Billy McKendrick Design Portfolio

Product Design Graduate // Loughborough University

Welcome to my portfolio.

This document contains my student work which best represents my skills and creative thinking. The work was completed at Loughborough University and is entirely my own.

About.

Bio Education Experience

Name Billy McKendrick Born 28 November 1998 Home Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne Contact Details Phone: 07503 160966 Email: billymckendrick@outlook.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/billy-mcken drick-19a668187/

Product Design and Technology BSc Loughborough University 2018 - 2021

Integrated Industrial Design MSc Loughborough University 2021 - 2022 Gosforth Academy Sixth Form Product Design; A, Maths; B, Physics; C 2015 - 2017

CMP Products 1 week work experience Shadowing in various different departments including manufacture, assembly, maintenance, design and material testing. 2017 Pearson Engineering 6 month project Design engineering group project which involved designing military drone attachments to defend restricted airspaces from external drones. We were awarded finalists in the North East region. 2016

Hobbies

Acquainted Software Skills

and music production 4 years, playing in local clubs and pubs. Watersports 7 years, powerboat level 2 qualified, wakeboarding and waterskiing. Gym/Working out 2 years, 4 times a week.

Putting Pen to Paper.

Sketching and Visualisation.

Sketching is the most important part of the design process. Early concepts and ideas are transformed into feasible and detailed designs.

Sketching can be quick thumbprint drawings which can be used to brainstorm ideas. These are then defined and developed into full perspective concepts which could be presented to a potential client.

My primary method of sketching is using ballpoint pens and pencil guidelines. These can then be refined with fineliners and markers to bring sketches to life.

I also use a drawing tablet to create digital sketches from scratch, or to render scanned-in sketches.

Making concepts appear real.

CAD Modelling and Rendering

Computer aided design tends to appear nearer to the end of my design process. It refines my designs and brings scale and measurements to them. It is also very useful for rapid prototyping - 3D printing can be a great way to explore form and scale and further develop my designs.

CAD is also very important for creating feasible designs - it allows exploration of internal components and how they will fit within the “shell” of the product. For products which will be injection moulded, simulations can be done within software to save on material costs through manufacture and reduces the amount of trial and error needed to produce a suitable product.

I typically design through Solidworks however I have used NX and Autodesk Speedform aswell. Rendering is done through Solidworks Visualise and is often touched up and enhanced through photoshop to produce the best quality images possible.

bringing designs to life.

Prototyping and Manufacturing

Prototyping can come in many forms. Simple card models to layout internal components, blue foam models to represent scale and form and high fidelity appearance models to best present products. These all have their own place in the design process and are all equally as important as one another.

The most important thing about prototyping is that it must have a purpose. Prototyping should be planned out to achieve specific outcomes which may be used to determine next steps in the design process or to show certain functionality to clients. They must showcase key features of the design and be worth the time it may take to create them.

Manufacturing also comes in many forms. Metalworking machines such as lathes and milling machines are extremely useful and were used often in my injection moulding project. These machines were used to create products to a extremely high degree of accuracy which created a mould tool. This mould tool could then create multiple products all essentially perfect and ready for distribution.

Every Design Needs a Purpose.

Design Research

Research is just as important as having beautiful renders and detailed sketches. It is important to identify problems, why they exist, and who is affected before tackling the solution. This ensures you design something which is driven and has real purpose.

Research can come in many forms. Primary research involves user questionnaires, focus groups and one to one interviews. These are vital in finding real life opinions and can give brilliant visions of your product which you may have overlooked.

Secondary research is often found online and is best sourced from academic publications as these tend to be the most reliable. Secondary information must always be referenced correctly and credit must be given where it is due.

It is important to tackle research with a plan. This means generating hunt statements and creating personas to have the most efficient research process properly.

A circuit diagram containing an Arduino and Pickit3 microcontroller. This contains information on all the components needed and how they are connected.

A circuit flowchart. This is used to plan out the functions and then the code can be “extracted” from it. It allows the code to be visualised before it is written.

Applying engineering knowledge.

Electronics and Mechanics

An important factor in design is “Will the product actually work?”. With knowledge of embedded systems, C Code and arduino alot of my prototypes can be “brought to life” using electrical circuits. These can bring life to designs and show off functionality; even if the prototype is not visually appealing, the feeling of having a working prototype is unmatched.

I follow a simple embedded systems design process which involves defining the problem in words, creating simple block diagrams and function flowcharts which all lead to circuit schematics being created. Using software such as MPlab the code can be simulated before being ported onto microchip controllers and implemented into real life circuits.

Embedded systems I have created consist of automated coffee machines which recognises users and brews their specific coffee, automated lighting systems which simulates outdoor light in closed off indoor spaces such as basements and custom character LCD displays.

Combined with mechanics and engineering knowledge these skills can be used to created functional and realistic prototypes.

Here is an exploded view of our automated aeropress system. The project had a full electronics circuit set up using two microcontrollers and full working C and arduino code prototypes.

Calorie Tracking Meal Preparation Device.

Project Brief

The brief set for this project was to design a product which would assist users in calorie tracking and meal preparation.

