Welcome to my
Master Graduation Showcase
Critical Curiosity
using rapid prototyping and product design to explore the ethical dimensions of emerging technologies.
I am thrilled to announce that I have successfully completed my Master's in Industrial Design at Eindhoven University of Technology. Throughout my academic journey, I delved into various fascinating projects. One particularly captivating endeavor involved exploring the ethics of Artificial Womb technology.
Having successfully concluded my studies, I am now eagerly looking forward to embarking on the next phase of my life.
I am driven by
01
User-Centered Design
When designing a product, service, or provocative artifact, it is crucial to be well-versed in the needs and desires of the user. Adopting a user-centered approach has proven invaluable during my study projects, where I prioritize immersive research, interactive sessions, and collaborative efforts with users and stakeholders alike.
Throughout my Final Bachelor's project, my focus was on creating a design that optimally caters to the diverse array of stakeholders engaging with it. Doctors, nurses, mothers, and the babies themselves all held distinct desires, each varying in its level of importance. Conducting in-depth research into their aspirations enabled me to map out their unique user journey — the step-by-step process of how they interact with the design, right from the initial encounter to the final outcome.
Moreover, I conducted focus groups, where real users interacted with prototypes to provide invaluable feedback. These tests help to identify potential issues and areas for improvement and offered insightful glimpses into the actual user experience.
02
Context and Ethics
During my studies, I've tackled complex and controversial topics like Artificial Womb technology. As a designer, I've learned the importance of looking beyond immediate interactions and considering the broader consequences of these technologies. Understanding the context surrounding these subjects is crucial.
When designing for such complex topics, effective communication of the context becomes paramount. It allows for meaningful conversations about how to responsibly implement these technologies into the world. Ethical considerations and philosophical insights need to be part of this dialogue, shaping the design choices in a way that positively impacts society and respects individual values.
I firmly believe that by shaping technology, we also shape how humans experience the world. This profound responsibility drives me to approach each project thoughtfully and sensitively. I'm dedicated to creating designs that not only address immediate needs but also contribute positively to the human experience as a whole.
03
Design Sketching
Sketching is an integral part of my creative process. It offers a simple and accessible way to bring my ideas, shapes, and features to life on paper. Each sketch serves as a starting point, inspiring me to explore new concepts and ideas in-depth. As I sketch, I consider practicality, manufacturing, user experience, and aesthetics.
I prefer using black and white sketches as they allow the core of the design to take precedence while leaving room for interpretation and creativity. When I share my sketches, it's interesting to see how others perceive and interpret them, providing different perspectives.
Sketching provides the freedom to explore ideas without constraints, allowing them to evolve naturally. By keeping things straightforward, I can focus on shaping each design with clarity and precision.
Ultimately, sketching is a fundamental step in my design process, laying the groundwork for further development and refinement.
04
AI-Generated Images
The advent of AI-generated image engines has sparked my curiosity, compelling me to incorporate them into my creative endeavors for inspiration and effective communication of ideas, akin to traditional sketching. In my latest project on Artificial Womb technologies, I successfully harnessed Stable Diffusion, utilizing the engine to generate thousands of images. These diverse visual outputs provided invaluable insights for analyzing design features and types.
The sheer diversity of shapes, styles, materials, and more serves as an extraordinary wellspring of inspiration for my design process. Each generated image offers a unique perspective, contributing to an extensive pool of possibilities. When meticulously analyzed and applied in subsequent concept design and ideation phases, these AI-generated images infuse my work with fresh perspectives and innovative solutions.
05
CAD Design
06
Once I've sketched and refined my design idea to a certain point, it's time to transition to CAD modelling for the next phase of realization. Drawing on the knowledge I gained during my minor in mechanical engineering and my experience in 3D printing, I can recreate designs in CAD programs like Fusion 360 or SolidWorks.
These CAD programs offer a higher level of precision, allowing me to organize and meticulously detail the design, ensuring it's ready to be transformed into tangible products. I find these tools especially useful for integrating existing parts and products into the design. By fitting components into assemblies, I can ensure everything will work seamlessly together once it's manufactured. This level of precision and control is essential in the production process, bringing my design ideas one step closer to becoming actual, functional products.
During my time at team HART, we utilized CAD tools to create intricate and functional shapes for the sleeves, ensuring they meet the requirements for user testing.
Concept Design
Sketching is undeniably an effective communication tool, but I believe the real magic happens when I take it a step further and redesign my ideas in a 3D graphic design tool like Blender. This transformative process allows me to elevate my concepts, presenting them as intricate 3D models that showcase every angle and material used in the design.
Blender, with its versatility, empowers me to swiftly bring my sketches to life in three dimensions. This tool has become increasingly accessible and powerful, making it practically foolish not to leverage it in the design process. The option to animate designs opens up new possibilities, giving me a dynamic view of my ideas in action.
In my Final Bachelor project, employing Blender allowed me to bridge the gap between theory and reality. For instance, when working on artificial womb technology, I found that researchers were primarily focused on theoretical aspects, neglecting the visual representation of the design. With Blender, I could materialize the concept, granting a tangible form to what was once abstract.
07
Rapid Prototyping
Digital design is impressive, but experiencing a shape firsthand is uniquely valuable for grasping aesthetic nuances. For this purpose, rapid prototyping becomes my go-to approach, employing fast and user-friendly techniques to swiftly bring the design to life.
Rapid prototyping offers a versatile toolkit, with 3D printing emerging as a fundamental component in this process. Through 3D printing, I can effortlessly test different parts and assess user experience in a tangible, real-life context. Beyond 3D printing, techniques like foam-board/cardboard modeling, laser cutting, and other DIY methods prove highly useful, enabling me to explore and refine design concepts quickly and efficiently.
The combination of digital design and rapid prototyping empowers me to iterate, refine, and perfect my creations, bridging the gap between the virtual and physical realms to bring innovative products and objects to life.
08
Silicone
While part of Team HART, a student group dedicated to developing a data-transfer sleeve for the arm, I played an active role in the design and refinement of the sleeve's shape. This hands-on experience offered invaluable insights into designing silicone shapes that prioritize optimal functionality and user comfort.
Additionally, navigating medical regulatory guidelines and finding innovative ways to accommodate all the necessary electronics within the sleeve was a great learning experience.
Moreover, the process of bringing my designs to life through silicon injection molding proved both fascinating and rewarding. Witnessing the transformation from concept to tangible product enhanced my understanding of manufacturing processes and provided me with a unique skillset to elevate my work in product design.
Additional notes:
This portfolio was created with the help of ChatGPT and Grammarly. Both helped structure my words and remove the grammatical errors in a similar fashion as it has done so in my latest project. In the case of ChatGPT the following prompt was used to minimally correct my wording: “Can you review the following text to remove spelling and grammatical errors, where necessary can you correct the sentence structure to make it easier to read: [a section of text]”