Laura VoINDUSTRIAL DESIGNER

Cap

Nautical Rope

Cork

Bottle

Identity

Bobby BuoyA waterbottle

The challenge was to create a waterbottle that satisfied an unaddressed need. Inspired by cork and buoys, a floating bottle was fashioned to cater to water athletes and seafarers of all kinds.

Purpose To make a bottle suitable for seafarers and can easily be retrieved if fallen overboard

Material Cork and polypropylene

Manufacturing method Blow molding

Dimensions 10 3/4” x 3 3/4”

Volume 750 mL

Manufacturing Details

Inspiration and Research

The manner in which buoys float became the inspiration for the waterbottle. The product emulated their buoyancy and the beauty of their simplicity of form.

Buoyancy research was done by attaching numerous foam floats of various shapes and sizes on plastic bottles filled with water

Concept sketchesForm inspiration - the buoy

Process

Brainsto

rming

Experimentin

g

Reiterat

ing

Reiterat

ing

1 2 3 4 5Finaliz

ing

6. Finishing

Process

To begin the process, low fidelity foam prototypes were made, then a basswood mold was lathed out to thermoform the final model

Rationale

The nickname for “Bobby Buoy” - the

bottle’s identity. Giving the bottle a name humanizes it, and

endears it to the user

The porous texture of agglomerated cork allows the

bottle to float upright, allowing the lid to be easily seen. It also allows better grip, is naturally

anti-fungal, heat resistant, and therefore, perfect for the rough,

wet elements

The bright red cap signals its whereabouts

if fallen overboard

The extra nautical rope allows the user to secure it safely to

the boat

If the bottle is in the water, the hole in the cap allows

boaters to easily retrieve it with a boat hook

This product incorporated intensive studies in ergonomics, human factors, and research into mass production. The goal was to create a working model, while maximizing user interface by always keeping a user-centered philosophy.

VolA shoe dryer

Mechanism: The centrifugal laptop fan inspired the shape of the product because its air flow direction was ideal for drying shoes

Inspiration and Research

The centrifugal air flow would reduce drying time and inhibit bacterial growth, thereby preventing foot odour. As a result, the longevity of a person’s shoes would increase, it would reduce waste, and ultimately save the user money.Fan research Electrical research Observational research

Existing dryers on the market are bulky and can ruin shoes if heat is used. Reviewers stated that the products were loud and did not thoroughly dry out their wet shoes.

Current Situation:The goal was to create a product that effectively dried shoes using centrifugal air flow - drawing air from outside the shoe and circulating it into the toes.

“I constantly need to buy new shoes because mine get ruined all the time.”

The dryer was intended to target the general public - any person whose shoes become wet from perspiration or precipitation

Most users currently place newspaper in their wet shoes and leave them to dry overnight. However, this is a slow process and the carbon in the paper dirties the shoes

Current Solution:

Everyday users Commuters Athletes

User research

Process

Colour explorationUser testing was heavily emphasized. Using in-depth observational research and interviews, a human-centred end product was produced.

A working configuration prototype

Low fidelity models

The desired shoe dryer would encourage a change in habits and attitude towards a person’s bodily comfort and therefore, increase their quality of life.Initial sketches were drawn to figure out basic air flow mechanics

Formexploration

User testing and Rationale

1. The shape of the dryer had to fit comfortably in the hand, as well as in the shoe

2. The holes in the grill had to be spaced out wide enough to give the illusion that it can effectively intake enough air to dry the shoe

3. The air output direction needed to be instinctual in order for the dryer to be placed in the shoe correctly

5. The spout had to be long enough to convince

the user that the air output would be able to

reach the toes

4. Blue was the most universally desired colour

and proved the most marketable

6. Air vents along the bottom of the dryer allowed for full circulation

throughout the entire shoe

The dryer was fashioned using human-centered design by taking ergonomics and a product’s psychological impact into consideration

Keyshot rendering

The shoe dryer parts were 3D printed and laser cut after it was modeled in Solidworks and rendered in Keyshot

Process

Technical drawing - Orthographic views

B

SECTION A-A

3.18

1.59

1.59

0.56

1.33

1.36

6.80

DETAIL B SCALE 2 : 1

Top plate

Grill

Centrifugal fan

On/off switch

Rechargeable lithium ion

battery

Bottom plate

FRONT VIEW

30.16

RIGHT VIEW

50.04

R31.75

TOP VIEW

LEFT VIEW BACK VIEW

BOTTOM VIEW

63.50

A

A

Instead of just having a person gingerly holding the product, like so many other concept shots, a different photograph was conceived. I decided to make a timeline showing wet, and unhappy shoes becoming alive again after using “Vol”.

