MARIAMERCHANT

PORTFOLIO

Background :

I have been an art enthusiast since childhood, who entered the world of design. After I won a few renowned awards in the same, a career path in fine arts was set in stone. My bachelors program helped me to understand the power of design and to stop accepting things as they were but to always challenge the status quo. This, to-gether with the inspiring works displayed in the alumni’s design gallery, enlightened me on how functionality could meet art.

This portfolio is a few of my concepts and pas-sionate ideas, which, if tapped and appropriately channelized, could have the potential for success.

Strong quantitative skills have also allowed me to take up technically complex projects such as conducting experiments to run a DIY Air Cooler and to understand the mechanics of pressure of a vacuum Impregnation plant.

An exchange semester at the Pforzheim School of Design, Germany, was a package of broad ex-posure. The sports mobility project with the Das-sault Systemes, France that required us to model their newly launched software: CATIA Imagine and Shape was a stimulating experience that gave me a taste of the professional design world and helped to further channelize my motive.

Admission into the one-year Liberal Arts Fellow-ship Program that provided a ‘21st-century skill set’ with diverse courses, was a unique opportu-nity.

The fellowship helped me to interact and learn from the experiences of people from various dis-ciplines, highly successful in their work.

During the same year, I have worked to film a documentary film called ‘Behind the Walls’ along with a group despite a complete lack of experi-ence. The film aimed to document the progres-sive social change brought about by the Drug De-addiction Center of India’s infamous prison, Tihar Jail. As the team leader, I was majorly involved for the storyboardfilming, editing of the film. The intention to capture the change-making of the organisation that made the whole documen-tary a very successful project.

I also undertook a research project ‘Integrating the Informal’ which was an immersive experience under Studio-X Mumbai, in recording urban de-velopment. My responsibilities included devising research strategies, filming, interviewing local residents, photography and documentation. Our findings inspired us to put up a dialogue and an interactive exhibition at the Studio. The research is also compiled as a separate book published by the Studio.

At this point, I shall delay you no further to have a look at my selected works.

Any comments, queries or feedback are much welcome. Please mail them to me at:mariamerchant5@gmail.com

1st year Classroom Project | NID | 2006Packaging design | 3D - Geometry | Compact | McDonald’s | Archemedian Solids

Process:In a team of four, we made paper models of Platonic solids, Archimedean solids and some non-uniform polyhedrons as shown in the top two photos. At the end of the course, we came up with an application concept of a non-uniform polyhedron. It was designed as a packaging for the McDonald’s ‘Happy Meal’ combos. Each of the items under the meal was accommodated according to the sequence of the actions expected. The packaging was aimed to be compact. I was involved in the model making as well as conceptualization of the design.

Learnings: Group work, brainstorming, visualizing geometry in 3D, inter-relation between solids, Symmetric & Asymmetric Polygons

Teammates : Sumegha Mantri, Dhaumya Mehta and Nikhil Bajpai

Guides : Prof. Dimple Soni, Prof. Shailesh Manke

1Packaging Design :the Happy Meal

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Summer Elective | 2008 | 3 weeksResearch | Documentation | Mapping |

Process : Finding a scarcely documented/rare craft | Approaching Craftsmen | Understanding the existing system of working | Plotting and recording of their Cultural and Socioeconomic Background | Recording personal Aspirations of Artisans.

Malpur is a small village of 5,000 houses located in Dhule, Maharashtra in western India. HaathMaag is an occupation in the Dhangar families since the past 5 generations. It is the craft of weaving woolen rugs and dhurries.

The area of crafts in India is a vast one with many intertwining strands of tradition, values and culture, especially in the area of traditional crafts as practiced over generations. These living crafts of India are a legacy and repository of a traditional heritage – of forms, motifs and craftsmanship. Hence, It is imperative to document each existing craft in order to revive them and save them for decline.

Learnings: Research techniques,Observation & Recording skills, Socioeconomic structure, Revenue model, Awareness upon Design, Documentation.

Guides : Prof. Praveen Nahar, Prof. Shilpa Das

2Craft Research :Wool - weaving

Stegerief Competition | 2008 | 1 weekPforzheim School of Design, Germany | Villeroy & Boch, Germany | Conceptual Proposal | Futuristic

Process:Taking inspiration from the mother’s womb as being the earliest point in history linked to an individual’s lifetime, we generated a detailed concept of a modular bath, which would radically transform the experience attached to the activity of bathing. At the same time, it imbibed a strong essence of the health and wellness aspects.

The aim was to generate concepts that would indicate the direction of possibilities in the luxury bath segment by 2020, but at the same time, demonstrating Villeroy & Boch’s philosophy of “back to the roots”.This concept was selected and taken forward to be presented at the company’s headquarters in Mettlach, Germany.

