Benjamin Owsley college portfolio

Benjamin Owsley INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

collected work 2009-2013

The Spot LocalSpirit

SOMEWHERE BETWEENFOOD CART AND WINE BAR

LOCAL SPIR IT

sp tT H E

We aim to design a mobile, outdoor wine cart that brings together a community through the enjoyment of local wine and food pairings.

^^Ideation sketches

Full-scale cardboard and 3D printed models

Storyboardv v

v

Storage for stackable wine glasses.

Surface for in-use wine bottles.

Ice box for white wine and cheeses.

Storage for 122 wine bottles.

Product Renderings

Free-spinning inflat-able tire.

Hitch for universal attachment.

Can hook up to any automobile.

TRANSPORTATION AND SETUP

Holes in front face to emit reflected light from wine bottles.

Holes inlayed with cork to hold glasses.

Product Renderings

Made from Tenite (plastic made from wood pulp).

Baseless form to make unique to “The Spot” and functionally useless outside its context.

DETAILS AND FEATURE CALLOUTS

GoBrush C H I L D R E N ’ ST O O T H B R U S H

A two week exercise in skecthing, model-making, and redesigning a common object such as a toothbrush for a very specific user.

The design intention was to create a toothbrush for children age 3-5 that engaged kids to want to brush their teeth. Most brushes on the market currently for children are simply bright-colored plastics or decaled with popular tv cartoon characters.

My intention was to design a brush that kids wanted to use without the use of bright colors or tv advertising as the solution to successfully interact with the children.

Purpose and Ideation

GoBrushCHILDREN’STOOTHBRUSH

Initial concept generation focused on rapid ideation and quick sketching working to produce many ideas quickly. Concepts focused on interaction, ergonomics, portability, and action. Concept refinement involved moving parts, thermochromism, storage. The main focus was to generate a product that grabbed the user in an engaging and interactive way.

Ideation and Prototype

1.25”

3.5”

Form made to resemble a motorcycle without explicitly looking like a motorcycle.

Move across surface to open brush for use and back for easy storage or when traveling.

Park Bench A N E X P E R I M E N T W I T H G A R B A G E

InspirationCAN WE USE TRASH TO MAKE SOMETHING NEW?

TOP 10 TRASH ITEMS ON PLANET EARTH:

1: CIGARETTES

2: CAPS/ LIDS

3: PLASTIC BOTTLES

4: PLASTIC BAGS

5: FOOD CONTAINERS

6: PLATES, FORKS, SPOONS, ETC.

7: GLASS BOTTLES

8: STRAWS

9: CANS

10: PAPER BAGS

Cigarette BenchUSING CIGARETTES TO MAKE A SEAT SURFACE

QUATER SCALE MODEL OF 405 CIGARETTE BUTTS CAST IN POLYESTER RESIN.

FacileDESIGNING FACILITIES FOR THE ELDERLY

• Artist, farmer, friend.• Recent knee surgery.• Constructed a make-shift raised toilet platform.

CHARACTERISTICS WEAKENED WITH AGING BODY:

• Strength• Mobility• Dexterity• Memory

• Dignity• Independence• Confidence• Positive outlook

• Local assisted living facility.• Very little specially designed products.• Standard toilets and rest rooms.• Many residents need assistance in the rest room.

• Uses a motorized wheelchair due to polio.• Her home includes: side-opening oven, 32 inch

counters, sink controls on the side, ramps, non-slip bathroom floor, and raised toilet with grab bar.

• Lost husband one year ago and now lives alone.• One of the worst parts about her husband’s

condition was his loss of dignity due to not having the strength to lift himself on and off the toilet. A caretaker had to be hired for assistance.

The Reason We Design(PEOPLE WE CARE FOR)

NANCY

ELLEN

WHEATLAND HILLS

LOWELL

Roughly two-thirds of residents in retirement homes now use wheelchairs.

Concept DevelopmentTHINKING THROUGH SKETCHING

Continuous grab bar with inlaid santoprene

Integrated toilet and sink

Water controls in front of sink counter

Sloped sink basin to allow wheelchair access

Surface for easy transfer

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Transfer shelf and grab bar are used to provide transitions from the wheelchair and toilet.

Compound bar is used for stability and sink height allows for wheelchair space and access.

Designed to reuse grey water from sink, which is processed through a water filter and held in a pressurized holding tank.

1 Grey water from sink drain

2 Gray, sink water filter to meet building codes

3 Pressurized holding tank

HOW IT WORKS

WATERSYSTEM

}The purpose of Facile: To enable seniors such as Lowell, Ellen, and Nancy to feel comfortable

and independent using the toilet without feeling restricted, disabled, or losing their dignity.

Faciles toilet body and sink are made of porcelain for maximum strength and aesthetic appeal.

