Vendobox’s signature colors. We created this currency to help school clubs offer incentives for members to participate in events. The only problem with Vendocoins is that people who obtain them like them so much they are almost unwilling to spend them.
MEETING STUDENTS’ NEEDS Research was conducted to see exactly what students needed to enhance their creative workspace. Most of the items vended are essential to the difficult times during midterms and finals. Each
box features essentials including instant coffee, lip-balm, EmergenC, disposable toothbrushes and, of course, candy. The vending items are broken up into three categories: stamina, health and treats.
Vendobox brings a whole new dimension to the vending experience. An ultrasonic sensor lets Vendobox know when a customer gets close and responds by asking them to come buy a Vendobox. Vendobox has a fourteen inch screen. While developing a persona for Vendobox, we went through many ideations including
turning the screen into a cartoon face and a series of motion graphics. Our final ideation was an anthropomorphic box, nicknamed Vendo, that lives in a happy world of virtual 3D boxes. Vendo leads the user through each interaction in the vending process.
Hey, coin for box?
Thanks, got my coin!
Lights out, outta boxes!
Z
Sees you (sensor)
Now you get
your box!
Vending mode
Vendocoin accepted
Machine empty
Have a great
Vendoday!
Item vended
E N G A G I N G I N T E R FA C E
DEMETER HIKING BOOT
Demeter is an eco-friendly hiking boot derived from nature that can return to nature once it has served its purpose. While researching camping equipment my team found that there was an opportunity to improve athletic hiking boots. Biodegradable shoes exist and some contain recycled materials, but there are no biodegradable hiking boots. We wanted to create a completely worry free design that drew inspiration from nature but was still tough enough that it wouldn’t biodegrade outside of landfill conditions.
I t ’s e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y i r r e s p o n s i b l e t o toss shoes in a landfill where they will impact the planet for centuries. - USAgain
20 billion pairs of shoes are produced annually.
Ethylene vinyl acetate, a material commonly used in shoes, can last for as long as 1,000 years in a landfill.
300 million pairs of shoes are thrown in landfills each year.
I D E AT I O N
6
9
1 5 2
7 8
4 3
1
2
3
HOOK AND LOOP
4
6
Coconut fiber wicks away moisture. It is easily sourced, biodegradable, and mixed with charcoal, it deters odors.
Velcro is a biodegradable hook and loop system. It is naturally biodegradable.
PALM LEATHER
COCONUT FIBER
5
BARK CLOTH
SPIDER SILK
8
Merino wool adapts to temperature changes. It wicks moisture away and is biodegradable, breathable, and good for athletic wear.
Spider silk is a strong, renewable, biodegradable fiber.
7
ECOPURE EVA
Palm leather is biodegradable, 100% vegan and has properties of animal leather and rubber. Natural variations in color provide plenty of design potential. An artisan material, palm is soaked in a solution and hand cut by craftsmen.
Bark cloth is a strong, biodegradable, durable, water resistant, highly ventilated, impact resistant material. One side is stronger than the other and it can be die cut.
CORK COMPOSITE
SONIC WELDING
STARCH ADHESIVES
Cork composite is renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable. It uses environmentally friendly harvesting processes, and combined with PLA it allows the material to be stronger and cheaper. It can be compression molded.
Sonic welding works at low temperatures and uses less fuel and energy in manufacturing. It creates faster, safer bonds and binds plastics better than glue. It works best when welding similar plastics.
Starch adhesives are derived from natural polymers that come from roots and seeds of plants such as corn, potatoes, wheat, rice, or tapioca. It is non-toxic and eco-friendly.
Ecopure EVA is biodegradable and no harmful chemicals are used to create it. Biodegrading only occurs under landfill conditions. It can be molded using traditional manufacturing processes.
MERINO WOOL
9
PLA FIBER PLA fiber has low moisture absorption. It is strong and wicks moisture away from the skin. It is lighter in weight than other fibers, biodegradable, and renewable.
