ID Portfolio Sizhe Yan

ID PORTFOLIO. BY. 晏思喆 Sizhe Yan

Chat Pal 常聊

Inter-generational communication Chat pal is communication device that aiming to improve the daily communication between elders (living apart from their children) and their families. By improving the physical and digital experience for elders and other family members, hence help users to communicate better and narrow the distance between each other through the device daily.

Brainstorm

Questionnaire

Background

Insights

Overview on products 销售额

In 2020

18%

The number of elderly people living alone or in empty nests will increase to:

72% Elders require a digital device to communicate with their children daily.

118,000,000

49% of them think current commucation products are complicate to use.

(China State Council 2017)

In order to get more inspiration and design direction for this project, I started a series of mind mappings based on three big design directions and thus came to the basic direction of my design.

Data(307 Interviews)

Has elderly family members(Parents, Grandparents)

46% 19%

第一季度

第二季度

第三季度

Smart phone Land Line Phone Phone for elderly Basic cell phone

第四季度

Persona Famliy1

64%

95%

20%

Mr Shen and his wife often go out to play with their neighbours and friends, but they still feel lonely all the time, because they want to have more chances to communicate with their daughter, they can only barely see their daughter once a week, and always have to wait a long time for their daughter to answer any message they send.

living separately from elders

Famliy2

Design Direction Communication: Famliy Relationship

Han lives on the outskirts of the city. He has limited mobility so he spends most of his time at home. He often feels depressed and lonely because he lives alone. His children live in the city centre. They can't visit their father often because of the distance and their limited time due to work.

Main Issues Pain Points

Elders(Lives alone)

Children

Loneliness

Daily Statues

Emergency

Technology complication

Contact timing

Lack of physical ability

Identify Problems

Usage environment

Current moblie devices

Kitchen area 1：Water sink

1.Hard for older user to locate the mic or camera 2.Small size which might make users lost it easily 3.It is not suitable for elderly to operate conveniently and has no physical key

1.Diffcult to carry 2.When the computer fell on the ground easy to damage and may hurt the old user 3.Learning cost is high 4.Set up and repaire is too complex for elder user

1.Too thick to hold,Difficult for holding in long periods 2. limited reach for one hand 3. Less physical buttons 4. Easy to get damage

Muti-viewing angles

It is often too complicated for elder user to switch calling methods on the app.

Unable to know whether contacter has read the message yet.

Easy to carry

Durable

Space saving

High affordance

Solutions Activites Wash the dishes

Finishing the food raw materials

Requirements Splashproof/ Waterproof

Visiable under strong light

Kitchen area 2: Kitchen table/Desk

Motion Camera

CMF

Softwares Wechat

It takes a long time for an elderly user to type in to respond to other people's messages

Key Spec.

Activites Eating

Prepare food materials

Resting

Requirements Waterproof Heatproof

Mutilple viewing angles

Omnidirectional Microphone

Magnetic Charger

Nano-suction Technology

D-3O Material

Design Direction

Design Development Form explration 1:4 model

Form testing 1:1 foam models

An smart display product, highly integrated into the use of "home" context. By making it easier for elderly users to operate communication products(both in physical and interface), it will be easier for them to communicate with their children on a daily basis hence increase the psychological distance between family menbers.

Person1 Hand size 180mm Prefer 7' Display Prefer A for grip

Person2 Hand size 200mm

Ideation

Prefer 10.5' Display Prefer A for grip

7'

Person3

10.5'

A

B

Hand size 180mm

C

Prefer 10.5' Display Prefer A for grip

Hands comparison

95%

5%

Under the premise of communication as the primary function(Video chatting eg.), users will prefer a larger screen for communication. In this case, 10.5' is the largest display choice.

Buttons Positioning

Design Development Adjustable Charging Stand Sketch Development

1

Model Development 1:1

2

Card model

3

4

Foam model

5

6

Retro form

Feedback Design different buttons for different functions with a different shape, positions. explore how to allow user touch and operate in comfortable holding posture and using in both directions. also prevent frequent mistouch.

Exploring different forms languages for shape and individual parts of the dock station as well as considering the engineering aspect of how to allow user has different viewing angles vertically.

They do like the idea of combining loudspeaker with charger. as well as providing different viewing angles as many of the times in the kitchen they will be standing and doing works.

Final Product The function and direction of operation are clearly indicated on each part through different CMF and symbols,So as to improve the using affordance of products.

User can use the display individually with the touch screen, the display has built-in audio. Nano-suction plane in the back is designed to allow the user to stick the product in any vertical surface. the halo light indicates the camera usage states.

