Portfolio

Eleonora Santilli ProductDesigner

E L E O N O R A S A N T I

About Me

WhoamI?

Hello, my name is Eleonora Santilli. I'm a 23-year-old product designer. I recently finished my Master of Science in Product Development at the University of Antwerp

Design has always been one of my passions Whether t's a beautiful car, an elegant piece of jewelry, or a styl sh house I find myself instantly taken by them

For me product development br ngs many of my interests together From solving technical challenges, exploring human behavior, to sustainability and designing with purpose. It s a field where function meets feeling, and where I have the freedom to create with both intention and impact

Looking ahead, I hope to design innovative products and experiences that not only make people’s lives easier, but also more meaningful I want to create objects that become part of an experience, a memory, a feeling that someone carries with them.

Creative Studious Ambitious

Go-getter

DesignDrawings

Solidworks

My studies provided me with a strong foundat on in Computer-Aided Design (CAD)

In the first year of my bachelor's program, I learned the essential methods and techniques of CAD modeling

During the second year, we advanced into more complex concepts The f rst semester we focused on des gning subassemblies and assembling 3Dmodeled parts into fully mated assemblies In the follow ng semester, we explored specialized techniques such as sheet metal design, weldments and modeling complex curved surfaces

In the th rd year of the bachelor s program, we worked with advanced features in SOLIDWORKS, including the use of des gn tables to control model variants Additionally, we conceptually designed an animated figure with a complex, double-curved surface

2nd Bachelor

CAD - Advanced Techniques

2nd Bachelor

CAD - Advanced Techniques

2nd Bachelor

CAD - Special Modules

2ndMaster Form Exploration Master Thesis

Sketching

In the f rst year of our bachelor s program we learned the fundamentals of sketching We focused on two- and three-dimensional shapes and developing basic marker rendering techniques.

In the second year we built on these sk lls and further refined our drawing abilities We also learned how to turn everyday objects and sources of insp ration into creative sketch concepts.

In the third year, we transitioned to digital sketching The focus was on mastering digital tools to create clean and professional concept drawings

3rd Bachelor Digital concept sketching

Lúmino

Master Thesis

Lúmino is an experience design-driven concept developed in collaboration with Tomorrowland, aimed at addressing the complex challenges of managing visitor flow at large-scale events These challenges become especially apparent when large crowds move simultaneously after an event often resulting in chaotic conditions, elevated stress levels physical fatigue, and heightened safety risks Such situations not only diminish individual visitor experiences but also disrupt the surrounding environment and may negatively impact the broader perception of the events sector

Lúmino responds to these issues through the comb nation of light and sound stimuli, which are designed to engage visitors on a subconscious level By transforming exit routes from purely funct onal spaces into multisensory experiences imbued with emotional resonance, the concept subtly guides both the behavior and mood of attendees This approach fosters calmer crowd dynamics, facilitates crowd control, reduces noise pollution, and enhances the overall sense of safety

Scenario

Sideplates(2x)

Soundcomponent

Lightcomponent

Poster

1st Master: Product-Service System Design

As part of the Product-Service System (PSS) course, we designed an integrated solution to support students through one of life s most challenging transitions: the move from high school to university. This period is filled with both excitement and uncerta nty Students are suddenly faced with increased responsibilities, newfound independence, and an overwhelming number of choices all within an unfamiliar and often intimidating environment

To ease the transition into student life, we created The Buddy Program a holistic support system integrated within a co-hous ng environment Its aim is to build meaningful connections, offer both practical and emotional support and create a strong sense of community

The system combines physical and digital elements to support students in both individual and shared rout nes It includes

personal buddy

Longvideo:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cGTg6B79xA

Shortvideo:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A9j1Em4f9U

Brochure

StartscreenBuddy Stateofmind

Noiseindicator

Placeforbuddy

Displaywithcamera

Concept

The program is an innovative and guided journaling experience, that emphasizes connectivity and comfort within the cohousing, encouraging personal growth, and giving and getting support With the main goal of good study progress for all the co-housers

The Product-Service System includes a personal Buddy, a central hub in a common room physical guidance during the study period, an app and an online platform for the various co-housers in the city

This combination of physical and digital, provides gu dance and support for both individual and shared routines of the students within the co-housing

SafeWave

1st Master: Design Studio Green (Politecnico di Milano)

In the Concept Design Studio Green course we were tasked with creating a Small Circular Useful Object Our team focused on designing the SafeWave, a smart system aimed at enhancing surf ng safety

The fin integrates technology to detect underwater obstacles and surfers w ll get alerted through v brations in the leash. The SafeWave not only enhances individual safety, but also contributes to community-wide awareness by sharing data through the app

The SafeWave system comb nes phys cal and digital elements to enhance safety and community awareness It includes:

The SafeWave Fin

A wireless charger

An ankle leash

An app

Prototype

SafeWavefin

Charger

Ankleleash

Wirelesschargingcoil

Lipobattery LED

GPStracker

Accelorometer

Temperaturesensor

Datatransmitter

Circuitboard

Branding

Closingmechanism

Simple and functional closure, can also be used with gloves

Restriction of cold and heat vibration reduction

Force reduction

Rounded scissorblades

Softtouch Grip

FOR THOSEWHO ENJOY A LITTLE GREEN

Glimpseintomyexchangeexperience.

Exchange

In the spring semester of the f rst year of my master’s stud es (2024), I participated in an Erasmus exchange at Pol tecnico di Milano, one of Europe s leading inst tutions in design and engineer ng I chose Milan not only for the university and its nternational reputation as the center of design, but also for personal reasons being half Italian, I was eager to reconnect with my cultural roots

Academically, the experience was deeply enriching At Politecn co I was introduced to new methodologies and a highly interdisciplinary design culture This challenged me to broaden my approach. Collaborating with international students and working under a faculty with strong ties to the global design industry, gave me valuable insights into both academic and applied design practice. Outs de the classroom, I traveled a lot throughout Northern Italy to explore how differences shape both lifestyle and local design values

A key highlight was Milan Design Week (Fuori Salone) where I spent an ent re week immersed in the city’s creative atmosphere visit ng exhibitions, installations, and design studios This experience gave me firsthand exposure to current trends and emerging discourses in design helping me form a more future-oriented perspective

On a personal level this exchange was transformative It strengthened my adaptab lity, independence and intercultural communication skills It also deepened my apprec ation for cultural diversity and reinforced my belief in design as a powerful medium for dialogue, connection and meaningful change Milano

PersonalInterests

ContentCreation

TikTok

In June 2024 I started creating content on TikTok. Initially as a creative outlet and a way to share meaningful memories

I not ced that my reach was growing, and what began as a spontaneous hobby quickly evolved into something more serious As I cont nued exploring the world of content creat on, I developed both my style and strategy

My work didn’t go unnoticed: several companies reached out to me, drawn to my creative perspective and approach They saw potential in my content and the way I bring elements to life

Today, my focus lies in capturing products and events in a visually engaging and authentic way What started out small has now become something valuable for brands that want to grow their presence in the world of social media

Sport

Tennis and running Sport has always been an important part of my l fe. From a young age, I developed a passion for tennis Some of the key highlights include winning the Belgian Championship n 2017 (Ladies 5) and 2018 (Ladies 4). In 2019, our team advanced to the quarterfinals of the national competition in the Ladies 2 category

Due to the comb nation of my stud es and the COVID-19 pandemic, it became more difficult to train regularly and participate in competitions To stay physically and mentally active I took up running a way for me to stay fit, focused, and motivated.