ICU Transfer Bed IR Vein Finder

Trace of Light Mirror Project Gasoline Engine Miscellaneous ProjectsTime Sensitized Drawing & Writing

Claw Hammer Mobile Satellite Dish Camera Desk

Project BriefThis is a collaborative project that a medical instrument manufacturer com-mitted to me and my teammates. My team was among the entire develop-ment group and we were responsible for industrial design part. The subject is an evolved new version of a transfer bed model.

The project involves collaboration between industrial design and mechanical engineering. I was responsible for leading ID team and communicating with the engineers led by a professor from  Department of Mechatronics.

INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

An automatic transfer bed is usually equiped in ICUs or other hospital depart-ments where patients are extremely vulnerable to physical movement such as shake or vibration. Obesity patients are also hard to transfer during opera-tion. For those patients and the nurses caring them, a transfer bed is a solu-tion for transferring them between different surfaces without further injury or too much effort.

The project began with pre-decided inner structure and mechanical engi-neering. So the main task for the industrial design team was to give the ma-chine a shell. But we weren’t just simply covering the machinery up, but also were considering the visual language and interface layout, while maintaining the functionality and improving user experience. 

ICU TRANSFER BEDProduct Design Project, 2011

other device’s top surfacetransfer bed

patient

nylon clothaluminum plate

driven rollersdrive rollers

Adapting to environment

As one of the many medical instruments in a Hospital, an automatic transfer bed should be able to seamlessly merge into any of the working flows. It should also be flexible and versatile. 

The elevator enables the entire upper part to rise and drop so that the patient can be at the same level of any other surfaces height. In this way the transfer bed is compatible to other devices and furniture in a hospital.

For ease of transportation in the building, the entire upper part can also be transferred to an-other bed of the same model via the rails be-neath it.

How It worksTThe core function is carried out by a movable platform on the top. It moves out and back transferring patients between surfaces. To load with patient, the platform moves from one side of the patient body underneath towards the other side. When the entire body is on, it moves back. 

TThe moving platform is specially designed for ease of loading and unloading. The way the platform move into the gap beneath the pa-tient’s body imitates the caterpillar track move-ment. When the platform moves, a piece of nylon cloth is driven by wheels and moves around the platform. The relative movement between the platform and the cloth is calculat-ed so that the contacting cloth actually does not move relative to the body. In other words, the cloth just keep rolling over to the body. In this way, there is no relative friction or move-ment between the body and the cloth, there-fore minimizing physical harm against the tient and reducing difficulty when transfer obe-sity patient.

To help nurses push it around, it is also equipped with four motivated wheels and a navigating wheel.

The need of nurses and patients were both analyzed. Patients users include obesity, fracture, cardiopathy, and burnt patients. An automatic bed would be such a relief to heavy-labor loaded care workers.

user

Transfer bed is an alternative to traditional manual transfer devices such as transfer pad. The existing products tend to look like a complicated machinery with lots of mech-anism uncovered, which often has a nega-tive emotional effect on both patients and nurses. The previous model our client had is a good example of this.

Through investigating the manufacturer’s factory, we found that the visual language of the product line need to be redesigned. 

product

environmentThis device will appear at wards, surgeries, ICUs, and it moves through hallways often. The dimension should be considered to-gether with the hospital  architectural stan-dard. 

CONTEXTUAL RESEARCH

After settled all parts and tools that patients and nurses may interact with, we mapped all the interface around the device. This step is important for the next steps because this project is rather restriction-based and highly cooperative. Mapping this out helps ID team know where to focus.

interface layout

Based on its working scenario, we devel-oped a bunch of conceptual attributes that we believe a  transfer bed should possess. As a medical device, it’s not easy to avoid being designed “grim” or “bloodless”. We wanted to make it as friendly as possible while maintain the feeling of technology, precision and reliability.precision and reliability.

inspiration

function analysisTrasnfer platform is powered by a electrical engine and is transmitted by a retarder and im-plemented by two sets of feed belts. The four universal wheels are placed within the space occupied by the bed so that staff can walk around easily. A pair of retractable railings on both side to prevent falling out. Also there are hhandles on both ends and a set of impact ab-sorption belt around the upper section.

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

straight

tensional

rigid

elegant

solid

healthy

firm

strong

forceful

In order to achieve visual harmony in form, we decided to use orderly lines and limited curves on the shell, handles and railings. Further detailing was done in individual parts such as the As for the base, we refined the shape and size to enhance the visual stability and to make it structurally stronger. Coloring is set to white and cyan blue to express the feeling of pleasure and hygiene. 

This was an inter-departmental process and was done in collaboration with Dpt. of Vehicle Engineering and Dep. of Mechatronics. During this stage we encountered many practical and technical challenges such as the interference of inner mechanisms to the outer appearances. For example, the railings has been modified more than five times to make sure they can retract into the body. We used ProEngineer and Rhino3D to observe and map the relation between the  housing and the contents. 

matching the interiordetailing

ideation sketch

A series of quick sketch were used to examine the visual form. We found that the bed’s side view is rather critical in terms of form language and the base plays a big role for the side view. So we decided to focus on the base form primarily. Besides, the base gets us more space and freedom to redesign. The upper part is less control-lable by us (ID team) because there are already lots of restrictions.restrictions. An unique form of the base will make the bed stand out among many others in the market.

