design portfolio
Shreyas Prakash
Ideation
GENERATOR BASED ON SWINGING ACTION (PROTOTYPE 2) Prototype of generating power using a swinging magnet
Different iterations made
Oscillatory leg motion is converted to electricity
Different users were studied
The Problem
YO-YO MOTION
Funded by
Role Electronics Engineer Materials Design Hardware Prototyping
Jhoule
A device that generates electricity by walking aimed at the off-grid villages
Nylon string
Outer case
Iterations with different devices for energy generation
Outlet for the nylon string
Casing for the recoil spring
NiMH battery PCB for LED output ASSESSING DIFFERENT GEAR RATIOS
3D printed casing to assess efficiency with convenience
Process
LIGHTWEIGHT MATERIAL SELECTION
can be hooked onto the waist for energy generation
Coloured strings giving a colourful ethnic texture
LOCALLY AVAILABLE MATERIALS USED SYMBOLIC CULTURAL REFERENCE TO CHATTISGARH
Ideation pulley belt coupled to the cycle wheel
led output
The Problem
counterweight for stability
aligning the shaft to maintain torque transfer
Philosophy
Role
Inspired by Lao Tzu’s philosophy on the etymology of rural innovation, which talks about how technocrats should make replicable, sustainable and scalable products in such a way that the whole village calls it theirs. We tried our best to replicate this thinking at Barefoot.
Fabrication Concept Development Testing and Iteration Machine Design
Gravitas
Gravity based generator for rural toilets
Cycle chain is used for lifting the weights.
The chain is coupled to the motor shaft
The weight moves down lighting the LED
Broader base for stabilty
The cycle wheel is freely mounted
The weight is slowly lifted up to generate electricity for a short duration while using the toilet
This generator has been developed especially for rural toilets which requires steady lighting for a short period of time approximating to around 6 to 8 minutes during its usage. The gravity generator developed is able to run a 4W Led for 5.5 mins by bringing a 35 kg weight to a height of 1.9 m. The main objective of this project was to collaborate with the women engineers of Barefoot College, Rajasthan to develop this product frugally with the resources available in Tilonia village.
Process
For when they participate, they realise, When they build, they own. And when women are involved, it becomes sustainable.
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I moulded myself; as my philosophy became more concrete I realised, when locals build solutions for themselves When the village participates in the building process, A sustainable revolution is trigerred.
Innovation Hub Model
Scenario
With centralized decision making system, rural development in India has become highly unsustainable and most interventions are out of context to the local culture and practices.
The Inception Livelihood
Locally Available Resources
Design Thinking
Rural Development Fellowship
Role Co-founder
Period 2017-Present Situated in the remote tribal village of Lobhi. Predominantly occupied by the Gond tribes.
Poetic quote?
Partners Funded by
dHive Rural Design Studio
Lantern signifying rural innovation not quite intuitive
colourful but not elegant Conveys model making, but not quite the essence Conveying ideas of fabrication and ideation gears better represent engineering design
Streams of Consciousness I involve in meditative walks thinking about the elements to be fit into the logo. Various keywords run through my mind by clarifying the streams of consciousness.
.....Design Thinking.... .......Innovation..... .......Children....... ......Tribal village.....
Logo Design My process involves a general brainstorming phase followed by mapping my streams of consciousness, getting feedback and making refinements to the best logo which conveys the idea.
Colour not appealing Letter H doesnt suit
Alignment issues Do we need border at all?
STICK FIGURE INSPIRED BY TRIBAL CAVE PAINTINGS
3D Hexagonal shape Letters not coherent
Final Design Incorporated the key features such as community participation and innovation into this minimalistic logo.
Process
Pedal Based Washing Machine
Bamboo Carrier
Used by the family of innovator kids to reduce drudgery.
Efficient transportation of firewood. Used by the community of Lobhi and Chikla village.
Surface Multi-utility Furniture Forward market linkages with Barefoot College, Rajasthan
Smokeless Chullha 520 units of this cookstove sold in the market and is still in high demand.
Grass Scythe Deployed in the farms of Lobhi village to cut wheat efficiently.
