Nikita Arora I’m a third year student of product design at National Institute of Design. My interest in the field developed from my childhood curiosity for materials and mechanisms and a habit of continuously questioning everything around me. Taking this passion forward in the right direction, I hope to improve the lives of those around me.
Work Experience
Education
Summer internship at Maruti Suzuki India Limited Concept generation for INACTUS initiative
Schooling :The Mother’s International School, Delhi (2001-12) Undergraduation : National Institute of Design (2013)
Software skills
Exposure
Photoshop Sketchbook pro Indesign Rhinoceros Keyshot
Teaching students of Kechla village, Orissa (2012) Live documentation of Village in Gujarat (2013) Product development for craftsmen (2013) Coordinator for placements (2014-15)
Skills
Personal Interests
Sketching and rendering Product development Physical prototyping Wood Carving
Playing and watching tennis and ping-pong Photography Stitching Character building Hand Lettering
Railway Ladder A redesign of the existing ladder in the Indian Railways. Making it more comfortable to use by senior citizens, ladies, shorter and obese users.
EXISTING SOLUTIONS Different products existing in Indian railways and around the world were studied and analysed in the given scenario.
Through observation, interaction with users and personal experience I gathered insights on the usage of ladders in railways.
TASK FLOW
To redesign the ladder of the indian railways sleeper coach to make climbing easy and more comfortable.
Problems Identified: Body is at 90째 to the ground while climbing: no support Not enough foot-holds and hand-holds Slippery rails, not enough grip Not easy to get into middle berth
MOCK-UPS
#1: Hinged pipe structure. Opens up to create a ladder #2: Foldable ladder. Adds support and gives angle while climbing
An angle created while climbing
IDEATION
Minimal designs were thought of with very less use of mechanisms and joineries due to infrequent cleaning and repair.
#1
#2
PROPOSAL #1 Diiferent placement of grips, along the length of support structure Climbing across the aisle Basic stainless steel pipes with texture for grip
Looking at the system as a whole this alternative is more vaible as the ladder rails used currently are of the same material (stainless steel) and made in the same manner. This is also easier to maintain and has a longer life.
FUNCTIONAL MOCK-UP
Benefits of new design Easier to pull weight up Enough space to get into middle berth Can be used by 4 berths Not embarrassing for women while climbing
TASK FLOW With the new ladder the user can comfortably come down now, with more no. of footholds and easy shifting of weight. Also feeling less embarrassed about having to hop from one side of the aisle to the other.
To come down, lift and place ladder in slot. Use the 90째 angle between the ladder rails to come down. Once you reach, place it back in the slot.
FINAL PROPOSAL 3 form options, depending on the max. and minimum height of different coaches and the no. of berths in each. Pipe made with sheet bending coating of polyeurathane suggested to add grip
Experience Design This was a 2 week course where I started by understanding different interactions that people have with the objects in and around their homes. Keeping in mind that emotional attachment we had to create something retaining the essence of home in the Indian context.
BUILDING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY We were to set up our project in a locality consisting of 5 different types of settlements. Keeping this in mind we wanted to create something for the children there to inculcate a sense of teamwork and brotherhood in them. Getting our hands dirty with Arduino Uno and experimenting with different kinds of sensors and keeping in mind the idea of ‘connected communities’ we made a bubble maker placed such that it starts only when a group of people hold hands together.
IDEATION To understand the relatively new concept of ‘smart’ homes and retain the essence of home, in the Indian context.
TESTING On testing, the bubble-maker passed with flying colours. It made the children want to hold hands to see the magic, that is bubbles!
Replica Creation A kid’s scooter was chosen as our for study and it was replicated using the materials and the machines in the student workshop of our institute.
PLANNING AND PREPARATION We made a scaled down (0.8) version of the scooty,used multiple processes to create the structure. Through this we also learnt about different kinds of mechanisms. Lathe, welding, sheet bending, vacuum forming and aluminium casting are few of the processes we used to create different parts
We started by planning the process of replication part by part, then taking measurements of all the components.
Wooden moulds were made for the clamps and brakes to cast them in aluminium.
There were a total of six mechanisms we had to replicate in the scooty
MECHANISMS & WORKING Rubber wheels
Rubber grip
Polystyrene wheel cover
Mild-steel
Spring steel
Aluminium brake
Spring steel
Stainless steel shock-absorber
Tool for patchwork In a small settlement in Vaadaj, Gujarat there are families of craftswomen doing patchwork in their houses. For many, this is their livelihood and they spend 9-10 hours a day making patchwork garments. I chose to study them and make a tool to aid their craft.
