Industrial and Product Design Commons^™

Dispatches From Planet Nowhere, Aaron Field Simmons

Masters Theses

Dispatches From Planet Nowhere explores how using the tools of fiction can aid and expand User Research and Product Design in the field of Industrial Design. The thesis asks the fundamental question of how imagining other worlds can teach us about our own. Aaron’s belief is that using the lens of fiction, and especially science fiction and fantasy, can give us novel and unique insights into what people hope, fear, and dream about the future. Drawing on the fields of Speculative Design and Future Studies Aaron proposes a new method for gathering user data, and a participatory model for understanding …

Curious Things, Allison Davis

Masters Theses

Curiosity fuels progress. It is what pushes us forward individually, as well as collectively. It allows us to make sense of the world and those that are in it. The problem is, we are in the midst of a curiosity crisis whereby our sensitivity to the physical has drastically diminished. Curious Things sheds light on our detachment from our surroundings and explores how ‘embodied curiosity’ can foster our need to know, experience, and explore. Through curious observations and unexpected encounters captured by others, this thesis argues that the use of distinct object forms and visual aesthetics can be viable solutions …

Letsqube, Biniam Assegid Kebede

Masters Theses

Letsqube is a platform that enables groups of friends to easily collect and pool money towards communal events, gatherings, and purchases.

Individuals find their friends on Letsqube and then agree on a budget for an event, gathering, or group purchase. Letsqube handles the finances by automatically debiting a set amount from a user’s bank account on a predetermined schedule.

Letsqube encourages people to get together, provides accountability and a schedule for contributions, and handles the finances in the background so that groups of friends can focus on enjoying their time together.

Making time to get together with friends regularly is …

Autonomous Vehicle Futures : Designing Experiences That Enable Trust And Adoption, Jeremy Bass

Masters Theses

This thesis is an investigation of the user experience design necessary for a fully autonomous vehicle that would enable trust and adoption of autonomous vehicle-based services. Autonomous vehicles are destined to revolutionize mobility, yet few companies are focusing on how people will best use these new autonomous-based services. This thesis used various forms of user testing to understand user’s expectations and hesitations for riding in an autonomous vehicle. These tests included improv workshops, surveys, interviews and a simulated autonomous vehicle service ride-along. Research revealed that user’s primary concerns were travel time, comfort (spatial and privacy) and personal safety. These concerns …

Idiosyncratic Uniform, Erica Efstratoudakis

Masters Theses

Clothing mediates between the individual and the social. It creates a dialogue between our inner selves and our environments, a dialogue that becomes especially fraught for women at work. Focusing on women’s workwear in male-dominated fields, this thesis calls attention to the existing cultural norms in work environments that solidify dated gender expectations and biases. It suggests that the fashion industry has not adequately addressed the sartorial and emotional needs of everyday working women, and intervenes by placing wearers at the center of the design process. By applying needs-driven solutions and user research to a psychologically powerful force like fashion, …

Next Generation Protocol: Innovating A Resilient Future, Andrew Steven Rudnick, Jamie Cannady, Joe Decesaro, Juan A. Ortiz Salazar

Materials Engineering

Conventional practices do not account for product life beyond end-of-sale – these practices are not sustainable. We have developed an end-of-life protocol that includes a metric that we call the Recovery Rating. The objectives of this Next Generation Protocol, beyond supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, are to encourage the production of goods designed for recovery and to promote the collaboration between consumers, the public, and the private sector to recover goods at their end-of-life. The Recovery Rating that we propose evaluates and quantifies recovery potential of products. The Recovery Rating, which is normed against embodied energy from the …

Prescription Packaging Design For The Impaired : A Meta-Analysis., Amber C. Kleitz

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

This thesis is a critical analyzation of the state of prescription drug packaging in the United States with respect to unresolved problems for users with visual, physical, and cognitive impairments. It begins with an anecdotal overview inspired by Deborah Adler’s journey of prescription drug packaging for her grandparents and her design solution outlined by a case study. This case study focuses on the need for better prescription packaging for those with the aforementioned and neglected issues.

This thesis uses studies in user-centered design, packaging design, and industrial design among others in order to critically assess and question the current state …

Reuleaux, Sidney Miller

Program of Industrial Design Capstones

A next-generation system of tools for quickly and intuitively designing in 3D.

Safe Ship, Kristin Renda, Dylan Courtney

Program of Industrial Design Capstones

SafeShip is the only discrete system that deters opportunistic theft and increases package delivery efficiency.

Dh Custom, Joey Newton

Program of Industrial Design Capstones

DH Custom is a modular, mountain bike shoe that gives Downhill Racers the ability to balance walk-ability and performance for practicing the race course.

Light Play, Richard Stone

Program of Industrial Design Capstones

An interactive playground experience

Embrace, Matthew Selnick

Program of Industrial Design Capstones

A conceptual modular skate shoe system, for personalized protection and style

Guardlock, Michael Grosso, Joe Mooney

Program of Industrial Design Capstones

An analog pistol lock that stays attached to the pistol at all times, for in-home defense and unwanted user firearm discharge

Savecase, Matthew Napoli

Program of Industrial Design Capstones

Concept for Reducing Harmful Smartphone Use & Enhancing Productivity

Drift, Nate Miles

Program of Industrial Design Capstones

DRIFT uses active circadian lighting to help establish a sleep routine with children from their first night in the crib until they are sleeping through the night.

Galaetics, Curran Smith

Program of Industrial Design Capstones

A juggling prop designed for a enhance user and viewer experience.

Ray, Angela Banner

Program of Industrial Design Capstones

This capstone documents the design process of developing a lighting solution to the complex system that is public pedestrian spaces.

Atlas, Ryan Langeveld, Jordan Kissinger

Program of Industrial Design Capstones

Rucking, a form of weight training centered around the use of a bag, is a new, niche market whose demographic is under-served with gear that does not provide features necessary for the best rucking experience. Atlas embodies human-centered design, incorporating features and performance ruckers need for an uncompromising experience.

Switchback 1.2, Dan Alderfer, Max Munao

Program of Industrial Design Capstones

Adventure photography is about going out and getting that shot that you can show people and blow them away. Currently, there are no bags that address the needs of an adventure photographer in the rigorous setting that they encounter. The Wanderer focuses on accessibility, protection and weight distribution, and is designed so you can retrieve your camera, grab the quick shot, and stow the camera away, all without the hassle of digging through your bag.

Cuoco Cart, Sarah Nellis

Program of Industrial Design Capstones

Cuoco Cart is a food preparation system for children that provides a safe, contained environment for collaborative cooking and early childhood independence between the ages of 5-8 years.