Brushed aluminum is used for the copound hand rail and hardwear for its easy cleanability and surface texture.

Faciles drawers and countertop are made from solidwood for a sturdy frame and aesthetic appeal.

Ghana A FAIR TRADEI N T E R N S H I P

A two month adventure in Ghana working for the fair trade organization Global Mamas. I met many wonderful Ghanain artisans and worked along side them learning and designing in the traditional trades of batiking and sewing. I miss it a lot.

ODUMASI-KROBO

ELMINACAPE COAST

ACCRA

PRAMPRAM

AJUMAKO

GLOBAL MAMAS

Non-profit, fair trade organization founded by two peace corp. volunteers in 2003 “with the mission to transform the lives of women entrepreneurs in Ghana by helping them to grow their businesses.”

Now working with over 500 men and women (mainly women) making products for Global Mamas and supplying more than 400 international retailers.

$1,007,249 in sales (2011) in which 34% of total product sales went to the members of the Global Mamas community.

Products include batik fabric, clothes, bags, shoes, soap, shea butter, beads, jewelry, and many other various products.

Ghana A FAIR TRADEI N T E R N S H I P

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MARY MAVIS JENNIFERALICE MARTHA

SOME OF THE WOMEN

*Martha is a 42 year old, strong Ghanain woman. She is one of the hardest working persons I’ve ever met. She is a certified batiker and seamstress and has made her living through these trades. Though she is single and with no children she often uses her income to pay for her friends’ and relatives’ school fees

and is currently providing housing for one of her student apprentices. She shared her skills with me and I shared new pattern designs with her. My favorites days in Ghana were the ones working with Martha at her shop from sun up to sun down. Together, we made hundreds of yards of hand-dyed fabric.

SOME OF MY DESIGNSMeet Martha

Glasses CRAFT MEETSSTYLE

A two week exercise in concept generation and prototyping.

INSPIRATION & IDEATION CONSTRUCTION

TYPE OF USER:CREATIVE, ECCENTRIC,

CONCERNED WITH STYLE/ ENVIRONMENT/

CULTURE/ ARTS.

MATERIALIZING SKETCHED CONCEPTS. ATTEMPTED TO HAND CUT PRECISE MEASUREMENTS THEN USED THE LASERCAMM TO CUT WOOD AND ACRYLIC PIECES. SANDED NOSE BRIDGE, STAINED WOOD, AND APPLIED METAL HINGES FROM AN OLD PAIR

Moto MOTORCYCLEFABRICATION

A semester class to get us in the work shops and building a working motorcycle body.

INITIAL IDEATION

Our professor was given a free 750 Kawasaki for us to run with. We took the body off and removed most unnecessary parts. We focused our design efforts on the headlight, tank, and seat sections. We proceeded to sketch, make foam models, and begin constructing.

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CONSTRUCTION

CUT STEEL, HAMMER FORMED, SPOT WELDED, MIG WELDED, WOOD SEAT WITH FOAM PADDING AND FABRIC UPHOLSTERY. TANK REFURBISHED FROM JUNK YARD. HEADLIGHT FABRICATED

WITH BENT AND WELDED STEAL.

HAND DRAWINGSI OFTEN MAKE CARDS FOR FRIENDS (BECAUSE I’M POOR)

Shoe A HANDMADEAPPROACH

Senior thesis. IN PROGRESS

THE LIGHTBULBWHEN I WAS IN GHANA I NOTICED THERE WAS NO LOCAL SHOE INDUSTRY. ONLY PILES OF AMERICAN DONATIONS BEING CLEANED AND RESOLD. I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, “WHAT IF THE SHOEMAKING BUSINESS WAS REVITALIZED?” “WHAT IF WE UNDERSTOOD HOW SHOES WERE MADE?” “WHAT IF THEY DIDN’T COME SWEATSHOPS IN CHINA?” “WHAT IF THEY WERE MADE FROM SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS?” “WHAT IF WE WERE SUSTAINABLE?”

CONSTRUCTION1. LAST CONSTRUCTION: MEASURING AND CALCULATING FOOT, CUTTING AND FORMING WOODEN LAST.2. CUTTING SOLE FROM OLD GOLF CART TIRE (NO STEEL BANDS).3. TAPING LAST AND CUTTING FABRIC UPPER TEMPLATES. 4. MAKING INSOLE FROM OLD YOGA MAT.

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CONSTRUCTION5. SEWING UPPERS TOGETHER AND ATTACHING TO INSOLE.

6. HAND-STICHING UPPER TO SOLE WITH BICYCLE INNER TUBE.7. FINISHING EDGES

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MATERIALS AND FAILURESALL RECYCLED MATERIALS.MANY AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT!

THE NEXT DESIGNTO FOCUS ON INCREASED STRUCTURAL SUPPORT AND FORM

CONSTRUCTIONIN PROGRESS