TOM HOBSON
Design Portfolio
About Me My name is Thomas Hobson, a Industrial Designer who has recently graduated from Northumbria University who studied Design For Industry. I am 22 years old, from Sheffield and am a positive individual who is hard working, a team player and someone who is enthusiastic to work.
Education From primary school to my last years of sixth-form, I’ve attended Birkdale School where I had the chance to learn and take part in several opportunities which have made me a well rounded person. Art Design Technology Maths Sciences English Language English Literature Geography
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Experience UNStudio - Amsterdam March 17’ - August 17’ An architectural studio based in Amsterdam which is known and works on a international standard. Their project portfolio encompasses every aspect of architecture, ranging from small to large scale projects, research and theory. I was apart of a small Product design team which worked as a consultancy, allowing me to be a part of several diverse projects which I had to manage independently.
Jake Phipps - Richmond March 16’ - Jun 16’ For 3 months I had the opportunity to work in Richmond, North Yorkshire with Jake Phipps. I took part in a various amount of task to help design and help build bespoke, luxurious furniture. This allowed me to advance my skills within Rhino, craftsmanship and the manufacture of high end furniture.
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Contents
About Me
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Experience 03 Contents 04 Casa 06 UNStudio Placement in Amsterdam
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UBuild 22 Jake Phipps Limited Placement
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Elevate 36 K-9 Dental Toy
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Casa
Casa is a hallway luminaire which looks at how light can make arriving home a more welcoming experience. By simply walking in, placing your keys down, and hanging up your coat, Casa illuminates the environment with warm and cool tones, dependent on the weight of you coat.
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The Problem The UK wastes £170 million a year by leaving lights on unnecessarily (Energy Saving Trust). “People living alone are more depressed” - An increase by 80% (BBC News) “When I walk into my studio, I walk into darkness” - Ben, 24
Very often I just leave light on, I find it easier for me to shuffle from room to room, but that often depends on where the light switch is
We turn light on by simply flicking a switch, however as we absorb artificial light constantly during the day we have forgotten to appreciate light, leading to us leaving lights on for no real reason.
located.”
- Teresa Vacca Architect
The first interaction we have with turning light on is from entering a room. Entering the front door to our homes is the first case which I wanted to focus on from the start
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There is a huge amount of people that live alone, and the routine of walking into darkness from a long day away from home has now become a part of their daily routine. Could there not be a light which senses when you are arriving home, so that once you step through the door, you are welcomed to a friendly environment which captures the feeling of arriving home?
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CAD Development
From reading the book Super Normal by Fukasawa, I wanted to keep the aesthetics simplistic so that people could instinctively understand how to use the piece. Casa can transform small residential living due its reflection, whilst also transforming its form as well. Casa sits flush against the wall, showcasing the illusion of turning a 2 dimension piece, into 3 dimensions offering new angles to the piece from where you stand.
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The light which makes a house, a home.
Casa is a hallway light which welcomes you home by illuminating your residential environment, casting normal and mood lighting to help create an atmosphere too walk into rather than darkness
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Casa senses when you’re arriving home to greet you with a gentle glow. Then by the simple act of placing your keys in the bowl and hanging up your coat, Casa enlightens your home with different moods to help relax and help you find comfort. The idea was inspired by Fukasawa quote, as Casa will fit in any home due to its simplistic, monochrome look which creates a timeless piece of practical furniture; whilst offering a new light to living alone.
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UNStudio
A 6 month placement working in Amsterdam, at a international design consultancy. The chance to work and live abroad was an eyeopening experience, which allowed me to gain more professionalism in my work as a designer.