FORM DEVELOPMENT

ChallengesTThe biggest challenge during the process of form development is about how to balance the whole device, both visually and physically, since the upper part is relatively huge and complicated. The upper part contains electrical power system and mechanical transfer system. There is an engine, a retarder and a group of transmission shaft positioned all over the inner space. The model and size of these essential parts had been already fixed so they were beyond our team’s control. The only thing we could do is to slightly rearrange their position inside the housing.

IIt is clear that it’s important to design with visual perception and details in mind. We must cleverly use volume, color, lines, faces, curves to redirect viewer’s attention to weaken the feeling of hugeness. 

SolutionTThe upper part needs something strong and robust enough to support from below while not adding to much weight to the whole device or negatively affecting its functionality. The base’s profile also significantly influent how the machine’s profile looks like. The in-between part that connects the base and upper part is important in terms of balance too. It’s like a neck of the device and we decided to use organ cloth to cover the elevator, so that it looks more ‘muscular'. The intersection between the ‘neck’ and the base were designed into a robust housing that visually functions as a ‘joint'.

·A way to visually balance needs to be found

·Comparison between with and without the new redesigned base.

Base DesignWe focused on the base shape trying to counterbalance the feel of awkwardness generated by the upper part.  Not only the visual form need to be balanced, but also the physical weight center need to be calculated and positioned right.

TThe base we designed was inspired by the shape of a stretched human body. We abstracted human body’s form and outline and enhance its stability by straightening the limb lines. It spreads the weight over 4 legs to gain stability while reducing the size to minimizing the chance of hindering people from walking around it. The two longer legs indicate the direction the bed usually goes toward.

IterationsTThis project had been gone through many times of revision, as well as compromises too. From early conception to the final design, the device have made a significant transformation from a grim machinery to a distinctive medical device. But the project did not end at that point.  A lot of details have been modified to adjust to manufacture feasibility and / or practical function. For example, the railings were simplified to a more economical form. The handles were  smsmoothed to reduce the risk of injury and enhance visual coherency.

WhatTThe Camera Desk is a design / art that through a common piece of furniture attempts to provoke people into rethinking the temporality of everyday objects, and to praise the personal, intimate time. The desk belongs to a main project calld Time Sensitized which is about strengthening the bond between objects and time by making a series of objects / behaviors more sensitive to time.

IInspired by photography, Camera Desk employs the mechanism of a film camera and an antique photographic process called cyanotype. Capturing images through the appearance of objects on its desktop, the desk is transferred into a slow analog camera. Two knobs in the front allow you to reel and wrap the ‘film’, a pre-processed paper roll installed in the carcass. Exposed paper on the top will record the activities happened on the desktop by shshowing shadows / outlines of things.

WhyPPeople live in a temporal world where everything is changing over time. The way we see time profoundly influences our everyday activities and choices. Our attitudes to time, however, is strongly influenced by the social world around us and tend to be universal and objective. The evidence lies in global obedience of standardized time system such as the Gregorian calendar and weekly schedule, and the vanishing of local / personal time regulation. 

IInarticulate mundane objects such as furniture or tools lack the ability to elaborate, so we easily neglect that they are sharing time with each of us and witnessing our stories. These objects have long been put in an atemporal realm, which I believe is one of the reasons that we are getting overwhelmed by the impersonal time. I am envisioning and presenting a physical world where mundane objects react to time more obviously and have a more temporal bond with usus.

HowII will utilize photo-sensitive material to sensitize a common object: a desk. As a photographer, I find photo-sensitive material a perfect medium to link time with object, and a convenient tool to visualize their interaction, just like how photography does. The amount of exposure time, as a key element for appropriate exposure, linearly relates to the amount of light received by photo-sensitive material.  In one sentence, being light-sensitive is being time-sensitive.

CAMERA DESK

Subproject of MID Thesis Time Sensitized, 2015

Rediscover the Temporality of Mundane Objects

Pictures shot by Camera Desk, selected from my thesis exhbition collection. Each represents an unique story about what has happened on the desk at a certain point of time. Desk is such a personal space to myself that I spend a lot of time on it. Writ-ing, reading, eating, playing, napping. This series of pictures is a window through which you can peek a little bit about a person’s life.

Install sensitized paper roll as film roll Captures your shadow while you are not noticing All it needs to fix image is a water bath These are original, intimate photos taken by your desk

The image shows bright shadows of items on a green or blue background depeding on exposure time. The shadow is affected by how still or active the object is. Still object covers the area beneath it longer and blocks more light. Active object in the other hand, has less influence on the photoactive paper because it doesn’t block light that much. To stop the reaction and fix the imimage, water bath the paper for minutes and dry it up.

Unexposed chemical will be washed away. 

The desk is loaded with a sensitized paper roll which function as film. The roll is installed on wooden dowels which can be rotated by knobs attached to them, which is how the film is feed. The film move over the desktop which act like aperture in a lens. The exposure time is decided by how often you rotate the know and

replace the exposed paper.

A decently picture needs exposure from half an hour to half a day depending on light condition. The desk produces intimate portraitures of people and their items, not only recordingt their existence but also how they spend time together. The image is a negative photogram that turns solids into voids. Objects block the light, leaving their forms in light color on the darker

pappaper as if they were the light itself.

Once an image is done or one day has passed, you could reel the knobs and have the image wrapped in the roll, and welcome a new section of film to the top as well as a new day. Image will stay for quite a while as long as the roll is stored in darkness. You could have as many or as few images as you want when you decide to develop them. The image stays permanently

afafter development.

Camera Desk Is a Camera. Paper is film. Desktop is aperture.Wooden knobs are shutter.

