alyssa mellett portfolio
DESCRIPTION
Industrial Design Portfolio March 2014TRANSCRIPT
[email protected], Georgia
Bachelor of Science in Industrial DesignGeorgia Insititute of Technology, Atlanta, GeorgiaGrade Point Average: 3.6Zell Miller Scholarship Recipient
Undergraduate Design ResearcherGeorgia Tech Research InstituteWorked under Carl DiSalvo
References available upon request
I am currently looking for a 6+ month long internship
Blendindividual project3 weeks2013
Can a plywood chair be comfortable?
Blend was an exercise in client based design and ergonomics. The project was restricted to using a 4x8’ sheet of plywood. My client requested a relaxing and versatile chair for her home that reminded her of sitting on the beach.
Project Takeaways | Blend expanded my prototyping ability and experience in a shop. I also discovered that studio professors aren’t always right.
Wood offers a natural & elegant beauty.Cushions offer universal comfort.
Can the two be combined?
Ergonomics
Versatility
Support
Our bodies have a wide range of pressure points that can be agitated after long durations of pressure.
Someone looking to take off a load doesn’t want to have to work while they sit.
Everyone’s body is different and no one wants to sit in the same position for too long.
AestheticsThe chair should look good as well as feel good.
MeetBlend
Blend uses over 300 little pieces of wood, strung together with bungee cords, to create a flexible
contoured surface.
Blend was featured in the exhibit “Take a Seat” held in April 2013 in the Ferst Center for the Arts, Atlanta, Ga.
Penetrometer Rackindividual project3 weeks2013Sponsored by Micromeritics
Lab technicians need design too.Micromeritics, a particle technology comapny, needed a device to transport mercury filled penetrometers used in their AutoPore IV. The design should communicate safety, confidence, precision, and cutting edge.
Project Takeaways | Working directly with a client was an eye opening and rewarding exerience. This project helped further my skills in ethnographic observation and 3D modeling.
Full penetrometers are often carried throughout the lab,but the current racks make it difficult to do so.
The lab technicians opt to carry the mercury filled penetrometers one at a time by hand.
These racks carry many penetrometers, stem down, which is ideal for drying them. However in that orientation it is impossible to carry them while filled with mercury.
An attempt at a rack able to transport penetrometers was made, but it offers little to no support. Technicians use it as a temporary stand while operating machinery.
Labs are often cluttered.Carrying a mercury filled penetrometer through that clutter makes a dangerous situation worse.
aesthetic + brandsafe + ergonomic utility + function
A spill well was integrated to contain mercury and broken glass. A handle creates a safe and comfortable experience.
The AutoPore IV is able to test 4 samples at a time, so transporting 4 at a time is ideal. The current rack is used as a momentary stand; this function is maintained.
The product language ties in with the product family with a contemporary touch fufilling the client’s vision of being an industry leader.
To make the rack a safe experience, the penetrometers are supported at the bottom and half way up the shaft. The upper support is lined with silicone and has magnets imbedded for removable rings that further the product’s security.
A New Way to Carry Mercury A modular system was created to cater to those who may only need to carry 2 at a time. The 2 pieces are hinged and open like a book, so that a technician can access all 4 at once.
Simplified ManufacturingThe design is acheivable through sheet metal and plastic bending, which is possible within Micromeritic’s in-house manufacturing capabilities. The open back design & small foot print reduces the amount of material used.
anodized aluminum housing
silicone rubber
thermoplastic
silicone rubber
Beginning with three key words to drive the design, this project offered challenges in meeting those and still functioning well as a set and individuals. I chose casual, flexible, and unobtrusive to drive my design and strove to give the saucer a place in today’s mobile world.
Project Takeaways | Through this project’s duration, I experimented with silicone molding, resin casting, throwing pottery, turning on a lathe, plaster casting, and bending wood.
Cup, Saucer, Spoonindividual project4 weeks2014
Let’s create a family.
The design is to be used in any situation; for drinking tea in bed on a rainy day, for dashing off to that class you’re late to, or that important meeting.
A saucer was defined as something that prevents spills. The design achieves this with the saucer doubling as a lid and a rest for the spoon. There is a groove in the saucer to allow the spoon to be in the cup when on the go.
Designed for Everyday
Alyssa [email protected], Georgia