OptiKcal was intended to be used in the user’s home kitchen and consisted of a smart camera to identify the food and scales to measure the weight. This would calculate the calories of all ingredients as the user prepares their meal.

The results would display on an app which would log the user’s meals and data and compare it with their pre set goals. This ensures they are meeting their daily calorie intake goals for their intended purpose; whether this be weight loss, gain or maintenance.

Concept Generation and Design Development

Sketching was used throughout this project for several purposes. A wide range of concepts were generated using methods such as Crazy-8’s to quickly product a variety of ideas. This explores multiple different avenues in an time efficient way.

Sketching was then used to further develop one chosen design. This develops the idea whilst exploring all options to ensure “no stone is left unturned”. The style of sketching changes throughout. It can consist of quick profile views to show detailed mechanisms or more aesthetic form sketches. Each sketch has a purpose and the chosen style reflects this purpose.

Style and Colour Options

To ensure the device fit into a wide range of environments they colour scheme can be customised. This means it can be matched to the users interior design and therefore should increase sales. Aesthetics and interior design is becoming increasingly more important as users tend to care about their social image more.

The CAD image shows the device folding and from multiple angles to fully show the form.

Product in Environment

Rendering the product in it’s intended environment gives the user context of the device and can also allow the user to imagine the product in their own environment.

Here the product is rendered into a modern kitchen and shows all the extra components such as intergrated chopping board and auto zeroing bowls. A logo is also added to state the product name and gives the user something to re search.

Smart Diabetes Monitoring Device.

Project Brief

The brief for this project was to design an Internet of Things device. This is a product which has interconnection via the internet embedded into everyday objects. This allows them to send and receive data.

I decided to design a diabetes monitoring device which could test blood glucose levels, automatically measure a dose, inject the user with insulin and track and record their data. This data would then be sent to their GP so they could have an overview of their patients health. It would also automatically re-order medication when the user’s personal supply was running low.

Concept Exploration and Development

My concept exploration is based on the double diamond design model. This involves generating a wide range of simple concepts. Once these have been generated a select few are chosen to investigate further. These are then whittled down again to a single concept which is then heavily developed.

The main factors which influenced these concepts were a clean/medical aesthetic; this involved a white base with hints of colour. The green really stood out as a medical/health device and therefore was the selected colour.

The shape had to be ergonomic and fit comfortably in the user’s hand for a range of motions. These motions involved injecting oneself and using the embedded lancelet to test their blood sugar levels. This played a key role in the positioning of buttons and the insulin needle.

The importance of a screen was debated in user focus groups. Did the product need an embedded screen or could all the functionality be managed through a mobile app? The discussion came to the conclusion that an app is a desirable function however, as this is a medical device, it needs to function on it’s own in the rare occasion where the user does not have their mobile phone. Therefore a screen is an important key feature the device must have.

The user receives an alert on their phone through the Jekta app. This reminds them to check their blood levels through the device.

Using the embedded lancelet at the top of the device, the user pricks their finger and waits for the result to display on the screen.

The result is displayed on the screen. This will tell the user to continue with their day, eat more sugary foods or inject themselves with the automatic dose.

The device calculates the exact amount of insulin needed. The user simply injects themselves with the concealed needle located at the bottom of the device.

Final Design and Storyboard

This design was chosen due to its ergonomic shape. The hand position does not have to change whilst testing blood sugar levels and administering a dose of insulin. It looks sleek and the white and green colourway promotes health and cleanliness.

The storyboard clearly shows how the product functions. This is important as it removes any confusion the client may have about a product.

The product would be injection moulded from ABS. This is due to it’s high quality finish and robustness; the product needs life longevity as it is a key piece of medical equipment for the user.

The users blood sugar levels are recorded, displayed in the app and sent direct to their GP. This will indicate if there are any continuous issues or risks which will need urgent attention

When insulin levels are low, new vials will be automatically ordered. This means the user will never run out of medication. The vials are replaced through the magnetic back panel on the device.

High Fidelity App Wireframes

An app was designed using Adobe XD. It was important the app was personal to the user, sat within the same brand styling and displayed information to the user in a simple and efficient way.

5 pages were designed. These include a loading screen, login screen, home screen, device information screen and glucose tracker. These are all the functions needed to create an efficient system for the user to monitor their diabetes.

When medication levels are low they are automatically reordered and all the information is sent to the users GP. This keeps them up to date and will alert them of any recurring issues which may occur.

3d Printed Disability Aid.

Project Brief

The brief for this design was to create a disability aid which would be manufactured through 3D printing. It had to be made of one single component and had to fit within the HP 3D printing bed. This task was set by Design Reality in a week long live project.

I decided to design a toothpaste dispenser as this is an everyday task which can be difficult for all users regardless of their hand strength and dexterity. It is aimed at those with limited hand mobility however it can be used by all.

Customer Persona

Creating personas is a great way of envisoning a user. It requires alot of empathy to put yourself in another persons shoes and see/feel how they do. Envisioning a users goals and frustrations allows you to create a design which has real targets/purposes that it must complete.