Shoot PictureInstall Film Fix Image Store Memory

Preprocess the paper roll with cyanotype solution and install it into one side of the desk.

Wrap the paper roll over the top and attach it to the other side of the desk. Reel it for several rounds until it runs smooth. Then cover the top with transparent board.

Use the desk as normal. The only difference is that the desk will witness how I’d spend this sunny afternoon.

After waking up, I reeled the ‘film’ and took it out. Hopefully it will have some sort of ‘hard working evidence’ on it.

After developping the image, I decided to put it on the wall to warn myself about idleness. Watch full video@vimeo.com/136712291

IDEATION

DARKROOMWORK

WOODWORKING

FURNITUREDESIGN

CHEMICAL RESEARCH

OTHER THESISSUBPROJECTS LIGHTING

STUDY

STRCUTURE& MECHANISMPAPER

PROCESSING

PHOTICEXPERIMENTS& TESTS

FINALMAKING

PROTOTYPING

Experiments & TestsProject Procss

Direct Sunlight Experiment Diffuse Sunlight ExperimentI put a sensitized paper on the wall behind a jar of kitchen utensils. My kitchen is right facing a window 5 feet away towards east. Every morning there will be a couple hours diffuse sunlight exposure. There is a distance between the paper and the utensils. The result turned out beautiful. The between-in distance creates a dreamlike blur and gives a out-of-focus effect.

The first experiment I did was to run a test on a table surface in direct sunlight, imitating when people study in windowed room at afternoon. Direct sunlight has strong UV part in it and casts clear shadow behind objects. A couple of items were put on top of the sensitized paper and left for an hour. Fine image appeared quickly. This proves that direct sunlight is idealistic.

Cyanotype is so-called contact print process which means the sensitized surface and the object contact each other tightly - usually by pressing a piece of transparent material on top. And the light source is usually direct sunlight or artificial UV light. What I will do is a little different. Because of the desk’s use scenario I need to consider all sorts of light condition. I can not guarantee the close contact either. In other words, I am doing cyanotype in an ‘unprofessional’ way. I have to run a series of experiments and tests to see if I could still get reasonable images.

The Camera Desk project is part of a larger project called Time Sensitized, which is my master’s degree thesis. It involves a photographic process and furniture making, therefore it requires skills from both photography and ID. To make sure it’s working I attended a class in RISD Photo department and gained access to the darkroom where I did the chemical work. Before I dived into the actual physical making, I did a series of mini-projects as experiments and tests.

Frequency Experiment

Combination Light Experiment

Distance ExperimentThis setting is for finding out how the frequency of item’s use affect the produced image.  The gloves has been put there for long time so they leave solid shadow on the paper. The pill bottle wasn’t touched often so it also leaves shadow along with its outline. The clip was used and thus moved away from its original position. It has two different shadows - a soft one and a solid one. The ruler was once there but was gone right after so it has only a little left behind. The key has been there for long but was taken away and returned back so the shadow disappeared a little.

Different lighting condition aside, the distance between objects and sensitized objects is also a influencing element. Distance may cause blur and soft edges. It could also cause failure of shadow casting. In this experiment, I used artificial UV light exposing unit to eliminate the effects of light and allow me to focus on the different distances between in. This device has multiple layers of plexiglass. Objects are put on each layers, which means each group of objects have distinct distance from the sensitized paper. This tests out the maximum height of the layer for decent image producing. This let me know how far I could put things away from the sensitized paper.

Since this time the lighting will be a little bit complicated I made a furniture sketch model for the test. I left the setting there for 24 hours to see how a mixture of light would work out for cyanotype process. There were both horizontal and vertical surfaces that get exposed. Direct and diffused fluorescent light will be tested together. The result was satisfying. Every horizontal surface got a fine image. The vertical one get a little blurry though. See from distance they well demonstrate what objects have been put in the shelf. 

Furniture DesignTThrough studying the sketch model, I determined the types of wood joinery on the connections. The size of each components was calculated and tested in CAD software. The carcass is connected to legs by twin tenon-mortise joints. Each pair of legs are linked by a horizontal beam with single tetenon-mortise joints. Two side doors are dowel-hinged and open down.

Sketch ModelBBefore I began to make the Camera Desk, I made a small prototype / sketch model,  trying to test out the mechanism that I designed. Also this sketch model helps me figure out how all wooden pieces are connected together. The sketch model mimics the carcass of the desk and it inincludes only essential parts: housing, reel knobs, shafts, transparent top, and the paper roll of course. It has minimum parts but the full function to simulate how the Camera Desk will work.

Fine wood joinery mainly applied on legs Magnet button for easily removing paper rollDigital rendering mock-up for structure study Knobs and handles sharing same form language to achieve visual harmony 

Aesthetic MakingThe making process includes three phases: prototyping, design and woodworking. The final piece is made of maple wood and baltic birch plywood. I applied wood joinery instead of using metal jointer on the connections between the parts. Magnet buttons are used on doors and rotation axis for minimalism and ease of construction. These decision was made based on the admiration of simplicity. I wanted to make it as pure and simple as cyanotype is. ThThe monochromatic color, maple wood texture and the notion of time share the same aesthetics. 

The paper roll was processed in the darkroom at Photo Department. I coated the paper with cyanotype solution. It is 1:1 mixture of 8.1% (w/v) solution of potassium ferricyanide and a 20% solution of ferric ammonium citrate. The color is bright yellow at first, and it’ll get a little bit greenish even without impact of light because it reacts with oxygen in the air. When dried up the paper was folded into a roll and stored in dark.