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Letter of Recommendation Tom Hobson As an international architectural firm UNStudio is active in the broadest fields of architecture. Our project portfolio encompasses every aspect of architecture, ranging from small to large scale projects, research and theory. UNStudio has approximately 150 employees, offices in Amsterdam, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Projects in Europe, Asia, The Middle East and U.S.A. Tom was employed by UNStudio from March 1st 2017, till August 31st 2017 as a Product Design Intern. During this period he participated in the following UNStudio projects. • Inventive material platform: The first 2 weeks Tom has done an extensive research on Global warming / ‘Additive Manufacturing’ and incremental housing for refugees. Looking into facts if additive manufacturing could help prevent global warming. How we could look at Refugee housing and find potential solutions for incremental housing and to create social and liveable communities where people have basic facilities and needs being met and they can themselves become part of the solution. • MDTtex facade : Tom has done 3d modelling and 3d printing of facade panels for the MDTtex cirrus project. • Alessi_Truffle plate: Tom has worked on the design: sketch design, 3d modelling and rendering for the Alessi Truffle project. He has developed a design for a plate that compliments the truffle slicer KIT ( truffle slicer, jar and plate ). • Salviati Glass & Light: For the brand Salviati we have developed a concept of composing with glass & light. Hand blown glass combined with modern LED light into a smart sculptural and modulair system. A system that can facilitate for configurations in different types of environments ( residential, to lobbies, to voids ). A smart frame system fixating glass & light together to create functional and sculptural lighting for projects. • Artifort_Active Wall / LeanUp: For the brand Artifort we looked into the development of a new product whereby acoustics and a more active way of standing / leaning and meeting could be combined into one product. Facilitating Office activity and acoustics in one by using the existing walls in work environments and give them a new functionality. Franz has developed the concept from a sketch design into a 3d model, looking at the different physical positions of people and activities and translating them into a supporting structure with acoustic specifications. • Artifort_Sofa Grid: For Artifort we developed a concept of a sofa grid. A sofa system with modules that can create different environments and function as Micro Architectural objects. Taking over functionalities of Architectural elements ( like walls ) and therefore being able to create flexible and changeable office environments. Tom has worked extensively from sketch, to concept to 3d modelling and designing the complete system. Also making 3d printed models in the UNStudio modelroom. • Artifort_Gemini Swivel Chair: For Artifort UNStudio developed ‘Gemini’. A flexible seating system / landscape where people can sit / meet in a variety of positions. Tom developed a new swivel base for the Gemini Chair and an additional small table for a laptop or coffee in line with the Gemini chair. For this he created the 3d drawings, renderings and made a small 3d printed model in the UNStudio modelroom. • Walter Knoll_Silent and Love Chair: For the brand Walter Knoll, Tom developed a concept design for a Silent Chair, Love Chair and normal chair / sofa. A soft Furniture concept of a family of products that can facilitate the residential, but also the new office environments. Creating private places for people to meet and work and switch on or off
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Alessi
The Alba Truffle slicer combines sculpted form with functionality; twisting steel evokes the intertwining roots where truffles grow, o while the curved profile and 18 angle to help produce the perfect slicer of truffle
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Artifort
This is the Artifort Gemini ‘2.0’ which I had the privilege to have designed the new swivel base and side table to create a new iconic styled piece of furniture for the Dutch company, Artifort.
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UBuild A organic modular toy which allows children to build whatever they want, whenever they want.
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“An understanding of the natural world and what’s in it is a source of not only a great curiosity but great fulfillment.” - David Attenborough
90% of toys are now being produced from plastic and they are heavily branded, meaning they only have one function making them easily disposal and unfortunately ending up in landfill. Furthermore as the use of electronics has become more influential within the toy industry, other types of toys such as Puzzle and construction blocks have been forgotten about.
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“Allowing the kids to develop and have their own creativity is essential in early development.�
- Caroline Grover, Birkdale Prep School Teacher
I went to Birkdale school to do primary research to help gain a better understanding of my target audience. From speaking to the parents and teachers, creativity at the age 4-6 is crucial because they develop social skills and other important skills in learning to help develop as a person.
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From taking a few initial models and ideas into the school, it was time to develop the concept further, and the idea came to mind of having a couple of uniquely shaped blocks which could then be made into a few set variations, whilst allowing children to just create whatever they’d like to.
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How it works UBuild is a modular toy which contains 10 unique shapes consisting of bodies and features to let kids build whatever. Simply undo the string, and this releases the different pieces so that you can start creating whatever you want.
