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(+65) 9634-9068
marksimshenwei@gmail.com
address
920 Hougang Street 91 #07-13 Singapore 530920
Thank you.
My name is Mark Sim. I am driven. I am never settle. I live by an ethos to always elevate myself.
Hello! I graduated from the Product Design honour’s programme from Nanyang Technological University in 2014 with second upper-class honours. Despite the formality of academic qualifications, I believe in the importance of understanding how products are manufactured out in the market, to enable the full use of technology and empower the birth of new product conceptsinto reality. My work has seen me gain broad spectrum exposure in the product development process - from industrial design, product conceptualisation to project management, product management, manufacturing and even extending out of post-manufacturing stages and going into product sales, marketing and supply chain. My portfolio is a look into some of the work which I have done. It will show you a spectrum of work which I have done within the field of Product Design and Management. I hope you like my work!
Contents MANAGEMENT MONO Pedalboards and Accessories
BANDLAB Audio Interface for Mobile
TEISCO Guitar Effect Pedals
DESIGN ABOUT ME SHALEIGH Inflight Dining Tray
NIMBUS Intergrated Automotive Shelter
NUO Green Modular Furniture System
STAKT Furniture Design (Furniture Design Award 2015, Semi-FInalist)
WABI Floating Planter
WILD ROCKET Space & Architectural Design
GLOREE TRAVELS Corporate Rebranding
mark sim
MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
Guitar Pedalboards & Accessories For the past ten years, MONO has established itself as one of the leading innovators of award-winning, high-quality instrument cases and accessories for players in every genre. And the next step forward has been taken with a new line of sleek, light, and durable pedalboards. MONO has also developed a new set of accessories to enhance the user experience. This product family consists of 18 SKU’s. I was involved as a project manager during the design stages - communicating with designers, sales & marketing team and suppliers. I have then since taken over as a product manager, overseeing the entire product line, market performance, supplier sourcing and quality improvements and checks. Function: Product Manager Project Status: Launched to market. Additional purchase-orders placed with production on-going.
(Top): An overview product family of the MONO Pedalboard, consisting of multiple SKUs. Not seen here are the Silver series of Pedalboards, Rise and Rise+.
A Silver MONO Pedalboard Lite+ seen mounted with effect pedals.
A Silver MONO Pedalboard Large seen mounted with effect pedals.
(Top-Left): Pedalboard Tag allows you to anchor and direct the traffic of your cables. It pairs with MONO’s Pedalboard Tie Wrap, which bundles and harnesses cables for a beautifully simple setup.
(Top): An overview of what is contained in the MONO Accessory Kit - Track, Tag and Tie-Wrap.
(Botton-Left): MONO Pedalboard Track is used to insert, loop and track cables for a tidy on-stage setup.
behind the scenes
Audio Interface for Mobile Whether you are on the road, at the practice room or at home, the BandLab Link Analog allows you to record or perform using mobile industry leading apps such as BandLab, GarageBand, Music Memos, FL Studio and many more. The Link Analog is engineered and manufactured entirely in-house. I took on the role of a project manager during the design stages, facilitating cross-team communication flow, time management, identifying dependencies and key milestones. I also oversee the overall packaging technical production and packing process. Function: Project Manager Project Status: Link Analog launched to market. Production on-going for Link Digital and Link Digital Duo.
(Top-Left): BandLab Link Analog (a single input analogue audio interface).
(Middle): BandLab Link Digital (digital USB audio interface with single input).
(Bottom-Left): BandLab Link Digital Duo (digital USB audio interfaces with double input).
behind the scenes
Guitar Effects Pedals Teisco started life in 1948 as a Japanese manufacturer of innovative musical instruments and devices. Today, the brand aims to push your boundaries with vibrant and bold designs. I took on the role of project manager during the design stages, facilitating cross-team communication flow, time management, identifying dependencies and key milestones. I also oversee the overall packaging technical production and requirements. Function: Project Manager Project Status: Production on-going.
(From Left to Right): Teisco Effects Pedals ‘Boost’, ‘Fuzz’ and ‘Delay’.
mark sim
DESIGN PORTFOLIO
about me.