Large pieces of maple wood were first cut with band saw and then went through the jointer and planer. Once the reference surface is created, I brought them to table saw to cut straight edges and grooves. Plywood boards were cut with table saw down to the right size. Plywood was mainly for making the interior part and bottom, as well as the drawer. Solid wood was mainly for making the exterior such as legs, front and back faces and two sides.

Hand tools were also essential for detail crafting and joinery making. For example all the tenons were cut out with Japanese saw and refined by chisel, file, and sand paper. Machinery and hand tools were alternately used. The hand work is more time consuming but is less likely to overcut and it gives more control for micro adjusting.

Some power tool was also utilized during making. The opening for drawer was cut out with jigsaw. I could have done it by combining multiple pieces together to get the hole. But I wanted to maintain the integrity of the whole front piece. The edge along the hole was sanded smooth afterwards. 

Darkroom Work Table Saw Cut

Power Tool Cut Hand Work

The legs are tapered to achieve a light and elegant aesthetics that I desired. The taper was done in a stationary planer with the help of a specially made taper jig. The jig holds the leg piece at a certain angle to horizontal line. When they goes through the planer, the leg piece is cut angled from one end to somewhere near the other end. Rotate it 90 degrees and make another angled cut to create a leg that tapers to a smaller section.

The carcass was made out of two maple boards at the front and back, and several birch plywood boards inside and underneath. They are connected with dado joints and glued together. In this photo I was examining the straightness of the dado joints between the bottom and back board. 

The top piece need to be detachable to allow installing and removing paper roll, which means it doesn’t strengthen the entire carcass as a normal top does. To make this up I Installed two lateral plates into the carcass. So basically the carcass is a grid-like frame without a fixed top.

The twin-mortise on the leg was cut by a mortise and adjusted by chisel. The joints between legs and carcass is an important part of all the making processes. It is crucial for the overall stability as well as the aesthetics therefore I spent a lot of time redoing and adjusting them.

Mortiser Cut

Dado Joints Assembly

Leg Tapering

Subproject of MID Thesis Time Sensitized, 2015

Project BriefTThis experimental design rediscovers the temporality of things we are familiar with. The method is about redesigning the way we write and draw by applying photo-sensitive ink to create more dynamic and time-sensitive experience. By changing how we perceive the impact that time has on our daily behaviors, this project aims to raise awareness of our weakening connection with natural, personal, primitive time.

First Drawn, First to ChangeTThe picture above is an experimental drawing that tries to achieve rich tone only using one type of ink that reacts to light. It is done by controlling the temporal sequence in which the segments were drawn. The tone of each stroke indicates for how long it’s been drawn. Photo-sensitive ink changes color as it’s exposed in light. So the early stroke react to light more sufficiently than the following strokes and become the shadow area. In one sesentence, first drawn, first to change. 

T I M ESENSITIZED DRAW ING&WRITING

8:45 9:20 9:27 9:41 10:11 10:38

10:50 11:28 11:55 12:16 12:45 13:10

Mix cyanotype solution A and B together by 1:1 in a beaker.

Dip painting brush into the ‘ink’. Keep the ink in dark.

Paint with time in mind.Pour the liquid into an opaque bottle, e.i. your ink bottle.

Highlight ShadowMidtone

Color ChangingChemical reaction happens immediately when the ink lands on the paper, as the ink begins to get exposed in light, causing the ink color to change. The ink is fresh yellowish green at the beginning, and then gets darker and turns blue at some point. After long enough it’ll end up almost black eventually. 

· Timeline of how it’s drawn. Experiment done at winter time, sunny, indoor, near window

· The ink color changes over time from yellow to dark blue

Photography & DrawingTThis project is also about defining new opportunities for the diminishing antique photography. The cyanotype chemical that I employed for this project used to be one of the most popular photographic material. Nowadays it can only be reached in infrequent courses at schools and in the tool kit for amateurs. When I took the class called Antique and Alternative Processes at RISD, I was fascinated by the noticeable emergence of the image. Later on I fofound other of its interesting characters have potential for new form of art, design and creative writing.

· Photocopies of a drawing series using time as a way to tone

Why Cyanotype ?CCyanotype is an iron-based photographic process, which means there is no silver involved and thus less toxic. For drawing and writing this is important; it does not need any other chemicals to stop reaction, devel-op or fix the image. Water is all it needs; the chemical is inexpensive compared with others, which is part of the reason it’s still around nowadays; color changes iimmediately. No developing is needed. Result is ob-servable with naked eyes; the color range is wide from bright yellow to dark blue which produces richer color tone and detail.

Drawing MeditationUUsing photo-sensitive ink as paint changes the draw-ing experience. Instead of employing dozens of colors of paint or pigment, this new method apply only one type of ink. Each stroke, however, gets its color and tone individuality at the moment it’s drawn. Longer ex-istence is mirrored by dense color and latter ones by more transparent shades.

The painter will notice that what he just drew begins to change slowly in light. Bright turns mid-tone, and mid-tone becomes shadow. The contrast of the image reflects the pace he draws. Sensing the time passing by and realizing there is no permanent perfect status, the painter experiences the drawing as a colored, time-sensitized meditation. 