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UBuild targets the age ranges between 2-6 and allows these kids to interact with this toy because they can build either pre sets or their own creations. This principle can be used in classes for different topics to help them engage with learning, allowing UBuild to be tailored for different lessons. As the material selection is durable and flexible in positioning, the kids can interchange the features quickly allowing them to modify their creations for different scenarios and different surroundings. This will maximise their playful creativity either individually or together with friends.
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Jake Phipps Limited
A 3 month placement working with Jake Phipps Ltd, a luxury furniture designer.
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June 20, 2016 To whom it may concern, Tom Hobson worked under my guidance for a period of 3 months from March 2016. Tom was hugely helpful and hardworking. He was always keen to take on whatever task was put in front of him. He learnt many new skills whilst here particularly in the manufacturing of high-end furniture but also design and CAD work, marketing, shipping, packaging, and general day to day business. Tom was very rarely late and never ill and I would whole heartedly recommend him to any future employer. Kind regards,
Jake Phipps.
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Stellar Cabinet
Whilst working with Jake Phipps, I was involved with the design and execution of many hand-made, complex pieces. The manufacturing of high-end furniture is extremely intricate, and therefore the building of these pieces took great precision and care.
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Being hands on was crucial and therefore, during my placement with Jake, I helped work on new and existing products. This gave me the opportunity to prototype small components for new products, and assist in the building of furniture for clients. I had the privilege to work on two personal commissions, under the guidance of Jake. This was a great opportunity to use the skills I gained from this placement, helping me design stunning pieces, that I built by hand, to be sold to private buyers.
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Stellar Cabinet
Whilst working with Jake Phipps, I was involved with the design and execution of many hand-made, complex pieces. The manufacturing of high-end furniture is extremely intricate, and therefore the building of these pieces took great precision and care.
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Elevate
An influential feature of the outdoors and camping is sitting around the fire and enjoy the comfort and enjoying your surrounding. A fire can create memories, whilst providing a calming light to allow friends and families to enjoy the beautiful surrounding.
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“Take inspiration from this unique source of light; could there be a portable light which allows families to harness the same atmosphere that fire creates?.� - Myself
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Appealing for dogs to play with Easy to for owners to interact with their pet Still Cleans the dogs teeth efficiently
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Through initial sketches and prototyping development the idea came to me if this light could grow in size, allowing the piece to be functional in being portable, whilst also making a statement and be something visually simulating.
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The investigation stage of looking into different materials and understanding which would allow light through whilst still creating an aesthetic appeal to the overall lamp.
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The Idea
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As the shade slowly rises up this pulls a ‘seesaw’ mechanism allowing Elevate to only turn when the magnet gets closer to the reader. By transporting elevate in any bag, place the wooden base on any surface, simply unpop the buckles on the side, the shade will naturally rise up allowing the light to turn on.
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As the evening progresses, Elevate replicates natural lighting of an outdoor environment. Elevate helps set the scene, using soothing tones of light, providing a tranquil atmosphere. This subsequently encourages a persons mood to reflect the relaxing tone the light emits.
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K- 9 Dental Toy
The K-9 dental toy is a better solution to existing chew toys, as it is safer, more efficient whilst being fun for the dog to play with.
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“80% health condition in all dogs are to do with dental care.� - Dr. Norman Johnston
People take great care with their pets health and well-being, which can prove costly in the long run. During an interview with a vet about the range of existing chew toys on the market, it was made apparent that dogs are getting harmed due to the wrong materials and form in existing products. This can lead to their teeth breaking, swollen gums and pain, causing internal damage.
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Opportunity: Spikes and unbreakable dog toys are actually causing the problem; so could the dog toy’s form be less extrusive, and the correct material use?
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Appealing for dogs to play with Easy to for owners to interact with their pet Still Cleans the dogs teeth efficiently
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From observing the existing products on the market, they all have extruded objects to help clean teeth, however could the concept be switched inwards so that there isn’t anything causing a risk to the dogs gums. Being made from a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer and a High Density Polyethylene, the K9 won’t be to hard to hurt the dogs teeth. Also its a dog friendly toy compared to existing products as the holes are ribbed meaning there is nothing on the outside which is obtrusive to hurt the dogs gums.
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