SARAH GORDON
Melbourne based designer
ABOUT ME
My Background
I aim to create designs that are honest and enduring within their context and achieve a connection with their audience.
Industrial Design was not a career I had heard of during my schooling. I had taken a more academic path over creative, fascinated and interested in design yet not confident in my ability. I too would have believed at one stage that Industrial Design was somehow related to factories and industry.
Entering my university years I found myself in Occupational Therapy, interested in the rehabilitation to return to function but more intrigued by the design of the human-machine itself and its unique systems. A change in my life gave me a greater push to move to something more meaningful to me and I transferred into Interior Architecture. Although feeling better suited in design and being capable of the workload, I still felt I was not quite there.
I transferred across into Industrial Design and have found a niche for all my interests. I find the problem-solving nature of the degree engaging and can see the ability to change the lives of others, creating greater accessibility for just one life. While the hands-on nature of engaging with the user and the various methods for prototyping means I am continuously moving. I enjoy the multidisciplinary nature of the degree and the ability to work across learning styles and design fields to create a solution for the end-user that is most appropriate and enduring.
My interests that become apparent across my design projects often incorporate the design thinking process, nature and a sense of durability in the emotion beyond visual appeal across designs.
I continue to learn by doing
PROJECTS
PATH TO PECCI
Bicycle service design
The "Path to Pecci" project was a proposed service design to engage the city of Prato with Centro Pecci, a contemporary art centre. Through understanding the current public transport routes and the community's preference for bikes as a mode of transport, the interactive and informative bike racks provide an opportunity for easier access to the centre on the borders of Prato, Italy.
The bike racks scattered throughout the city allow the user to lock their bike securely for daily use. To further engage with the project, the users can take an alternative route which all conclude at the bike rack situated in front of Centro Pecci. On the journey, the user is informed on various art installations around the city which showcase the local artists and designers.
The project promotes engagement with the physical environment and provides exposure to local and unique artworks.
EYE SPY BINOCULARS
Interactive Binoculars
The Eye Spy Binoculars create interaction with the natural environment beyond the viewfinder. The product features a user interface that allows the user to play games, explore different flora and fauna or find help in emergency situations. Through user research of the target audience accessibility of the individual components and features was decided.
FULL FACE SNORKEL REDESIGN
Design for all the senses
Through using theories of emotional design, the full face snorkel was analysed across all the senses to find the pain points and areas for improvement. By completing user analysis and research within its context various aspects were adjusted.
COFFEE GROUNDS BIN
Mixture of materials
Identifying the need for products made for the smaller home this coffee grounds bin transforms steel and hessian to blend materials for a sustainable and space-saving product. Ideation to construction and spray finishing of 1mm stainless steel to create a folded object which serves a function. The folds created greater stability to the bar which takes impact from the coffee group head. This detailed folding structure allowed for less material to be used in the final design.