· ‘Sandglass’ - A Drawing presenting the passage of time

Timeline of drawing process Fixed image Unfixed yet saturated image

JUST NOW

10 MINUTES AGO

1 HOUR AGO

2 HOURS AGO

4 HOURS AGO

10 HOURS AGO

Being TemporaryIf the drawing is fixed, all the color will turn into different shades of blue according to the level of exposure. Under-exposed area turns light blue while over-exposed area becomes dark blue. If the drawing is not fixed, the entire drawing will turn dark blue eventually because the chemical reaction will reach saturation at some point and stops. To conclude, whether fix the image or not, the rich-toned, colorful image is only a temporary status.

Being temporary makes the point of this project. It gives us a clue about how it feels like when you can’t keep something you spent time on forever. Although the most beautiful moment of the drawing you created only lasts for a short time, you witnessed how it became so and you also witnessed how it disappears. Its the same story for many things in our life. Being immortal isn’t what matters the most, but being cherished and valued is.

Mix light-sensitive solution Pour into ink bottle Suck ink into a fountain pen Ready to write in time-mode

From Drawing to Writing Writing, as another daily activity we do with pens, shares the similar tools with drawing yet is more accessible and common to everyone. While drawing project mainly utilizes the color changing effect of this special ink, writing on the other hand conveys more chronological information that a painting would never manage to do. 

February 21st, 2015  

March 5th, 2015  

March 21st, 2015  

March 27th, 2015  

Unfading Handwriting MMemory fades away over time, so does handwriting. However pen with special ink can make it to the opposite. The older, the denser; the fresher, the more transparent. A photo-ink equipped pen is a timer that reminds you about passage of time each time you write your diary, note, or to-do list. The handwriting gets more and more thick over time, like wine, and never fade away. 

WhatTTrace of light is a conceptual design and exploration that utilizes photo-sensitive material to add aesthetic value to interior space. It employs an antique photographic process called cyanotype to visualize the evidence of light. Rather than using decorative material or artifacts, it uses sunshine and shadow to create genuine light paintings on walls and floors. 

The IdeaIIt’s one of the subprojects of my MID thesis project Time Sensitized which introduces the notion of time to a series of things which we usually consider still or atemporal, such as furniture, tools, buildings, etc.. Trace of light is inspired by sundial. As the sun is constantly moving, window light also changes position and pattern over the day. Light-sensitized interior spaces are transformed into a camera that captures ththe beauty of this natural, poetic phenomenon.

How It WorksTThe images are produced in chemical reaction between the UV part in sunshine and cyanotype solution coated on interior surfaces. The light beam hits the photo-sensitive coating and causes that lightened area change color into blue. The brighter the light is, the darker and saturated the color will be. The result is usually cyan-blue patterns of window shape or other interior openings through which light goes in.

Subproject of MID Thesis Time Sensitized, 2015TRACE OF LIGHT

1In fine weather, interior sun light is often sifted by architectural structures such as windows, beams and pillars, creating highlighted area on walls and floors. Blue patterns with fine edges are produced this way.

2In cloudy situations, light is diffused by atmosphere and does not cast obvious shadows or highlights. The corresponding results are usually gradient blue from dark to transparent over the exposed surfaces.   

33Direct sun light that goes through large openings will produce gradient, shaped pattern. The shape are decided by the position and type of the opening. Even at night it gives a clue of how the sunshine looks like in daytime.  1 2 3

Lights and PatternsThere are many ways that natural light goes into our buildings and rooms via types of openings, each has its own way to affect pattern's shape, color, contrast, etc. The blue image may be one of those below or combination of them.

Fine-shaped Pattern Gradient Pattern Directional Pattern

Sensitized paper is installed in the model. The paper is yellow since the reaction has not really tarted yet.

Remove the set from sunlight and disassemble the wooden box. Exposed area already shows color difference than other area. Rinse the paper with water and the patterns show up. Re-install the paper into the box and get the result.

The set is left outside in direct sun light for 2 hours. Different types of openings are for testing different types of lighting condition and corresponding patterns.

Functional Sketch ModelAA sketch model was made to test out scientific feasibility and to figure out the construction process. The wooden box is simulation of a interior space with openings which let light goes in as windows do. Cyanotype solution is coated onto paper which is trimmed and folded to fit into the ‘room’. A 2-hour long exposure was done at a winter sunny afternoon. The result shows how the existence of light is visualized by pattern, color and tone, proving that the design could be realized at larger scale.

Underexposed corners turn white1

Fully-exposed area turns dark blue2

The in-between area shows gradient tone3

13

2

Exploration And ExperimentA few experiments were done to help testing the design, each focuses on one specific aspect in terms of pattern quality. I haven’t got a chance to bring that big idea to reality at architectural scale as it’s only a subproject of my thesis, but it’s definitely worthy further implementation.

Sundial ClockSince the sun is constantly moving, it is necessary to know how the image will be affected by movement. This clock / sundial experiment is exactly made for this purpose. 

Church WindowChurch windows usually have very fine details. This model is to see how well will the detail be captured. But I didn’t take the actual size into consideration, so the assumption is that in reality window pattern will still lose a lot of detail. 

Assembling clock set Exposing

Attaching Sensitized Paper Church Model

Ruin Model Exposing

House RuinThe ruin model is for help find out how the idea works in open area rather than interior space where walls and ceilings reflect a proportion of sun light. Due to that reason the image is more contrasty than those done in closed space.

Our team was contacted by Hygiea Company, a Chinese medical manufacturer to develop a product concept for its upcoming new technology: IR vein finding technology. The aim was to assist medical staff in locating patients' veins when they try to perform a needle injection or observing blood pattern for clinical purposes. 