I sketch I may not be the best sketcher in the world but I enjoy the creative freedom it provides. When the opportunity permits, I like to create a “bubble” in my environment and allow myself the creative freedom to sketch during the initial stages of a project. I believe in removing the shackles during the start of the project and allow ideas to flow freely and breed a culture of creative- thinking (and of course, have some fun while at it!). Otherwise, during my free time, I sketch to refine my sketching skills and of course, it’s always a breath of fresh air when I’m able to design freely.
I play
I craft
I’ve been playing rugby my entire life and I haven’t stopped.
Aside from Product Design, I love to be close to nature and botanicals.
Rugby has moulded most aspects of my life. I believe in the values gained in teamwork and in these values, Rugby has taught me to fully appreciate the value of hard work.
I enjoy having a piece of nature in my home and have an interest in incorporating plants as part of interior decor. My love for nature, saw me crafting moss-terrariums as a hobby where I enjoy getting my hands dirty and freeing my mind from daily concerns. This hobby soon gathered attention from family and friends, whom later commissioned me to create custom terrariums for them. From time to time, I conduct terrarium-making workshops as well.
Shaleigh Inflight Dining Tray
Shaleigh was exhibited by the client’s at the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo 2015 in Hamburg, Germany. Client: En Route, UK Project Role: Project Coordinator & Product Visualizer Deliverables: Product Design, Prototyping, Manufacturing.
“How can we improve the inflight experience of passengers onboard airlines?� Going onboard airplanes can sometimes be a dull experience for some. Planes were designed to transport passengers in the most economical way, therefore sitting space can be quite cramped and interior decorations could be bland or non-existent, of course excluding the First/Business-Class sections. The primary source of entertainment would probably be the inflight entertainment system, available in the tiny monitor in front of you.
Identifying Areas Through Observation After brain-storming potential target locations/situations to focus on- the dining experience struck us as an excellent opportunity to implement our design on. It is consistent throughout all airline companies and an experience where most passengers look forward to. It also presents multiple canvases to apply our design on, in the form of various dining wares that comes with each meal.
observations
insights
identification
We set out to explore ways through Design, to create a more unique and interesting experience for passengers.
The Design Inspiration Observing that airlines are mostly filled with structural and engineered components, plane rides can often end up with passengers feeling void of natural organic elements. We set out exploring what designs of Nature could be reflected on a simple flat serving tray and the usage of textures proved to be effective through its element of tactility. We experimented with various textures such as wood, stone, sand and sea-shells- we found that the stone texture was visually-pleasing and provided an interesting experience for one to eat of from.
“How can we allow our re-design of inflight wares be readily accepted?� Production It was important to consider the manufacturing cost of our serving tray design because we needed the design to appeal to Purchasing Executives of airline companies to accept a new design from their existing line of dining ware sets.
design intention
experiential organic tactile natural
manufacturing costs
on-par/cheaper light food-safe stackable
After looking through various methods of production, Thermal-Forming was chosen mainly due to its cheaper cost, making this appeal immediately to cost-conscious clients. It is light-weight, which makes it easy to handle by both staff and passengers. Lastly, it has the ability to use plastics which meet food-safety requirements.
Top: Detailing to provide an easy pick-up grip for service crew to handle the tray securely during the flight.
WTCE 2015 Top: Our client’s booth at WTCE. Bottom: The cheese-bar where our trays were used to serve cheeses and put on display for guests to have a feel.
Top: An illustration to show how food can be served using the tray.
Nimbus.
Integrated Automotive Shelter Nimbus is an integrated automotive shleter, which offers shelter from the rain without having to fetch an umbrella from other parts of the vehicle or to force open the umbrella through the small gap between the doors. Client: Independent Entrepreneur Deliverables: Idea Conceptualisation, Design Conceptualisation & Execution, Presentation Visuals & Renders, CAD-Modelling, Design-For-Manufacturing, Structural-Build Team Members: Mark Sim (Project Leader), Joshua Chan (Student Intern), Law Wei-Kiat (Visuals) & Fashion-Maker Studio (Seamstress)
Why? Identifying the problem of entering and exiting the automobile during a heavy downpour- the client saw an opportunity at creating a product that could make a change. Nimbus is able to be mounted above the vehicle during a drive. It opens together with the car door, offering quick and immediate shelter. Nimbus can be detached and carried by the user after a drive, as how one would use a normal umbrella.
