PORTFOLIO
contents
ABOUT ME MY WORK MY SKILLS MY GOALS RESUME
ABOUT ME Who I am
I am Dounia Bourjila, born on the 15th of May 1990 in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. After graduating from my secondary school in Nijmegen in 2009, where I got my diploma in VWO atheneum, I started with Industrial design at the University of Technology in Eindhoven. (go to http://www.douniabourjila.com for my digital ‘showcase’) Since I was young my interests have been very spread out and not focused specific things. I have always been very curious and energetic, and had general knowledge about many different things. Therefore I never have had one specific hobby, I like trying new things. But one thing that I have done and always will do is drawing and sketching. Furthermore I speak fluent Dutch, English, French, and Moroccan Arabic which is my native language. I have always had a passion for languages, other cultures and empathizing with other visions, therefore I hope to get a chance to work in international environment as a designer in the future. Whether that is abroad or just in the Netherlands.
Attitude
At Industrial Design interdisciplinary teamwork is being strongly encouraged. I have experienced in the good and bad sides of team work and communication, while now I have stepped into a new phase of working individually. I find concept development, conceptual thinking and brainstorming, resource seeking, concept presentation and brandmanagement the best competencies to fit in my comfort zone. On the other hand I try to work on prototype development skills, and I’m always open to learning new things.
Vision on design
Our world nowadays is charged with a lot of information and complexity, what made us lose our natural understanding of nature’s subtleties. Tools we design to help us in our daily life’s also contribute to our dependence of them. Being inspired by Japanese cultural values and craftsmanship, I always seek for the simplicity and elementary in things and trying to keep the natural origins. The challenge for me is to reach the same results with fewer elements, but yet to get a powerful and effective result (raw and pure). Another thing I find important in design is user involvement and experience which require understanding of human behaviour, psychology, sociology and open ended interaction, which I find really interesting to learn about.
My Mission
One of the challenges I want to take, is to seek for new ideas in combining wearables/ fashion with technology. My latest project ‘Soft & Hard’ has opened up a lot of possible ideas to go further into. Most current innovations are about new flashy things that technology can do to fashion, since fashion isn’t as innovative as it used to be. It shows our current relationship with technology and our dependance of it: our bodies have become the interfaces, therefore a part of the designs. So this required a better understanding of our bodies and dynamics. But will it mean we can create a better awareness of our selves, and our touch with the world?
Design is...
Design is my passion, my hobby, and my work. The design environment feels like my natural territory, and encourages me every day in coming up with new creative solutions and ideas. The position of a designer in society appeals to me: a designer knows a lot of things in general instead of in depth, therefore he is able to communicate with anybody of any discipline and functions as a link (which matches my personality).
Project Make The Robot Move Me
PROJECT MAKE THE ROBOT MOVE ME
C.I.D.S
FIRST YEAR BACHELOR’S PROJECT “MAKE THE ROBOT MOVE ME” | TEAM OF 3 PEOPLE | 16 WEEKS
Why
The challenge in this project was to explore the interaction between humans and robotics by investigating their properties such as emotions for example. Robots can be seen as functional things, but also as metaphors for the view on ourselves has human beings (in relation to society). But how do these two act and react on each other? To get in to know the world of robotics and social humanoid, the team worked the first view weeks on small robots. By making robots which express an emotion or a certain movement, we developed skills in electronics, programming, and fitting it in the aesthetics and expression so at the end all this knowledge can be used making one final concept. The context for the final concept is children in a social environment such as the playground of a school. Most children at the age of 4 till 12 years old play with another friend, or they play alone. It is rarely case that they play in a large group together.The design goal is to get children interact with each other by playing a game, without letting the game or robot play the largest role.