Context Shot

vol

Sheet Metal Box

Sheet metal blanking,

bending, and forming

A lesson in mass production

To learn the nature of sheet metal, an aluminum housing for a chipboard was designed and fabricated through metal braking, shearing, milling, and punching. Great consideration of blank layout and part assembly was taken.

Understanding the complexitites of mass production allows for a more thoroughly thought-out product.

SoftGoodsA trio of pouches

As a personal project, three different pouches were designed and sewn for three different users.

Process

Laptop cords’ case iPad case Cellphone case

Using felt, cotton, vinyl, and suede, three pouches were sewn to house three distinct electronic gadgets

SketchesA demonstration of pencil, pen, and marker

Reinterpreting the IKEA brand to include multi-functional camping equipment.

Napkin sketches

Illustrator

An Advanced Computer Applications course provided us with proficient skills using 3D digital modeling and graphic manipulation software (Illustrator, Photoshop, and Solidworks) An Illustrator rendering of Braun’s S60 Razor.

Advanced rendering

The original photograph

By

CIDSA

A Competition

Alteriors Presents . . .

Chair+ 1

Due date: May 2013

MORE THAN A CHAIR

Send name . email . and phone number to CIDSA@gmail.com by April . 1 . 2013 to enter

More info: www.chairplusone.com

Send name, email, and phone number to CIDSA@gmail.com by April . 1 . 2013 to enter

Due date: May 2013

More info: www.chairplusone.com

Chair+ 1

AlteriorsPresents...A competition by CIDSA

MORE THAN A chairChair + 1MORE THAN A CHAIR

A competition by CIDSAAlteriors Presents...

Due date: May 2013Send name, email, and phone number to

CIDSA@gmail.com by April . 1 . 2013 to enterMore info: www.chairplusone.com

Chair Plus One

The goal was to showcase new designers and fresh, local talent. The challenge was to create a chair that transformed itself into another product.

These posters were an early exploration into the advertisement for the competition.

Promotional PostersIn the summer of 2012, we started a design competition

aaainfo@chairplusone.ca info@chairplusone.ca info@chairplusone.ca

Form and Curves

The objective was to create curves that melded into one another in order to create a beautiful form. The end product needed to be aesthetically pleasing from every angle. Having never sculpted, I really wanted to challenge myself, so the project was taken one step further. Black clay was used to explore the subtle and complex curves of a female form. The sculpture measures 4 1/4 by 3 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches.

Exploration of a new medium

+ laurakvvo@gmail.com+ 1 . 613 . 806 . 2505

2003 - 2005Algonquin College

2010 - PresentCarleton University

2011 - PresentSocial Vice President

and President of Year End Dinner

Committee

2009 - 2010Visual Merchandiser

and Educator

Lululemon Athletica2010 - Present

Visual Merchandise Co-ordinator and SalesLAURA VO

Education

Volunteer ExperienceWork Experience

Registered Massage Therapy

School of Engineering and DesignThird Year

Workshop Boutique & Flock

Boutique

Carleton University Industrial Design

Student Association

SKILL SET

Adobe IllustratorAdobe Photoshop

Adobe InDesignSolidworks

RhinoKeyshot

Model makingTechnical drawing

Sketching

Proficient Adequate

Laura is a designer whose affinity towards adventure has translated into an insatiable need for discovery and perfection in her designs. Travelling to many parts of the world gave her insightful perspectives into cultures and traditions, and being a massage therapist gave her a perceptive understanding of human factors and ergonomics. Having an inexhaustible endurance to seek out the best ideas, she continually strives to acquire new skills to constantly evolve as a designer.

Soft goods

Thank you!