TOOLS USED
Currently 2 techniques are employed to make the desired cuts: 1. Scissors: Used by older women or newer craftsmen. It is simpler to use but causes bruises and swelling in the hands. 2. Cutting blade and slate:
SCENARIO STUDY
Different types of surgical blades were studied and their cutting ablitly was tested.
Used by experienced craftsmen, causes strain in the back and stress on the spinal cord over time. Need for something more comfortable and fast.
PROT
Different type ied and their
TOTYPING
es of surgical blades were studr cutting ablitly was tested.
TESTING
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Step 9: The cloth is ready to be patched!
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Things to work on:
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The blade was attached to the rear side of the punching machine. This gave the user the kind of power that was needed and made it comfortable to operate.
Steps 1-4: Folding cotton cloth in 8 folds Steps 5-6: Puncture cloth with product. Place cloth inside and then stab. Step 7: Pull product till desired length of slit for patch is achieved. Step 8: Open cloth and check slits.
Kind of hinge for longer lengths of cloth measurement of slit
ATM interface redesign Relooking at a machine we use daily from the point of view of a senior citizen. Solving for issues of cognition, accessibility and functionality for the elderly.
JAYRAM NAHAR
SHYAM SOLANKI
70, retired Children settled, lives with wife Withdraws monthly (2-3) Doesn’t use smartphone Has a daily routine
55, working Children settling Withdraws frequently (4-5) Has smartphone, learning Busy with work and home
JAYA SHARMA
SANGEETA SOLANKI
67, retired Children settled, lives separately Withdraws sometimes (3-4) Has smartphone, uses sometimes Keeps busy with activities
55, working Children settling Withdraws sometimes (1-2) Uses some smartphone features Busy with work and home
USER PERSONA There are 3 main type of users Regular and frequent Irregular and infrequent Irregular but frequent By marking the pain-points of different user groups I could make my design cater to a large section of the elderly group.
Illustrations by Late R.K. Laxman
EXISTING SOLUTIONS There are various technologies currently being used for authentication, although no ATMs specifically designed for the elderly keeping in mind Speed of cognition Ease of access Comfort level with automated machines
IDEATION
Two categories of concepts were formed: Making some areas of the machine user friendly Proposing a complete overhaul of the machine with advanced features I wanted to increase the user’s physical interaction with the machine. I noticed that the age group of my users responds well to tactile stimuli.
CURRENT TASK-FLOW
Main problem areas: No indication on the resting home screen Identification of next task Transaction times out while thinking Orientation of card while inserting Get confused while transaction is processing
PROTOTYPING
To test the interface I created a sleeve for my touch screen laptop and added the features onto it.
It was created in such a way that the user could interact with it just as he would with a real ATM machine.
Different areas in the machine the elderly interact with.
Different pain-points in the machine usage (for elderly).
REVISED TASK-FLOW
Main solutions proposed: Welcoming screen that changes as a person steps in front As you press on the required option the screen changes and new animation guides you to next task A time-out circle on the top-left corner acts as a prominent visual guide while money is being processed ‘swipe card’ animation has ‘Visa’ written to prove as a guide for the user Arrows corresponding to the location of those controls on the machine act as good visual cue. Clean screen to reduce confusion of elderly Common slots for receipt and money (proposed) Compulsory receipt Clean and simple animations to reduce clutter and improve understanding 3 Language options (English, Hindi and regional) to better aid user and remove hesitation.
TESTING
Based on my insights I added and removed some features. The total number of steps was reduced Animations incorporated to make it easy to understand Timer was added to alert elderly ‘May I help’feature was added as a last resort compulsory receipt
Representational techniques Learning representation of products in different forms; sketching, rendering and 3D modelling of various objects. Through ths I got a better understanding of objects in 3D space and the effect of light and shadow.
DIGITAL RENDERING Digital rendering of different products using photoshop. This helped me enhance my understanding of form in 3D and open my mind up to more creative possibilities. For the grater good
RHINO 3D MODELLING I first took measurements of various products and their components, then sketched them from different views to get a better understanding of the masses.Later by taking references I started building on the final models.
Character Design Taking inspiration from different objects and cultures characters were developed from scratch. Through this the idiosyncrasies of personalities were studied and peculiar characteristics analysed.
MARSHNAPPER Marshnapper is an animal inspired by the mechanism of a swiss knife. This creature was then given a story by adding different attributes to enrich the character.
