I am originally from Montreal, Canada and I believe I’ve been a designer since the age of five. As a kid, rummaging through the Lego box inventing new creations was a routine thing on weekends. My formal education started in Montreal where I receive my collegial degree with honours in Industrial Design. I later completed my bachelors degree at OCAD university where I was appointed leader of the committee who curated the year end graduation exposition (GradEx). In addition, I have competed in design shows in Toronto, Canada and collaborated on university projects in Shanghai, China. I am determined, motivated and a self-disciplined designer who is proficient in creative problem solving.
As a designer, my surrounding environment always intrigues me. I believe that design is about observing, understanding, synthesizing and then applying your knowledge into a project. Each project is its own adventure and I always try to reflect on what I’ve learnt.
Traveling is one of my passions, I love experiencing and comparing human behaviour on a cultural level. I enjoy seeing how people around the world react to everyday circumstances differently. My passion for design roots from my interest in traveling, embracing uncertainty and always learning from each experience.
My ultimate goal is to create meaningful experiences and products that will have a positive impact on people.
Achievements:
2016 - Student Representative of the Industrial Design program at OCAD University
2016 - Dynamic Landscape (2nd place prize)
2015 - Diamond Motion (Top 3 finalist)
2013 - Head of graduating class of Industrial Design at Dawon College
2013 - Graduated with honours in Industrial Design at Dawon College
CONTACT
Makergy
Makergy was my one year long University thesis project. In the beginning I had no idea what I wanted to do, being the organized student that I am, I had written down many potential ideas the year before that could be contenders. Before classes started in September, I received an email from my professors asking to have a presentation ready for our first class. I scrambled through my notes and thought long and hard about what I wanted to do, it came down to a couple of factors;
Is there a need for this project
Does it genuinely interest me
Will it be innovative
Is it manageable within the school year
A trend analysis was conducted in the early stages of the project to ensure that the idea would result in a truly innovative product that suits an emerging market. I knew early on that my thesis project would be heavily tied with technology, therefore I researched all trends that had to do with technology. After synthesizing all the trend results, I made a list of the top 10 most influential trends in technology. I later combined a few trends to create new opportunities. The one that was most appealing to me was Makergy, it allowed people to achieve a new sense of gratification through the creation of energy they produced.
Energy is in everyone and in everything, we tend to forget that fundamental fact and believe energy is only in the sockets we plug our electronics into. Our current way of generating energy is very harmful for humanity and the environment. As countries develop, there is a greater demand for energy, this poses a problem because our fossil fuels are a non-renewable source and are depleting. We don’t exactly know when they will run out however there will be a day when our resources will run out. This shocking reality is what inspired Makergy to be a sustainable energy alternative. Makergy will prove that is possible to live in a technological world and respect our environment at the same time. The illustration above uses the iceberg theory to show that Makergy as a product is only a small amount in comparison to the full vision of what it can become.
Makergy can be broken down into two large categories; for self and for public. Makergy for self is done through moving, generating and harvesting. Moving consist of repetitive activities like walking, cooking, typing, etc. Generating is done through an external object like, cycling, kayaking, tennis, etc. Makergy for public is accomplished through installations, and work environments. Street installations can be highly interactive and bring awareness to people. It can also act as a means to power some energy for people who don’t necessarily have an Makergy lifestyle. In a work environment Makergy can be embraced with unobtrusive solar powered devices near windows, energy harvesting tiles and keyboard generators. Finally Makergy can become a new company perk, as in; free gym for all employees. The kinetic energy produced from the gym can power the machines and lights of the business.:
Makergy is targeting young consumers between the ages of 20 and 35 both male and female. These consumers are backpackers, people who love to travel and search for adventure everywhere they go. These backpackers travel from city to city and do not have a steady income, they work at local areas for short periods of time. This market is comprised of university students and/or early working professional who travel periodically for a few months or their work involves a lot of traveling. These backpackers live a relatively active lifestyle, they are always walking and on the move, and they lug around their heavy backpacks full of their essential day to day gear. Besides their activity level, they also make sustainably conscious decisions. They are very social and enjoy making new friends everywhere they go.
The backpackers are most concerned with the price of the product as most of this demographic is comprised of people who travel on a shoestring spending budget. Next, they will evaluate how sustainable is the product and what is the company all about, do I want to associate with this brand or not? They will question how efficient is the product they are buying, to make sure that they are getting their money’s worth. Finally they will see how the product fits and if it is comfortable to wear.
Makergy is a new way to power small portable electronics, it uses human activity as it’s main power source to convert your daily motion into usable power. Makergy is a sustainable alternative to our current non-renewable energy production and aims to be a leader in the renewable energy movement. The product shifts people current views towards energy, as they themselves become the energy source. Makergy will make people more aware of their energy consumption. Although the product is currently targeting travellers, the goal is to make the product and technology available to every single person in the world. The objective is to give our future generations a sustainably rich environment to live in. Global Goals has listed clean and renewable energy for everybody as one of their 17 goals the world needs to overcome.