Learnings:Communication skills through Sketching, Group discussion and Presentation amongst a large audience.

Teammates: Andreas Pudel, Daniel Lichtwald, Gisela Alberich, Vritima Wadhwa, Dhaumya Mehta.

3Villeroy & Boch :Bath of the Future

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Form exercise | Mechanism | Dassault Systemes, France | Pforzheim, School of Design, Germany | CATIA Imagine & Shape | 4 weeks | 2008

Process:The brief was to design a new sports mobility vehicle/appliance using the then newly launched CATIA Imagine & Shape. Walschaerts valve gear principle that converts linear motion into a rotatory one similar to the mechanism of a steam locomotive.

Different form variations were made portraying a strong, adventurous experience. Targeted for the teenagers, a light and sporty frame invites them to indulge in a new game - a sports-bike that requires jumping. Since we have transcended into a major urban life today, horse riding is a prerogative from the past. So the concept integrates the feeling of horse riding into traditional cycling with an added challenge of balance. Once you manage to set it in motion, it would be possible to rest on the seat. A suitable place for the Hop-on would be an open ground or a park. The Bike is meant to introduce fun amongst youngsters to bring them back to the playground.

Learnings: A new modelling platform, group discussion, feedback-exchange, Ergonomics, Presentation.

Guides: Prof. Shieschke, Prof. Cosima Striepe

4Sports Mobility :the Hop-on Bike

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Summer Internship | Pierlite Pvt. Ltd | Streetlight design for Class-B roads | Landscape lighting | Aesthetics | 2009 | 3 weeks |

Process : Research , plotting of existing models, Mechanism of various Lighting | Luminance | Weather-proofing |Conceptualization

My brief was to design a light fixture for an urban landscape, particularly of Class B roads (sidewalks, parks or residential). With the constraints of a fixed mounting height of 15 feet and the lamp to be a 40W CFL, the design was to achieve good visibility, easy and efficient maintenance and a great aesthetic appeal. It also required a standard weatherproofing of IP 65.

The final designs that I submitted were selected on the basis of least manufacturing costs and complexity. The design was sent to the company’s Australia headquarters for further development.

Learnings : Working with Manufacturing, Material and Time constraints. Aesthetic yet Economical-make of design

5Lighting Design :Street-light

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Technically complex Classroom Project | 3 weeks | Self - sustainable | Low- cost | low-maintenance & Eco-friendly | NID | 2010

Process: Research | understanding the Need | working mechanism- Evaporative Cooling | Prototyping Testing through experiments | Trial and error method |

A Do-It- Yourself low-cost cooler design targeted for the rural and low income families residing in the hot and arid regions. After product’s testing, a maximum dip of 4°C in the ambient temperature was achieved in 12 sq. feet indoor space. It was found that the cooler can be effective in an enclosed space of maximum 15 sq. feet area. The material costs, building and operational costs are approximately 500L(10$). An earthen container could replace the plastic bucket for more effective cooling and can be made at a local potter’s place in a village. The subsequent plan of action is to design a manual to train a local potter for its pilot model.

Learnings : Possibilities of design within open-source ideas, indigenous capabilities, self-sustanability , Science of Materials

Guide : Prof. Ranjit Konkar

6DIY Air Cooler :for dry/arid regions

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Maslov’s Heirarchy Model

5 weeks | NID | 2008 | Municipality Initiation

Process:In a group of six, we did a lake development project to be proposed to the Municipal government office of the Vadodara district. The lake is situated at heart of Dabhoi, a historical town in south Gujarat. We researched to understand the system and its context.

My individual brief was to design a space for recreational purpose on the banks. The concept shows a floating bridge that can be engineered to skim on the water surface to experience the existence of water. The structure surrounded by a moat is a union of four circular mazes, where four represents the directions of the ‘Char Bhagols’ (Four historical gates). Each maze constitutes of a narrative display unfolding step by step along with each maze. At the heart of this space a miniature 3D mapping of Dabhoi was proposed. A scale model for the space showed a 25 square meter structure and its interior. In the end, a collective systems proposal of the Lake was presented to the municipality officials, who have suggested taking the designs further.

Research Teammates : Neerav Panchal, Sukanya Borsaikia, Devendra Chakravarty, Danish Rizvi, Soheni Arora. Guides : Prof. Bhaskar Bhatt, Prof. Sethuraman

7Systems Design :Dabhoi Lake Beautification

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Disney ImagiNations | 2 weeks | 2010

The Royal Odyssey theme park was a Disney Imaginations entry submitted in a team of two. The concept was based on a story of the Taj Mahal, an icon that symbolizes timeless love. The theme transcends its 400 years old story to a larger than life experience. The guests discover the joys of being a Emperor or an Empress. The journey begins on a royal chariot with a euphoric court of myriad royalties. Inside a harmony of Indian music, delicacies served along a lotus pool through interactive mirrors to groom oneself as a royal. At the inner most sanctum, the chariot descends into a trap door, with one literally in a royal-shoe, leading to a maize of sliding tunnels.The time tunnels lead the guest to five interactive magical islands (left page).