When the display is out of battery or user is operating it while doing other activities. simpily connect the display with the charging stand. user can adjust the view angles as they want. It offers a richer sound and touch bar control, touch bar only shows the key vitual buttons for elder user to operate it easily.

User Interface & Workflow This project not only focusing on the physical interaction with the device but also making the entire using experience more convenient. The workflow highlights how this product has been optimized and developed, so that elderly user can operate it easily.

Virtual buttons are designed for elders user to easily locate and make video call while using the display only, as well as a screenshot button for saving it as memories.

Final Product Exploded View All parts of this product have been designed for mass production.

The total cost of this product (Buy-in and self-designed components)is around 120 pound.

186mm

14mm

246mm 4mm

13.5mm R 13mm

28mm

9.6mm

23mm

10mm

32mm

16mm

30mm

6mm

4mm

213mm 246mm

15mm

6mm

117mm

20mm

8.4mm

246mm

215mm

R 15mm

10mm

160mm 170mm

214mm

2mm

Gap:1.24mm

5mm

247.4mm

28mm

R 3mm 10mm

262mm

174.6mm

130mm

31mm

R 3mm

Display

62mm

Charging Stand

9.6mm

16mm

Package

Exhibition

Package design for Chat Pal and the user guidence. Designed following the aesthetic preference of Chinese elder users. The outer packaging is made from recycled paper and wood pulp with less colour printing.

This project was selected by Coventry University to exhibit in the NEW DESIGNER SHOW in London.

产 品 包 装

Grand Challenge 2020

Enhancing the human capability and performance

" The Grand Challenge 2020 sees the RCA’s School of Design partner with Logitech to collectively and creatively explore our future through a human perspective."

3rd Prize Winner Project

Next 180 years...

Humanities’ endeavour to discover the possibilities that our world can offer and to push our knowledge and capabilities to the maximum have extended our understanding of life, our planet and space beyond.

This was a 4 weeks period competition project across the college, all 79 groups were formed with members from different design backgrounds with very different design approaches, such as fashion, textile, engineering.

What's next?

Farming

Possible Future

Climate change Population growth

In the future, due to sea level rise, the land area of the earth will decrease dramatically, while the urban societies has not been adjusted. Especially in poor areas, people need to grow crops to survive.

In the future, farmers will need to find new ways to grow corps that will save space and increase efficiency in order to provide enough food for the people in a community.

2020

First 2 weeks: Reserch & Proposal Last 2 weeks: Swap projects & Development

2070

Glaciers melting

Farming with animals

Adapting Gene editing tech

Project Start Throwing light on "Food for future survival", the group started to research on the verifiable future prediction that could trigger humanity facing survival challenges, as well as allowing us understand the context to design. The research was summarized and presented in a timeline.

Xenobiotics World first living robot

Sea level rise Loss landmass

Humans and animals have a long relationship in land farming. If due to the sharp decrease in land area, the farming activities will transition from land to the underwater world. Animals can still help humans to cope with the challenges of underwater farming and obtain convenience from them, thus creating a new symbiosis relationship underwater.

2150

Design Questions 2200

How are we going to grow crops if there is limited landmass?

How can we continue to produce crops for survival without sufficient farm land?

Can human become allies with thriving creatures through gene modification & robotic programming to aid future farming?

My role in development

Jellyfish Why Jellyfish?

Jellyfish is the oldest group of multiorgan animals without brains, they has a large ethnic group to adopt any underwater environments.

How to train them?

Despite jellyfish as brainless creature.

In the prodictable future,we are able to apply gene-editing technology to enable jellyfish as our underwater farming ally, we are able to train the jellyfish to maintain, protect and transport plants, selective processing of jellyfish species ensures appropriate allocation of roles within the farming system.

Team Ideation

As the main product designer in the team, I am in charge of the design concept of the underwater farm.

I have to design a farm concept that can provide enough corps for a community people monthly without requiring much space and integrating jellyfish into the farming system as our main working force.

Aesthetical Inspire

Concept Development

Farming Technology

Hydroponics

Aeroponics

In order to grow crops in an underwater closed environment. I and our engineer teammates conducted research on possible farming methods.

Fully use of space Climate & PH control Effective use of nutrients Better growth rate Fewer pests & diseases

Due to the time limitation of this project. Our main focus of the design concept is the function feasibility and aesthetic. Our fashion designer and I created different visual prototypes for the team to choose from.