Projected infrared light is absorbed by blood and reflected by surrounding tissue. The information is captured, processed and projected digitally in real time directly onto the surface of the skin. It provides a real time accurate image of the patient's blood patter. It allows doctors to perform non-invasive examination on superficial skin and tissues.

1

2

4

7

3

6

1. camera, height adjusatable2. pillar3. handle4. control panel5. detachable storage box6. Trash bin77. display8. caster

5

8

IR VEIN VIEWERMedical Product Design Project, 2012

2

3

1

1 2 3Ease the StressAAn important concern shows up as the stressful feeling of patient when injection or surgery is about to happen. The negative emotion also affects nurse’s performance and leads to more likely failure on the injection. I was hoping that the product, as a medium between the patient and nurse, can enhancing the emotional experience. A soothing appearance will play a big role in easing the stress.

Choice of FormThe major restriction comes from technical factors. Due to the fact that the technology was new back then, the size of essential components, such as the image processing unit and the IR camera, is large. Therefore we identify the suitable form of this product is either a desktop device or mobile trolley. 

LocationTTrolley version are usually deployed at heat area where large numbers of patients come to it rather than it goes to bedside. For example donation center and blood draw room. In this case the insufficiency of maneuverability does not influence too much. Casters do allow staff to move it around occasionally though.

· Contextual Research Mindmap. Some concerns were discussed before the actual design started

Soothing AppearanceSketches are focused on the side view because the profile is identified as the main view of this product. The curve at the middle of the pillar makes this design stands out. It is designed primarily for aesthetics, enhancing visual coherence and balance. But it also makes sense in terms of function and user experience. The curve reduces the feel of rigidness and intimidation, and instead associates the device with gentleness, comfort and peace. The curved pillar makes more space on the platform for patients to place their limbs and move freely. 

Ideation Sketches

Revision & PrototypingIIn following modification stages, some technical and practical problems were found, and incompatible details were modified accordingly. For example, the housing and the pillar were separated into pieces for the ease of manufacture; the size of housing was micro adjusted slightly to adapt to the internal mechanisms,; in order to ensure better controlability, the style of handle was changed too. The adopted design was made into a 1:1 functional prototype. 

Early ProposalsSeveral design proposals of different styles were brought to 3D rendering for further examination. The proposals were then reviewed and evaluated by the client. After the one with curve on the pillar being chosen, we moved to the next steps to for detailing and revision. Also it was confirmed by the company that the product must be a mobile trolley rather than a desktop device.

1In fine weather, interior sun light is often sifted by architectural structures such as windows, beams and pillars, creating highlighted area on walls and floors. Blue patterns with fine edges are produced this way.

2In cloudy situations, light is diffused by atmosphere and does not cast obvious shadows or highlights. The corresponding results are usually gradient blue from dark to transparent over the exposed surfaces.   

33Direct sun light that goes through large openings will produce gradient, shaped pattern. The shape are decided by the position and type of the opening. Even at night it gives a clue of how the sunshine looks like in daytime. 

Hand Tool Appearance Design Project, 2011

This project is a company-commissioned task. I was contacted by Jiangsu Sainty Tool Company to develop a series of new looks for its hammer product line. The main challenge was to create a form language that distinguishes the brand and shares identical element harmoniously. Since the nature of this project is a appearance re-design, the ergonomic factor is not allowed to change too much.   The dedesign opportunity lies on the reforming of patterns of grooves on grasp and head. 

Jiangsu Sainty Tool Co., Ltd. ©

While the long handle models are more masculine and rigid, the smaller ones are made more friendly and round-shaped, indicating that they are more accessible and flexible. With all the grooves, texture and stripes increasing friction the handles are handy and secure.

Our team was commissioned by an electronics technology corporation to create a visual design for their newest model: a mobile satellite dish. With built-in antenna and GPS system it makes it possible to enjoy satellite programs in vehicle even in area with no cellular signal.

MOBILE SATELLITE DISHEngineering and Visual Design Project, 2011

· Mobile satellite dish design workflow

Technical RestrictionsThere are technical rules around this product so we have to design with several limitations in mind. For example, to ensure the satellite signal is received with minimum loss the ouster shell should not contain any sharp transition on surface; the profile need to be as low as possible for stability, yet it should have enough space to enclose the antenna unit.

Compromise and WorkaroundThe engineering and design revolves around the limitations and restrictions,  making compromises to each other often to get a balanced solution. Obviously function overweights look, but we use design tricks to minimize the sacrifice we have to make in terms of aesthetics.

Prototype StudyThe corporation already has developed a prototype with all the essential element in it. Our first step was to investigate the prototype by taking it apart and measure the rise of inner elements. Basically the dish is comprised of two parts: a big dome which houses the rotating antenna unit, and a square-like base which connects to the  vehicle roof-rack.

Ideation SketchDuring ideation sketch stage, we draw inspiration from transportation, aircrafts, and even UFOs. The goal is to create a sporty, futuristic feel out of the form and a visually harmonious relationship with the vehicle underneath. 

Visually Thin TThe challenge is to avoid the dish being perceived thick and awkward as if it is an undesirable burden of the vehicle. The antenna unit is, in fact, huge and awkward. So it’s necessary to use some visual tricks to disguise it. The final design features a horizontally dividing line so that the profile is more likely to be seen as two thin paralleled parts rather than one big chunk. Besides, it has a flange feature so the additional negative space can lead the viewer to believe that the dish is as thin as the flange. 

ProposalsWe developed several proposals for the client to chose from. Some are streamlined while some are straight-lined. The last one was chosen and then modified for being able to adapt to engineering.