Team-mates : Upasana Jain.

8Theme Park Design :International Competition

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Diploma Project | Internship | 16 weeks | Indian Railways Traction Machine Workshop | 2010

The project was done as the graduating project in 2010 at H.K. Industries, a vacuum systems company. The brief was to a control system unit for a Vacuum Pressure Impregnation (VPI) plant.

The aim of the project was to design a completely operator-friendly interface, one that is thoughtfully designed within the bounds and constraints of the client and the customer.

A process chart was prepared in order to categorize it into sub-processes. This chart also would help as a mnemonic table for a user. Research was conducted regarding the semiotics, visual and cognitive ergonomics and display standards. After many explorations, the image shows the final layout of the panel’s interface that was implemented. After making a 3D simulation model, a full-scale prototype was made. After making suitable corrections the design was finalized for production.

The product has been tested after its wiring and has been delivered to the Traction Machine Workshop ( Nashik), an Indian Railways workshop.

The entire experience and its learnings has been recorded in a separate document.

Guide : Prof. Ranjit Konkar

9User Interface :Control Panel for Railways

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Hands-on-Door Handles Design-Competition | 1 week | 2011 | Colombo design, Italy

The brief was to design a versatile interior door lever handle for an Italian door handle company called Colombo. The design had to suit contemporary forms of surrounding architecture, for both residential and public projects. It had to follow the company’s current methods of CNC manufacturing(which was shown in a video)

Process: Different hand impressions made on plasticine were assessed to derive new and more comfortable grips. Once the various explorations of the grip were made, I began refining their forms. Amongst them, the bird-form en-captured had the best grips. The form is a delightful change from conventional abstract forms as well. The design is a step further from the ornate forms of medieval or baroque architecture yet elegant and non-bulky.

The ergonomic advantage being, one can more comfortably insert the thumb into the circular cavity, unlike existing door handles’s grip designs requiring one to curve one’s thumb outwards,which takes an effort for unnatural bending of the thumb, especially for elderly users.

http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/10/view/12774/hands_on_door_handles.html

10Product Design :A door Handle

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Form Exercise | Ergonomics | 2 weeks | 2012Primudesign Pvt. Ltd. | Biosystems Pvt. Lit |

Process: Biosystem’s pipette is a compact device with separate tip ejector. The Bioplus pipette has a good reputation with medical researchers & professional people.

The company required a re-design of the existing model. They put forth all the requirements and changes in their brief such as new ergonomic design, product to be very User-friendly & strain free. It should reduce the probability of repetitive strain injure. And also have an instant volume adjustment feature and a separate tip ejector.The digital window on the hand grip should be clearly visible on the hand-grip. Most importantly it should have newer and more-appealing aesthetics than before. Earlier Model (as shown on the extreme left) is showcased pn their website : http://www.micropipette.in/products_micropipette_bioplus.asp

Several variations were sketched as per the various requirements as shown on the right. Out of them two designs (sketch shown on left page) were selected for further development.

Learnings : Flexibility of Form with fixed inner mechanism | Cognitive Ergonomics | Brand identity | Minimalist approach | Manufacturability

11Micro-pipette Redesign :Biosystem Company

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Primudesign Pvt. Ltd | 1 week | Ergonomics | 2012

Process: My employer at Primusdesign got the seats of an old Toyota Corolla that were covered with beautiful Stanley leather. Being quite a car buff, he wanted to use them in our studio space.

The best idea was to use them as our reception furniture instead of the regular stuffy sofas. Hence I was asked to design a frame for it in such a way that a local fabricator is able to weld it in shape without changing much of the design.

I had personally seen examples of such car-seat furniture especially in autocar-shows. But they were mostly made out of tubular steels which used to not complement the form of the seat and rather make it look bulky. Hence my main aim was to create a sleek frame. Cantilever forms were suggested with bending of single 3mm of Steel. But the bending was not possible in a single piece, hence the part was divided into two. Both the front and rear seats were finally made into laid-back chairs and a plush sofa respectively.

Learnings : Welding and its constraints | Communicating with Fabricators | Minimalist approach | Experiencing the final outcome gave the understanding of how it can be improved further.

13Furniture Design :Recycled car-seats

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Studio-X Mumbai | 1 year | 2013

Process:

Studio-X Mumbai, a Columbia University initiative funded us to record and understand the ‘Urbanism in Katwaria Sarai’ we were studying in Delhi.

