Application protfolio

Sejuti Malakar

Textile/Industrial Designer

I am a designer with an appetite for experimentation, using various mediums and art forms to express myself. Keeping an open mind while learning and the willingness to implement various techniques, technologies, and design approaches is important to me.

I am keen on learning about technology in design, and have delved into topics like E-textiles, Smart clothing in fashion and sportswear, and material innovation used in design.

I aspire to be a part of an interdisciplinary group that bridges the gap between design, art and science to create something meaningful.

Sejuti Malakar 22 years old Kolkata, India

Education

The Future Foundation School Specialisation- Science+ Fine Arts

G. D. Birla Centre for Education Specialisation- Humanities+ Maths

National Institute of Fashion Technology Specialisation- Textile Design

Experience

Sept 2021- Feb 2022

Jan 2021- Apr 2021

Nov 2020- Dec 2020

Jai Texart Textile Designer

Art Image Textile Design Intern The Burnt Soul Textile Design Intern

Jul 2019- Jan 2021

May 2019- Jun 2019

Disappearing Dialogues Graphic Designer

Weaver’s Studio Textile Design Intern

Kolkata, India

Kolkata, India

Kolkata, India

Jaipur, India

Jaipur, India

Jodhpur, India

Kolkata, India

Kolkata, India

Skills

. . . . .

Zenn Wearable

This project is an attempt to design a smart wearable headset using Textile based sensors and actuators that detect stress through biomedical signals in a human body and further holds the potential to act upon it, to reduce stress.

What had initially started as a review research paper work, has eventually taken shape into a product design idea.

The sensors and actutators that are talked about, in this project, have been taken from various research works that are still at prototype stages.

A brief Introduction

Zenn is a smart wearable device that monitors and detects mental stress with the help of certain biosignals that are indicators of stress. The device gives haptic feedbacks to regulate the stress further.

With stress becoming more common each day, regular productivity and mental wellbeing is compromised. This device is designed to contribute as a soloution to the problems of stress.

Stages of stress

Alarm Phase- Human body responds with a “Flight or Fight” response. Heart rate and Blood Pressure increases.

Resistance Phase- The body tries to thwart the changes that occurred in the alarm stage, employing the parasympatheric nervous system . Heart rate levels and Blood pressure starts to fall.

Exhaustion Phase- The tissues and muscles of the body parts under most stress are damaged. Immunity od the body is weakened. .

Indicators of stress

Two main indicators of stress that are used in the device are-

• Heart Rate Variability -Measure of the specific change in time between successive heart beats.HRV falls during stress.

• Skin Conductance -Skin’s varying electrical conductivity in response to seat secretion during stress. Skin conductance increases during stress.

Heart Rate Variability

Skin Conductance

neck band

Measurements

body

Zenn App

This project is a further continuation of the previous project. Upon designing the wearable device, a need to design an app that further improves the experience of the device, was felt. Since the device collects data on the user’s mental health and acts upon it, the app helps the user view all the data, and customise the responses of the device ( for example, the kind of music the user wants to listen to, the kinds of haptic vibrations the user wants and the duration, etc).

A brief Introduction

An app that is connected with the Zenn smart wearable device to monitor mental health and operate the device’s features like haptic vibrations and music

While Zenn device detects and responds to the biosignals provided by the user, it needs external control for a better experience. The app helps in monitoring and providing consolidated data, and in customising the actuators’ responses.

of the device, the app has three main features:

Design Process

Understand Observe Ideate

Prototype

Design Challenge

Ideation

Certain important features of the app were decided based on these insights.

Decision making, when under distress is not preferred by users. Custom made options are attractive under such circumstances.

Users prefer to look at consolidated data, to better understand themselves when under distress.

Users like to customise and fine tune certain features. The flexibility to do so, makes the app more user friendly.

User Persona

The Ideation process starts with user centred research. Here, I have done the User research on myself. A set of questions were formulated, based on the answers of which, certain insights were gathered. I have further created a User persona.

The lack of ability to come across a vast number of music that is recognised as therapeutic is where the user needs help. One platform that has music sorted in groups, in terms of the mood one is in, is convenient.

Easy navigation from one feature to the other, and shortcuts are useful as the user does not have to spend much energy on the app itself, but on the experience the device provides.

Name- Sejuti Malakar Age- 22+ Education- B.Des Occupation- Textile Designer Hometown- Kolkata Family- 4 members

Introvert Extrovert Analytical Creative Time rich Busy Oragnised Messy Lazy Active Goals-

• To keep stress and anxiety levels in check.

