Series: Rapid Product Sketching

The following projects involve a preliminary exploration of industrial design. Overall goals were to develop proficiency in a range of visualization modes from rapid, loose ideation sketching ideal for initial form and concept generation, to more refined and photo-realistic renderings and formal presentation techniques suitable for tangible communication of ideas, thoughts and plans. I learned industry standard engineering and architectural drawing language and techniques including perspective, orthographic projection, fabrication exploded views, contour control drawings, and cross sectioning. Environments, contexts and detail drawings especially those with human reference for scale and clarity aided my ability to develop, visualize and document concepts of my own creation.

Branding, Felt-Tip, and Air Brushing Technique: Kitchen Appliance Development booklet

The purpose of this project was to design six kitchen appliances, based on the branding of a specific, assigned company (Dyson). By first developing an image board of Dyson’s product line, I was able to identify five different brand styles, as well as color schemes. Creating a persona board allowed me to further identify the market of my appliances and to consider certain product qualities that users would search for. Next, I used five brand style concepts and combined them with three different kitchen appliances of my choice (toaster, blender, and speed immersion handle) during the ideation phase. Finally, I chose a sketching technique of my choice. Based on my strengths, I chose felt tip pen and Photoshop brush pen tool with varying opacities and colors to create volume and to design and develop my brand-influenced products.

Felt-Tip Marker (varying widths), Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Epson scanner. 8.5” x 11”.

Felt-Tip Marker Technique: Video Game Controller Development booklet

The purpose of this project was to develop a series of video game controllers, based on the motion of three developed actions (mountain biking, archery, and painting). First, researching the history and the progression of game controllers allowed for a more rooted sense of product development. Next, research about the physical motions themselves provided insight for the involved human movements. Finally, six variations of game controllers, which act in cohesion with the user’s physical movements, were developed and sketched, utilizing felt-tip and gray scale marker industrial design sketching techniques. Human figures or body parts were displayed in interaction with the product, in consistency with professional technique.

Felt-Tip Marker (varying widths), gray scale marker (20%), Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Epson scanner. 8.5” x 11”.

Pencil Technique: Shampoo Bottle Design Development Booklet

The main purpose was to develop six finalized renderings of shampoo bottles for a specifically chosen market (young adult, female hostel travelers). More specifically, pencil application and sketching techniques were applied and progressed to create tangible communicated ideas of products. By means of developing, refining, and communicating these three-dimensional concept ideas, rapid visualization sketching practices were learned, with pencil as the communication tool. User interviews, market research, preliminary ideation, and many versions of sketching drafts led me to six final designs.

Pencil, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Epson scanner. 8.5” x 11”.