Illustration showing how makergy works
Product testing: Analysis of object in motion in relation to location on the bag
The development stage of the project, is by far the least predictable because the project goes through so many cycles of design iterations. In the development stage, the product is tested first hand with the target user to get both qualitative and quantitative insights. In response to the user requirements the brand strategy changes to meet a new market or to satisfy a new needs. The shape of the product goes through many different form variations to satisfy the different requirements.
Different model iterations where created to test different form factors that can accommodate the internal components. I tried as much as possible to go in polar opposite directions with the models to test what my target demographic will respond well too.
Makergy is an easy to use bag accessory that allows travellers to power their mobile phone when away from an outlet. The product is small in size and approximately the same footprint as an average smartphone, in addition the product is designed to be transferable onto other bags or other locations on the same bag. The Teflon reinforced power cord acts as part of the mounting attachment to make the product multifunctional, separate accessories will be sold to accommodate for other brand name phones and small electronics. Makergy is both beautiful and functional, it maintains the robust internal structure while the exterior remains sleek and stylish. Makergy will be made from injection molded polypropylene due to its high impact resistance. The product will retail for approximately $100.00 CAD in stores and online.
Date Completed: May 2016
Krups Immersion Blender
Krups products are outstanding in their ability to provide their customers with an experience that’s greater than any other kitchen appliance. Their material choices and attention to detail is what separates them from the rest. Designing an updated version of the Krups Immersion Blender was a challenge, it forced me to focus my design thinking to fit within their specific branding and company philosophy.
The Krups immersion blender was a one year long thesis project in my final year at Dawson College where I graduated with honours in Industrial Design.
As a class we were each given a small kitchen appliance to redesign, here are some of the restrictions:
The inner components must remain the same
The footprint of the new design must resemble that of the original
Only 25% change to the total product is allowed
The product's aesthetic must last 20 years
Product Testing
Through model making, a lot of form development was explored to find the right balance between ergonomics and the brand identity.
Final Model Fabrication
Technical Development
The new Krups Immersion Blender follows the companies brand image and includes some new features. The revised design allows the product to be disassembled if ever an internal component needs to be replaced. The most visually noticeable difference is in the handle, it has been enhanced to be more ergonomic in the user’s hand. After doing a product analysis and a usability test my major concern was in the ergonomics of the product, my hand didn’t have a good sense of mobility and pushing down on the power button felt awkward. My new immersion blender design fits into the users hand a lot more naturally and has the power cord fall down the user’s hand more conveniently and avoids getting in the way.
The Krups Immersion Blender project taught me a lot about designing within a brands identity, designing for mass manufacturing and how to use models to help with the usability of the product.
Date Completed: May 2013
Tesla CSR Report
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is at the foundation of any great company, it bridges the gap between the corporation and the consumers. We chose to investigate Tesla Motors because of their innovative technologies and numerous achievements.
My team’s CSR Audit showcases Tesla’s position in February 2015, including the company’s philosophy, ambitions and achievements. We then build from these achievements to unravel possible opportunities for Tesla to grow.
After analyzing trends in the market and seeing patterns in how Tesla as a company is operated one of the opportunities we came up with was for Tesla to work with people who drive the most, taxi, truck and delivery drivers. Two months after handing in our university report my team and I got to experience one of our ideas come to life in my hometown of Montreal. The city helped jumpstart an electric taxi company (Téo Taxi) which uses a fleet of electric cars to deliver their taxi services, Tesla being one of the electric car brands they use.
This university exercise demonstrated to me that with enough research and creative thinking I am able to brainstorm innovative solutions that are ahead of the existing market trends.
Hardware tools are traditionally designed to be robust and masculine. However, most hardware tools are used throughout the entire day and don’t consider ergonomics, nor how the object fits into the user’s hand.
My taping knife design acknowledges how the user will feel after a day’s work of using the tool, therefore it is designed to fit into the users hand comfortably. The taping knife is used with plaster to patch holes and fill gaps before paint is applied to a wall. The user needs to scrape using both sides of the blade, thus, the handle is designed for two application methods; pushing and pulling.
Through extensive model making and user testing, I discovered the importance of ergonomics in tools and objects that are frequently used. This project taught me to prototype using different materials and when to prototype in low or high fidelity to convey the design direction and details.
Date Completed: December 2012
Levi's Refresh
Levi’s is one of the world’s most recognizable denim brands. They’ve built their reputation from the quality of their products.
Product Lifecycle Map
Levi’s Refresh is an up cycling project that uses old Levi’s jeans to create new products. Levi’s Refresh encourages customers to bring back their old unusable jeans in exchange for a multi-purpose reusable bag. Each exchange from jean to bag will also result in a discount for the customer on their next purchase at any Levi’s store. The bag will acts as a visual indicator that the customer is environmentally conscious about their purchasing habits.
Date Completed: April 2015
Redbull Packaging
Red Bull is one of the highest selling energy drink companies in the world, they’ve sold more than 60 billion cans of a single drink. Red Bull doesn’t only sell energy drinks, they sell a lifestyle.
Recently, Red Bull released “Editions” its new flavoured line of products, with flavour ranging from tropical to lime. Currently Red Bull Editions are sold individually, my packaging design creates a four pack for their new product. In addition, the new packaging allows the opportunity for a variety pack, to allow buyers to try all the new flavours.
