William Patterson Design Portfolio - BSc Product Design Year 1

WILLIAM PATTERSON DESIGN PORTFOLIO

HELLO, I’M WILLIAM

Blending simplicity, and modernity with the traditional aspects of designs has always intrigued me. Combining this with my urge to express innovation and creativity in my work has drawn me into the field of product design. I am currently a first year student studying at Nottingham Trent University where I have developed my skills in CAD, graphic design, sketching, and the technical aspects of my designs. Although these skills have all seen improvements throughout my studies, my strongest attribute is my commitment to best suiting the functionality of a product to its intended market.

PERSONAL LIFE

Regarding my personal life, i am extremely family orientated but I strongly believe that my friendships in and out of university have helped push me to be better as a person, as well as in my work. Supporting Aston Villa makes up my weekends along with video games providing me with a creative and relaxing escape. Socialising with my friends is always a joy both in and out of my worklife.

HOBBIES AND INTERESTS

Outside of university, i have a good variety of hobbies and interests. I love the excitement of football, the adventure of video games, the intricacies of car design, the effective visuals seen in football graphics, the expression that sketching provides, and the wonder of Wildlife.

MY EDUCATION

GCSE’s - The Becket School: 4 - Grade 8’s, 2 - Grade 7’s, 3 - Grade 6’s, 1 - Grade 4.

A Levels - The Becket School Sixth Form: Product Design A*, Geography A, Physics C, Physics Practical skills Pass.

Current Studies - Nottingham Trent University - Product Design BSC. Highly Commended in Starpack Competition.

WILLIAM PATTERSON

SOFTWARE SKILLS

RE-FRAMED BRIEF:

Jake, a 21 year old video gamer, loves to spend his time in virtual reality worlds. He would love a comfortable trainer which enhances his enjoyment and immersion in his virtual reality gaming experience. Design a trainer that can aid Jake in becoming more immersed into his virtual world.

THE FUTURE OF NIKE

PREDICTING THE MARKET ENVISIONING THE USER 15 YEARS IN THE FUTURE

FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES:

Research was conducted in identifying potential markets to exploit. After researching various market trends and predicting how certain markets would develop, Virtual reality was targeted. It was the perfect market to exploit due to it being early in its prominence as well as how quickly the technology involving it was developing. In particular, haptic feedback was technology to consider as it had made its way into game controllers and could theoretically be paired alongside virtual reality in order to fully immerse a user into their virtual world.

THE AUDIENCE:

VRAfter identifying a market, a consumer was required. The intended audience of NEON was a person in their 20’s who enjoys the entertainment that virtual reality offers and could potentially offer looking 15 years in the future. This included activities such as sports simulation, video games or even just creativity. This would help to fine tune the styling of a potential product as well as better consider the haptics required in the design in order to best immerse a user within their given activity. Defining the user base proved to be critical in establishing the direction.

INITIAL IDEAS

EXPLORING IDEAS:

Virtual reality became the target market and as a result of the vast opportunities it brings, a large amount of ideation was undertaken. The aim during the ideation, was to incorporate as many haptic feedback features as possible into a VR compatible trainer.

From the many ideas produced, a lot of features where assessed. These aspects included features such as expandable soles, retractable heels, incorporating vibration, as well as impacters. Styling as well was an important aspect to consider and so many options where explored ranging from sharp futuristic looks, deviating from Nikes tradition or curvy and comforting styles.

Given the considerations given to both functionality and aesthetics during the ideation process, some of these would then be fine tuned and combined into fully realised concepts.

CONCEPT

CONCEPTUALISING IDEAS:

After ideation, some aspects explored where assessed and as a result, fully realised within concepts. In this case, “Nike NEON” was produced featuring some of the haptic features explored. NEON was more targeted at sustaining Nikes traditions whilst also being daring.

The concept was able to entertain a good amount of features that where individually dedicated to varying haptic responses linked to VR. The most prominent feature within this concept was the expandable sole, designed to mimic various surfaces potentially explored within VR.

NEON compared to the other concepts explored was found to be the best suited to the brief due to its adhereance to Nikes traditions, suitability to its environment as well as its suitability to the intended user base.

TECHNICAL FEATURES

DEVELOPING NEON:

After conceptualising NEON, it saw a lot of development regarding features such as it’s aesthetic and functionality. As such, a lot of features where improved and new ones where added to complete the products feature set.