We studied Katwaria Sarai, one of the urban villages of South Delhi, through the course of a year now. We attempted to comprehend the unique microcosm that was Katwaria Sarai, and when we looked at it in light of its current status and shaping this dynamic area. There evolved in our understanding some of the factors which make the place work, what was needed for its improvement, and how the two could be syncretised.

The informal city in urban centres in India is deeply interwoven with the formal city. In the broad sweeps of urbanisation that periodically overtake our urban centres, the mainstream point of view seems to aim for the ‘rehabilitation’ of informal spaces into the formal city. In our research process, we questioned this particular assumption.

Informal spaces in cities are often some of the most vibrant and resilient, immediately identifiable and eminently human.

14Urban Research :Katwaria Saria

We made a strong case for preserving their identity and culture, while at the same time trying to see how these areas can benefit from public interventions to help curb the onslaught of relentless urbanism.

We need to incorporate the values of informal engagement as a tool for socially inclusive and sustainable urban development, and for creating places that are rooted in their context. The value of informality is in its social nature, with active public participation that creates and sustains it. It is a necessary counterpart to the framework of the more permanent and deliberate formal city. It is time we accept the informal city in all its temporal flexibility as a permanent given, as it is in any part of the world, and learn to harness its power in creating vibrant, resilient and holistic city spaces.

Learnings : Urban histories and development | Research Techniques | Presenting the project gave the understanding of how it can be spaces can be improved further.

Guide: Rajeev Thakker, Director, Studio-X.Teammates: Chaitanya Kanuri | Sanaa Degani

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Young India Fellowship Program | 6 months | 2013

Process: Tihar Jail is model Jail, one of its kind in the entire South Asia. Its Drug-Deaddicition centers conducts programs well beyond its mandates. There have been growing concern over HIV, AIDS and substance abuse victims in Jails. Hence we were asked to choose a change-maker we chose this particular public institution as part of our Visual Communication Project.

The Prison as a space and the issue of drug addiction – are perhaps the two most challenging subjects to study and to document. We decided to tread on the overambitious project of combining the two for the first film of our lives. It is not surprising then, that the entire process was incredibly overwhelming.

The theme given to us was “Change makers”. . Within the jail we had several potential subjects – particularly the many reform efforts in the women’s prison – which was any day a more comfortable space for us. However, we found that the efforts Tihar is putting in the area of drug addiction are so exemplary that they might have lessons for society at large; at the same time, they have not been documented extensively.

As group leader, and director of film, I was involved at all stages of film-making.

15Documentary Film Project :Behind The Walls

The logistical challenges were so huge and we had been bluntly denied permission to shoot that till the day of the shoot. Fortunately for us, our perseverance paid off and we ended up getting permission.

To be in a space where you’re dealing with people accused of and some convicted of crimes that may range from petty thefts to heinous crimes like a murder or rape is not easy. At the same time, their lives make you question larger ethical issues and questions of freedom, retribution, crime and punishment

This project also helped us understand the challenges of storytelling. How should a story as complex as this one be told in a mere nine minutes so that the audience can understand the complexities we understood over a period 4 months?

Structure: The film begins with a visual montage that effectively pulls the audience into the four walls of a jail. Thereon we listen to the jail superintendent, doctors, police officers and a social worker. We do not hear the perspective of an inmate. The logic is driven forward with these interviews and inter-titles. We see glimpses of the jail exterior, a “phatta session,” interior shots, de-addiction center shots and clinic.

Learnings : We picked a compelling subject and managed to have extraordinary access to Tihar Jail.

Guide: Sanjeev Chatterjee

Teammates: Akshi Chawla, Bano Fatima, Poornima Sardana, Shivangi Pareek & Nicky La

Being a designer I like to customize objects according to my convinience and appeal. My sense of aesthetics is satiated when I play with colors.

The cane basket lighting (the left most section) was designed as part of the Decor committe for the Friends of YIF Cultural dinner event.

I had to design the wedding invite as shown on the immediate left, for my own wedding. The prints were taken on handmade paper in India.

The green pillow cover was embellished by some of the colorful buttons I used to collect as a child. The cassette pouch (left most bottom) was a gift made for a dear friend. I love to make hand made gift items for close ones such as the quilling card shown on the immediate top left.

My amusement with colors influences inspires my work. Painting gives me the platform to vent out my imaginative ideas. The images on the left are photographs of my most recent artworks. I tend to use mixed media in most of my works depending on the subject involved.

I love to capture light and play with the medium through photography. I am developing my photography blog. Feel free to check it out at:www.fotomized.tumblr.com

16Art Projects

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Thank you !