Jessica Dunbar
PORTFOLIO Interior Design
Manchester Metropolitan University
Hello! I’m Jess... From a young age, I have had a keen interest in interior design. This initially developed from my love of transforming my bedroom into different looks and styles and was built on through watching Grand Designs which has been a source of inspiration for me. I have developed my skills and understanding the importance of interior design and how effective design can transform any space. Throughout my studies and within my wider interests, I have continued to develop my love of design. I have improved my skills in computer aided design, drawing and model making. I have completed a range of different projects, designing a variety of different solutions to a range of real-world problems and I always find myself gravitating towards projects that functionalise people’s spaces whilst also being aesthetically pleasing.
I am truly inspired and committed to building a career in interior design and I look forward to developing my skills further at university. I hope that my portfolio can provide an insight into my design process and highlight my not only my design skills but also my passion for interior design.
Project 1 Interior Design The brief: To re-imagine an exciting, inspirational and functional workspace for Sutton Valence School 6th Form pupils to utilise during their independent study.
Research I undertook and interview with my client the head of sixth form, to understand what is needed from the space. The key findings from this was that he would like to see an area for private study, collaboration space, a bigger office to allow conversations with students and a meeting area for smaller groups of students or staff.
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The area is loud, crowded and not functional when being used. There is no area for both collaboration and personal study space.
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Mood Board
Design Ideation Following my initial research, I undertook an extensive design ideation process to reach an appropriate design solution that met the needs of my client. I utilised my skills in design communication to covey my ideas. I create a floor plan and two one point perspective sketches to convey the new interior.
Final Design The client wanted a space that was functional for the entire 6th form to work effectively. My main goal for the space, along with my clients, was to create a private study area which I utilized the unused printer room to create this space. I then still used the main area for collaboration spaces while incorporating the bigger office my client wanted.
Project 2 Product Design The brief: To make a product that is able to support the weight of a person(s) whilst being multifunctional to make most of the space provided. The product must be able to do the job it is required to do but also provide an ascetically pleasing view when not in use.
Design Ideation Following my initial brief, I undertook a design ideation process to design a range of solutions that were appropriate for the design situation and brief. I explored solutions that were both multifunctional and aesthetically pleasing to ensure I was meeting the design brief fully.
Design Development Following creating a range of initial design ideas, I gathered feedback on these and development my designs to further meet the user’s needs. Taking inspiration from inclusive design principals and the work Dieter Rams to develop my designs. I gathered further feedback on my developed design ideas to allow me the opportunity to further improve the design ensuring it met the specification fully.
Final Design I utilised the CAD software on shape to create a 3D CAD file of my final design. I created an assembly of parts to highlight each section and to show the use of standard components where suitable. Additionally, I created an engineering drawing to detail the key dimensions of the product. This process allowed for an in-depth evaluation to take place.
Project 3 Product Design The brief: I have decided to design a product that is able to improve the mental health and well-being of those who suffer from Functional Neurological Disorder through the use of nature. The product should be safe and intuitive so it can be available to all members of the community. Many of the patients have become house bound due to their symptoms and the global pandemic. It needs to be affordable so it is available to as many people as possible, as many of these people can’t work anymore due to their symptoms. The product should reduce stress as many of the symptoms can worsen due to stress. The product should still be aesthetically pleasing even after different adaptations to connect them more to nature and in a safe space.
Research
Exploring Potential Contexts : 3
Following my initial brief, I undertook a range of indepth primary and secondary research to allow me to gain a further understanding of the problem area and the user’s need to design an appropriate solution. The key insights from my research allowed me to create a suitable design specification to ensure that I could design a solution that fully met the design situation and brief. My research activates were thorough and fully aided my design investigations.