The charging and tension strap was adapted to be colour indicative of power status, utilising an electroelastic to help maximise its haptic capabilities. The pressure pad was also changed to be a pressure matrix in order to better pin point pressure locations corresponding to VR activities. The expandable sole was further refined to be inclusive of more surfaces. NEON’s main material became an electrofabric for features to be seemlessly integrated. Interwoven vibrator strips where also present along with optical sensors, miniature intake fans, and a sinkable heel which simulated gradients in the virtual world.

THE BRAND: BRAND PURPOSE:

NEON as a sub brand of Nike, is one targeted primarily at gamers who love Virtual Reality but, it is inclusive of anybody with an interest in Virtual Reality. The naming itself “NEON” is indicative of the neon landscapes commonly atrributed to Virtual Reality. NEON looks to really push forward the virtual reality experience to become more inclusive and a staple of any future household.

When creating NEON, 4 main goals where attributed to it. The main goal was IMMERSION. Achieving a fully immersive experience would help elevate VR and make it more desirable whilst helping contribute to the second goal which was FUN. Being designed mainly for gamers made this majorly important. The final two goals where INNOVATION and EXPLORATION. These looked to expand the Nike brand.

RE-FRAMED BRIEF:

Ben, a high maintenance office worker is always concerned about looking smart for his job. Design a sustainable packaging solution for a reliable shaving brand which effectively communicates the brands ethos.

THE STARPACK COMPETITION

THE TARGET MARKET THE CRITERIA

The packaging must convey Smart Simplicity.

The packaging should aspire to offer a secondary purpose.

AlMust be produced from Aluminium.

Main target audience was 20 - 30 year old males but the brand is also inclusive of those older or younger than that age range.

Branding must convey reliability.

Must be infinitely recyclable.

The packaging must be easy to display in shops.

THE INSPIRATION

CONCEPTS

ASSESSING CONCEPTS:

In order to come to a suitable and successful packaging solution, a good variety of ideas needed to be explored regarding aspects such as branding and functionality.

The RAZ concept possesed a nice function. The motion of unvieling the razor was fluid and provided the product with a luxury feel. The use of sleeves also ensured the razors security. The central texturing present was also desirable as it offered the user grip whilst opening the packaging.

The Williams concept possesed branding more in line with competitor products, and fit the intended market much better. It fully envoked the feeling of smart simplicity which was also enhanced by the colour scheme of the packaging.

Considering the benefits of both concepts, they would be merged to produce a final design.

DEVELOPMENT

DEVELOPING CONCEPTS:

Following on from the concepts, both of their beneficial aspects where merged to create a new packaging solution.

The branding and colour scheme of the Williams concept was taken and merged with the functionality of the RAZ concept. The form however did witness some modification in order to best convey smart simplicity while maintaining the original function. Along with this, modifications where made to the lid in order to fit the new trapezic shape. This came in the form of indentations instead of the previously used tabs as they where deemed to obstructive.

There where also some additions during development such as the slots for additional razor blades. This helped maximise the potential of the space given to the packaging and ensured that its secondary storage function was more prominent.

EXTERNAL SLEEVE:

Main wall - Azure Blue and Silver - Embossed down the middle.

“W” Logo - Azure BlueDebossed.

”Williams Shaving Logo”Silver - Debossed.

Established date - SilverEmbossed.

INTERNAL SLEEVE:

Lid - Azure Blue - Connected to internal sleeve.

“Trust Your Shave” SloganSilver - Embossed.

Lid indentations - Azure BlueEmbossed.

Razor head supports - Azure Blue - Cut.

Handle slots - Azure Blue - Cut.

Razor blade ribs - Azure Blue - x8 - Cut.

Base of razor slot - Azure Blue - Embossed.

Internal seperation wallAzure Blue - Slotted in during production.

FINAL PRODUCT

THE FINAL DESIGN:

The brand Williams Shaving is targeted at achieving smart simplicity. The branding itself looks to convey a feeling of cleanliness and luxury similar to that of competitor brands such as Gillette. A simple name as well as the smart Azure blue and Silver colour scheme helps communicate a sense of trustworthiness which is more appealing to the user.

