Acceptance Portfolio: Project 4

Lumos Recycled Lighting august 2009

Every year, the US alone creates over 200 million tons of trash. Designers, as well as others, have taken it upon themselves to reduce the amount of waste by reusing and repurposing “trash”. I decided to design a lamp out of something recycled and unexpected. By using venetian blinds, which block light, to create a light fixture that gives off light, is a contradiction in itself. Designing by recycling reduces waste and at the same time creates something unusual.

Acceptance Portfolio: Project 3

Arx Plywood Chair may 2009

When you come home from work or school, there probably isn’t a specific place where you put down all your stuff. In my room, there is a chair designated as the “catch-all chair”, where I throw my books and school bag. The idea of a valet is out there, but I wanted to design something more informal. Designing a modular chair would benefit people in the working world or college students living on their own. In order to be cost efficient, I designed a chair fully out of plywood using no fasteners (no screws, no glue).

Acceptance Portfolio: Project 2

Arthritic Plug july 2009

Arthritis is commonly referred to as a single disease, yet there are many types of arthritis affecting people today. From children to the elderly arthritis has caused physical pain. The Arthritis Foundation explains that arthritis becomes a roadblock for living a normal life. “Arthritis-related joint problems include pain, stiffness, inflammation and damage to joint cartilage (the tough, smooth tissue that covers the ends of the bones, enabling them to glide against one another) and surrounding structures. Such damage can lead to joint weakness, instability and visible deformities that, depending on the location of joint involvement, can interfere with the most basic daily tasks such as walking, climbing stairs, using a computer keyboard, cutting your food or brushing your teeth.” We need to make a change slowly to help people with arthritis because our life expectancy is increasing; so as the population grows older, there will be an increasing number of people who won’t be able to function properly due to arthritis.

Designing a wall plug for people with arthritis would also benefit people without this condition, because who wouldn’t want a plug to be easier to pull out of the wall? If we can create products that can benefit both people with and without arthritis we would be serving more people efficiently.

Acceptance Portfolio: Project 1

GenoXY Carrier april 2009

Nowadays, dads are more involved with taking care of their kids, and even stay-at-home dads have become more common. Dads don’t usually want to carry around a diaper bag or carrier that has flowers or any other femininity. The carriers for men that are masculine are designed for hiking or long trips, but not for everyday use. Creating a child carrier with masculine design that is for an active dad (that also holds baby necessities), would allow dads to more comfortably, with style, participate in the caring of their child.