Curiosity Fascination
Playfulness
PRESENTATION OF SMALL ROBOTS OF EACH STUDENT | ONE DESIGN ITERATION PER TWO WEEKS WHICH IS ONE ROBOT | EVERYBODY PRESENTED 3 ROBOTS
What
After doing research and observations on the behaviour of children, we took children’s curiosity, fascination and playfulness as most important properties that the prototype should address. We based our inspiration for the concept on decentral systems (such as a flock of birds in the sky) in which each ‘agent’ has the same programming, but a different behaviour. All agents act and react on each others’ behaviour, but there isn’t one leader. This aspect makes the loop closed, and the game never ending. One agent’s behaviour is very simple and maybe boring (playfulness), but a groups behaviour is unpredictable and exciting (fascination). That’s when the user should interact: to try things out with his agent to see what happens with the other agents (curiosity).
BRAINSTORM
BRAINSTORMING
CHILDREN OBSERVATION
TRYING OUT THE CONNECTIONS
How
The playfulness of the agents is expressed in RGB LED-lights, which can be controlled by a potentiometer, so the user can play by himself, and an Arduino which reads the other agents if connected. The connection of agents results in colours that are ‘passing trough’ the LED-bulbs on top, which create the game. An agent has 4 possible sides to connect with another agent, and can be connected with one till four agents. The more connected the more unpredictable and complex the system becomes. One agent consists from a simple square box, with a LED on top, a potentiometer and four magnetic connection ports on four sides, so the Arduinos in each agent are connected. Each agent is programmed with two rules: to check whether the ‘neighbour’ has a different colour, and to check whether the potentiometer is turned so then it can change it’s colour.
3 children connecting (colors change)
group becomes bigger
Let’s try new structures!
Click!
GETTING READY FOR USERTEST | 12 ROBOTS IN TOTAL WITH ARDUINO CONTROLLERS PROGRAMMED , WIRES, LASERCUTTED CONNECTIONPORTS | AND LOADS OF COFFEE TO FINISH IN TIME
TESTING AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH THE TESTMODELS
Final design
Twelve agents have been built to be able to test whether the initial idea is understandable, and how the users will interact with it and with each other. The children were very attracted by the LED-bulbs and light play, but the trigger in the game wasn’t understandable for everybody, which lead to the fact that they put it away after a while. This because of the fact that even for the designer the behaviour of the total becomes unpredictable, therefore difficult to program.
Presentation during Dutch Design Week
Our project has been chosen by the faculty of Industrial Design to be shown at the annual exhibition ID’10. We also received an Excellent verdict for this project by our assessors, and we got a publication in the catalogue of ID’10! PRESENTATION AT ID’10 OF TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT EINDHOVEN DURING DDW 2010
Project Soft & Hard
Hit and don’t get hit
Difesa DESIGNED BY DOUNIA BOURJILA
Difesa
MY CURRENT PROJECT “SOFT & HARD” | INDIVIDUALLY | 15 WEEKS
Wearables & fashionable technology
In this explorative project called Soft and Hard, or “ShOaFrTd” is the challenge is to find combinations between soft and hard materials or other things within Wearable Senses. So what I explored is harmony in technology as being functional and innovative that is enhanced by the dynamics of fashion.
“ Technology makes fashion innovative again ” - S. Seymour Since the wrist-watch and hidden cameras in clothes, wearable technologies have developed themselves into well integrated tools in our networked environment. The interaction between wearable and body has become better, by using the body as an interface. Yet there is still a lot to explore in the combination wearables and technology: thinking in terms of functionality are fixating predefined ways of interpreting and using an object in technology. As for fashion/wearable designs are crafted with forms, which require to be interpreted. Therefore fashion/wearables and technology can supplement each other : technology can make fashion/wearables innovative again, and fashion/wearables can make technology fashionable and aesthetically pleasant.