Ideation The nature of the project involved exploring new grounds in terms of the product idea. As such, we approached it systematicallystarting out with Idea Boards (in the form of Post-It notes). Through this, it enabled the team to explore the idea from every possible angle and collated the findings/ideas onto multiple Idea Boards. This process did not end in any particular time, rather it continued throughout the entire duration of the project, where we would continuously pin new ideas up whenever the opportunity presented itself.
Design & Market Observation
Strategisation
Material Research
Mechanics Research
Analysis & Findings
Concept Ideation
Product Development
Product Testing
Top: Leading this project with an intern on board, allowed me to oversee the project from a macro point-of-view and to develop a personal work process.
Material Exploration We explored various materials and identified 3 main ones, which presented a good range for us to base our tests on. They are Rip-Stop Nylon (30D Taffeta Mix), Rip-Stop Nylon (20D PC Coat) & Nylon Taffeta (68D TPU & DWR Coat). In the photo-documentation below, we accessed these materials according to 3 criterias- Water-Resistance, Seams-Test & Drying-Speed. (Middle) Seam-Test: Using 3 basic seam techniques- Over-lapping, Semi Flat-Felled, Flat-Felled. We tested to see how the relation between seam and waterresistance would be. We chose to work with the Semi Flat-Felled as it is stronger and effectively prevented water seepage.
(Left) Water-Resistance Tests: Rainfall action was simulated by using the pressure of shower heads to spray over the fabric to test if the material could prevent leakage over a period of 15 minutes.
(Right) Drying Speed Tests: We used a fan to simulate natural winds, that would blow over our chosen fabrics. Measured over a period of 5 seconds, the Nylon Taffeta (68D TPU & DWR Coat) proved to be the best option.
Low-Fidelity Testing Though cardboard and foam mock-ups, we were able to quickly derive the best form and design for the product. Through this process, we tested for user-intuitiveness and ergonomics.
Top-Left: Cardboard was cut out to quickly compare different iterations of handle designs by team members. Bottom-Left: Rough foam models were shaped out to get a more in-depth look into the user’s comfort level, while using the hand grip. Right: Test fitting the fabric onto the prototype’s structure.
(Top-Left): NIMBUS would be attached on the car’s roof-top edge, before the driver will start his journey. (Top-Right): NIMBUS shown in closed-form when mounted on the vehicle. (Bottom): NIMBUS shown in opened-form; where it will open as the driver opens the door and exits the vehicle.
NUO
Recyclable Modular Furniture NUO is a modular furniture system which allows a myriad of configurations to be built. It is made up of a combination of recycled paper tubes and specially-designed, multi-directional joints. Client: In-House Project (3-D Solutions Pte Ltd) Project Role: Project Leader Deliverables: Design Conceptualisation & Execution, CAD-Modelling, Product Testing & Prototyping, Design-For-Manufacuturing
Searching for The Right Fit
The product’s core value was centred around the idea of ‘Simplicity’. It has to be simple enough for users to assemble the system up quickly and in a fuss-free manner. We focused a substantial about of time on the Connector design- it had to be the right fit. Tight enough for it to grip onto the tubes securely; Loose enough for users to easily assemble and disassemble the system.
Material Strength Making use of these recycled paper-tubes, we sought to build upon this existing product to create a meaningful application. These tubes were originally used to construct pallets for logistical uses. It supports up to 2 tonnes of weight and has been tested in the logistical industry for an extended period of time.
The initial stages was focused primarily on the design of the connector part. We sought to achieve the right amount of ‘flex’ from the material, which would provide sufficient opposing force to grip onto the paper tubes securely.
Cross-section view of the connector system in assembled form.
Various prototypes were created using various methods- 3D-Printing, CNC-Machining and finally, VacuumCasting.
After exploring different designs, the final design made use of coldpressed, brass-inserts which would strengthen the connector system significantly.
Cross-section view of the connector system in exploded form.
Testing the connectors in its assembled form and putting them together to form a basic cube structure.
Surface Customisation NUO’s paper tubes can be customised with different textures to make it be a perfect addition into your home to become a coffee table. (from left to right. eg. belap material, natural texture, rattan material)
An illustration to show a possible configuration of NUO to form into a reading-corner for children. It’s ability to hold heavy loads, allows it to store heavy books and support a child safely.
