Product Design Portfolio

product design portfolio

mikey stevenson

_about

_profile I am a concept-led designer with a focus on usability and narrative. I hold the user at the core of my process to design a better experience for everybody. From prototyping to developing a viable product, I aim to deliver inspiring and innovative results, with a purpose. I gained valuable skills during my placement year at Teams Design, Hamburg and Kurz Kurz Design, Solingen.

_skills sketching model making solidworks

mikey stevenson // portfolio

rhino

keyshot photoshop illustrator indesign

_experience & education

kurz kurz design, solingen

2019 - 2019

product design internship

A six month internship with a product design agency, based in Solingen. The company specialises in traditional product/industrial design.

Contributing to projects created to a professional standard, including creating sketches, presentations, and most importantly, physical models.

teams design, hamburg

2018 - 2019

industrial design internship

A six month internship in Hamburg for a product design consultancy.

The company has five global studios with clients such as Bosch, Siemens and Samsung. My role included working on, and contributing to, live projects with a range of German and international clients.

nottingham trent university

2016 - 2020

ba product design

Working to live projects with external companies such as; Herman Miller, Speedo, Nestlé, Instrmnt, BBC, Innovia and Matter. Being part of a course with variety and various disciplines, but part of one design community.

Here, I undertook a sandwich placement abroad.

ual: london college of communication

2014 - 2015

art & design foundation

A year experience learning about professional practices and applying discipline taught during further education. Here, I attended workshops and classes around graphic processes, such as lino print and screen printing.

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_contents

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groovekast

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tea up

carbon m mon

monoxide nitor

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kettle

timepiece

01 groovekast

veKast

Tech

an electronic music composition tool for beginners

_challenge The problem facing certain consumers is the difficulty learning and creating electronic music without prior music knowledge. Often, people would like to start creating modern dance compositions, like the songs they listen to, but are put off by current equipment.

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_brief To design an electronic musical instrument that is refined and simple. Also, something that can be picked up and played with for an instant & meaningful output. This may end up being a gateway to further music exploration or be educational through its usability.

_overview GrooveKast is a musical composition tool, known as a groovebox, aimed at beginners to intermediates of electronic music creation.

The product implements simplistic controls with a modest layout to inspire creativity.

Mikey St N064070 BA Prod

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_consumer

_profile

_pain points

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Student

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Expensive hard

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−

Complicated in

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Berlin

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A ‘masculine’ a

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Female

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Instruments jus

NOVICE

TINKE

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USER

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_goals

dware

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Something affordable

nstruments

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An intuitive product

aesthetic

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A hands-on experience

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Something elegant, attractive

t aren’t fun

ERER

EXPERIENCED

_market research

_research

_cheap products −

The cheap products can be difficult to use

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They have simple outputs but nothing meaningful or inspiring

_professional equipment −

They appear overwhelming but are simpler than they appear

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Ultimately, they have simple functions but are often overlooked by newcomers

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_consumer behaviour −

Store interviews indicated the popularity of hardware as opposed to software

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The interviews pointed me towards a groovebox

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_groovebox market *a groovebox is a standalone music production instrument

complicated expensive

tedious

PROFESSIONAL

CHEAP

EXPENSIVE

NOVICE

competitor opportunity

_inspiration _aesthetic & form

approachable

gentle

comfort

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ease

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_mood

trust

soft

calm

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_ideation & development

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_concept

_design approach intuitive Humanising electronic musical instruments with a solid output.

reduced Rethinking electronic musical instrument design for a more user friendly product.

approachable Re-imagining electronic musical instruments with a more approachable design.

