Sohan Devabhai - Current Portfolio

Hi, I’m Sohan, a designer that’s passionate about designing holistically. My goal is the continue to learn and apply methods to create meaningful and purposeful interactions between users and their products.

I spent my placement year in Sweden, working for a 20th Century Nordic furniture and design gallery. This strengthened my passion for lasting and honest design.

Sohan Devabhai: Final Year BA Product Design Student.

Contact information: Email : sohan@devabhai.com LinkedIn : linkedin.com/in/sohandevabhai Instagram: @sohan_v_d

During my second year at NTU I worked on a number of live briefs with some amazing companies, but the highlight was the opportunity to work on several International Design Studio briefs. The I.D.S projects led to recognising the differences and similarities between our international partners. The projects with the various universities encouraged strong visual communication to bridge verbal gaps.

I am currently my course’s student representative and comanager of the NTU Design Industries Expo team. I thrive in team environments, and taking lead in the projects.

Projects: Phase (Final year Minor project) Havā

Second Year Projects

MINI Adventures Shadow Trio I.D.S. (Internation Design Studio) Personal Projects

Atakī sūrya (Hanging Sun) Sunflower

Phase

Phase, an interactive floor lamp that blends analog and digital functions so that you can take full control of shaping a space that suits your needs.

My Minor project was driven by creating an emotion connection with a lamp through tactile interactions. The act of touching the brass panels will lead to an organic patina, preserving the interactions, preserving the unique journey between the user and their lamp.

Phase was named after the phases of the moon.

The crescent panels act like celestial bodies orbiting around the sun-like lighting column.

Havā The Brief Design an innovative mobile phone solution for 20 years in future.

We as a planet are coming to a stage where most virgin materials are running out, so the future of technology needs to be repairable, not replaceable.

Repair, not replace

Havā

Ergonomic testing

Havā was designed to fit the user’s hand by acting like a balloon; the phone would be moulded within the parameters of user’s palm. This decision was driven by the recurring observation that most smartphone users were having to user their hand as a support, gripping their phones instead of holding them.

The exterior casing for Havā is made from self - healing bioplastic, (a plastic made from algae that can regenerate under special lighting conditions). This concept is futuristic, however bioplastics are becoming stronger and the hope of a cleaner tomorrow is attainable.

Top bioplastic shell CPU with projectors for the screen

Bottom bioplastic shell

Minimal design, minimal waste

Self-healing polymers

Expands to your hand

MINI ADEVENTURES The Brief

ADVENTURES MINI BIVY TENT

ESCAPE THE FOUR WALLS FOR THE FOUR CORNERS

Brand Extension for MINI - MINI ADVENTURES Design a compact camping product to inspire spontaneous travel around the UK.

Insulated

Inflatable Compressible

WATERPROOF NYLON BAG

ALUMINIUM AIR PUMP

A LIGHTER WAY TO START YOUR ADVENTURE

NYLON SLEEPING BAG FILLED WITH SYNTHETIC DOWN AND SURPLUS FABRIC FROM MINI

RIPSTOP NYLON BODY, SURPLUS FABRIC LINING AND AMBIENT LIGHT STRIP

Shadow Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a seasonal pattern of recurrent major depressive episodes that most commonly occurs during autumn or winter and remits in spring

1 in 15 people in the UK suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder

The primary and secondary research directs to a holistic approach when treating those that are diagnosed with S.A.D and anxiety, and to also look towards methods outside of the western sphere of influence. Ultimately, there is a gap in the market for a design to improve the living standards of those suffering from S.A.D and Anxiety, without using medication as the primary solution.

The brief Design a S.A.D device that has an aesthetic driven by wabi sabi and that incorporates methods to encourage meditation.

Imperfections

Balance

Calm

Light intensity Adjust the light by swiping up or down on the touchbar

Touchbar

Call a friend If you’re feeling down and need someone to talk to, simply press the button to call

Calming music Speaker Listen to some calming music whilst using the lamp to help ground yourself

Shadow lamps are driven by eastern philosophies, emphasising the beauty of imperfections and embracing the darkness in order to find peace

Bronze interior to enhance

Touchbar

Speaker

Trio Nestlé brief - Generation Z - Group project To design an innovative product that could connect the Gen Z demographic and promoting healthy snacks.

The design won 2nd place in the Nestlé design competition

Goji berry

Matcha

Taro

Trio - A sharing pack of healthy hot chocolate bombs inspired by Nestlé’s Aero. Emphasising the social connection found in coffee shops with the surprise element of the chocolate fizzing like a bath bomb.

I.D.S. “To Sit” International Design Studio - Group Project with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

The stool was designed for a middle class family in Hong Kong.

The design draws inspiration from the Scandinavian aesthetic and the form follows the Chinese characters.

Storage for devices; unwind, step away from your phone and spend time with your family.

Poly Cotton blend fabric cushion

Pine body

Personal project

Upcycling project - Floor lamp - dramatic lighting made from a theatre set

Personal project

Sunfl

Upcycling project

lower

t - oil lamp - vase