RUBEN ERIKSSON PORTFOLIO
RESUME
RUBEN ERIKSSON 910226 | VÄSTERÅS | SWEDEN The last few years has been a real roller coaster ride. A custom car painter turning industrial designer. And in-between, experiencing several other ventures such as starting my own clothing line and participating in the World Sneaker Championship. A journey filled with exploration and different challenges. All these activities have one thing in common – the urge to create something new. I’ve been around workshops since I was young, so creativity has always been hands-on. Being practical and create things with my own hands is something that I truly enjoy.
CONTACT INFORMATION +46 738 050851 per.rubeneriksson@gmail.com
EDUCATION
WORK
UMEÅ INSTITUTE OF DESIGN
ATTENTION
MFA in Advanced Product Design | Umeå | Grad 2018
Industrial design internship | Copenhagen | 2015
UMEÅ INSTITUTE OF DESIGN
WIDELLS BILPLÅT
BFA in Industrial Design | Umeå | Grad 2016
Auto body shop | Västerås | 2010 -2012
PENSOLE FOOTWEAR DESIGN ACADEMY
PEACE RICH
Foot Locker - Fueling the Future of Footwear | Portland | Grad 2015
Clothing line | Västerås | 2012-2016
PENSOLE FOOTWEAR DESIGN ACADEMY World Sneaker Championship | Portland | Grad 2014
ÖLANDS FOLKHÖGSKOLA Preporatory design education | Öland | Grad 2013
WESTERLUNDSKA GYMNASIET Vehicle and transportation programme | Enköping | Grad 2010
INTERESTS
SKILLS SOFTWARE
WORKSHOP
LANGUAGES
HOBBIES
ACTIVITIES
FAVORITES
Adobe Photoshop Adobe Illustrator Adobe Indesign Adobe Premier Adobe After Effects Solidworks Rhino
Painting Milling Welding Clay Wood Metal PU-foam
Swedish English
Sneakers Wordplays Streetwear Music
Football Floorball Screen printing Writing rhymes
Arsenal FC Zlatan Ibrahimovic A$AP Rocky Lord of the Rings Pontiac Catalina Pizza
CONTENT
FRM AIRCON
01
WORX MTX
02
BAY
03
MORA FUSION
04
ROEBLING
05
RANDOM
06
01 FRM AIRCON BFA DEGREE PROJECT 10 WEEKS – SPRING 2016
This project was done in collaboration with Attention, UmeĂĽ Auto Body Painting and Pensole. The project targets auto body painters that work in an auto body repair workshop, which for the most part is doing insurance claims. Focus will also be on the next-generation auto body painters, who are more safety conscious and also demand the best possible work environment conditions.
INTRO
A INDUSTRY IN NEED Today there are more new cars sold than ever. Cars with new materials and constructions, creating new demands on auto body repair workshops around the world. The auto body repair industry is constantly evolving when it comes to the materials and tools used, work efficiency and more, but when it comes to the personal protective equipment for those working in this profession nothing really happens. The auto body painter is one of the persons who suffers most from this stagnation of development.
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE THE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR AUTO BODY PAINTERS?
EQUIPMENT
HOOD OVERALL SHOES READ JOB ORDER
PLACE OBJECTS IN PAINT BOOTH
MASK AND WASH OBJECTS
MIX BASECOAT
PREPARE SPRAY GUNS
APPLY BASECOAT
DRYING TIME
MIX CLEARCOAT
APPLY CLEARCOAT
CLEAN SPRAY GUNS
PLACE OBJECTS IN OVEN
EMPTY OVEN
USAGE The equipment an auto body painter uses daily includes an overall, a full face respirator hood and a pair of work shoes. The full face respirator is only used inside the paint booth while painting. The overall is worn the whole day, but is only necessary during painting and mixing paint, protecting from stains. The work shoes are active and in use during the entire day.
X8
FULL FACE RESPIRATOR HOOD OVERALL WORK SHOES
THE PAINT BOOTH
30-35°C INSIDE 9 KM EVERY DAY CONCRETE FLOORS METAL GRIDS JOINT DAMAGES
AN EXTREME ENVIRONMENT
A painter spends most of their day inside the paint booth, walking an average of 9 km per day inside the booth on floors made of concrete and metal grids, eventually leading to the most common injury for this profession - joint damages. Next to the booth there’s a oven, making the temprature in the booth around 30-35° Celsius.
