u za n n e Cobben
Portfolio
WORK FROM 2016 - 2020
About me
50 %
Designer
30 %
Entrepeneur
20 %
Playful
BECAUSE I LIKE TO BECAUSE I LIKE TO BECAUSE I LIKE TO be innovative | collaborate | be curious | storytelling | be creative yet critical | human-centred network | create a vision | motivate others | spot opportunities | take initiative
Dance (out of tune) | hitchhike | challenge myself | building own furniture | go to Burning Man
Vision on design
Designers must also take responsibility for potential negative impacts, requiring continuous self-reflection. Driving innovation and disruptive ideas to benefit people and organizations starts with understanding user needs, goals, and motivations. Simple solutions to complex problems emerge from deep research and user involvement.
High Chair
Graduation project, 2019
Blofield and The Hague University
Inflatable chair for the Smart Air Colletction
Renderings of the High Chair: Front, back, and side views, with the air valve prominently visible at the back.
Design brief
Design an inflatable single-seater with an active seat : tailored for the event and utility market, seamlessly complementing Blofield’s Smart Air collection.
Outcome
The chair's supporting structure is made of drop stitch material, ensuring:
Lightweight design – just 5kg
Inflatable & compact – easy to transport and store
Suitable for ever-changing environments : - Flex-offices
- Trade fairs
- Company events
Challenge
During my graduation, the company went bankrupt , leaving me uncertain about completing my assignment. Fortunately, the sheltered workshop behind the Smart Air Collection welcomed me to finish my project.
The drop-stitch material is stubborn , limiting the possible shapes. However, through extensive research and modeling, I successfully designed the form I had envisioned.
What started as uncertainties turned into a great and unexpected learning experience .
Testing the three different concepts with the target group: performing office related tasks.
Concept 1: Low Chair
Concept 2: Middle Chair
Concept 3: High Chair
Process
While working at the sheltered workshop , I gained valuable experience in:
– Designing and implementing detailed production processes
– Effectively communicating with facility workers and understanding their individual capabilities
5.
cross-section of the chair with exploded view of the seat
1. top layer
2. foam layer
3. gauze cloth
4. pvc strip
5. drop stitch
The High Chair deflated; a small package easy to carry (30x30x40 cm)
A step in the adhesive bonding proces of the drop stitch.
Exploring the different patterns for gluing the drop stitch to get the desired shape.
RedBox
Group project, 2018
Project for Clean Power Solutions and The Hague Universiy of Applied Sciences
Electric vehicle charging station
Design brief
Redesigned Clean Power Solutions' outdated charging station to enhance its market appeal by improving aesthetics , all while adhering to a strict production budget.
four developed concepts,
Outcome
RedBox is a modern charging station for electric cars, featuring a sleek design and a pulsating light that communicates charging status.
Manufactured using thermoformed ABS with a customizable PMMA top layer, it supports large-scale production with options for personalized branding.
Of the
I designed the third one: Hybrid. This concept focuses on integrating the electronics into the wall.
Internal electronic components of the RedBox.
SolidWorks renders exploring various form concepts.
My role
Throughout the project, tasks were evenly shared among team members, with everyone contributing ideas and participating in prototyping. My main focus was on planning and maintaining the overall organizational structure, ensuring smooth collaboration and timely progress .
Process
During this project, we collaborated seamlessly as a team. At the outset, we shared our individual learning goals and divided tasks based on our interests and strengths. This clarity allowed us to stay aligned throughout the process and learn from one another. By complementing each other’s skills , we successfully developed a product from concept to final prototype—one that was ultimately taken into production by the company.
The light of the RedBox changes to indicate its charging status.
The RedBox charging a car in a private garage.
The system that is used to assamble the product on the wall.
Plantogether
Individual project, 2020
Final Bachelor Project, Industrial Design Engineering
A Product to Support Families Affected by Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) for de Hersenstichting
Design brief
The impact of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) often extends beyond the individual, deeply affecting family dynamics. For this project, I wanted to address the often-overlooked emotional impact on family members , especially siblings, and help improve their experience.
Thomas comes home from school feeling sad.
He's unsure whether to add a note to the family board about his emotions. He is hesitant because he doesn't want to add more stress to his parents, who are already focused on his brother with TBI.
Last weekend Thomas and his dad agreed to go fishing together the following day. Thomas decides he’ll share his feelings with his dad during their outing.
Outcome
Plantogether is designed to foster emotional connection in families where a child has TBI. My product encourages children to express their emotions and feel heard, without the guilt of taking too much of their parents' time. The system works by using "plants" that family members place with the desired parent or sibling on a specific day. The plants symbolize the growth of the family , much like a plant grows when nurtured, similarly, the family grows closer through shared quality time.
The design incorporates a timeline that tracks the course of the disease with an emphasis on emotional impact and family dynamics. The data was gathered through interviews with family members, providing valuable insights into the stages where support is most needed.
field of interest
How it works
Each family member has a personal planter, which they place with the family member they want to spend time with. For example, a daughter might place her planter with her dad on Wednesday for a walk with the dog. A larger planter indicates an activity involving the entire family. This simple, yet meaningful gesture encourages connection and bonding.
Accessories that indicate:
The star indicates it is an important day for that family member
most basic feelings:
On the planter is written what they agreed upon doing that day
The aluminium accessoires gently fold around the rash for a good grip.
Folded steel aluminium tray for storing the accessories
Smart click system for easy assembling.
Four
Happy Anxious Angry Sad
Clasps to the metal rash
a new balance
My vision is to help families with a child affected by TBI restore balance, enabling them to acknowledge and recognize each other's needs and emotions. child with TBI siblings and parents
Sensitizing Document: A slide from the document sent to interviewees, designed to guide the discussions and set expectations.
Process
Co-creation played a central role throughout this project. Using context mapping, I created a survey that was sent to a diverse group of participants, including siblings, parents, and children affected by TBI. The interviews that followed were incredibly insightful and informed the initial ideation phase.
Throughout the project, I maintained close communication with participants and experts through interviews and surveys, gaining continuous feedback.
Prototype: The prototype of Plantogether, designed for use in the living room, visible to all family members, encouraging shared interaction.
SUKIRA
Individual project, 2018
Minor Entrepeneurship
Earings part of a jellweryline
Assignment
I decided to set up my own business by launching a jewelry brand focused on earrings crafted from precious metal wire. The designs are inspired by the elegance of one-line drawings, combining simplicity and sophistication.
Outcome
The concept behind the earrings is to celebrate the sexuality of women , drawing inspiration from impressionist painters. This art movement was chosen for its defiance of traditional norms and its emphasis on individuality. Similarly, my aim is to separate sexuality from group identities, presenting it as something unique and not bound by gender distinctions.
Suzanne Cobben +316 49681748
suzanne_cobben@hotmail.com Utrecht, the Netherlands