See the promo movie on Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/25378192
BRAINSTORM AND INSPIRATIONAL COLLAGES
How
I think that the body shouldn’t be amplified or enhanced by a product, so it becomes dependant of it. So I created something strengthens what we already have: creating a better awareness of our body and it’s incredible possibilities without having to use any kind of practical solutions which are supposed to ‘make life easier’. Being inspired by martial arts and it’s mindset, I decided to take my own direction trough the exploration process. I developed a feedback system for kickboxers that they can use during training. I even took kickboxing lessons myself to get into it! A kickboxer , or any other fighter is able to balance his emotions and good in having control of his own body and mind. Kickboxers are increadibly aware of their body and minds possibilities. Besides that, the sport is very intense, focused and primitive: three aspects that we are losing nowadays. Here I combined the hardness of the sport, and explored the softness of wearables that should be combined with it.
Target group
I focused on recommendations from people that actually practice the sport: a feedback system that measures your body posture and position during sparring with an opponent, and remembers you when you are not standing right. I sensed from their discussions with each other that (even professionals) have difficulties when getting back in the right defense position, which makes them vulnerable for punches. So there is my design opportunity!
Design opportunity
The feedback system should respond to one’s focus while training. A beginner might struggle with his emotions such as fear, because of a lack of experience and skills, or anger, which shouldn’t be the mainspring to fight. As soon as he get’s further in the training, he will overpower his emotions, and he will better his techniques, timing, punch impact, speed, coordination and flexibility. Yet even a professional can still have struggles, which can result in winning or losing a fight. The question arises: on what factor should one focus? In general the decision of winning or losing a fight doesn’t lie in the preparation of the fighters (most have a proper managing team that trains them well, and might make use of digital trainings assistants or other high-tech innovations), but in their mental state which makes the difference at that particular moment.
LEFT HOOK
RIGHT PUNCH
The concept | personal feedbacksystem
-90° Tilted position which activates vibration after a certain time
90° Normal (good) position
Feedback by vibrating parts
Measure and determine arms position by sensors (accellerometers)
1. Measure position 2. Compare to point of reference 3. Vibrating feedback if its not a good position Boxer is being remembered if defense position isn’t good anymore.
Difesa Hit and don’t get hit
Concept The feedbacksystem is included in a longsleeve compression shirt, which is comfortable to wear and gives freedom of movement. Two sensors are placed on the arms which compare the set position with the current position. These are connected with an Arduino which is programmed to activate two vibrating sensors. These sensors are placed on the upper arms, to keep them close to the source of information (sensors). So when the arms are tilted for too long (which is 2 seconds already), the user will feel a vibration in the arm that doesn’t have the right defense position. The user can set the ‘zero-position’ him or herself, to adapt it to their prefered defense position. After using the design, the Arduino can be connected with a computer to read-out the data which show which of the arms shows a bad defense-position (which has vibrated the most).
“An intelligent wearable designed for martial arts practitioners which gives feedback on their defense position during sparring, in order to prevent catching too many punches.”
1. Set basic position
Vibration 2. Vibrates when wrong Sensor
3. Memorizes durance + times
PROTOTYPE | CIRCUIT SEWED ON A PIECE OF LEATHER | WIRES CONNECTED WITH ARDUINO LILYPAD (IN THE MIDDLE) | PROTOTYPE MADE FOR TESTING; WHICH NOT THE FINAL DESIGN
Labels and brandcommunication Labels and and pricetickets are more than only for showing the logo of the garment, protection from theft and copying. Labeling and labelinnovation stimulates brandcommunication, and is nowadays an department apart in many fashion companies such as G-star, Scotch & Soda and many more. I did an experiment with lasering the name of my ‘brand’ on leather. The terrible smell it emitted contributed to it’s authencity. The labels are placed on the boxinggloves which are made from jeans, and on the prototype.
“Many labels are returning to traditional processes, couture principles, and craft techniques to distinguish their garments from mass produced fashion brands” - B. QUINN
KICKBOXING GLOVES AND PUNCHING BAG MADE OUT OF JEANS
GENUINE LEATHER | LASERPRINTED TEXT
Prototype Building up the prototype required working in small steps; design iterations. I started with testing the electronics in a small glove, and programming them on the computer. The next step is implementing the wires in the shirt, which also requires testing different methods. The final step is making the shirt complete and trying it on.