INTERVIEWS
“Today’s equipment is quite good, but it is a pity that the equipment wears out fast. It is annoying when the equipment fails, especially the shoes. - Desiree 25, professional auto body painter
“It is hot inside the overall, it’s not breathing good enough. The shoes are falling apart. This is the fourth pair of shoes that I have worn since I started my education two years ago.” - Viktor 18, student
“Shoes are a problem. Can’t wear a steel toe cap. Clogs are practical and not so warm, but they’re not flexible. The full face respirator hood is clumsy.” - Raino 45, professional auto body painter
“My feet are completly exhausted on fridays. Because you move around so much on such hard surfaces.” - Fredrik 32, professional auto body painter
A COMMON PROBLEM Based on the use of the personal protective equipment, statistics about the paint booth and interviews with my target group, it was clear that one part of the protective equipment wasn’t made for a life inside the paint booth; the work shoes.
FOCUS AREA
THE SHOES Today there is no standard for working shoes for auto body painter. Since there are no restrictions that you have to wear a steel toe cap, every kind of shoe could be used. But there are no shoes on the market that are made for this purpose and context, making the average lifespan of a shoe in this environment six months. The painters need a shoe that could withstand heat, wear, paint dust and movement.
THE VISION:
6 MONTHS PROBLEM SOLVER The aim of this project was to create a new standard and a new type of work shoe specifically designed to withstand the demanding environment of a paint booth. The final product should look like it belongs in its context and meets the demands the profession imposes on the product and the auto body painter. The specific problem areas, heat, wear, paint dust and movement, must be solved.
IDEATION
SKETCH PROCESS Throughout the sketch process the focus was on my problem areas; heat, protection and wear of the outsole. Mobility is also extremely important, so I wanted all the sketches to convey that expression and feeling. I also explored the possibilities to make use of the existing environment, transforming the negative into an advantage, into something positive. The best ideas from these sketches were then summarized into three different concept.
USER FEEDBACK
THE EXPERTS As part of the process, I went to a auto body repair shop to get my concepts evaluated by my users, and to collect information that could be valuable for the final project direction. I presented my three concepts for Robin and Desiree, and then we talked about the pros and cons for the different concepts.
COMBINE After the evaluation session I decided to combine parts from all of the concepts into one final concept. They wanted the shoe to be a hightop and work like a slip-on. The ventilation solutions were also highlighted, together with other minor features.
FORM DEVELOPMENT
FINAL DECISIONS When the final direction of the project was determined and I had clarified my requirements list, the true forming work could begin. During this process, I tested different expressions, while I tried to get all the components to fit together nicely, in a way that felt natural and right. The focus was to create an attractive silhouette, but most important was to highlight all the special features that I wanted to include.
RESULT
FRM AIRCON The final result shows a whole new vision for future work shoes within this profession. A product that meets all requirements for use in the intended environment. With this product, I want to change the standard for how a work shoes should look and function. To challenge the current industry standards, and show that development is necessary for this profession.
INSIDE The inside of the shoe is designed for the user’s increased comfort and well-being. The inner lining and the insole are composed of soft nubs, offering massage, which improves blood circulation in the foot and thus counteracts pain after a long working day. The insole features a hole pattern allowing ventilation. Hole patterns and ventilation channels are found inside the shoe, maintaining a comfortable temperature during use.
DETAILS
PULL TAB
STRETCH CUT
HOSE CONNECT
FLEX AREA
FLEX GROOVE
AIR CONNECTOR
HEEL COUNTER
AIR TOE CAP KICK AREA RUNNING TOE
SOLE FLEX
FUNCTIONS The final product is equipped with the functions and details necessary to facilitate the work for the auto body painer. Functions that are active during the whole day, contributing more efficiently and extending the lifespan of the product.