My packaging solution fits within the strong branding Red Bull has created, also my design got inspiration from the original Red Bull 4 Pack packaging.
Date Completed: March 2016
Bouche de Metro
In May of 2016, Montreal’s public transit system, Société de transport de Montréal (STM) began replacing it’s subway trains to a new and improved model. The STM release an offer to the public for a competition to restore the old carts to be relocated in Montreal and give a second life to these old trains.
I was commissioned by a group of MBA students to visually manifest their idea which initially started as a class room exercise. The concept was a small restaurant selling minimal menu options similar to food trucks. While the MBA students handled the finances and sale projections, my responsibility was to design the branding and mock-up a 3D render that would help visualize the concept for the judges. In the end our idea was not chosen but I learned a great deal about working with professionals who do not work in the creative field, in addition I learned how to properly budget my hours for a given task.
Date Completed: August 2016
Mobï
More information coming October 2018
Date Completed: October 2018
GradEx
GradEx is OCAD University’s end of year graduation exhibition. For three days the entire school becomes an exhibition with each graduate from every program showcasing their work to the public. I was chosen to be the head of the Industrial Design team from my professors since I showed great organizational skills from the time I started my university journey.
The Industrial Design department was branded as ID 101 since we wanted to educate people on what exactly is Industrial Design and how has it changed over the years, the university was also turning 101 years old.
GradEx is OCAD University’s end of year graduation exhibition. For three days the entire school becomes an exhibition with each graduate from every program showcasing their work to the public. I was chosen to be the head of the Industrial Design team from my professors since I showed great organizational skills from the time I started my university journey.
Date Completed: May 2016
Cord Storage
While in university my laptop was an extension of my body, a value common amongst my classmate. My macbook would go in and out of my bag at least twice a day including my charging wire. It was common for macbook charging wire to get tangled or even to start tearing from the standard cable management system built into the charging block. Replacing a charging wire while on a student budget was difficult, and no power in your laptop meant no progress on your project. I decided I needed to do something to fix this common problem.
While working at 3D Phacktory my first internship in Toronto, I decided to use 3D printing to find a solution to this common problem. My concept was to widen the radius at which the cable was wrapped around which prevented the inner wire from bending and breaking. In addition, my concept allowed for a compact and neat solution for when transporting my macbook to and from school. I offered my product as a free download to my classmates and one student actually printed it from his home Makerbot, however the print quality didn’t compare to my original prototype.
Date Completed: April 2015
Espresso Cups
From when I was a child I remember seeing my parents drink coffee. They drank coffee at all times of the day, alone and with friends, in the hot summers and the cold winters. Coffee is something I associate strongly with my parents, and for that reason I wanted to design them espresso cups as a thank you gift for helping me through university.
This was my first project working with ceramics and I learnt how relaxing yet frustrating working with this material can be. I exchanged my SolidWorks tutoring for tutoring in ceramics with a friend of mine to accelerate my learning process. This project was done in my final semester a few weeks before graduating.
After many sloppy cups and kiln destructions my parents were impressed with the outcome of the product and they were thankful for their gift. They love to tell the story behind the espresso cups when they serve their guests.
Date Completed: May 2016
Awards
Kentwood IDS Design Challenge // Second Place // Partner: Hamid Shahi
Project Title: Dynamic Landscape
Kentwood is a Canadian flooring company that sells a series of engineered hardwood floor which are designed to be more durable than traditional hardwood floors. OCAD University was notified by Kentwood about their challenge and as design students that message was passed on to us. We found this competition a unique opportunity to showcase our talent and creativity through a design installation.
The challenge was loosely defined as creating a “concept” that used Kentwood flooring in a unique and innovative way. This was the first time Kentwood launched a design competition and we were honoured to be chosen as one of the top five finalists. All five teams had their work on display at the Kentwood booth at the 2016 Interior Design Show (IDS), January 21-24 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Although we didn’t win first place we won second place and the peoples choice award which we gladly accepted.
Dynamic Landscape reflects aspects of Canada’s landscape, inspired by Banff National Park. The installation represents an artificial forest, the structure uses modularity and repetition to represent a growing movement within the space. The installation comprises of 66 modules, made of two panels each, that when combined can create a myriad of forms. Inspired by traditional wood joinery, our unique assembly method doesn’t use any hardware, which results in a more sustainable design. Kentwood takes pride in their premium hardwood flooring, therefore, our team agreed that the installation must be built and represented with the same premium quality.
Lexus Design Canada // Third Place // Partner: Hamid Shahi
Project Title: Diamond Motion
Diamond Motion was inspired by the ongoing innovation found in the Lexus design team. Similar to Lexus drivers, our installation depicts prestige, status and quality in a tangible form. The proposed installation was called Diamond Motion because it uses a diamond like shape which is found throughout the vehicle but the most obvious is found in the headlights. Our vision, at the 2016 Canadian automotive show was to extend the viewer’s experience through an installation that was true to Lexus and true to the 2016 RX model. The 2016 Lexus RX delivers a reliable performance with sophistication and this same philosophy is applied to the design of Diamond Motion.