M AT E R I A L S
UNITED KINGDOM Coconut fibers UNITED STATES Ecopure EVA
GERMANY Spider silk PORTUGAL Cork
CHINA PLA fiber
UGANDA Bark cloth
PATAGONIA Merino wool
R E G I O N S E X P O R T I N G R E Q U I R E D M AT E R I A L S
SOUTH INDIA Palm leather
BURIED IN A LANDFILL
5 MONTHS
1 YEAR
2-4 YEARS
0% Decomposed
25% Decomposed
50% Decomposed
100% Decomposed
BIODEGRADING CYCLE
PROTOTYPE
DEMETER The 100% biodegradable hiking boot
P E R C PA C K A G I N G
Savannah College of Art and Design partnered with Perc Coffee Roasters to create packaging that represented the natural aesthetic of the Perc’s brand. Perc coffee is 100% simple, natural, and high quality coffee. Perc waits seven crop cycles for quality beans to grow. Their beans are hand-picked and imported from all over the world. Perc coffee is roasted in small batches. Perc is
special among micro-roasters because it roasts its coffee and distributes it within a matter of days.Perc wouldn’t be Perc without the passion and enthusiasm of its owner and founder, Phil Brown. Phil wanted the packaging to promote Perc, hold a gift set of items, be easily storable in the local shops Perc is featured in, and he expressed interest in the packaging being reusable.
Our team collected data from 433 Savannah residents to try to gain an understanding of what people thought of Perc. After approaching consumers, we found that the majority of people who had heard of Perc loved it. Customers described it as local, wholesome, quality, natural, and delicious. A lot of Savannahians also had a great respect for Phil and his passion for the brand. Furthermore, many people recognized the Perc sticker, but didn’t know what it stood for. At the time when the research was conducted (2013), thirtysix percent of the people we surveyed had heard of Perc and sixty-four percent had not. Qualitatively, we talked to several shop owners who sold Perc coffee. They said that overall their favorite thing about Perc was how willing Phil is to customize the coffee blend for their stores. Overall, Perc was still a niche market, but it had the potential for great growth with some increased exposure.
RESEARCH
64% 36% 36%
d of peop le we surveyed had hear
er P f o
c
Perc imports beans from Central America, South America, Africa, and Indonesia for a variety of fresh flavors.
Central America
Africa Indonesia
South America Savannah Bee Company
Perry Roger’s Leopold’s
Gryphon Cafe
Foxy Loxy
Butterhead Green’s
Savannah Farmer’s Market Coffee Fox Brighter Days Market
Lo
c at
ions
ff o C rc where sample group purchased Pe
ee
I D E AT I O N
PROTOTYPE
hold two coffee This packaging can -over funnel, and bags, a mug, a pour could be easily a t-shirt. However, it r products. The resized to hold fewe three-ply chip box is created from re. Chip board board and copper wi an wood. It is is less expensive th sily with glue. assembled fairly ea The package is The box is laser cut. ple engravings. decorated with sim be transformed This product can ver. On the back into a coffee pour-o ps to reuse the of the lid are four ste de out and be box. The logo can sli which facilitates used as a coaster, brand advertisement.
Image from Giesendesign
Slide out Perc coaster
Place pour-over funnel in hole in top of box. Place mug in box. Pour freshly brewed Perc coffee.
Enjoy.
SEQUENCE OF USE
PROTOTYPE
ZEVA
Zeva is a hybrid personal flotation device designed to provide security and comfort, while celebrating a woman’s body. The segmented padding provides flexibility, comfort, and support while performing high impact sports. Zeva works with Secwear, a wearable safety device that is able to deploy an inflatable pouch when the user is in an emergency. Both products are created to encourage the user toward the life saving choice of wearing a personal flotation device.
LIFE VESTS MATTER Most drownings occur within a few feet of safety and involve boats under 20-feet long. Seventy percent of all boating accidents result in fatal drowning. The majority of drowning victims had a personal flotation device (PFD) available, but chose not to wear it. People believed they would have time to grab a PFD, but sixty seconds is NOT enough time to put on a vest in an emergency. The goal of a PFD is to keep the head and neck above water. Flotation jackets should not ride up on the body in the water. Ride up can impair performance. Adults only need an extra seven to ten pounds of buoyancy to keep their heads above water.
Around 85% of those who drown were not wearing a personal flotation device, but had one near.
It only takes 60 seconds for an adult to drown and 20 seconds for a child to drown
9 out of 10 drownings occur in inland waters.
Popularity
...SO WHY DO PEOPLE HATE WEARING THEM?
Comfort
Our team conducted a survey to find out the reasons why people don’t wear personal flotation devices. We collected responses from 75 people.
Technology
Fashion
Shock Absorption Female version
Uncomfortable 70%
Brand assessment of competitors’ vests Onyx
Eagle
NP
Dakine
Body Glove
Constricting 32.86%
Bulky 48.57%
32%
always
Unattractive 31.43%
37%
sometimes
Unaccessible 5.71%
31%
never
Other 17.41% How often do you wear a personal flotation device?