FLEX AREA VENTILATION PATTERN
R
VENTS
FLEX GROOVE
FLEXIBLE The characteristics of the shoe enables flexibilty during all the different working positions. This, together with the light weight, makes the product really adaptable and mobile. Strategic flex grooves in the sole makes it possible for the shoe to flex in all directions.
VENTILATION
CUT THROUGH FRM Aircon is able to use the already installed air ventilation inside the paint booth in order to create a consistent flow of air inside the shoe. The main ventilation is placed below the metal grids, creating a constant flow of air sucked down through the floor of the paint booth. Using the hole pattern found in the outsole and insole, the air can pass straight through the shoe, creating a flow of comfortable temperature.
CONNECTED To further enhance ventilation it’s possible to connect the shoe to the air pressure system inside the paint booth. This system provides a constant pressure of cold air. A tube is connected to the heel counter, and the air travels through small vents that emit air at different places inside the shoe.
CMF
ELASTIC ARIAPRENE
SYNTHETIC LEATHER
TPU WELD
PHYLON
SOFT RUBBER
STANDARD
SAFE
SPORT
STEALTH
MATERIALS The final product’s materials are able to withstand the extreme environment inside the paint booth. The materials are lightweight, mobile and sleek, to really suit this profession. The upper is treated with a thermoplastic polyurethane coat, which is resistant to paint dust and solvents.
CONTEXT
02 WORX MTX PARAMETRIC MODELLING 5 WEEKS – WINTER 2017 The aim of this project was to increase the knowledge and importance of time planning, and in the meantime learn modelling in SolidWorks. The task was to analyze an existing multi-trimmer and use the parts to create a new working screwdriver branded for a choosen brand.
MULTI-TRIMMER
ANALYZING COMPONENTS The given multi-trimmer was taken apart to investigate the internal components and what kind of production method that had been used. These parts were also supposed to fit in the re-designed multi-trimmer, with the end goal to create a fully functional 3D-printed prototype.
22 H
DESIGN FREEZE
WORX
BRAND BOARD I chose to work with the chinese brand Worx for the branding of my multi-trimmer. Worx is a line of lawn and garden equipment with a strong and charactaristic design language. The final result of this project should fit into their existing product segment.
SKETCHES
DETAILS During the ideation phase I used my brand board as inspiration to be able to find a new design that would feel like a Worx product. I wanted the black main body to protect the orange inner, and include some details like their round switch and classic trigger.
RESULT
WORX MTX This is the new multi-trimmer for Worx, the MTX. A trimmer that is robust but still lightweight. With features like the circular release twist button and a safety button on top, the trimmer is safe and easy to use. It also offers a hollow area in the bottom so you can hang it anywhere.
X
FEATURE
EXPLODED VIEW
CHARGER
CIRCUIT BOARD
SAFETY BUTTON
BATTERY
TRIGGER RELEASE TWIST
MOTOR
READY FOR PRODUCTION Overall, the multi-trimmer consist of 9 parts, including the main body and buttons. During the modelling, production methods were in mind. Draft angles, wall thicknesses, ribs, screw holes, lip and groove had to be considered for the components to fit inside in the final working prototype.
PROCESS
03BAY SOUND DESIGN PROJECT 2 WEEKS – WINTER 2017 This project was a collaboration between two of the master programmes at Umeå institute of Design; Interaction Design and Advanced Product Design. The aim was to choose a topic and create a new product that would include sound and light as a way of interaction. All the sounds had to be produced by using existing media at school. TEAM Ruben Eriksson, Anton Ingvaldson, Maximilian Herr, Alejandro Mandrion, Borut Kerzic
INTRO
TOPIC: WATER REMINDER
DEHYDRATION We wanted to work with dehydration for this project, based on the facts that people in general drink less than they should. A normal adult should drink at least two litres per day, but studies shows that three quarters of the world’s population is dehydrated, which could lead to different diseases and conditions.
1 LITRE F 2 LITRES FO 75% IS DEH IRRITABILITY FOGGY M INFANT
FOR KIDS OR ADULTS HYDRATED Y & FATIGUE MEMORY ILLNESS
71% 60%
ALL AROUND US We are no strangers to water. Most of the globe is covered by it, and our bodies consist of it. So drinking water shouldn’t be that strange to do, but this seems to be easily forgotten. How could a “drink water reminder” be as natural as the liquid itself?