The final design of the packaging, utilises 2 sleeves to encase the razor. The razor itself sits within an embossed base inside the the internal sleeve and it also rests upon the ridges cut out of the walls. Large gaps in the walls are present to allow for efficient user access. Along with this, there are 5 additional razor slots to improve the lifespan of the packaging through a secondary function. The packaging as a whole is produced to a good enough standard to continue to store the razor through its lifespan.

RE-FRAMED BRIEF:

Louie, who is 4 years old, has an admiration for dinosaurs and loves being creative. Design an easy toy to construct and understand, with high interactibility which will allow him to be creative and satisfy his interest in dinosaurs. The toy should also utilise bright colours and be designed in a child safe manner.

MANUFACTURING RESTRAINTS

THE

INTENDED USER

Minimum draft angle of 1 degree.

Undercuts must be avoided for injection moulding.

Louie: 4 Years Old.

The chosen polymer must not be too viscous, to allow for it to injection mould properly.

Enjoys being creative and playing with interactive toys. Enjoys watching Youtube kids to inspire his creativity and fun.

Finds Dinosaurs and other animals particularly interesting and cool.

INITIAL IDEAS

EXPLORING IDEAS:

With the main theme of the toys being dinosaurs, many species where chosen and drawn to accordingly encapsulate the mechanism within the design. What became evident during ideation, is that there where two main motions which could be explored further: chomping and a linear movement. Many of the dinosaurs drawn would be too complicated in allowing the function to work as intended and so the designs would need to be simplified to a level similar to DUPLO.

After exploring many directions and options, the best choice moving forward was either a chomping dinosaur or a racing dinosaur. This choice would better suit the client in terms of ease of use, but also better utilise the clockwork mechanism required to allow the toy to function. Regarding joining methods for parts, clip on or slot joints where determined to be the most promising.

CONCEPTS

THE CONCEPTS:

After ideation, two main concepts where produced. One focusing around the chomping motion and one focusing on a fast linear movement.

Speedy was the concept which would eventually be moved forward and was designed to be a racing toy. It would wind up the clockwork mechanism by being reversed and once released, the toy would rapidly move forward. The concept possessed a good amount of parts which would keep the user engaged and able to express their creativity. The head and tail where also connected via a clip on connection method which would allow them to be tilted. The other parts would be connected via slot joints.

Chompy was a concept focused on the chomping motion and possessed a good amount of parts as well. Whilst the function was conceptually good, it saw complication in trying to efficiently execute it in the toy.

THE FUNCTION: THE DESIGN:

For the final design of the clockwork toy, the function remained the same as originally intended with the Speedy concept. As such, reversing the toy would wind up the clockwork mechanism connected to the wheels and then upon release, the toy would rapidly move forwards. The clip on connections however, where removed from the concept in order to better communicate simplicity to the intended user base.

The design of Speedy underwent a good amount of development which ultimately helped simplify the design and make it more suitable for the intended market. A lot of work was put into discovering the right amount of friction needed for the parts to be adequately joined together but also allow the user to easily deconstruct the toy when needed. The toy is composed of 9 components: top and bottom body, wheels, an axle, a neck, a head, a tail, and a spine. This offered the user a good platform to express their creativity.

RE-FRAMED BRIEF:

To design a bath toy which encourages children to independantly clean themselves leading into the ages 8 - 9. The product as such should provide some educational value which can be effectively merged with fun for the user. As well as this, it should make effective use of the Silicone fingers provided to help assist this function.

MATTII LABS DESIGN PROJECT

THE INITIAL IDEAS:

The initial ideas initially focused on bath toys, but quickly looked to utilise the silicone fingers as part of some kind of functionality. As such, cleaning products where also explored utilising the facade of many sea creatures. The aim was to incorporate the importance of cleaning with fun, to best help the target user. The ideas also looked to exploit silicones exfoliating properties, to best benefit the user.

THE FINAL CONCEPT:

After exploring the different ways the silicone fingers could be used in a bath product, it was decided that using their exfoliating properties on a pufferfish cleaner was the best approach. The concept also included an underbelly intended to provide a different type of cleaning in order to maximise the products functionality.

