Portfolio

MEI-TZU, HUANG PORTFOLIO

Design; enjoyment of life Design; enjoyment of life.

Curriculum vitae

Mei-Tzu, Huang Taiwan(R.O.C.) 1985/06/04

Gluntens väg 7-811 907 37 Umeå, Sweden

Contact:

phone: +46722109074 email: joyyxx@gmail.com

Languages: Chinese English

Education:

2010-2011 Umeå Institute of Design Course: Industrial Design Introduction 60 ECTS-credits The course provides a one year training for students from backgrounds other than industrial design who wish to specialize within the design field.

2008-2009 EC Design School Course: industrial design This is a private school which provides a design environment for those people who want to study abroad in the design field.

2003-2007 Chung Yuan Christian University Bachelor of Science_major: Physics A liberal arts and science education where I specialized in physics.

1993-2000 Taoyuan Elementary School Course: Specialization in Art This course provided eight hours of art training every week. I learned sketching, water-color painting, sculpture, traditional Chinese painting, Calligraphy, design, pottery etc.

Skills:

Sketch Clay modeling Mock-up Model building

Computer:

Adobe Photoshop Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Alias Studio Tools Keyshot

About me:

Hi, I’m Mei. I’d like to be a bird. If I were a bird, I would fly everywhere. I enjoy the freedom to manage my life. I dance and sing when I am happy. I cry loudly when I am sad. I am a strong bird. I fly high to see everything and wide to explore this world. I go back to my home when I am tired. Home is a warm place of unconditional love.

Contents P-candle Chia chia bike (Transportation design) Tree chair (Furniture design) Dancing flower (Sustainable design) A crab fighter ( Kinetic design) Eagle cam ( Sketches practice) Kitchen timer ( Design process) Food care book ( Sustainable design) Library card (Design management) Gardena pump sprayer ( Ergonomic design) Life decanter ( Element of form) Interface of automatic coffee machine ( Interaction design) Redesign of POS system ( Interaction design) Ice sculpture ( Exploration of pure material) Illustration design Photograph

P-Candle

Kitchen design project This is the first project I made at the EC Design School, and marks the beginning of my journey in design. In this project, I focused on geometry, shape and light.

Tutor: Winny Date: 2008

Concept

The aim of this project is to create a warm atmosphere. Through research of different eating environments I experimented with different light shapes and how they enhance mood. I found that a flower shape evoked the feelings of traditional floral ornamentation to a table.

Variations of forms I modified different shapes.

3 arms

3 arms

4 arms

5 arms

6 arms

Final prototype

This three arms shape is the best choice because it create a nice space when I stick three arms together.

Like a flower in bloom the floral pattern inspires the user when dressing to express their most radiant beauty.

Chia Chia bike Family city bike

It was a challenge and interesting project.

I like riding a bike and I want to know more about bicycle so I choice a family bike as my project.

Concept

The seat position in front offers a better view for the child than the rear position.

Tutor: Mark Date: 2008

Sketch

The seated child is the priority of this concept so I focus on different comfortable seats.

Clay model

The initial 3D model

In 2008 I made a model of this initial idea in Alias. After redesigning the form to have more balance I made another model in 2009.

The Chia Chia bike house

The Chia Chia bike could be used in a public bikeshare system. This is a concept sketch of a storage unit for the bikes.

CHIA CHIA BIKE HOUSE

This independent project isn’t finished yet, and I have many more ideas on how to integrate the bike into a city transportation system.

Tree chair

Furniture design A chair that seats the whole family and replicates the feeling of sitting under a tree in a natural setting. The chair would be a perfect place for parents to share the pleasure of reading with their children.

Tutor: Winny Clay model turor: Tony Catignani Date: 2008, 2010

Concept development and sketch

The second phase sketch

You can store books or toys inside the Tree chair.

Scenario The purpose of the Tree chair is to make a space for reading and having the feeling of being close to nature.

Clay model

To explore the complex organic form of the Tree chair I made a clay model in 2010. The clay model gave me more information about form development in three dimensions.

Dancing flower Sustainable design

Nowadays, more people consider our environment. I want to remind people to take care of our earth. Sometimes one person’s garbage could be others treasure. I use the ring pulls to make a lamp.

Poem of dancing flower

Tutor: Shao-Wei, Huang Date: 2009

There are plenty of flower buds and butterflies are dancing light is spreading from the gap of flowers and butterflies You seem to stand in the forest Shaking rattan, flowing river, breezing wind The space is full of mysterious atmosphere.