· The angle one surface is at to any other one should not be bigger than 135 degree.

>135°

Digital rendering of mobile satellite dish mounted on SUV

1

3

4

2

1 432Experimental Design: Checker Mirror Discursive Design: Egoism Eyeglass Responsible Design: Invisible Shelter Commercial Design: Mirror Book

MATERIAL-ORIENTED STUDIO PROJECT, 2014MIRROR PROJECTMirror project is a material-oriented exploration that discovers the potential of

mirror as a material to use in various types of design. It is a studio course project at RISD’s MID program that comprises 4 phases: experimental, discursive, responsible and commercial. Each subproject focuses on one distinct goals. I am always fascinated by the magical ability mirror has. As an everyday object it significantly influences our perception of many aspects, let alone it can easily produce amazing visual effect including illusions.

Design opportunities were found when researching around the following queries. What are mirror's strongest / most interesting abilities? How do people interact with mirrors, physically, philosophically and psychologically? How does mirror influence our perception of the relationship among people and the surrounding world?

CHECKERMIRROR

Phase 1: Experimental Design

It is an experimental device that helps people see themselves as part of their context, or maybe lures them into confusing themselves with the context. Checker-patterned mirror pieces reflect the world from one side and expose the world from another side. It combines images from both side and creates a collage that shows both the subject and context, reality and illusion, seen and unseen. 

TThe mirror does what you do, and it does what she or he does as well. It is about not only how you behaved but also how you influenced others. You look into it, you also look through it.

IdeationTThe ideation revolves around the discussion about how people perceive themselves in context, i.e. the city, the community or the society. Some feel like they are losing their individuality, some feel they can comfortably merge in. A fragmented image was produced to depict this issue. Both the subject and the context are seen at the same time. DeDepending on how fragmented the pattern is, a man resolve himself into the metropolis background at different levels.

MakingSmall mirror squares were cut out from a large piece and then glued onto a  large square piece of plexiglass board at both sides. Wooden frame were made out of poplar and has grooves to insert patterned mirror in. 

Watch full video at https://vimeo.com/137168895

Interior Scale Mock-upA mock-up was built to simulate the alternately arranged mirror being used at interior scaled scenario. Together with symmetrically arranged surroundings this set will create a apace that looks confusing when trying to tell reflection from reality. This concept could be applied when designing a decorative wall in public space such as restaurants or galleries.

PrototypeA small version prototype was made to test out the optical feasibility. Symmetrical background were set up to see if the mirror can blend them together to get a whole image of them as I expected.

In this phase mirror was studied about its psychological influence on people’s perception: how we think we are, how we evaluate ourselves and how we like our reflection in the mirror. Brainstorming revolves around self-awareness, ego, and identity.

MMirror’s ability to reflect was used to help speculatively convey an idea or a statement about egoism. Ego, as an important mediator between the person and the reality help us perceive and adapt to reality. However egoism roots in exaggerated pride and unawareness of other people. Rather than helping to see clearer which is normal function for eyeglass, this one has mirrors at the in side and thus blocks eyesight from seeing anything except himself. Egoism eyeglass has nothing functional to offer bubut is an embodiment of egoism itself.

Watch full video at https://vimeo.com/137168895

EGOISMEYEGLASS

Phase 2: Discursive Design

Invisible shelter is a concept design for homeless shelters in urban area. Its mirror appearance lets it easily blend into the street view, making it hard to recognize from long distance. Pedestrians far away easily get fooled by its ‘invisibility’. However, the shelter becomes more noticeable as pedestrians approaching seeing their own reflections. It is impossible to be ignored at close range because a person might be inside. 

PProviding shelters for the homeless is one thing. Engaging pedestrians by causing confusion and surprise is more important. Maybe getting invisible is another way to draw attention. The shelter provokes thoughts around homeless’ status in urban area. Are they human being like us or just backdrops? Are they invisible to people or not? How and when do we realize their existence on the sidewalk? 

INVISIBLESHELTER

Phase 3: Responsible Design

At this phase the question is how to utilize mirror’s interesting character and ability to create commercial value for product. Mirror can create duplicated worlds with reflection and thus provide magical and surreal visual effects. I target my customer as kids as I decided to design a educational toy for them.  

MMirror Book is a puzzle game and toy for kids. It is simply a foldable book with two piece of mirror inside. Like a kaleidoscope, Mirror Book operates the principle of multiple reflection. Depending on what angle one mirror is set to another, the book create various duplicated worlds.

Ideation and mock-up

MIRRORBOOK

Phase 4: Commercial Design

180° 90° 72° 60°

PuzzleThe kids are given the task to create a certain pattern with what they get in this kit: a Mirror Book and limited pieces that come in different colors and shapes.

SolveTheThe kids have to finish the puzzle with the help of mirror’s ability. They need it to reflect the actual pieces to get the wanted image. The kid must identify what shape and color to use, understand how symmetry works, and decide what angle the book should be folded at.

SolutionThe solution only appears when the Mirror Book is folded at the right angle and the right color and shape pieces are placed. The angle might be calculated out or directly gained by observation.  

Learn with MirrorsPlaying Mirror Book as a puzzle game has many benefits for kids. The goal images are complicated patterns formed of simple, basic shapes and colors.  While attempting to solve the puzzle, they have to made a bunch of decisions about shape, color and angle. Their abilities to recognize geometrical shapes and colors get trained, and they learn about basic maths and optics.