_features

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always in time

always in key

trial & error exploration

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_how to & product ecosystem _step 1

_step 2

_step 3

select an instrument

select a note/drum hit

transfer sample the devi

place it in the step sequencer

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website

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device

play samples with a tangible product

e packs to ice

sync compositions from device to software

download free samples plus additional support

try the software emulation on your computer

download a software version of the app

software

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_build & manufacture

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_key features battery powered for portability + reduced cost off-the-shelf components to reduce further cost ABS due to high shock resistance + low cost

_components rotary potentiometers 7 seg. display 3.5mm audio connectors red LEDs

_build injection moulded ABS plastic casing laser etched keys capacitive silicone elastomer for keys components mounted to singular PCB

_special edition / brand application _kraftwerk

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_acid house

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02 tea up a device for creating the perfect cup of loose leaf tea

tea up

Technical Pack

_challenge

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The issue for consumers is the array of products required to create a cup of loose tea plus the problems with consistency and quality.

Many consumers feel that this challenge makes loose tea making off-putting while current products do not acquire precision.

_brief To design an alternative to steeping loose leaf tea for the modern consumer with a focus on quality and consistency. The product will be designed around the theme of urbanisation and nomadism.

_overview Tea Up is an induction kettle with integrating drip tray and scale, to help create a cup of loose tea in a compact package.

Mikey Stevenson N0640708 BA Product Design

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_research _problems −

Different teas require different brewing methods

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Difficulty getting the amount and time correct

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Modern products do not help in creating a perfect cup of loose tea

_trends urbanisation

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co-living

nomadism

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_primary research

would you consider using loose tea, if you were aware of the benefits?

no

where do you drink tea? university

yes

on-the-go

home

café

work

why don’t you currently use loose tea? other

no space-saving equipment

lack of consistency

too much equipment

expensive

a strenuous task

_consumer

urban nomads //

_profile

designing for a lifestyle on the go

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Social Content Marketer

a mobile individual requires convenience

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London

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Male

pain points: −

Time it takes to make tea at home in the morning

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Too strong or too weak tea

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The tiresomeness associated with loose tea

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The messiness when making tea

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goals:

PRECISION

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A consistent cup of tea

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A streamline process when making tea

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A clean way to prepare and drink

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Smaller size, without compromising the consistency

DILIGENCE

QUALITY

a

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_inspiration _aesthetic

_form

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_features

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_ideation & development

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_concept

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_design features

induction heating

scales

water level indication

integrated drip tray

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loose leaf tea brewing

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ease of use

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reduced in size

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low energy consumption

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use with any mug or teapot

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_breakdown

induction plate

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drip tray

on/off indicator

dial

water level temperature timer weight

set button tare button

scale

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_storyboard

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2

Fill teapot and weigh amount of water

Set temperature of the water to be heated to

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Once water is heated place strainer into your pot

Set the timer to allow to steep

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3

4

Place rod into the teapot and press start to heat

Weigh the amount of tea according to the amount of water, use the tare button

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Once brewed, set the strainer onto the drip tray

Enjoy your perfect cuppa

_build & manufacture

glass plate laser etched painted black

aluminium housing bead blasted anodised grey chamfered edge

induction coil

ABS plastic bottom

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coarse speckled

silicone grip base

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mesh insert food-grade aluminium corrosion resistant

drip tray

twist dial chamfered

scales inc. load cell

push buttons chamfered

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“WE LOVE THIS IDEA AND THINK IT COULD BE A GREAT PRODUCT IF IT CAME TO MARKET.”

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03 carbon monoxide monitor an oral device for smokers to detect CO levels in the blood

_challenge Smoking is undeniably harmful and contributes to various illnesses like heart disease and cancer. Smoking has been significantly reduced due to government intervention. People still choose to smoke but are unaware of how much damage is made.

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_brief To design a way to control and measure consumer smoking and ultimately reduce the intake. Reducing the amount of smoking can reduce the risk of smoking related illnesses. Reducing smoking will also help consumers to quit in the future, if they so wish.

_overview The product is a carbon monoxide detector (capnograph) for consumer use with an app to keep track of smoking intake. The device is non-invasive and is detected through breath. Much like people use a scale for losing weight, this would help you cut down smoking by keeping better track of it.