DIRECTION
CHANGE THE BEHAVIOR We wanted to focus on the educational part of the dehydration problem, to implement a new behavior of drinking more water. To find the source of this problem, we thought that it could be an idea to introduce the importance of water as early in life as possible, and here we decided to focus on kids. We saw an opportunity to change behaviour and a attitude among these kids, a positive habit that could be carried through life. This would ideally lead to increased water intake and knowledge during adulthood.
HOW TO MOTIVATE?
?
THE SOURCE
4-8 YEARS OLD
TARGET GROUP Our users are between the age 4-8. In this age, kids tend to learn quick, everything goes fast and it’s fun. Around these ages, they also start to be more independent and can make active choices by themselves. But the challenge to motivate them to drink more still remain.
IDEATION
S
POWERED BY WATER The idea was to create a new water bottle that would make the kids feel like they have superpowers. A product that motivates and reflects the positive effects of drinking water. This new bottle should be simple to use and understand, and the shape should be recognizable. The bottle in itself would become a new superhero, the kids’ daily companion.
SOUND BOARDS: CHARACTER INSPIRATION The final product would include sound and light. Inspired by different cartoons we produced some sound boards to guide us towards the perfect sounds. The sound should have its own character, a new unisex superhero.
PROCESS
LIGHT A neopixel light was used in our product. A small but powerful light source
CODING The neopixel light was programed to fit our needs and to showcase the funtions.
USER TESTING
SOUNDS
A simple mock-up was made just to be able to try the different scenarios with our user group.
All the sounds were produced and recorded true to the vision of our sound boards.
MODEL MAKING A final physical model was made out of PU-foam and 3D-printed parts.
CMF Since the character should be gender neutral, we chose the colors carefully.
RESULT
BAY The final product is a water bottle that serves as a companion for the kid. A new interactive hydration experience, that constantly reminds the child to drink enough water throughout the day. The main body is made out of sandblasted plastic, and inside the lid the neopixel light is mounted. This light tells the child when it is time to drink, refill or charge. The mouth piece is interchangable for health reasons, and there’s an opportunity to attach a strap to the bottle, to make the handling easier. The docking station is where Bay is charged during the evening.
HOOK FOR STRAP
INTERCHANGEABLE MOUTH PIECE
SANDBLASTED PLASTIC
CHARGING PLATE
DOCKING STATION
OVERVIEW
REMIND
REFILL
DRINK
GOOD MORNING
GOOD NIGHT
READY TO GO
CHARGING
BY YOUR SIDE THE WHOLE DAY Bay is with the child during the entire day, from early morning, until bedtime. During this time Bay reminds the child to drink enough water, 1 litre per day. Since the bottle contains 33 cl, two refill pitstops are needed. When it is time to interact with Bay , the bottle uses light and sounds to make it easy for the child to understand when to use it. During night time Bay is charged in the docking station. The bottle will radiate a subtle glow during the whole night to keep the child company. No more monsters!
SUPERPOWER
WATCH THE PRODUCT VIDEO:
04 MORA FUSION COLLABORATION PROJECT 3 WEEKS – FALL 2016 During this project we worked closely with FM Mattsson Mora, a swedish manufacturer of water taps and faucets. They wanted us to investigate how they could implement their future products in a professional healthcare setting.
INTRO
THE HEMATOLOGY WARD The project started of with a visit to the hospital. At the hematology ward we got a chance to see and investigate the current setup of products they use. Ordinary faucets were used together with refillable soap and alcohol in plastic bottles. The highest priority was to keep the faucet and the whole basin area clean. We talked to some nurses about the current setup, and got valuble user insights and feedback.
GOPRO VIEW
HANDWASHING A GoPro camera was used to capture the hand washing procedure. This procedure takes almost three minutes and covers the whole hand and most of the forearm. To keep the sterile and hygienic environment intact, the nurses were pro touch-free solutions.