Introduction On this page I outlined some outdoor activities. I looked at different sports and gardening, linking them to exercise and some problems that have been associated with these activities. Some problems with sports and exercise I outlined were that in poorer areas they can afforded a lot of the equipment that is needed. In cities it will be hard to find the space necessary for the sport games, but when the space is found it can help to bring communities together while keeping them fit and healthy. I also looked into gardening, a lot of people do not have the luxury nowadays to able to do gardening, whether it be due to time, knowledge, space etc. I also then looked at what contributes to mental health to see how different things including gardening can improve mental health
Due to the global pandemic and all of the lockdowns, people have been stuck inside for extended periods of time and now that restriction are lifting it is important for people to get back involved in their communities. This involves getting sport clubs up and running, along with gyms to get everyone back into their normal lives. Having local things like football clubs and running clubs it helps kids and adults involved with the community, while staying fit and healthy. By upgrading or adding these local spaces it allows more opportunities for people to feel more included and could also allow some of the children to get more opportunities for their future in sports.
Initial thoughts What is needed to keep the plants healthy? How much water is needed? Does the user know these things? How much space people have? How it will help peoples mental health? If they do have space how much of the space is useable? User groups The user group I decided to explore where people that go to school/work full time and don’t have to time or the space in order to do gardening or look after plants. I also would like to include people that live in flats or small houses that have little to no access to outdoor space that they can use for gardening. By having this target market it allows me to find some find a product that will be able to help people to get into gardening which can work towards reducing CO2 and improve mental health. Summery With this context there are a large amount of problem that are associated with gardening, one of the main problems is a lack of space. Lots of people nowadays live in cities so they don’t have the space, meaning that they are unable to reap the benefits that gardening offers. They also may lack motivation, knowledge or confidence look after different plants. The mind map on what contributes to good mental health helped me to see the positives and negatives of each activity and well they do contribute. I think that will take both a lot of secondary research and primary research to find how this affects people.
Primary research 1 Introduction On this page I have contacted my client about some of the existing products I have research into with my secondary research. This will help me to see some of the advantages and disadvantages with the products that they have found and struggle with. Then when I am designing my product I can take into account some of the problems they face so it can help to reduce some of those problems.
Secondary research 1 Advantages: - Self watering system meaning little maintenance. - Table top for easy reach for those using wheelchairs or walking aids of with functional movement disorder.
Advantages: - Attractive colours for the young FND community. - Interactive functions to engage user. Sounds to promote mindfulness and grounding which help to manage the triggers that cause seizures in FND.
Advantages: - Attractive mix of plastic and wood, promotes a feel of nature for those isolated at home due to symptoms. - Transportable for those who require hospital rehab of up to 6 weeks. Gives a soothing distraction and activity.
Introduction I am hoping to find out how and why gardening affects/helps peoples mental health. After going in and out of lockdown for over a year now, a lot of peoples mental health has suffered. To help people go back to school and work full time, it is important for people to be able to work to their full potential.
Does gardening affect people's mental health?
Websites I used Benefits of Gardening for Mental Health - David Domoney Why gardening is good for your mental wellbeing – Thrive Cultivating wellbeing and mental health through gardening | The Psychologist (bps.org.uk) What is the evidence for the impact of gardens and gardening on health and well-being: a scoping review and evidence-based logic model to guide healthcare strategy decision making on the use of gardening approaches as a social prescription | BMJ Open
Statistics and data • Out of 317 people who took part in table-top gardening sessions run by Thrive across Berkshire, Hampshire and south Oxfordshire, 80 per cent reported better mental health as a result, with 93 per cent saying they had improved their confidence and motivation. • In Philadelphia, 144 gardeners were asked for the reasons they did it and mental health was second to recreation as the most important factors.
Why and how gardening affects mental health Gardening is a good way to improve your mental health, even something as simple as having a plant on your desk can reduce stress and make you feel more energized and able to think more clearly, and many that suffer from anxiety or depression have found gardening and caring for plants to be incredibly beneficial. Gardening is a way of caring for something and sometimes of keeping a plant alive will give people a sense of purpose and responsibility. It also is a good way to get in some physical exercise, which can help to release endorphins and allows people express themselves creatively.
Disadvantages: - Overcomplicated functions for those with hand and arm dystonia and lack of cognitive function. - Does not provide much mental stimulation as its self-maintained.