SKWEEZE is aimed at users with reduced mobility and grip strength in their hands. It allows the user to easily get their toothpaste out of the tube. This reduces frustrating tasks in the morning to allow the user to start their day positively.

The Problem: Squeezing the toothpaste out of the tube can prove difficult at times. It can require two hands to push out which leaves no spare hand to hold the toothbrush. For users with limited hand mobility and grip strength this is an even bigger issue.

Skweeze offers a solution. It can store multiple bathroom essentials like toothbrushes, razors and toothpaste. The user can access these easily.

The user simply pulls the tube through the slit which pushes the toothpaste out of the top. This can then be easily transferred onto the toothbrush.

The user then brushes their teeth as usual.

The mesh holes at the back allow water to flow through which allows Skweeze to be cleaned quickly and with ease.

Skweeze

Storyboard and Final Concept

The ideation and sketching for this project can be found on page 9 of this portfolio. This ideation followed the double diamond method and resulted in a single final concept.

It was important that SKWEEZE has a subtle and discrete design so it does not visually look like a disability aid. This is so it could fit in any environment without causing anyone any discomfort.

Due to the brief set SKWEEZE had to be 3D printed. SKWEEZE is designed to be manufactured with the HP Jet Fusion 4200 3D Printer. This uses HP 3D HP PA 11 thermoplastic which is known for its rigidity and sturdiness. It’s high impact strength will prevent the product from fracturing when dropped and it has an excellent quality finish and feel. This was important as SKWEEZE is a fairly hands on product.

DJ Livestream assistant.

Project Brief

The aim of this project was to design a product which would assist DJs in online performances. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic elimanting in person gigs for all DJs as clubs were closed. To pursue a DJ career in this time you would have to perform online through livestream services. Many big name DJs such as Calvin Harris had no problem adjusting as they have teams of experts behind them helping them along the way. The typical “bedroom DJ” does not have this backing.

This is why there is a need for a product which lets anyone livestream a DJ set from the touch of a button with very little set up or streaming knowledge needed.

Social media plays a huge role in who gets booked in clubs. An amateur DJ who is trying to establish themselves would really benefit from a stream assistant as it would bring high levels of social media activity and engagement which could result in club bookings.

Concept Generation and Development

Through thumbprint sketches I explored a range of different “hub” concepts. These ranged from hubs which used a mobile phone as a main screen through an app to products with headphone storage or adjustable cameras.

Concepts were then developed and honed down to a final concept which was then rendered.

Product Renders and Review

This was the selected concept. It has a main wide angle camera embedded and has the facility to link to external cameras. These then can be situated around the room to capture the DJs set from multiple film angles. These cameras connect via WiFi and the use of a WPS button.

It had audio mixing functionality which would balance the music and the microphone. It had inputs for 1 microphone and 1 audio source (A DJ system). It then had a MIDI output which would transfer all the video/audio data to a computer.

The issues with this design is it did not act as a “hub”. It needed somewhere to house and to charge the cameras. It also would be situated on a desk which would likely be cluttered and therefore the revolved shape took up too much room and the overall design did not consider it’s surrondings.

The concept went through another development stage which included user feedback from DJs and other designers to create a product which was better suited to the brief.

Wide Angle Camera

This captures the user from the front view. It is the primay camera of the device..

Top PCB

This PCB houses the capacitive touch grid which allows the user to begin/stop the stream.

Middle PCB

This PCB houses the LED drivers and volume indicator LEDs.

Wireless Charging Pad

Two pads which allow cameras to be charged wireless when they are placed on the dock.

ABS Tower Casing

This casing has lips and grooves embedded in to allow the casing to clip together.

Copper Ribbon

This connects the top and central PCB.

ABS Bottom Shell

This ribbed features houses the main PCB and wireless charging coils. It has channels for screws to fix in components and connect it all together.

Inputs/Outputs

Here are the microphone XLR input, the DJ Controller RCA input and the MIDI output to PC.

Bottom PCB

This circuit board is essentialy the main brain of the product and houses the CPU and other important drivers.

Rubber Grip Ring

This ring provides enough grip on the surface to allow the product to be interacted with without it sliding across the surface.

Further Development and Final Concept

The final concept is shown here. It features a wireless charging bay for multiple cameras. A new slimline design which prevents screens being blocked on the users desk. A base which swivels to allow it to be more adjustable to suit it’s surroundings. The inputs/outputs are also angled upwards so that the device does not have protruding cables which may intersect with other products such as keyboards.

The product would be sold in a set with one external camera. The user can then choose to upgrade their system by purchasing additonal cameras and accessories such as clamps and tripods to create an experience as close to a professional studio as possible.

All components are labelled on the exploded view to give a better idea of what each part does.

Product in-Situ

Here you can see the typical environment the product will be used in. It is a bedroom/studio set up in a DJ’s home. The cables tuck nicely behind the desk to stay organised.

The camera is a wide angle lens. This allows the user to capture their full set up in the live stream. They can then place external cameras around their studio to create different angles and give the impression of a professional live stream.

All of this can happen at the push of a button; what was once a complex set up which required technical knowledge is now accessible for everyone.