Final product

The framework is a sphere. This product consists of ring-pulls. The base structure is made of five ring-pulls which were combined by steel wire. The center sphere is cut from the lid of a milk can and steel wire.

A Crab fighter Kinetic design

This is the first project I was involved in while studying at UID. The task was to design a vehicle that carried on person without using any wheels or conventional moving methods. We explore simple mechanical structures using 3D sketch materials and tools. After selecting the most effective design we fabricated the final working prototype and competed against other teams.

Tutor: Ben Hopson Team members : Malin M端ller Mei-Tzu Huang Nilas Pleje Salim Dogan Sekercioglu Louise McCallum Andrew Schaper Date: Aug. 31 2010- Sep.3 2010

Sketch

Discussion

Workshop

Testing

Racing

We discussed with the tutors and decided what idea we were going to do.

We had a chance to go around the workshop in the school and learned form other students.

The idea we figured out travelled sideways, This is our crab fighter and team leader. like a crab.

Making model

We searched possible materials which we could use around the workshop.

Eagle travelling camera Sketch training

This one week course focused on how to communicate ideas through 2D sketching techniques. Using sketching as a tool for ideation and communication.

The initial sketch and present

Tutor: Tony Catignani Date: Sep. 2010

The second phase sketch I spent some more time to sketch after this course.

The pebble timer Design process

How do we know time is flying?

I thought of many ways to remind you time has run out.

The purpose of this project is to understand the design process. Theory and practice are joined in the project.

Persona

Name: Min-Hua Wu Age: 52 Current city: Taiwan Relationship status: Married and has 3 children Occupation: Distributor

Story board

He is now retired and likes cooking and gardening. He lives with his parents, his wife and his youngest children. He enjoys spending time with his family.

He is reliable and kind. He is introverted and shy but is sensitive to others. He cares about his family very much and tries to make a good life for them.

Tutor: Per Date: Sep. 2010

He starts to prepare dinner after a nap.

He is going to make the base of a soup. He uses bones; cooking them for three hours.

He sets an alarm on the phone and waits in the living room.

Problem

Form model

Scenario of using Pebble timer

He goes out to take care of his garden but During this process, I also made then he cannot hear the alarm in the living a model with foam to see the room. He forgets that he is cooking the soup form. and it is already dried out when he remembers it.

This picture shows how to use the Pebble timer.

Sketch

Final model

I drew a lot of sketches in order to train my sketching skills. I also modified different shapes of the timer.

It will vibrate when time has run out

The Pebble timer is an emotional product. After you set up the time, you only need to take a small pebble with you. It will vibrate when time has run out.

Food care book Sustainable design

This is a two week project. We were only allowed to use three materials to make a book and a pen.

rice

fish

eggs

vegetable

Using green leaves to Using carrot juice make paper. as ink and also give color into the paper.

This is a note book for kids. The goal of the Food care book is to help children to make sure they have enough nutrients.

Tutor: Martin Date: 25 Oct. - 5 Nov. 2010

Mom, I have eaten my meal.

Can I get a stamp?

Scenario

They can have a stamp after they eat something.

They can also have a candy reward from their parents after they fill all the spots.

Borrowing audio books at UmeĂĽ City Library

This project is about design management in two weeks. We had lectures everyday of the first week and afterwards, we were given an assignment. The goal of this program is that improve the service design of audio books. After the second week , we presented our work.

Research and analyse of the system

Interview clients in the with library

The service concept is to lend audiobooks to the inhabitants of Sweden. Service delivery system is the library communicates availability of their collection and the public comes to the library to pick up audiobooks.

Tutor: Robert Bau Team members: Mei-Tzu Huang Andrew Schaper Annie NystrĂśm Byoung-Joon Philip Han Lizhi Xu Xiaoping Li Date: 15 Nov. - 26 Nov. 2010

Discussing with team member.

Observation with clients.

Brand expression

Name: Ume책 Regionens Bibliotek Color: Green, White.Black, Burgundy Icon: Dancing people and books Shape: People and books

Strategic touch points

Internet (i.e. Home page) Audio book Check out machine Marketing (i.e. bags, library card) Return machine

Perceptions of service brand

Like a public bus. Convenient, reliable, public. A forum where you can engage other members of the community.

The actual library conveys a warm quiet comfortable setting with an anonymous ownership that is inviting to the user to spend as much time as needed.

Target group

50-70 years old Swedish Approaching retirement Internet savvy Live in the Ume책 county

Persona Eva lives near the library and visits weekly.