Their response Dear Jessica, Your ideas were put to 15 members of the FND community, all with diagnosed FND or caring for a child or adult with FND with an age range of 20-70. I have formulated the feedback for each idea. A number of members were anxious about the products needing electricity, which could be a safeguarding issue for those with complex FND symptoms and where daily living is difficult to manage. Many of our members have lost hobbies such as gardening/art/crafts due to their FND and experience a sense of grief and loss of independence. Having a product that could provide an indoor activity, that is low maintenance and is low in cost would be ideal. You would need to take into consideration wheelchair users and those who need a walking aid. Also those who have mental health difficulties such as depression and anxiety so a low maintenance product would be beneficial. As some of our members have non epileptic seizures associated with FND, it would need to be both sturdy and free from hazardous materials.
Disadvantages: - Too modern for the majority of our community who are above the age of 30, this is because diagnosis can take a number of years from onset of symptoms. - Overly complicated to operate sound and light functions for those with cognitive impairment.
Disadvantages: - Requires a wide range of hand and arm movement to maintain plants in a small drawer space. Not suitable for those with muscle weakness and or paralysis. - Requires a plug which could cause safety issues.
Overview Many of the problems I have found that the user group have is to do with the products needing electricity and being overly complicated. In order for people to stay safe in their homes it is important for the product to accommodate for these people's needs. Having cables can cause trip hazards for people in wheelchairs and people with limited rages of motion. As my client has said a lot of people have lost hobbies such as gardening and it is important for people to be able to pick these hobbies to help improve their mental health. It is also important for the product not to be overly complicated so it makes them feel worse if it adapted for them yet they still can’t use it. Creating a product that is self-maintaining is something that the user group that did not like as it does not help with mental stimulation. In order for the product to improve people's mental health there needs to be mental stimulation. One of the possible symptoms of FND is seizures and having an interactive product can help to manage triggers with sounds promoting mindfulness and grounding. Small portable products can also help for people in wheelchairs and waling aids as they can be moved to places that are more accessible for them. They also liked how the different materials help to promote the feel of nature inside, as people can send most of their time inside due to their disability.
Statistics and data In a study done by the University of Salford they researched the effects that gardening had on peoples mental health and this is the data they found: • From the 8896 papers located, a total of 77 studies were included. Over 35 validated health, well-being and functional biometric outcome measures were reported. Interventions ranged from viewing gardens, taking part in gardening or undertaking therapeutic activities. The findings demonstrated links between gardens and improved mental well-being, increased physical activity and a reduction in social isolation enabling the development of 2 logic models. Statistics and data Approximately 87 per cent of UK households have access to a domestic garden, with gardening considered a popular pastime, with 40 per cent of the total UK population actively participating in gardening. There is a substantial body of research demonstrating the positive benefits of gardeningbased activities on wellbeing and mental health. Why and how gardening affects mental health A good way to simulate you mind is to focus your mind, gardening is a good way to do this. Scientifically, there is evidence that suggest that there are two main modes of attention, being focused attention and fascination. Focused attention is what is used when we are at work and fascination is what is used when we take part in hobbies such as gardening. With this theory it shows that too much focused attention can lead to stress, by then doing something that requires fascination it helps to restore your attention and relieved the anxious feeling that comes from being under pressure and it gets too much. Summery I have discovered how gardening has helped peoples mental health by reducing anxiety and giving people a purpose even if it is a small one. It helps to focus the mind on the specific task to reduce stress and release serotonin. The oxygen that the plants release helps to provide oxygen to the brain making it function in a better healthier way.
• Reduce depression, anxiety and stress-related symptoms • Alleviate the symptoms of dementia, such as aggressive behaviour • Increase the ability to concentrate and engage • Reduce reliance on medication, self-harming behaviour
Design With an in-depth understanding of the user’s needs, I created a specification that support the design of a range of product solutions. I continually reflected and developed these solutions with feedback received from my user group throughout.
Modelling To further the development of my design solution, I undertook the process of low-fidelity modelling. This allowed me to gain test my design and gain information about the areas of my design that need developing further to meet the users needs.
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