Selected Design Projects

The following is a introduction to some of the work I've done over the last several years. Some projects have more photos, and videos.

For a PDF version of this portfolio, with a selection of these projects: portfolio.pdf

Creativity Techno-Fidgets - INRIA, Paris - 2020 I am currently conducting user-centered design research into creating technologies that support embodied creativity. This work explores the fundamentals of the creative process, the value of movement for focus and creativity, and how serendipity can become a design goal. I have been working with creative professionals to fundamentally understand their creative processes, and to test the design artifacts I have generated. I began by collecting user stories from musicians, audio engineers, visual artists, illustrators, graphic designers and architects. I analyzed and synthesized these stories into three key themes of the creative process of professionals: the signature toolbox, the mindfuck mindset, and manufactured obstacles. Based on these I led several brainstorming and ideation sessions with colleagues in the Paris lab. These led to a video prototype to test these ideas in situated interactions, and a design space for embodied creativity support tools. Guided by the dimensions of this space, I designed and fabricated three technology probes to explore the space. The DreamEasel, FidgiPen, and AirSampler were given to a write, an illustrator and a music producer respectively. Through collaborative use and redesign of the probes, I generated a refined deisgn space, and process for designing Creativity Support Tools for embodied creativity. This is currently under review for submission to CHI 2020. #interaction-design #user-research #analysis #user-centered-design #data-collection

The FidgiPen introduced tactile controls for fidgeting, and to control stroke, color and undo/redo Annotated forms from early experiments in shapes using clay and salt dough The AirSampler used an infrared sensor to track movement and map that to an archive of sound samples Prototyping and debugging the different controls of the FidgiPen in the lab I wired the electronics for the FidgiPen's controls, then 3D printer a pen-body I wired the electronics for the FidgiPen's controls, then 3D printer a pen-body The three technology probes, before being given to different creatives for testing A still from a video brainstorming of productivity/fidget tools

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MeetHalfway - Université Paris-Saclay - 2019 In a team of four designers, we developed a prototype mobile, map application to facilitate meetups. We developed the concept and designs over the course of a week-long intensive design bootcamp at the Université Paris-Saclay. The process began with gathering interviews from a variety of users of maps, which were condensed into a set of breakdowns, from which we began to generate design ideas and features. Based on this interview data, we brainstormed a variety of initial concepts (video brainstorm), which we prototyped at various fidelities, tested with users, then iterated on. The product of this work was a set of findings, design guidelines, and several novel interactions for map applciations, which we demonstrated in a video prototype, which we analyzed through a breakdown analysis. We presented our work to the other teams participating in the design bootcamp, as well as some visiting designers and professors. #data-collection #iterative-design #interaction-design #storyboarding

The storyboard for a video prototype to demonstrate several key interactions A conceptual and visual design diagram of the features of our prototype Our team of four UX designers experimenting with tablet interactions Brainstorming on the users' key interaction points Reviewing and organizing ideas from a video brainstorming session

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Digital Safety/Training Info-Hub - Visual Art Department (UBC) - 2018 For a year and I half I worked as the designer for the Visual Art Department at UBC. In my last six months I was asked to migrate their training and safety information online, so I took this opportunity to take a user-centered approach and redesign the entire website, as well as how this information connected with the physical facilities. I began by talking to all the stakeholders involved: from students, to instructors, to facility technicians, and finally administrators. From there, I began to lay out a conceptual design of their website that could satisfy these diverse user requirements. Based on these requirements, I generated several early prototypes, starting with paper, and moving to simplified websites, which I could present and discussed with different user groups. This new website introduced new considerations about connecting digital safety information with specific physical locations. To link these two, I introduced QR codes and new design guides (and templates) for using QR code stickers to put information exactly where it was needed. They have since expanded their use of QR codes, not least for COVID-19 occupany restrictions. #user-centered-design #design-thinking #visual-design #illustration

Conceptually and practically restructuring the website, while retaining the look-and-feel Developing QR code templates to connect digital safety and training information with physical spaces Graphic ideas to accompany the department's new website and art gallery

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Other Projects

These are more smaller projects I've worked on, including more traditional graphic design and illustration, as well as interaction and experience design.

For examples of my work as a photographer for the Art Department at UBC, please see the exhibition and event archive from 2016-2018 at: gallery.ahva.ubc.