Final Concept Farming Tank

Farming System

Exhibition As the third winning project in this competition, our project poster and introduction video was played and exhibited during RCA WIP show 2020.

Project 2: Retro trend Redesign power-assisted secateurs

This project aims to design a secateurs that is easy for elderly people to use and combines popular 20th-century design styles with modern technology and manufacturing techniques.

AEIOU Analyses

Task Analyses

A

I

Cutting flowers and plants and branches. Shuffling plants.​

User (Elderly) Relatives (Friends and Family) Environment (Weather and Seasons).

U E

O

Sub-urban residential area (Front& backyard) Cares of others feelings.

Objects in their garden have their own meanings and roles What they are familiar with For both practical use and aesthetics.

Gardening enthusiasts (unprofessional) The product needs simple and easy to learn how to use it.

They are seeking high usability.

Many elder peoples prefer the products that have vintage look.

Human Factors Lack of physical ability.(Hand, Back, knees) The product might requires users to go back to the house to recharge

Possible Solutions

Persona Nick

Former sale manager, Age:70+

Nick used to be a sales manager in a flower shop. He worked in a flower shop for more than 20 years. He lives with his wife in a residential suburb outside the city center. As a retired man, Nick spends most of his time at home to gardening.He only interested in simple tools, simple ways of managing plants. He prefers to use old-fashioned tools rather than modern gardening tools because he is a more traditional person.

Frustrations Hard to adopt a new product Inability to bend

Can't hold heavy objects

Pros

Pros

Pros

Fast change cutter part.

Safety trigger design

Suitable for family and elders to use/small size garden

Easy to switch from use manual mode to electric mode Similar size to a manual secateurs

Cons

Cons

Cons

Require gloves to oprate Battery and product separate.

Additional battery components are usually required to work

It needs to be charged with a charging cable Unable to replace blade

Aesthetic doesn't suit older users

Application of Space

CMF

Target User It can be seen from the research that when the function of the product is satisfied, many elderly people will consider the aesthetic more than the price. They tend to prefer products that have a "retro" feel because they remind them of their "shiny" past.

Image Board “Old Fashion” trends

Application of Environment Enamel finish Handle.

Leather wrap Aluminum alloy blade Vintage blue

Blade.

Design Ideation & Development Retro secateurs shapes/ Safty trigger design/ feasibility for elderly use/ Easy to grip.

Model Development

Final Renders

Using & Details

Final Renders Users can easily hang up the product when they don't need to use it. This product is very suitable for the general user's garden environment.

Exploded View

Usage Environment

Main switch

Gearbox

The main shaft

Main panel

Spring Force sensor Battery

Motor

Project.3 Smart Flowerpot Brief: This project aims at improving the indoor planting experience of urban residential users. The product must be able to help the user at any stage of the planting process, save time, and add fun to the user during the planting process. This product must be safe for use by users of all ages.

Background

Individual Interviews Ann

Tommy

Research

Jim

Safty lock design

On the ground age Fixing support

My mother is usually very busy every week. Although she likes plants, she can't take good care of the plants on our table at home. Since she is not a flower expert, sometimes she does not know how much she should water the plants, when to illuminate the plants。 Due to these problems, plants often wither very quickly.

All year age group Safty battery design

Storage

walls/windows Hanging roof

Instalment guidance Simple mechanical structure

none

user group

Easy to set up

Stable job

Assesbility

Disrelated to gardening jobs

gardening

rustless

Flower Pots arrangement

waterproof plastic

Through mind maps to determine the functional priority of this product and Other aspects of this project.

Professional gardening jobs

occupation All year age group

Easy to maintain

Gardening amateur

Assistance from the product(App, Display screen)

Single Mutiple

indoor

Material

conductivity

Watering system Watering

high strength

Functionality outdoor

Collecting wasted water

water sink

Airness

recyclable plastic material

ombrophyte

Environment

Lighting

dismounable parts

Sun shield

Types of plants Sun plants

Absolute Humidity in Wuhan (First 8 Months)

25 Bank Manager Ann want to buy some plants and flowers in her office to make her office hours more interesting.

30 Barista

Tommy wants to decorate his coffee shop with some indoor plants, but his plants often wither away soon.

73 Retired

Jim likes to put some plants at home, but he doesn't know how to put them in the right place and how to take care of them better.

The chart on the right shows that the air humidity in wuhan is relatively high in most months, which provides possibilities for my automatic water storage function.

Survey

What are your expectations for future flower pots?

27%

Pain points:

Pain points: Lack of planting experience

Physical limitation

Time limitation

Indoor environment

lack of management

21%

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May.