She loves reading but enjoys listening to audiobooks when she does housework. She is good at using the internet and sometimes reserves audiobooks beforehand. Every night before she puts out the light, she reads for a bit or listen to an audio book.

Her favorite authors are the Finnish Arto Paasilinna and British crime author Denise Mina, so a reader who can capture suspense is critical for her. She listens to recommendations for audiobooks and likes sharing her experiences with others.

Sometimes, she visits the library and selects

audiobooks randomly to be surprised by what her book group to listen to it. She has almost exhausted the libraries supply of books and thinks the collection could have more diversity in it’s genres.

Innovations

Incremental ideas

Radical ideas

1. Offer audio samples from the audiobooks on the Internet site and at the library 2. Increase size and variety of audiobook collections 3. Implement Radio Frequency Identity system

1. Enable the public to create their own audiobooks and publish on the library database.

2. Create a navigation system that both helps the user find material and augments the preview experience.

Pump sprayer Ergonomic design and brand value

This is a five week project to not only combine the need for a new product together with a brand but to also integrate ergonomic knowledge. A brand is Gardena in this project.

Live your garden

Research

We did the research part in pairs.

Tutor: Jens N채slund Date: 18 Nov. -17 Dec. 2010

Gardena brand values >Convenient

> Intelligent

> Inspiring

User test of the Gardena Pump Sprayer

I pumped the sprayer with water for 5 minutes without pause. During the process, I said how I felt about the experience. For example, my fingers were tired because the trigger is too big for me and my wrist was uncomfortable since it was heavy.

> Fits Together

Analysis and problems We found that prolonged use fatigued the trigger fingers.

We considered if using two, or three fingers was more comfortable. We also found the crotch of the thumb to be painful.

The Initial sketch phase

Models and user testing

This part was the process to study ergonomics in the real world. I used clay to create the most comfortable shape for different hands. I found it was hard to make a product to fit many size of hands.

The second sketch phase

In this stage of sketch I tried to find Gardena design language. The aim is to keep the similar shape of Gardena products.

Final model

Using foam to make a quick model and doing user testing to know the feeling when you grab it.

The final 3D model in Alias

Show the texture and color in the end of design process.

A life decanter set Element of form

This is a three month long project. This course was about developing skills in working from 2D sketches to 3D form.

Exploring and understanding form.

Chrysalis Tutor: Tony Catignani Course dates: week 39, 2010 – week 02, 2011.

Wednesdays 16.15-17.45

Choose one insect in the beginning as the character element.

Paper model

Start with a piece of paper.

Form development process

Sketch

In first sketch phase, I define the key characteristics or features of the butterfly chrysalis. During the process the form was evolving and refining. The initial exploration sketches resembled a container so I developed this organic form.

Clay model

This stage helped me define the volume of the decanter.

Paper model

Studies of form in space The last phase of the paper model gave me a lot of inspiration of form. This shows all aspects of the form. I made color studies both in Photoshop and in the real model.

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Butterfly

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Life decanter set final product model

I used Alias to make the final model.

It was good to see 3D dimensional product.

It was also good practice for using modelling software.

Coffee table Interaction design

This was a one week project. Everyday we spent our mornings learning the theory of interaction design and the afternoons putting this theory into practice. In my point of view, this was a good way to learn new things. During this week, we worked as a team. It was good to brainstorm in a group.

Tutor: Nils-Erik Gustafsson Members: Chia - Fang Lue David Normington Lertlak Panomkwan Silkestrand Mei-Tzu Huang

Date: Jan. 31 2011- Feb. 4 2011

Observation and interview

Story board

Flow chart

In the beginning, we observed the coffee This is a story to describe how to use the machine near the staff kitchen. Sometimes coffee machine. The story is about having we interviewed users to understand their a cup of coffee during fika time. opinion of the machine.

After observing people using the coffee machine we made a flow chart to understand the whole process.

The coffee machine Interaction studio

Staff kitchen

Concept development

Discussion

Mock-up

Brainstorming

Discussion and analysis

Mock-up-making

Based on the problems we found, we generated a large number of ideas for the solution of the problems.

Communication efficiently is the most important skill in a group so that all of the members can develop their ideas completely.

In this stage we were critical so we could narrow down from a large group of concepts.

We had many small presentations to show our ideas before final concept.

User testing

Evaluation

In the last day, we discussed what can be improved on our interface.

Shadow for dragging

improve card interface We did three user tests, staff, student and construction worker. It was a good experience to test our idea. We can quickly know, “ Does user like this concept?” They also provided important information so we can modify our coffee table.