Project Design rides for Dutch Design Week 2010
Designrides for Dutch Design Week
Designrides at Dutch Design Week 2010 EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITY | TEAM OF 3 PEOPLE | 6 WEEKS | CLIENT: DUTCH DESIGN WEEK
The challenge The design rides competition is an initiative taken by the organization of the Dutch Design Week Eindhoven of 2010. The competition was also taken into our faculty of Industrial Design to challenge the students to re-design the specially decorated taxi’s that visitors during DDW to and from any location in Eindhoven. The focus is on an object that is placed on the roof of the Design Ride, which should catch the attention of people passing by, and it should fit in the theme ‘Design Bizarre’.
Why I participated in this challenge (which was an extracurricular activity for me) because it is an excellent educational experience in which I could gain insights in the real-life development of a prototype/idea into an actual product for a big client, time and budget management skills, therefore a complete design process. Luckily, I became one students from our faculty that won this challenge. My winning price was to build our concept, with a budget, six weeks time, and the opportunity to put my name on the Design Ride, which might be seen by 150 000 potential DDW visitors! This extracurricular project was a lot of joy and also some stress for me. Luckily I got help from two fellow students Tessa van Doesburg and Rincke Driessen to build it up. The result was magic: it has given me extra credit on an experiential level, but also an educational level: I got assessed with an “Excellent”-verdict (which is the highest verdict possible) for the complete semester of 2010 of my study Industrial Design. And the design ride itself was a huge success; I received a lot of positive reactions from people, and it has been published in several articles!
See the illustrating movie on Vimeo http://vimeo.com/19143878
Blowing Bubbles! My initial idea was to make a Bubble blowing-machine on the top of the car, which blows bubbles by interacting with the wind flows that the taxi catches when riding. The whole idea is based on a mechanical construction (no electronics included!), and makes use of natural forces around the car. It takes making bubbles into a next level. I think that the simplicity and roughness of it that made my idea unique.
How The whole idea works like a wind-sail: The mechanism of blowing bubbles is built up from a “Luxaflex� curtain, which has a two-sides moving possibility. The initial fabric of it is replaced by a mesh with small plastic rings woven in it. The whole is placed in an aluminium (lightweight) framework, which is secured in a large metal container. This container is filled with bubble-soap (water and soap), and will provide the framework with soap when being pulled up by the taxi driver.
Prototyping The prototyping required some experimenting in weight, movement, and (wind) forces, since these are not calculated in a scientifical way in before hand. It was quite a challenge to find a durable solution to blow bubbles, without having too much weight on the roof of the car, to avoid too much friction, and to consider the weather (rain might break electronics of a motor, if it was included). So I tried to find an easy and existing solution, which worked perfectly! It shows how simplicity together with mechanical solutions last the longest.
The final product The intended idea of manipulating the machine, was to let the visitor who chose for this Designride to let him or her pull the rope of the mechanism. But that could possibly break the system, and a lot of people didn’t understand how to use it. Therefore the taxi driver got out of the car every time he stopped, in order to give a “bubble show” by pulling the system up and down in front of groups of waiting people. This great extra service made the design ride a memorable experience!
READY..
SET...
GO!
My Skills
Integrating technology
MICROCONTROLLERS | SMART MECHANICAL SOLUTIONS | MATERIAL EXPRESSION | MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
Developing a working prototype is always challenging me to find out new methods of manufacturing, and creating solutions for problems. By means of experimenting and working in small design-iterations, I try to go trough the process precisely. So if a problem occurs, it is easy to find out where it started. But technology is not only about making something work, but giving it a certain dynamics, and ‘life’. SOFTWARE/HARDWARE All projects I did include a certain intelligence by means of electronics and programming. Therefore I often use an Arduino microcontroller, or try to find mechanical solutions by looking at existing products. As for 3D laserprinting I have a little experience in designing in Solidworks, and printing the model. But what I use the most is the Arduino which is a very easy way to control prototypes. Yet I would like to explore more in the field of material applications and expressions, and other professional production processes. WEARABLES In wearables and fashion I love to work with all kinds of leather. Leather has a strong, natural and pure expression, which I love. I also have used a laser cutter to create and cut a label from leather. I want to do more with leather in the future.