Jun.

Jul.

Aug.

What problems do you usually encounter when raising flowers at home?

12%

16%

23%

Jan.

13%

Pain points:

lack of management

82 80 78 76 74 72 70 68 66 64 62

39%

21%

Automatically watering Automatically store water

28%

Lack of planting experience

Limitaion of time

Feasibility Analysis

Benchmarking

Condenser Unit

The condenser unit converts humid air into water for storage (since most houses in Wuhan have a humid environment)

Form & CMF Inspirations Simple LED lights can remind users to take care of their plants.

It can not directly help users take care of plants.

Its direct interaction with the user is simple, and the user is easily bored in the process.

Light Intensity Sensor Detecting the light intensity required by plants

Water level Indicator

Detecting the storage of water

Soil Humidity Sensor Detecting soil moisture

Air Humidity Sensor

Fully automatic work without user involvement.

The product is fully automated. Users can only see the results of their plant flowering, which does not allow the user to experience and enjoy the planting process.

Detect the humidity of the surrounding environment

This product can communicate with users to enhance the fun of use.

Wifi Module

Allows device networking

Water Pump

Transfer water from the tank to the top spout

Few suitable plant species.

Usage scenarios are very limited.

Glossy & Black Trendy

Transparent

Aluminium

Explore Forms & Shapes Traditional and modern flower pot shapes/Easy to hold/Easy to clean and change plant/ Air outlet

Development

Storyboard 01 Set your flowerpot to auto planting mode when you are leaving

02 The nozzle will water the plant when it is needed

03 The flower pot will starts the water storing process when it is needed

04 If the plant needs air and light, the user is alerted on the phone

05 Then just go home and move it

Final Product

How it works

Condensation

Air Out

Store condensate

Air In

Exploded View

User Interface Top shell

Water pipe

Flower pot

Condenser unit Condenser cover

Main shell Air outlet

Water baffle Water tank Air fan

USB cable

Aluminum filter

Project 4: Fitness Furniture Combo Brief: This project aims to provide convenient solutions for indoor fitness. The project consists of three separate pieces of furniture. Each can provide users with at least one unique indoor fitness method and equipment.

Persona

Exercise with Equipment

Elastic string

Kenny 19 Uni Student

Cindy 27 Graphic Designer

Tom & Jenny 33/31 Employees

Kenny lived in the college dormitory during his term. His room is a Shared room. He wants to exercise regularly but he doesn't feel much like going out.

Cindy is a designer and often works from home. Besides her job, she is also keen on working out. She often goes to the gym.

But since she moved to an apartment nearby that doesn't have a gym, it's hard for her to exercise regularly.

Tom and Jenny got married last year and recently moved into their new apartment. They work in the company most of the day and finish late at night.

Dumbbell

Elastic band

Combination facility

Observations Space limitation

Yoga cushion

Sit up chair

Observations Equipment limitation

Busy schedule

Considering the space saving, suitable user group, hardness (mobility), training effect and other conditions, these six training tools are divided into different levels to meet the possibility of future design.

Application Space

Possible Indoor Types of Furniture

Form Inspirations

Apartment & Student Dormitory

Closet

Office desk

Kenny&Jenny&Tom

Cindy&Kenny

Chair Cindy&Kenny

When designing a furniture product, aesthetic factors (form, material, finish) must be emphasized. So I searched for some existing and unique products to get more inspiration.

Bench Jenny&Tom

Benchmarking Products

CMF

Cons

Cons

The stool is not stable enough to sit on very often

If you use the chair in reverse, it will stain the sitting surface above

It's not easy to get organized after exercise

Dumbbells cannot be stably stored in

The surface material is not easy to clean

From studying my users' living space/environment.

Due to economic and environmental constraints. My target users are more likely to want to buy products that are convenient and affordable. Instead of these high qualities and expensive furniture products.

Ideation Development direction: Combine different types of furniture and different types of fitness/ Explore possible shapes/ Save space/Strong practicability

Practical Development

Final Concepts

Form Transformation Show how these three pieces of furniture can be transformed from ordinary furniture into fitness equipment.

1.Sit-up Chair

2.Push-up Desk

3.Pull-up Closet

L: 510mm W: 350mm H: 450mm

1.Sit-up Chair

L: 1500mm W: 650mm H: 730mm

2.Push-up Desk

L: 500mm W: 100mm H: 1855mm

3.Pull-up Closet

Other Works

3D Rhino Model

Self-ProjectPublic Seating

Making Process

Clay Project