Stakt
Culturally-Inspired Furniture Design Stakt was conceptualised for Furniture Design Award 2016, in collaboration with Regina Ng. Designed For: Furniture Design Award (FDA) 2016 Status: Top 24, Semi-Finalists Project Role: Co-Designer Deliverables: Idea Conceptualisation, Design Conceptualisation, CAD-Modelling, Design-ForManufacuturing, Prototyping
Exploration of Culture Inspired by products with a strong cultural history, we sought out to identify what we felt would reflect the essence of the Singaporean Culture. As a Singaporean, communal activities have always been associated with our ‘kampong’ culture. It is this sense of communal spirit that Stakt tries to capture through its form and function.
The Inspiration: Tingkat The inspiration of Stakt was found in the form of the humble ‘Tingkat’- a multi-tiered food container used to contain different dishes. They were commonly used by the older generation and even by some today. It’s long history of usage, inspired us to create a stool which would tie people together just as the Tingkat did with the meals it contained.
Stakt has 3 distinct surfaces on each layer to symbolise the different dishes contained in the ‘Tingkat’. Each material was chosen for its intrinsic qualities. Radial-Spun Steel- presents a cold and hard surface, which surprises users. Thick-Woven Yarn- presents a warm and comfortable feeling, allow one to feel cosy and comfortable. Recycled-Rubber Pad (EPDM)- a material often used to make playground floorings, bringing back as sense of childhood nostalgia.
Left: Stakt’s modular design allows for each layer to be placed on the ground to allow a small group of up to 3 people to gather around and have a simple meal and share about the day’s events and happenings- encouraging a sense of communal living.
Wabi Floating Planter
Wabi was a project curated for my Final Year Project during my final year in Nanyang Technological University. Designed For: Final Year Project, Nanyang Technological Univeristy (NTU) Project Role: Designer Deliverables: Product Research, Market Research Analysis, Idea Conceptualisation, Design Ideation, CAD-Modelling, Foam Modelling, Prototyping, Structural Build
Why? Daily communication with Nature and the feeling of being connected to the natural rhythms are important aspects of both physical and emotional well-being. Today, society faces an increasing rate of urbanisation and people are growing to become distant to Nature. However, a growing number of individuals are choosing to lead a more harmonious way-of- life, where they escape city-life and reside in suburban towns for a prolonged period of time or practice urban gardening.
The Objective Wabi aims to bridge the gap between Man and Nature, and to bring back Nature into the everyday life of city dwellers. It is designed to fit seamlessly into one’s environment without major changes to one’s home or city lifestyle.
Simplicity Space & Freedom Poetic Symbolism Blending the man-made and natural
My Inspiration. I was deeply inspired by my study into history of Asian art which dwelled into the roots of Buddhist teachings and philosophies. One of the greatest personal inspirations for me was the inner-calmness and silence of the spirit, which individuals derive from their beliefs. Through research and study, I sought to reflect this sense of peace and tranquillity through Wabi.
Form Studies As I worked towards a form that would express this idea of tranquillity and peace, I created various low-fidelity prototypes; mainly using paper, clay and foam. Through this process, I was able to slowly find a form that would truly reflect the idea I had in mind. This could not be achieved through the computer or sketches.
Construction Wabi The final model consisted of 3 different size configurations. I chose to have them 3-D printed using the SLA process because it’s material is rigid and porous, which allowed for neutral bouncy. Cork Planters The cork planters presented a fresh challenge for me as I have not worked with this material before. This process involved me having to be extra delicate and meticulous due to the small sizeand the relatively soft material of the planter. Top: Low-Fidelity mock-ups using clay, foam and paper. Second From Top: Post-processing the 3D-Printed models. Third From Top: Neutral bouncy test. Bottom: Working on the cork raw material and working on it on the desktop lathe machine.
On reflection, this laborous and time intensive process enabled me to find emotional silence. This meditative allowed me to connect with my work on a much deeper level.
Life After The cork material was selected due to it’s bio-degrable ability. Therefore after the seeds had germinated and grown in the cork planter, the matured plant could be planted directly into the ground without having to remove the planter. This reduces the stress on the plant and also the hassle for the owner.