Be more productive and efficient in work.

• Exercise positive practices to fight stress and anxiety issues.

• Understand better, personal patterns of stress and anxiety.

Frustration-

• Cannot figure out what to do at a moment of stress or anxiety. How to reduce it temporarily?

• Confused by mental health apps and various choices that are given.

• Cannot consistently practice positive activities.

Special Features

Based on research, some insights are gained which gives idea on what features are to be surely added for the app to be more user friendly

Custom made Playlist

Serves the user a custom made playlist according to their current mood. It is time saving, and does not require the user to make a decision when they do not want to.

Mood wise music

Instrumental Music is seperated according to moods.

ThemeMood chart

A consolidated data of various moods experienced through the day is provided.

Amplitude and speed modifer

A combined feature that can modify amplitude and speed of vibrations. Looks like a volume button.

The colour theme of the app can be changed using the toggle switch.

A timer option for setting the duration of the vibration.

Information Architecture

Colour palette

Imprint

As part of the college curriculum, students are required to undertake a Graduation Project sponsored by a client organization of an industry relevant to the student’s department of studies.

The project consists of a detailed analytical project based on a predetermined design brief. The entire Project was executed over a period of 14 to 16 weeks.

It is a demonstration of independent client service by a student under the guidance of experts from the industry.

Avsadi is one of the three graduation collections based on a combined theme of Paleolithic and aboriginal cave art. The entire collection combines digital printing and various embroidery techniques.

Theme

Theme introduction

The theme revolves around Paleolithic and obiriginal art of different ages that capture different styles and art subjects.

The major source of inspiration has been Chauvet Cave located in Southern France and cave of Australia. Paleolithic art tells us how art has been a part of human evolution since the very beginning.

The idea is to take inspiration from figures and elements drawn on the rocks and blend them with the brand’s aesthetic to come up with a collection that is relevant in the current market and unique at the same time.

Avsadi [ Av-saa-dee] Hindi;

Definition of Avsadi; Sedimentary

The collection gets its name from the sedimentary rocks, called Avsadi Chattano, in hindi.

Much like Paleolithic art, these rocks not only pre serve sediments but also, in a way, time, Hence, the name, Avsadi.

textured rustic earthy haphazard patterned irregular

Mood Board

rough outline sketchy irregular lines shades and tones artistic

stylized simplified red dotted pattern patterns with shapes scattered storytelling

Sampling Process

Rung

A small collection of collectibles were stcitched using naturally dyed swatches. This is a small classroom project that consists of a series of experiments with various dyes and mordants, and the colour variations achieved with them. The knowledge gained from these ex periments was further applied to make a collection of small products.

Swatch test

A series of swatchs are dyed and dipped in various mordants, for various time durations to achieve a range of colours. This experiment is done to understand the nature of each dye and it’s reaction with different mordants.

Marigold (Scientific name- Tagetes Erecta)

- Colour is extracted from the petals Colorant- Caratenoids

Myrobalan (Scientific name- Terminalia Chebula)

- Colour is derived from the fruits of the plants - Used mostly as a mordant

Madder (Scientific name- Rubia Tinctorium)

- Colour is derived from the roots of the plant

- Colorant- Alizarin

Steps for Dyeing

The kind of colour desired is the deciding factor for the dyes used. We have used Marigold and dried Hibiscus petals get a range of colours. (Yellow- sap green is achieved using marigold; Grey is achieved using Hibiscus.)

Natural fabrics are preferred for natural dyes as they absorb the dyes better. We have used silk, cotton and woollen waste fabrics, destarched.

Fabrics tied using Shibori techniques, were dipped in the dye bath with varying time duartions, depending on the strength of colour we wanted in each fabric piece.

Chemical mordants like Alum, Ferrous Sulphate and Copper Sulphate were used to fix the colour on the fabrics as well as achieve colour variations.

The fabric pieces were washed and ironed after dyeing, ready to be stitched into products.

Marigold and hibiscus petals

Fabrics cut and tied Freshly dyed fabric pieces

Marigold dyed Laptop cover

Marigold dyed small folder

Stole dyed using Hibiscus

Marigold and Hibiscus dyed bandanas

Sketches

Following few pages consist of some unedited and unabashed doodles and sketches I have made during my free time. This project includes pieces that have madeduring bus rides, lunch breaks, in between classes and during long boring practice sessions. This is a collection of all kinds of work I have done using different tools and sketching styles.