MOLDMAKING WITH SILICON
SOLIDWORKS
ideas and concepts
DESIGNPROCESSES | VALIDATING | BEING CRITICAL AND ANALYTICAL
Design thinking is one of the most important factors in a designprocess our in designing in general. In the study Industrial Design here at Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, the emphasis is on the process, (self)development, the creation of a vision and reflecting on everything. Therefore I have tried a lot of different designprocesses during the projects that we do (which are mostly a half year), which a learned a lot from. DESIGNPROCESSES Starting with inspiration, developing that into ideas and then concepts requires to be very critical and analytical. Every decision I make I try to validate in context and argument, to be able to explain why I chose a certain direction. TEAMWORK AND COMMUNICATION I have mostly worked in team and also individually. During teamwork, one has to be open towards other’s ideas, and to be able to communicate ideas. A good teamwork consists from people that give each other the space to express, and in which every individual knows what his or her responsibility is. I have experienced very good teamwork, but also a lot of conflicts in a teamwork. This contributed to my selfawareness and my place within a team. Working individually allowed me to put my identity for a 100% procent in my design which I liked. But it forced me to also face my less good skills which cannot be done by somebody else. CONCRETE I am very openminded which allows me to receive many ideas during brainstorming. I make use of taking pictures, drawing, collecting newsarticles and other media etc. During ideaselection I am able to be critical and validate certain assumptions.
Sketching
SKETCHING FOR EXPRESSION | FOR COMMUNICATION | AS DESIGN THINKING | FOR PRODUCTPRESENTATION
Sketching and drawing are one of my hobbies. Beside sketching for fun, I draw to communicate. During brainstorming of developing an idea into a concept, to be able to create a clear overview of my thinking, and to make others understand what I mean. I do product sketching, but also communicative/scenario sketching, and I make natural portraits. I also make use of Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop to render them, and Sketchbook Pro. My sketching style is mostly very expressive and ‘natural’ looking, which means that my drawings mostly show stories.
User Focus and Perspective
VALIDATING IN CONTEXT AND SOCIETY | EMPATHY | BEING IN THE SHOES OF THE USER | COMMUNICATION AND ASKING
In desiging I place the user on a very high level of importance. All assumptions and decisions I make during a designprocess, I try to validate them immediately in context and society. By talking to people, but also extensive usertesting. In a design I find experience a very important factor, which I try to approach from different perspectives to make it as effective as possible. Inspirational sources for me are Kansei (Japanese) design for example, and aesthetics of dynamics. Interaction is another factor which I always consider. I user needs to feel that he is being noticed by the design, so his engagement becomes as highest as possible. If the experience of the user with the design is positive in any way, then the concept is a succes. I have used User Focus and Perspective a lot with desiging exhibitions, and also project ‘Difesa’.
Form and Senses EXPRESSION | UNDERSTANDING | AESTHETICS AND BEAUTY | PERSUASIVE ATTRACTION
The image that most people have of design is that it is all about the ‘looks’. We know that there is more ofcourse. Form, senses and aesthetics are my favorite part of design. For me it works just like seeing a person, it is not only about what the eye sees, but what the heart feels by means of expression, charm etc. It is the experience that one get’s while approaching, touching, seeing; triggering the senses. HARMONY I always try to aim at harmony in the complete picture of the design. This can be the material that is used, the colors which should fit the character of the design (design for children, a luxury product etc), the total presentation of an exhibition. Especially the last aspect; during my study Industrial Design we have to present our concepts 4 times a year during exhibitions that are organized at our faculty. A love the challenge to present my concept with more that only the prototype and a poster.
