Product Design + research
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re-design of the traditional handle of the garden claw
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toy design concept
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an experimental project exploring the use of dehydrated cabbage leaves as a sustainable material
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group project conducting research and interviews to create a design for public good
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In collaboration with Brompton, a modular bike company founded in the UK, Parsons School of Design partners with Brompton in a product design competition for their company. In competition with my classmates in teams of two designers, we were challenged to ideate three various designs to choose a final design to compete with. This project is on-going and will be updated as it continues!
garden claw re-design
The garden claw re-design project explores human ergonomics and the role it plays in designing products. The re-design of the garden claw handle changes the way the user traditionally interacts with the garden claw handle, providing better ease-of-use and more comfort. The shape the handle of the claw takes influences the user to create a circular motion with their arm when using the garden claw which creates less strain on the user’s wrist.
Ideation
sketches and model making
mooshie
Mooshie is a toy design concept influenced by the passing of the “Don’t Say ‘Gay’” bill affecting children in Florida public schools. A case study was conducted to inform the design of the toy, consisting of multiple interviews with queer children and adults, educators, and psychologists.
be the mooshie you want to be
be the mooshie you want to be
Create a gender neutral toy design that allows children to feel comfortable exploring their identity
The key insights from the research conducted are children feel uncomfortable expressing themselves and exploring their identity, and role-playing games and toys influence children and how they think. These insights inspired me to come up with MOOSHIE to enable kids to express themselves without feeling unsafe to do so through the act of play. Most toys we are familiar with are “gender specific”, or “gender conforming”, to stereotypes within society. MOOSHIE is free of bias and does not want to restrict the user’s imagination by not having any “standard” design, all parts will be separate for them to customize.
“We know from developmental research that children have a sense of their gender as early as three and typically begin to express gender identity as early as seven. ”
“Censorship taught me from a young age that shame and not expressing yourself is necessary to be accepted.”
“I like to express my identity at school by trying not to hide it.”
how it works
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made out of recycled plastic
lined exterior with a silicon “skin” for comfort
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the parts are interchangeable to customize each figurine
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the figures and parts will be sold and marketed separately to not influence the user’s design of their toy
each part varies based on shape, size, and color
cabbage lanterns
Barnacle lanterns are meant to enhance and create a calming, soothing lighting environment within any home or office setting. The intention for the lanterns is to further make an installation of the light fixtures that fulfills its purpose in affecting the environment’s energy to be calming and relaxing for the user. This incorporates ideologies from research conducted on light-image therapy to use lighting and color to influence an environment that allows those to manage during stressful situations. Furthermore, the lantern’s materiality offers a more sustainable solution in using dehydrated purple cabbage leaves to create texture and adds color within its environment.
mood board study inspired by the movie, Shutter Island used to influence the surrealist style of the lanterns
concept ideation
material experimentation
material testing with dehydrated cabbage leaves and bioplastic adhesives
process of making
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01. dehydrate cabbage leaves
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02. soak dehydrated leaves in PLA (Elmer's glue)
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03. apply the leaves around a structure mimicking a papier mache technique
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04. let it dry to create the lantern's "skin"
final renders and prototype
awear
Awear is a transformable, light-weight backpack that can be both a chair and a bed.Its structure, which is made up of foam and hard, but flexible plastic, allows the user to rest on various terrains, including those of hostile architecture. Awear gives people, primarily those who are un-housed, a tool to reclaim access to publics spaces they have been unfairly excluded from. This project shines a light on homelessness within urban environments and combats hostile architecture in its design. This design for public good and creating awareness was designed in collaboration with other students.
design ideation and final renderings
Brompton x Parsons
Design collaboration for BFA Product Design students at Parsons to create and develop designs to be pitched to Brompton, a renowned, modular bike company based in the UK.
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When beginning to develop designs for the body, we recognized Bromptons adaptability in design for users who use biking as a form of commuting within NYC. The idea of the Brompton Garter is that the rider can have their essentials on their person, comfortably, while riding.
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When ideating different designs for the bike, I noticed a design opportunity when carrying the bike on my commute on the train to school. Though the bike is designed to be easily carried when folded, it can cause a bit of strain on your arm and back due to the bike’s design. The development of the Brompton Strap allows for less strain when carrying the bike on the user’s commute through the city.
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When thinking of how Brompton can fit into New York City, I noticed an existing partnership Brompton has with Google HQ, newly built in the heart of the West Village in Manhattan. Their partnership provides Brompton bikes with Google HQ’s employees to use to commute within the city and to work. Considering this and the increased use of e-bikes within the city, the Brompton Hive battery replacement station, bike repair tool checkout, and app interface provides a tool for Brompton riders to access safe charging batteries and to tools to make minor repairs to their bikes when commuting.