FOCUS AREA
TODAYS SETUP: THE HEMATOLOGY WARD IS THE WARD THAT IS USING MOST HAND DISINFECTION 70-90 TIMES PER DAY ALCOHOL
HAND WASHING WITH WATER AND SOAP IS ONLY PREFORMED 7-10 TIMES PER DAY
:
SOAP
WHAT IF ALCOHOL WAS THE MAIN LIQUID, BUT WATER AND SOAP WOULD STILL BE AN OPTION
!?
IDEATION
THREE IN ONE After the visit I decided that I wanted to create a new all-in-one unit for this environment. A unit that would include water, soap and alcohol, and still be easy to clean. I wanted the alcohol usage to be in focus, instead of having water as a default liquid coming from the tap. Of course water and soap would still be an option to choose between.
MORA FUSION
FEEDBACK LIGHT
DISTANCE SENSOR
PRESS BUTTONS ON EACH SIDE TO FLIP OPEN
LIQUID SENSOR
REFILL LEVELS
CHOOSE LIQUID Mora Fusion is a new all-in-one unit for hand cleaning specifically in healthcare settings. With the default mode it works as a touch free hand sanitizer, the unit also offers water and soap, to be able to support every step of the hand washing process. The choice of water, alcohol or soap are made by activating one of the three different distance sensors, the unit will then give instant feedback of what product that’s been chosen.
1500 ML ALCOHOL
900 ML SOAP
REFILL Below the sensors, the amount of liquid in the unit is shown, so the nurses knows when to refill. To refill the liquids, just flip the unit open by pressing the side buttons simultaneously. Using bigger refill pouches, instead of the current plastic bottles containing 600 ml, the personnel don’t have to refill the unit so often, which can safe a lot of time.
05 ROEBLING WORLD SNEAKER CHAMPIONSHIP 4 WEEKS – SUMMER 2014 I had the great opportunity to attend Pensole Footwear Design Academy in Portland, during one of its annual sneaker classes. The object of the course was to create a brand new sneaker for a given brand, aimed to a specific consumer persona. Inspiration, storytelling and details where important focus areas.
INTRO
PONY I was assigned to design a shoe for the classic footwear brand PONY. With the goal to create a new flagship silhouette for their new sub-brand named “Product of New York�, which is the meaning of the acronym PONY. The goal was to create a fashion sneaker hybrid that really have a strong connection to New York City. PONY as a brand is a true heritage brand and really wants to pay homage to its origin. As they have served as a blue-collar brand since the beginning, they wanted to create an honest shoe that is really designed for its consumer. A shoe for you to wear.
CONSUMER
STEVEN HILL 30 YEARS OLD SINGLE LIVES IN BRO OKLYN, NY WORKS DOWNTOWN M ANHAT TAN EVERYDAY COM MUTER FASHION FORWARD ALWAYS ON THE MOVE
Steven wants a shoe that serves all of his needs, a shoe that’s comfortable, breathable and reliable. That offers suspension and aids his daily travels.
INSPIRATION
BROOKLYN BRIDGE I chose to be inspired by Brooklyn Bridge for many reasons. It’s a true product of New York, and it’s this bridge that Steven crosses every day. The bridge in itself is a journey, with the purpose to take you from one place to another, almost similar to a shoe. I studied how a suspension bridge actually works, and if I could use this information to make a better and more suitable shoe for my consumer. How a bridge distributes all the forces and power that are applied.
IDEATION
A JOURNEY OF CONCEPTS During the ideation I wanted to capture a couple of things in my design. First of all I wanted to solve the problem areas and then focus on how to put the bridge in the shoe itself, through structure and function. Even if this is a sub-brand to PONY I still kept their iconic chevron logo in some places. This is the evolution of the Roebling.
RESULT
ROEBLING The final product is called Roebling after the architect who designed the Brooklyn Bridge, and that was another way to really pay homage to New York City. The upper of the shoe is mainly made of Ecco Trooper full-grain leather, while the forefoot, the collar and the tongue is made of Sadesa Civic full-grain leather. Some parts of the tongue consists of mesh fabric, just to increase breathability. The sole is made of regrind rubber and the facets resembles the silhouette of a bridge.
STORYTELLING The outsole hides a lot of small details that really tells the story about the shoe, the inspiration and the city. The herringbone pattern have a bridge shape, and there are details from the towers of the Brooklyn Bridge in the outsole. The “Product of New York� line is inspired by the centerline painted on the Brooklyn Bridge in 1971, to separate pedestrians from bikers.