Show “runway” lights for dragging circle Press to get drink?

Instructions on screen when ready 3D button appearance

Redesign of POS system

Interaction design of a card based payment solution This is three week project. The aim is to analyse existing card payment systems and suggest improvements based on our findings. This project is still working.

Tutor: Lars Johansson Team members : Andrew Schaper Ayse Gรถkรงe Bor Mei-Tzu Huang Sougat Hota

Date: Feb. 7 2011- Feb. 25 2011

Final concept of PIP code

PIP means Personal Pdentification Pattern. We use typing your own patterns instead of typing PIN code.

Interview We conducted interviews with people about how they perceived the interaction with current systems and issues they had with them.

Analysis of existing solutions and interfaces

Double check withdraw amount

Display is clear

+

Layout is familiar

Red , green , yellow and phone layout

PIN is easy Trust chip to remember

More tech Advanced is better

-

Orientation for swiping card difficult

Lack of Others instructions

The matching reference on machine is not clear on machine

No visual Extra diff. between buttons are instructions distracting and action

Chip is more area specific

Display not The big enough interface for adequate needs more contrast

Flow chart

Target group

They are over 13 years old and have bank account with a card.

Persona

Name: Per Occupation: Professional Artist He was the victim of credit card fraud so he prefers to use cash and distrusts automatic payment.

He is tech savvy.

He enjoys Fishing, travelling, drinking Wine.

Story board One day Per is going fishing, but he runs out of gas. He stops at a rural gas station.

Unfortunately, he forget to bring cash. So he reluctantly decides to use his credit card.

Go fishing.

Which way?

Buy gas.

Per is nervous about people seeing his PIN

No money.

It’s hard to remember PIN code.

Decide to use his card.

He’s left with an insecure feeling of how much exactly has been deducted from his account.

Design process

Brainstorming

We did the brainstorming with the whole class.

In my group we came up with three concepts.

We considered about which idea has the best potential in 10 years.

Interface design

All of the members are prefer the concept which use the pattern to identify who you are.

Develop concepts

We made two different concepts into paper models after a long discussion.

Analysis of user testing and concept development

User testing

We did user testing with three users and analysis the good and bad parts of our concepts.

Brainstorming

We identify the problems and brainstorming again to innovative the intelligent way to solve the existing problems we had.

Final paper model and user testing

Making a paper model

We made final paper model with transparent card idea and also made payment machine.

How to use PIP code?

The solution is that you can type your PIP code in a queue. The process of payment is easy and quick.

User testing

Finally, we did uset testing to know that if user understand the new way of paying money easily or not.

Story board

This story board show our main role, Per, he is happy with the new bank card.

Ice sculpture

Exploration of pure material The Ice Hotel was the place that I wanted to visit the most during my studies at UID. To create an ice sculpture gave me not only a greater appreciation of the hotel but enormous insight into the possibilities of frozen water in all it’s phases, and how light interacts with it.

Tutor: Lena Kriström Members: Alakörkkö, Tapio Sihlén, Per Runeson, Linn Huang, Mei-Tzu Cook, Harry Clayton Orman, Emil

Date: Jan. 17 2011- Jan. 21 2011

What did I learn?

Going to Kiruna was a wonderful journey in my life. Our group lived together for the whole six days. At the beginning, we didn’t know each other but, by the end, we had a great friendship. In my opinion, this is the most important part of this trip; to learn from others.

We also had a great tutor teaching us about the ice hotel and ice sculpture; artist Lena.

She taught us there is a new material which is called sneeze (compressed snow). We also learned about the variety of tools used and how sometimes you even need to create your own tools.

To make an ice sculpture was my priority for this week. First, all of us got a small ice block to explore the material of ice. I carved it very carefully since I wanted to make a nice surface. However, I realized that the shape of ice is more important than the surface.

The next day we planned to make a big ice sculpture and worked as a team. The process of discussion was wonderful. All of the students tried hard to contribute to group work.

Illustration design These graphic are my own work. I am interested in graphic design. I also like to participate many competition to show my work in public.

Sprout

East woman is attractive. Their beauty hides behind the mouth, nose, eyes. They are sensitive and sensible.

Photograph I am found of taking photos inoder to record my daily life for memory.

Friday party

I like the Friday party. I met a lot of people . We share our thoughts and happiness.

We are also in others life. It is amazing moment in my life.

Sunsets

I am very fond of sunsets in Ume책.

I am tracing sunsets everyday. If I could see sunset, I feel pleasure.

Thank you!

Mei

2011