my goals WHAT I CAN
Strong points My strong skills are ideas and concepts development, form, senses and expression, userfocus and perspective, cultural awareness, and design and research strategies. One of the challenges I like is translating a vision trough moodboards into ideas and concepts. I have strong analytical skills and abstract thinking. I also like to validate all my ideas in context by communicating with the user, by even walking in his or her shoes. To be able to test things, I experiment and explore with smaller prototypes. I find it fascinating how interaction consists by means of spontaneous reactions. I try to reach my goals in projects by subtle solutions that are yet strong and effective. Interests Topics that interest me the most are user/consumer experience, experience design, open ended interaction, business strategies, identity expression and development, and making a vision behind an idea visible. What I would like to dive in is how to make interactive and persuasive designs for retail goals.
WHAT I WANT TO LEARN AND DO Business processes I would like to learn about the business strategy of a company, by looking at consumer behaviour,and how these two are combined into the product. Im also really interested in brandawareness in an outside the company. Identity and expression The topic that interests me the most is fashion and it’s expression, the experience that people have wearing it, and how to make wearables more dynamic and alive. Activities In a concrete sense, I would like to follow internal projects with clients, and also do a project myself. What I find important to learn, is the total course of starting with making moodboards to developing a product and putting it in the market. What I can add as an industrial designer are new intelligent systems that can make wearables/fashion, products and events more dynamic, interactive, persuasive and attractive to create a better experience for the targetgroup. This can be done by the combination of skills that I have developed so far during my study Industrial Design.
Resume PERSONALIA Name Adress: Phone: Mobile: Email: Birth: Nationality Website:
WORK EXPERIENCE 2006-2008
Dounia Bourjila Heeskesacker 2310 6546 JX Nijmegen, Nederland 024 3787855 06 520 47 250 pompounia@live.nl 15-05-1990 in Nijmegen Dutch http://www.douniabourjila.com
Witgoedzaak ‘Casatronics’ te Malden, als verkoopmedewerkster verrichte ik de volgende werkzaamheden: -Aans preekpunt voor de klanten; klachten proberen te verhelpen, ze adviseren en verkopen -Facturen maken, afrekenen (kassa bedienen) -Producten voorzien van labels en prijskaartjes -De zaak op orde houden -Telefoontjes aannemen
EDUCATION 2002 – 2009
Secondary school on Lindenholtcollege Nijmegen Niveau: VWO- Atheneum Profile : Natuur & Gezondheid Profile subjects: Natuurkunde1, Wiskunde B1, Scheikunde1, Biologie 2 General subjects: Nederlands, Engels, Literatuur , Duits , Frans 1, Geschiedenis 1, CKV (tekenen) Extra subjects: Aardrijkskunde, Economie1, Frans 2 Diploma: yes
2009-now
Industrial Design at Technische Universiteit te Eindhoven Propedeuse: yes
LANGUAGES
Nederlands Engels Frans Arabisch
HOBBIES
SKILLS
Lezen Uitstekend Goed Goed Redelijk
Schrijven Spreken Uitstekend Uitstekend Goed Goed Goed Goed Redelijk Goed
Atletiek, Kickboxing, sketching and drawing, designing, Fashiondesign, Psychology, handcraft Microsoft office, Adobe design CS, Sketchbook Pro, Solidworks , sketching, Electronics, Programming, Prototyping
2008
Callcentermedewerkster bij Proficall op diverse projecten (koud en warm bellen) KPN, DONG energy, CZ verzekeringen
2008
Divers werk via studentenuitzendbureau ASA (dagjeswerk)
2008-2010
Callcentermedewerkster bij Mycall Nijmegen op diverse projecten (UPC, Postcode loterij, Rode kruis)
REFERENCES
Proficall callcenter Wijchenseweg 101 6538 SW Nijmegen 06 30409195 Casatronics Winkelcentrum 38A 6581 BW Malden 024 3881688
ASA Hertogstraat 67 6511 RW Nijmegen 024 3240044
Mycall callcenters Molenstraat 41 6511 HA Nijmegen 024 3295879