IDEATION & MATERIALS After analyzing five different brands of personal flotation device, my partner and I discovered there is a big opportunity for female vests. Most female vests on the market are men’s vests with different colors, but no change in shape or fit. People that frequently perform water sports prefer to use a type of vest that is not approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, known as a hybrid vest, which has both inherent and inflatable buoyancy.
CO2
mechanism Universal mesh
Deflexion
Neoprene base
All fabric is treated with a hydrophobic coating to prevent water absorption and mold. Nylon is a synthetic fiber that covers the padding of the vest. It is strong and extremely flexible.
ZEVA MOVES Zeva personal flotation device’s segmented padding and flexible neoprene base allow the wearer to...
BEND
TWIST
Neoprene is used as the base of the vest. Neoprene has insulating and shock absorbing qualities and contours well to organic shapes due to its flexibility.
STRETCH
ZEVA PROTECTS Zeva protects vital areas such as hips, ribs, spine, and internal organs from sportsrelated impact. Deflexion is used for the padding surrounding the ribs and spine. It is a nonNewtonian fluid that works as a highly shock absorbent material.
ZEVA SAVES
Tab on right of vest is pulled in an emergency.
Extra buoyancy expands from neck of the vest and suspends the head above water.
SECWEAR IS WORN HIGH VELOCITY DROP DETECTED
SECWEAR Secwear: a waterproof wearable device that can communicate to the Co2-initiated emergency buoyancy system in a Zeva personal flotation device. When a dangerous change in velocity is sensed through an accelerometer in Secwear, the large red button will blink. If the button is pressed within 20 seconds the emergency response will turn off. If Secwear’s button is NOT pressed, emergency buoyancy will be deployed. Buoyancy can also be deployed through the Zeva app by a second party user, such as a passenger in a tow boat.
SECWEAR DEPLOYS BUOYANCY
ZEVA CONNECTS, WITH SECWEAR Zeva is partnered with Secwear, a waterproof wearable device that tracks and shares athletic progress through the Zeva app. Zeva app can track location, route, speed, and jump height. Zeva then generates easy to read charts that can be shared through social media or used to track personal bests. Secwear tracks motion with a satellite GPS system and velocity with an accelerometer, which can detect if the athlete if flung from a tow rope with a dangerous amount of force. Secwear is powered by a small watch battery. Battery life is indicated by a sequence of lights around the outer edge that slowly fade to red as the battery dies. To turn Secwear on, press the large red button, this button will remain red unless a dangerous drop is detected, in which case it will start to blink. Secwear communicates to the CO2 device in a Zeva vest with a wireless signal from a computer chip.
GOMO
Stress and anxiety during hospitalization have a huge impact on recovery and create delays in other patients’ care. Gomo is a plush toy designed to lessen anxiety in pediatric patients. Gomo does this by facilitating a positive interaction between medical staff and the patient. The toy is given to a pediatric patient by a hospital staff member. The staff member can use the Gomo app and toy as a visual aid to explain illnesses or injuries to the patient. The Gomo app uses augmented reality to project ten body systems onto the plush toy. The app uses Gomo’s face as a homing mechanism to orient the different body systems on the screen over the physical toy. The staff
member and patient can add body systems to the images on the screen, click individual organs, and rotate the tablet to view different angles of the images. This interaction gives both child and staff member the opportunity to interact in a comfortable and educational setting, similar to play. The child is allowed to keep Gomo, reinforcing the positive interaction. When Gomo is not joined with its augmented reality application, it is a metal free toy that can be cuddled for comfort during procedures like CAT scans, MRIs, and X-rays. Gomo is created from inexpensive fabrics, using an easily assembled pattern. It is completely machine washable to decrease the spread of bacteria and germs.
RESEARCH What are the main causes of anxiety in hospitalized children and how can we limit this stress?
3 million children are hospitalized each year in the USA.
Preschool-aged children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of stress and fear during hospitalization.
Hospitals can take away freedom, consistency, choices, and have an overwhelming number of new faces.
Physiological stress responses can directly influence wound-healing processes.