DETAILS
FUNCTION BY DESIGN One main feature of the shoe is the curveshaped sole. This feature works exactly like a suspension bridge, in distributing the applied forces. So, when you put pressure on the shoe, the outsole creates suspension which is needed in a shoe for an active commuter. Roebling is equipped with several parts that will make the life easier for its users. The two leather parts that wraps around the shoe makes it more sturdy and the strap makes sure that your foot always is in place. A pulltab is avalible, so Steven just can slip in, and be ready to go.
COLORWAYS
ROEBLING COMES IN THREE ADDITIONAL COLORWAYS, ALL INSPIRED BY THE STREETS OF NEW YORK DURING DAY TIME.
06 RANDOM OWN PROJECTS SINCE 1991 This chapter shows miscellaneous projects, some are from school, some are personal. Stuff that I do during my free time and things that define me as a person.
SNEAKERS As soon as I got some time to spare I sketch sneakers, it’s just not enough to own over forty pairs. I’m simply really passionate about shoes. Some of these sketches are entries for various design competitons, and some are just for fun and practice.
CHECK MATE Check Mate is a portable carry-on device that really makes it easier to check in at the airport. You will only need to identify yourself, and then you’re good to go. So you will only need your passport or ID card, no other travel documents are required. Using RFID-technology, all of the information in your identification document is accessible for Check Mate. The device reads your information and communicates with the airport system.
ALL IN ONE! ?
When you’re checked-in, a green check-sign is shown and you will get information about your gate and your seat in the plane. Check Mate will provide only the information that is necessary for your travel. A new, and better process with fewer steps. An animated movie was made to further explain this new scenario, where the user only uses this single device, instead of choosing between several other self-service check-in machines.
YOUR BEST FRIEND AT THE AIRPORT
CHECK IT OUT!
A NEW SCENARIO
QOMBO This group project was done in collaboration with the Orthopedic department at NUS - Norrland’s University Hospital. The group members were; Ruben Eriksson, Philip Nilsson, Mattias Borg, Sonya Swan, Per Sundin and Pontus Henstam. Qombo is a system containing of a Hub and a Device thats will serve as your personal companion during your hospital visit. The Hub replaces the bed table and is adjustable both in height and rotation with a simple push of a button, that can be used both by the patient and the staff. There’s three grades of alarm buttons on both corners of the Hub. Patients can choose level of emergency, and by doing so the staff also gets the correct information to prioritize their work. The Hub is equipped with a private storage, which can only be opened when your Device is close. It also has an electric socket. Press the table slightly and it will automatically come out of the Hub. The angle of the table is adjustable. The intention of Qombo is to provide certainty and involment for the patient, while also providing a sense of comfort and friendship.
IMPROVE
ADJUSTABLE
ALWAYS CLOSE
BIO GLO Bio Glo is not just a ordinary bio gas dispenser, it’s an experience. A station made for the users, with a lot of helpful features during the fueling process, including a large info screen, which is used during payment and information display. The nozzle is placed at a good height, making handling of the hose more easy and ergonomic than before. A pattern lights up the sorrundings when it’s dark and makes the station more visible. While fueling you can use the seating area, which is designed to give the users some privacy, and an opportunity to relax while the dispenser works. The seat is of course heated during cold seasons. Read something or eat an apple, which you can recycle at the back of the station later.
TIME CONSUMING DANGEROUS OFF LIMIT
ENCOURAGING INVITING
PEACE RICH Peace Rich is the name of my own clothing brand, a brand that was active between the years 2012-2016. I’ve released several collections and the prints are always word plays in some way between the subjects Peace and Rich, two topics that are always current.
CUSTOM CARS During my years as a professional car painter I did a lot of custom projects. I gained a reputation as the go-to-guy when you wanted flames on your old american classic car. These are some of the cars that I have painted, and also helped to build. All of these cars have been on display at car shows around Sweden.
THANK YOU
RUBEN ERIKSSON +46 738 050851
PER.RUBENERIKSSON@GMAIL.COM