TEJ RANI Tej Rani is a character created from the three words ‘Kerala’,’Village’ and ‘careless’. She is a fearless hunter in the forest of the Chalakudi riverbasin in Kerala who is always defeated because of her carelessness.
MEMU train experience After studying the ticket booking and boarding system for the train MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) a problem was found at the point of booking tickets. At the end of the one week module we proposed a design of an easy-to-use ticketing machine.
INSIGHTS RESEARCH COMPILATION Opportunity areas identified: #1: Website redesign. Many issues with the task flow and the kind of information displayed #2: Wayfinding and information display on different platforms and at the entrance. #3: Ticket redesign (no heirarchy of information display leading to confusion for the traveller. #4: Long queues at ticketing counters and less/ no use of ticketing machine
We studied the process of train ticket booking for the MEMU (Mainline Electric Multi Unit) train. We identified the poorly designed ticket booking machine as an area of intervention. It performs the basic functions of booking a ticket, enquiry and gives details of the train booking. At the end of one week we proposed a redesign of the existing ticket vending machine placed at the station.
FEATURE
During the initial stages of operation of the machine there will be an attendant to help them understand the technicalities of the machine and to make sure all transactions run smoothly while there will always be an operator at the back who will be visible to the users at all times. This way they are reassured of some human being’s presence while they are transacting.
IMPROVED DESIGN
Revised taskflow: This is the task flow of a user operating the machine. We kept in mind the variety of functions the user would be comfortable in performing.
Food Delivery Storage (Work In Progress)
Creating a new way of delivery that has increased storage, more comfortable for the rider and ensures food reaches the user fresh and hot.
ON-THE FIELD RESEARCH I looked at diferent kinds of restaurants. Focussing on middle segment food places having the need for something to keep their food in good condition while keeping in mind the quality and the reputation of the restaurant. From the point of cooking the order to the point where the customer opens it, it loses around 10째C on an average leading to a bad experience. The solutions need to cater to: A Portable and detachable storage One unit can do heating and cooling of the food Increased storage (modular)
EMPATHY as a tool Brief:
Tracking a pack of fries and a glass of coke from a McDonalds outlet to the delivery destination. This helped me think of the rider’s pain-points when delivering. Some of which went unnoticed even to the rider.
Designing a more efficient food delivery system for restaurants. Having a unit that can act as a heating as well as a cooling unit. This unit should be modular and portable so it can be easily detached from the rider’s bike adding to the comfort of the rider. Understanding various stakeholders and giving further definition to the brief.
GEL PACK:
Source of heat A study of the amount and the rate of heat-loss in food. This was done to understand the capacity of the Phase Changing Gels/Materials to retain heat for a long time.
Putting cheese sandwiches to the test
In this experiment 2 ways of heating/ cooling were understood. One is conduction in case of the gel packs and radiation in case of the hot air.
I tested 6 scenarios in which cheese sandwiches could be stored when transporting and noted the loss of heat in each case.
The gel is same as the one used for hot and cold fermentation. I am looking for a material that can heat as well as cool at the same time.
1 Sandwich Tissue wrapped Outside Box no insulation 34 °C
1 Sandwich Tissue wrapped Inside box no heating 35 °C
2 Sandwiches Tissue wrapped Inside box no heating 38 °C
1 Sandwich Tissue wrapped Inside box heating pads 37.5 °C
1 Sandwich Tissue wrapped Inside box hot air 40 °C
2 Sandwiches Tissue wrapped Inside box hot air 38 °C (-16
Post-experiment feedback
Tools: A hair-dryer and an IR thermometer. A comparitive analysis of sandwiches in different scenarios was done. For this different compartments were made in a cardboard box and shut. This was timed and the temperature was measured.
HEAT LOSS EXPERIMENT
Calculating the heat-loss of different sandwiches in different scenarios. It gave me a better understanding of the different factors involved in heat-loss.
hmedabad.
Personal Projects Some self-initiated projects I took up over the weekend.
WACOM TABLET COVER This was made out of an old torn T-shirt on a weekend. The wacom was first measured, different possibilities were thought of and then the marking cutting and stiching was done, entirely by hand. Slot on the side where the stylus sits
SKETCHING, LETTERING Easy to carry, mess makes the contents easily accessible
Watercolour painting and handlettering are my newest passtimes. Doing live sketching of my friends and playing around with different font styles and techniques in my freetime.
Nikita Arora 3rd year Product Design, Industrial Design, 2013 nikita_a@nid.edu, ph.:09537577650