INTERVIEW INFORMATION Claire Foley, RN
“I worked in Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant. Our young patients had central venous access devices of various kinds. One type was an implanted port. This port had to be utilized when they arrived back at the hospital so we would have intravenous access. This involved using a fairly large needle and caused many patients a lot of distress; they dreaded having it done. We did use some numbing cream to help alleviate some of the discomfort, but we also tried various strategies to distract children, talking to them about things they were interested in or telling them funny stories. We also tried to give them some control when we could, letting them decide where to position themselves,
whether to have us count to three or not, whether to hold someone's hand during the procedure, if they wanted music or TV on as a distraction. Effectiveness varied by individual, but I would say that overall, giving them some sense of control helped most, though what that meant for each child might be different. Another thing that made patients nervous was starting chemotherapy because they often experienced a lot of nausea and/or vomiting. They would dread having those symptoms. Interventions for nausea were mainly via medication, but giving patients (especially the ones who were a little older and could communicate the onset of symptoms more reliably) some information about when to ask for support/medication
(i.e., before nausea became severe or progressed to vomiting) helped to alleviate some of the anxiety. Other types of pokes, such as starting IVs or drawing blood, also make children anxious. Again, giving the patient some say in how to proceed with the procedure helps. Distraction helps. Sometimes using dolls to demonstrate to the patient what will happen helps. Also, for children more experienced with these procedures, pretending that a doll or toy was a patient who needed a procedure could help. Having the child tell their dolls or toys what will be done and letting them reassure their toy about it sometimes helped.�
S U R V E Y R E S U LT S To better understand a child’s perception of going to the doctor, I asked a sample group about their experiences as children.
Did you experience fear or anxiety when going to the hospital or doctor as a child?
61.9% yes
Please describe your best experience at the hospital or doctor’s office, as a child, in a few words:
I Got stitches when I was 8 and they let me watch after I asked them a couple times.
When I went to the U of M children’s center for a heart monitor, the staff was very child friendly.
Best was when the nurse discussed the emperor’s new groove with me.
Friendly and playful doctor’s approach.
Good nurses who take the time to explain procedures/surgeries.
Kind words, eye contact, even flow of time/events.
Doctors who tell jokes.
The doctor was nice and had a charming voice. We were talking like friends. The nurses made jokes and comforted me when I cried after the injection. I felt cared for and respected. I wasn’t being blamed or treated as an object.
When I had my tonsils removed, I got ice cream.
It was in the ER. I felt like I wasn’t in danger because everyone was calm. I figured out how to change my heartbeat and messed with the nurses.
Best was when I had encephalitis and the nurse rolled a handmade toy car in through the door that a local man had made for kids at the hospital.
IF you experienced this fear how did you express it?
I didn’t feel any fear.
I just felt anxious or had anxious thoughts.
I cried.
I argued or fought my parent or guardian on the way to the hospital or during procedures.
I argued or fought with hospital staff before a procedure.
I had a panic attack.
What would have made you feel better about going to the hospital?
Playing with toys that represent hospital equipment
Toys or games in general to distract you
Rewards for procedures
Parent explaining what was going to happen
Improved environment such as lighting and colors
A virtual companion
Being in control of minor aspects of the situation
Improved hospital gowns
C R E AT I N G G O M O Gomo: A plush toy that promotes positive interactions and helps the child understand his or her circumstances in a fun and relatable way.
INSIGHTS After sifting through my research, I realized that a positive interaction between staff and the child really made the difference in a child’s experience. Children felt less anxiety when adults explained what was happening in simple language and let them participate in simple choices. Distraction, in the form of toys or games, also helped kids deal with anxiety. Consequently, I created Gomo, a plush toy that promotes positive interactions and helps the child understand his or her circumstances in a fun and relatable way.
P L U S H F O R M I D E AT I O N
P AT T E R N
WHAT IS GOMO? Gomo is a plush toy that interfaces with an augmented-reality point of care iPad app. Gomo is designed to use as a tool for hospital staff to explain illnesses and injuries to preschool-age children. When the Gomo app scans the stuffed toy, it projects the body systems in 3D onto the surface of the toy. The Gomo app features ten body systems: the skeletal system, integumentary system, immune and lymphatic system, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, nervous system, muscular system, digestive system, endocrine system, and urinary system. When Gomo is not interacting with the app, it is a metal-free toy that can be held for comfort during procedures like CAT scans, MRI, and X-rays.
click on the Gomo app
load screen
click on scan button
app scans toy
APP FLOW
place toy under Ipad
reveals 3D organs superimposed
Gomo greets user and gives directions
line up target with face
click on icons for different systems
click through ten body systems
click icons to add systems
click icons to add systems
click on individual organs for close-ups
Gomo is given to child by hospital staff
SEQUENCE OF USE
Staff uses Gomo as a tool to educate children
Child can use Gomo for comfort
Gomo is metal free, for use during hospital procedures
Gomo can be washed using standard facilities
Gomo is cheap and easy to produce
PROTOTYPE
Thank you!