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_research _statistics

In the UK with 13.0

_problems −

Pressure to quit rather than generally reduce smoking

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Difficulty understanding individual effects of smoking

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No way to effectively monitor smoking to reduce intake

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Around 1 manual o with just manager

K, 16.5% of men smoked compared 0% of women

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Those aged 25 to 34 years had the highest proportion of current smokers (19.2%)

6.5%

3%

1 in 4 (25.5%) people in routine and occupations smoked, compared t 1 in 10 people (10.2%) in erial and professional occupations

25-34 years are highest proportion of smokers

19.2%

_consumer

modern labourer //

_profile

designing for a high intensive worker

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Mechanic

a labourer requires no-nonsense transparency

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Liverpool

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Male

pain points: −

Constantly reverting back to smoking after exhausting day at work

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No way of determining the effect of smokin on the body

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Other people smoking around them

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goals: −

A way to monitor smoking habits

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Understand techniques to cut down

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A way to cut down now with a view to quit altogether in the future

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a

ng

_inspiration _aesthetic & form

stark

robust

complex

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dynamic

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_mood

energetic

tenacious

ominous

_ideation & development

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_sketches

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_3D model

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_concept

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_breakdown

mouthpiece blow into here to get a reading of the carbon monoxide levels in your blood

standby / bluetooth button

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press this to turn on the device and connect it via bluetooth to your phone

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standby light indicates the device is on and ready to use

breath status light make sure all 3 lights are lit when you blow into it for an accurate reading

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_storyboard

Step 1

Step 2

Connect device to phone via bluetooth

Take a few deep into the device fo

breaths and exhale or a few seconds

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Step 3 Record your results and track your data within the app

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04 kettle japanese inspired personal kettle

_challenge Creating a product which is both adaptable to its environment and convenient to the user while implementing the most modern technology is important. The balance between a historically inspired aesthetic and modern function must be executed well.

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_brief To design a adaptable kettle for the modern consumer, while taking inspiration from historical and traditional techniques based around tea brewing. The product should be easy to use and be able to brew tea for any consumer, expert or novice.

_overview A kettle with a reduced size for personal use. The kettle takes inspiration from historical Japanese teapots. The kettle has variable temperature and can be controlled solely through an app, to create a minimal physical interface.

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_inspiration _japanese traditional

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_modern

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_aesthetic

_ideation & development

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_sketches

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_3D model

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_concept

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lid with detachable strainer

kettle with wa

ater level view

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electric powered base

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05 timepiece a tabletop clock for the brand Instrmnt

_challenge The key aspect is to initially understand the brand ethos and relate that to a product not previously made by the brand. Consideration of consumer behaviours, product packaging and brand impact is essential. The product had to relate to the brand mission.

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_brief The brief for the project was to design a contemporary table top timepiece for Instrmnt, a multi-disciplinary design studio based in Glasgow. Product components are restricted to 100 x 100 x 100 mm and should fit a particular carriage clock mechanism.

_overview The outcome is a timepiece with a pivot to be facing the consumer however they wish. Taking inspiration from a particular mood, the copper and wood complement each other while giving a contemporary aesthetic.

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_the company / brand

_info

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Founded by Pete Sunderland and Ross Baynham in 2014, the studio launched with one simple product: Instrmnt 01, a minimalist steel watch which takes inspiration from the industrial design of the mid-20th century.

Baynham and Sunderland hold a keen interest in the functional, utilitarian products and tools produced during that time period: from the simple, readable dials of analogue ammeters and voltmeters to the revolutionary minimalism of Dieter Rams.

_inspiration

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_CMF This project takes inspiration from the contrast between organic and inorganic materials for example, woods with metals.

The materials chosen for my final product were cherry wood and copper. The dark richness of cherry wood and copper’s darker, yet metallic, tone seemed to complement the wood perfectly.

_ideation & development

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_model&sketches

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_clock movement

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_concept

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_build & manufacture

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hands

glass crystal

brushed copper case

varnished cherry wood base

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copper screws

movement

AA battery

copper backing

countersunk screws

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thank you