Right: Seeds are placed on a bed of recycled cork bits to germinate.
Exploded View Although the form of Wabi appears simplistic on the exterior, some design features enabled it to better function. Under the top shell, a separate internal ceiling was designed to enable a more stable neutral bouncy (designs without this feature, either rolled over in the water or slowly sank). The base shell was inspired by the natural features of eroded rock walls after centuries of wind/water-erosion (see below).
Right: An photograph documenting the surface of a rock wall after centuries of wind and water erosion.
Digital Platforms Accompanying the Wabi planter is an application and website, designed to better connect with the daily activities of city dwellers- reinforcing the seamless connection to the individuals’ lifestyle. The application design provides instant feedback for the individual to monitor the product’s effectiveness and activity during the day. Further to this, a website was designed to tell of the product’s story and functions.
Top: Monitoring features (Soil Moisture, Water Condition, Air Quality, Water Level) shown on the application design.
Application Speacial Features Breathe Easy Keeping inline with improving the well-being of individuals, an application feature was designed to help improve the mental well-being of the user through breathing excercises. The application uses tactile and visual means to provide meaningful feedback to the user, while it allows one to control his/her breathing in a controlled and meditative manner.
(Art, Design & Media School) Graduation Show 2014 The booth was conceptualised to reflect the tranquil and calming qualities of Wabi. Floating shelves resonate the expanse of space. The use of live plants and fishes, injected life into an otherwise mundanelooking space. A glass tank placed on a pedestal, was used to break away from the given space to create a visually-inviting and dynamic space. To add a rustic feel, wood trimmings were placed around the tank and wooden vegetable boxes was placed at the foot of the booth.
Top Left: Using the laser-cutting machine, Wabi’s logo was rastered on wood trimmings. Second-From-Top: Wabi floating around the tank, while holding Basil plants in it’s cork planter. Third-From-Top: Fishes interacting with Wabi as it floats around. Bottom: A simple presentation of a static prototype, explanatory catalogue of the product and personal name cards.
Top-Right: Fishes seeking shelter in Wabi’s hollow shell. Right: An overview of my booth with a very happy graduate.
Wild Rocket Space & Architectural Design
Chef Willin Low engaged PRODUCE to conceptualise and execute a new design for his new restaurant. I was fortunate to be a part of the PRODUCE team to assist in executing their design concept on site at the new restaurant’s venue. This was where I gained a valuable insight into Spatial Design and on-site interior work. Client: Wild Rocket, Willin Low Design Firm: PRODUCE Project Role: On-Site Assistant Deliverables: Wood-Work, Assembly, Construction & Installation
All photos credit to INDESIGNLIVE and PRODUCE http://www.indesignlive.sg/articles/projects/taming-the-wildhttp://produce.com.sg/produce/space/wild-rocket#
Site Work Work begun by linking up individual wooden blocks according to specific formulas to form a continuous parametric form which had been modelled out by the designs at PRODUCE. We would later link them together and begin the back-breaking task of mounting them across the entire interior of the restaurant. Over the course of work, I was able to witness the entirety of the interior come to fruition. I learnt first-hand how to work with various contractors, who were all working concurrently to meet the project’s deadline.
All photos credit to INDESIGNLIVE and PRODUCE http://www.indesignlive.sg/articles/projects/taming-the-wildhttp://produce.com.sg/produce/space/wild-rocket#
Gloree Travels. Corporate Rebranding
Gloree Travels is a local travel agency based in Singapore and Iran. To rejuvenate their brand after being in the business for a substantial period of time, the directors contacted me to journey with them into a fresh, modern and younger outlook for their business. With their desire to connect to a target market of younger audiences, who were looking to venture into more exotic locations to travel, a splash of fresh orange was used to provide an overwhelming sense of excitement and zest-for-life. Building on this as a foundation of the company’s identity, the look of their name logo was kept clean to project a sense of professionalism. This provided a strong balance towards Gloree Travel’s promise of bringing people to new and exotic locations, yet staying professional and providing one with a safe journey.
Client: Gloree Travels, Singapore Role: Designer Deliverables: Identity, Logo Design, Name-Card
mark sim to see more works, please proceed to my online portfolio: https://www.behance.net/MarkSim email: marksimshenwei@gmail.com mobile: +65 9634-9068