FINAL DESIGN:

The Bath Buddii is a bathtime cleaner which utilises the exfoliating properties of the silicone fingers as well as the cleaning properties of its nylon underbelly on a pufferfish facade to provide both fun and cleanliness to the intended user. It also includes a handle in its tail so it’s easy to grasp and store in a persons bathroom.

BATH BUDD

TECHNICAL ASPECTS

FINS:

Azure Blue, Silicone Rubber. Adhered to the Nylon mesh underbelly via Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA). Produced by Silicone Casting.

Yellow, Silicone Rubber. Produced by Silicone Casting. Functions as a handle as well as a method of hanging up the product when not used.

Yellow and Orange, Silicone Rubber, 35A. These Silicone fingers are joined to the holes present in the main body of the product via EVA. Offers great exfoliation when used.

Yellow, Silicone Rubber. Produced by Silicone casting. Contributes to the products structural integrity.

Azure Blue, Nylon - 6. The Nylon mesh is adhered to the upper body utilising EVA. Functionally, it

TAIL: SPIKES: UPPER BODY: LOWER BODY: COSTING AND WEIGHT:

Total manufacturing cost of £3.41 resulting in a retail price of £4.00. Given all of the materials used the product had a weight of 357 grams.

DESIGN SPRINT

RE-FRAMED BRIEF:

Design a product which can help in the prehabilitation of a person suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The product should look to help relieve pain and allow for their daily lives to function as normally as possible.

THE PROBLEM THE TARGET

CARPAL TUNNEL:

Carpal Tunnel syndrome is pressure on a nerve in your wrist. This pressure results in tingling, numbness and pain in your hands and fingers. It can often be treated by yourself however, it can take many months to get better.

UK general practice research database found that 88 men and 193 women present as new cases per 100,000 population, per year.

GETTING TO THE FINAL DESIGN

INITIAL CONCEPTS:

The initial concepts focused on providing support to a user when typing. The aim of these ideas was to allow for the user to function more comfortably when working and to allow them to maintain good levels of productivity before their surgery.

FINAL CONCEPT:

The final concept, labeled the Flexicase, was designed to allow for the a user to both safely store their laptop, but also utilise it more comfortably. This was done through the supporting arms which would correct the users posture in order to minimalise the movements which contribute to Carpal Tunnel worsening. Doing this would not only improve user comfort and productivity, but would also mean the user can maintain as much normality as possible in their work life. The modularity and multifunctionality of the Flexicase also allows for it to be easily accessible for the user when needed.

Firstly, 1mm sheets of Aluminium 6061 Aluminium are cut to size and then covered in Polyurethane Vinyl through Vacuum forming. Once set and cooled, the Alcantara fabric is also cut to shape. Once complete, the Alcantara is then adhered to the interior surface of the Flexicase. When the excess ahesive is removed and the rest set, the Flexicase is complete.

HydroPlant

RE-FRAMED BRIEF:

After lockdown, people have begun opting for more indoor greenery to help improve their working environments – Design a sustainable and modular desk planter which can be effectively produced via the extrusion process, is made to be more efficient than competitors, and helps educate the user on a sustainable future.

ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION PROJECT

INITIAL IDEAS

INITIAL IDEAS:

The initial ideas focused mainly on planters and ways of making them more efficient. This explored a multitude of methods from adjustability to modularity. Ultimately, the main focus was put on merging the efficiency of vertical gardens with the functionality of regular planters.

DEVELOPING AN IDEA: FINAL CONCEPT:

After exploring a multitude of initial ideas, a design was settled on. Here, the design underwent some changes such as the removal of its lighting and the improvement of its tray connections. These where made to be more incorporated in order to better make use of the extusion process.

The final concept labeled the Hydro Plant, focused on utilising the idea of vertical gardening in order to efficiently maintain and grow house plants. It also included removable trays to allow the user to easily maintain their plants as well.

CAD RENDERS

FINAL DESIGN:

The Hydro Plant is a desk planter which utilises a vertical watering system to quickly and efficiently maintain plants. Produced from a series of extruded profiles, it allows for removable or slidable trays allowing plantlife to be easily managed and maintained. Its target is to improve indoor greenery and educate about plantlife.

THE BRIEF:

To effectively sketch various exploded views of a select product to help communicate its construction, functionality and technical details.

EXPLODED SKETCHWORK

EXTRA SKETCHWORK

MODERN CHESS PIECES