Have Fun with MirrorsAs to playing as a toy for fun, Mirror Book is justt like a two-mirror kaleidoscope. Beautiful patterns can be created just by randomly playing around. Kids are happy to watch the reflection responsively changing while folding and unfolding the book, for fun and curiosity.

Watch full video @ https://vimeo.com/138279780

This project was a design task that I was responsible for when I was employed as an Industrial Designer at Bosheng Power Tech. Company. A new series of gasoline engines with higher efficiency was under development and needed new distinct design to be different from earlier models and other brands’ products. I was cooperating with engineers to create a visual design for the engine’s protection shell, meanwhile meeting technical requirements such as manufacture feasibility and heat dissipation. 

Bosheng Power Technology Co., Ltd

GASOLINE ENGINEIn-company Design Task, 2013

New ModelMore straight lines, tilted shape of heat

dissipation holes. Hard, reliable and modern.

Old Model Limited curves applied on the shape. Between round and straight. 

Current ModelMore fluid shape and more organic form.

Soft, friendly and safe.

Visual TransitionTThe new design is based on the analysis about its ancestors. Each generation has a unified character among all the models. From semi-organic to organic to straight, the shifting is reflected on the shell’s edges and the holes’ shape. The new design uses enlarged, tilted hole to pitch a distinct feature and higher heat dissipation efficiency.

Key Element for Brand RecognitionGasoline engines are equipped on many of the company’s products, such as brush cutters and water pumps. Since all the other parts tend to be identical regardless of brand or model difference, the engine shell is arguably the only visual element to distinguish the power tools from others, and thus plays a critical role in brand recognition. 

Gasoline engine equipped on brush cutter

Ideation sketch

Explosion view

3D Modeling and TestingThe latter process was done mostly in 3D softwares such as rhino and Pro Engineer, collaborating with engineers to make certain that the new designed shell fits the engine and works appropriately. Details and exact size and shape were fixed, visualized and tested digitally in computer. 

Digital Rendering

Mobile Operating Table, 2010Our team was contacted by Sino-austrilian medical company to design a visual image for their now operating table. The design focuses on pursuing a neat, clean and simple look for the device. The elevator system is hided in rubber protection to allow easy cleansing and disinfection, and to make the device less intimidating.

Sino-australian Medical Co.,LtdSuzhou Iron Technology Co.,Ltd

Pharmacy Supplementing Robot, 2010A tcommercial design project committed and sponsored by a medical equipment manufacturer. The task was to create a visual design for an automatic medication supplementing device usually used together with an automatic dispenser. The challenge is to avoid the equipment being perceived as a chunky device, since it is actually a huge thing. The solution is about using coloring and geometric deciding to visually lighten the image. Transparent material is applied and exposed on the top to add a feel of brightness.

MISCELLANEOUS PROJECTS

Compact Money Counter Re-design, 2011It is a reformation design mission about re-designing a money counter model to give it a more distinguishable look. The process started with disassembling the original model and studying the interior. Then new ways of them being assembled together were brought up and tested with foam models. Three proposals were given to the client and one got chosen and further detailed. The new design features a flat, simplified front panel, alifting handle, and a more compact housing.

South Electronic Co.,Ltd

Office Chair Design, 2011The task was to create a new style for an office chair for the client, UE furniture company. The curving tubing beneath the armrest is the highlight of this design. The moving line adds an impression of smooth and rhythm and lightens the profile. The flexible dual-tubing structure also provides a softer feel when pressed down by a person’s arm. 

Zhejiang UE Furniture Co.,Ltd

MISCELLANEOUS PROJECTS

Shaojiu Bottle Design, 2012The bottles are designed for an alcoholic beverage company’s Shaojiu product 'Jinling Chun (spring at Nanjing)'. The name of the product refers to Nanjing’s long-lasting pottery culture, making me wanted to reflect that on the bottle design. I extracted some of the architectural features from Nanjing’s signature ancient buildings, and I simplified them into geometric elements on the bottles. For example the grooves and profile on both bottles refer to eaves and outline of ancient Chinese temple and tower.  

Jinling Chun Alcoholic Beverage Co.,Ltd

Wobbly - Remote Control Concept Design, 2011Wobbly is an universal remote control for those who have hard time managing multiple remote controls and often forget where they put them. Like a tilting toy its low weight center enables it to stand upright among all stuff around it and thus is easy to locate. Touch screen and compact electronics elements allows minimizing the weight of upper part, and helps wobbly maintain balance even when being laid down. It is also less likely to fall off the table, water-resistant, and fun to play with, which are some improvement people may want for their remote controls.

MISCELLANEOUS PROJECTS

Irreversible - Clock Design, 2013Irreversible is a clock that reminds people of the irreversibility of time. The eleven pits around the clock represent the footsteps time has made. The steep slope at 12 clock’s position marks a one-way path for time, since it allows the hands only to move clockwise. Physically, there is no possibility for the hand being rotated the other way around. The visual clue of that is so obvious that a glance of the clock will let people notice that. It is a metaphor, a sense of humor, and a small piece of reflection in viewer’s mind. 

Zen Tea Pot, 2012A concept design that integrates the sensation of Zen to tea drinking process. The material contrast between wood and ceramic achieves an natural aesthetics in minimalism style. The design on lifting handle is a visual association of the environment where authentic tea ceremonies are often practiced: Chinese-style traditional room which features delicate wooden structures and decorations. The handle requires more elegant gesture to use than traditional handle does, emphasizing the importance of appropriate tea manners.

MISCELLANEOUS PROJECTS