A Figma prototype for an app developed at the EIT Digital FinTech Summer School Illustrations and graphical assets for the Dutch food delivery service Picobelly Illustrating the interaction flow of a CouchSurfing redesign, and conceptual alternatives for user testing An experimental login screen design with a swipe interaction

Illustrations and assets for a voice-based space video game Generating logos and branding for the cloud-based music collaboration tool 4Band Early mockups for login, browse and profile pages for a CouchSurfing redesign Experimenting with user "dilemna-driven" design

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More Projects

• HelpKiosk - UBC eDAPT Lab - 2017-18
  #usability-testing #iterative-design #user-research #analysis

  In collaboration between Samsung R&D Vancouver and the eDAPT Lab at the University of British Columbia, I led a research project to redesign a kiosk to help seniors learn to use smart phones. With one other research assistant, we updated an old version of the application, conducted initial user testing, iterated on the design of the experience, then conducted a formal usability study, using thematic analysis to process the interviews, which was presented as a poster at the ASSETS '18 conference.

• TerraTree - Enschede, the Netherlands - 2019
  #rapid-prototyping #interaction-design #multi-modal-interaction

  An interactive, multi-modal installation in a historic city park in the city of Enschede, NL. This was designed and developed over the course of 3 months, in cooperation with local city planners and the local historical society, through the University of Twente.

• Tippie – EIT Budapest Summer School - 2019
  #user-research #business-strategy #rapid-prototyping

  A cashless payment solution for street performers, community art events, and other traditionally cash-based donations, inspired by a week of user research conducted in Budapest. Created during the European Institute of Innovation and Technology - Digital Finance summer school in Budapest, in partnership with Novopayments.

• WorkeR - University of Twente - 2018-19
  #storyboarding #user-research #user-centered-design #business-strategy

  A cross-discipline, virtual reality training environment to allow different first responders (Police, Medical, Fire) to train together in virtual scenarios without being collocated. Based on four rounds of user studies conducted with the Fire Department in Enschede, NL, and other paramedics around The Netherlands and Europe.

• Digital Education Tools - Ck-12 Foundation - 2011-16
  #illustration #visual-design #interaction-design #prototyping

  Started as an intern, then designer, then contractor, I mocked up website and app prototypes for the executive team. I helped develop the concept and design of a new line of “Study Guides”, and created hundreds of illustrations for science and math textbooks. I also helped to debug, test and refine beta content tools for teachers to develop their own interactive problem sets.

• Other design projects - 2016-19
  #user-research #user-centered-design #interaction-design #visual-design

  Several more projects and examples from my undergraduate and masters programs focused on human-computer interaction and user experience design.

Art Projects

• Melt Collective - 2017-18
  #design-thinking #prototyping #iterative-design

  6 months in an artist residency at the Melt Collective lab, helping to ideate and prototype creative uses for recycled plastic. I joined various multi-discplinary teams including artists, scientists, engineers, and more. My main project involved exploring ways to melt and mold plastic bags, and building a prototype archway from bricks manufactured using this technique.

• Other art projects - 2014-19
  #visual-design #interaction-design #prototyping #iterative-design #illustration

  Various other art projects from my undergraduate art degree and beyond: ranging from traditional painting, to photography, to experimental wearables, and robotic sculptures.

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Coursework

I completed a dual Master of Science degree at the University of Twente and the University of Paris-Sud, through the European Institure of Innovation and Technology Digital Masters School. My focus was in human-computer interaction design, with a minor in innovation and entrepreneurship. The courses concentrated on user-centered design practices, user-experience design, user research, techniques for rapid prototyping, and capturing and designing from user insights.

My undergraduate studies in computer science focused on human-computer interaction and user-centered design methods, and software engineering (web applications, database design and algorithms). In visual art, my work focused on the study of humans and technology: the technohuman, the “non-spaces” created by technology, and the way that interactions with technology facilitate humanity.

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Other Projects

• Collaboratively designed and ran a study that explored how people use different social media and messaging platforms to organize community events. Concluded the study with a set of design guidelines to support local community organizing, and a medium fidelity prototype implementing them. more

• Collaboratively designed and ran a study into home-delivery grocery systems, with a focus on integrating them into workflow in the kitchen (e.g. smart kitchens, meal planning, etc.) more

• Built from scratch the backend of a RESTful API to search, and sort all the enrollment data at University of British Columbia. Then, built a Javascript front-end using the latest libraries (React) to display the data and allow users to explore it in a web-UI environment. (link to repo)

• Built an Android app using the local (Vancouver) bus database, to plan trips, and live-plot buses.

• Multiple artworks and installations involving robotics, Arduinos and web applications, as well as some works in more traditional mediums. more

• Built several simple games as proofs of concept for functional programming and AI courses. (link to repo)

• For more past and ongoing projects see my github repo.

Some varied art projects:

• glitch.me profile - featuring some experiments in VR and AR art

• conspiracy theory generator
• week 3
• Fantastic Beasts Page
• a basic fractal animation