Innovator kids
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Women Self-Help Groups
GRIP ring to fix tang with snath
frame made using localy available bamboo for pushing wheat
The Problem
pipe
Role
FULL ASSEMBLY OF SNATH
Grass Scythe
Facilitator (Open Source Technology Transfer) Manual grass cutter aimed at efficient cutting Fabrication assistance and collection of wheat. System design
`Children involved in the design thinking process right from ideation to product development
Curvature of the blade adjusted for smooth cutting
Locally available bamboo used for pushing the wheat
The kids training the farmer on how to use the grass scythe
Deployment
Ideation
The process involved brainstorming with different ideas on reducing the space required for performing four major activities for children in schools: Reading, Drawing, Sleeping and Studying.
Scenario Lack of proper furniture is quite common in most of the lower primary schools run by the government.
The Problem With centralized decision making system, rural development in India has become highly unsustainable and most interventions are out of context to the local culture and practices.
Writing/Reading
fully folded
relaxing Sleeping
Role ARTBOARD
Facilitator (Open Source Technology Transfer) Fabrication assistance System design
Surface Standard
COMPLETELY FABRICATED IN THE TRIBAL VILLAGE USING THE dhive rural DESIGN STUDIO
Kids testing out the product for studying purposes throughout several homes in Lobhi
Successfully establishing forward market linkages with Barefoot College, Rajasthan.
Deployment
Ideation saddle clamp
Involved ideating on different kinds of fixtures to mount solar panels on the structure. It also involved designing the structure for the right amount of solar insolation.
bracket
The Problem
The electric vehicles could be stationed at the EV carport during office hours and are given alerts once the cars are fully charged so that the next car could use the alloted space.
Funded by
Role Systems Designer Systems Installation
Period
2015
Solar EV Carport
10 degree slop 170 degree azimuth
Ground screws were chosen for avoiding a concrete foundation
Birds eye view of the Vanier Lane plot alloted for the construction of Solar EV Carport
Installation of the panels after getting IHSA certification, Ontario
TIED GRID TER (8 D R INVE NCLOSE E G KW) E CASIN H IN T
12 V, 225 A arrang h batteries ed
The Solar EV Carport is currently up and running at the York university of Toronto campus monitoring the usage data for future research on EV-PV integration as I speak.
Press
EV Chargers which can be plugged onto the vehicle
Ideation Sand is sintered at very high temperature provided by focussing the fresnel lens using a dual axis solar tracker.
FRESNEL FRAME ROTATION (AXIS 2) CIRCULAR PLATE rotation (axis 1)
Fresnel lens for focussing solar rays
Sand bed for sintering the sand 3D Printing equipment
XY Solar tracker
Funded by
Role Fabrication Concept Development Testing and Iteration Machine Design
Heliosk
Solar Flask for making objects out of sun and sand
X-Y CAGE FABRICATION Fabrication of the Dual axis solar tracker accomodating the fresnel lens
Testing the right material for sand sintering
Sintering process is taking place
Ergonomic Problem: The two variants of areca plates available in the market have their own share of pros and cons. My design challenge involved combining the features of both broad edged and high edged plates into a single plate.
BROAD EDGED ARECA PLATE Better grip More spillage
high EDGED ARECA PLATE less grip less spillage
Role Industrial Design Design Consultant
Period
2017 - Present
Leefe.co
User friendly areca nut disposable food plates
Broad-edged part BROAD-EDGED
high-edged
BROAD EDGED CURVE HIGH-EDGED PART Manufacturing phase
Large surface area for hand holding Gradual tapering 3D printed models for refining shape
PROS: No spillage of food contents More surface area for the hand
Ideation Metal pellets for the sound of rattle
The chanapatna artisans assisted me in the toy making process
ECO-FRIENDLY COCONUT OIL APPLIED FOR FINISH
Philosophy
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The idea was to incorporate features derived from the fusion of honeybee and rattlesnake.
Role Industrial Design Design Strategy
Rattleshake Rattlesnake inspired musical instrument developed with the toy-making artisans of Chanapatna village.
Portrait Photography
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Philosophy
The humanity of the moment should best be captured through every photograph
Kerala Mural Kerala murals are traditional artworks inspired by the wall paintings of Guruvayur temple, Kerala. The colours used are primitive revolving around traditional Hindu mythology and artforms such as Kathakali and Theiyyam
Do the uniquely female experiences such as menstruation, female sex organs, menopause, pregnancy have a meaning in themselves? Are there limitations in self-definition and self-creation while women exercise radical freedom? Do they accept the terminology of the patriarchial society, of being a burden and disadvantage, or come out as a free subject, free from being the object of society’s gaze?
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Crimson Wave
Boondh Art Exhibition
Artwork exhibited as a part of the campaign on awareness of menstrual hygiene. This was featured in Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai.