My new portfolio

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ArdavanMirhosseiniProduct Design Portfolio

http://ardavanmir.com/works.html

Curriculum VitaeArdavan Mirhosseini

Work History

2012 Independent Product Development Under Supervision of Industrial Designer Lorely Gaunt, NSCADU Halifax, NS, Canada

2005 – Pres. Freelance graphic design, range of clients from Tehran, NB, BC, NS

Mastan Group promotional poster de-sign, Halifax, NS.Designed and printed poster for Mastan’s concert.George’s Bubble Tea, Halifax, NS.Designed brand identity.Pooshesh Steel Inc. , Tehran, Ir.Designed business cards and brand identity.Canon Digital Centre, Tehran, Ir.Designed brand identity.Shima Photography Studio, Karaj, Ir.Designed brand identity.Dr. Everett Charlmers Auxiliary Inc., Fredericton, NB.Designed variety of logos.One Tree Orchard, Fredericton, NB.Designed variety of logos.Cafe’ & Kebab, Fredericton, NB.Designed posters for the shop.Dance of the Bird, Fredericton, NB.Designed book cover for local writer Rezvon Hakimian.Gilus Café, Tehran, Ir.

Education

2009-2012 Bachelor of Design Major in Interdisciplinary Design (focusing on Product Design) NSCAD University (Nova Scotia College of Art and Design) NS, Canada

2006-2009 Diploma in Communication Design NBCCD (New Brunswick College of Craft and Design) NB, Canada

2003-2005 Attending two years of Graphic Design Bachelor program YAFA (Yerevan Academy of Fine Arts) Yerevan, Armenia

1997-2000 Mathematic Diploma (high school diploma)

Awards & Achievements

Oct 12

Oct 12

Sep 12

2009

2008

2007

Research

2011-2012 Promoting sociopolitical discourse through design

2011 Preserve, maintain, and develop the Gaelic language & culture in Nova Scotia

2011 Community Forest International system design

Expertise

Skills

Language

Farsi (Persian) - Mother languageEnglish - Fluent Armenian - Conversational


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Designed and provided brand identity and menus for the café.Pooshesh Steel Inc., Tehran, Ir.Designed business cards.Iranian Canadian Association, Frederic-ton, NB.Provided variety of logo designs for the as-sociation.

1994-1996 Member of “House of Cartoon Institute” Teh, Ir

• Problem Solving• Consumer Product Design• Brand Identity• Web Design• Product Packaging Design• Signage & Environmental Graphics• Design Strategy & Idea Development• User Interaction Design/ UX Design• Graphic Design/ Print Media• Rapid Prototyping• Visual Arts & Photography

• 3D: Rhino 3D, Maya 3D, Keyshot. CS: Adobe Afteref-fects, Illustrator , Photoshop, Indesign, Dreamweaver, Flash, Fireworks, Html/CSS, CMS, Final Cut, Word, Powerpoint, Constantly striving to discover and learn new software.

• Technical Illustration, Wireframing, Layouting, Sketching, Graphic Mockups, Photo Manipulation, Rapid 2D Ideation and Communication, Typography, Storyboarding.

Disajn Magazine (Swedish leading magazine in Scandinavia about design) introduced EcoCool on it’s number 5 magazine of 2012.

EcoCharge Project featured as the Top 10 technology stories of the week by TreeHugger.com.

Featured designer at Yanko Design, Trend-hunter, TreeHugger and many other popular magazines for EcoCool & EcoCharge projects.

Student of Excellence Award from Annual Council of NBCCD, Fredericton, NB.

Fredericton Arts Club Award, Fredericton, NB.

Design study scholarship from Lord Beaver-brook Art Gallery, Fredericton, NB.

About Me What I think?

Strengths

I am an open-minded, creative thinker who finds joy in solving problems by using simple solutions. I believe a good product is the result of an evolution-ary process. This process, in my opinion, happens through collaboration and respect within a perfect team. Always, my first step is research, until I the required knowledge to come up with new ideas.

I can quickly switch between projects with the same level of focus and intensity. I like to help others, as long as we all get the job at hand done on time. I am keen on learning new skills and thirsty for gain-ing experience.

To me, design is merging art and science to serve human beings. Design has to fulfill humanity’s emotional and physical needs. In short, design is my passion, and I will do my best to keep it alive. I consider it to be a pleasure, rather than a job.

I think a smart person is the one who considers shortcuts as well as hard work for solving problems.

What I Think

Design is beyond a physical or virtual product or service. Design is about connecting user and manufacturer, science and real life problems, and also a bridge between man’s soul and modern industrial living. This must be achieved through an evolutionary process. This process is about researching and engaging with the users to under-stand their needs, intentions and culture. One must remember that design is all about human needs, so it has to be functional and effective. The essence of design is to solve problems by merging science with the arts.

The most important part in designing is discovery and observation, which is called research. Research starts with studying the impact of the product on the user’s problem. During research many aspects need to be considered, such as the culture of the user, the availability of technology, mechanics, and

materials. Design is about creating the physical and emotional experiences that users encounter while using a product, which can never be achieved with-out studying user behaviors.

In short, responsible design is about caring for better living. As a designer, I believe we can change behav-iors, improve safety, and make life easier and more pleasurable with some simple strategies.

This Collection

This portfolio is the result of years of education, freelance projects, and professional work in the field of Product Development.

By showing a variety of projects, going from water packaging to high-end electronics, I will try to show a good representation of my skills, interests and strengths.


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Product Design EcoCool

EcoCool

This was my independent project under the super-vision of industrial designer Lorely Gaunt. EcoCool is a part of my green product development series. The mission of the series is to invent and design new systems in households in order to help with energy reduction and show off the value of green energy.

What is EcoCool?

EcoCool is a system for returning the grey water produced in bathrooms back to use. This system is constructed by two stages of filtration. After the filtra-tions, the water ends up in a container that could be used for growing plants. The vaporization of the water absorbs hot air and moisturizes the place.

The main product is an assembled series of tiles, creating a wall that uses hot and dry air to cool and moisturize the place. These tiles are made of porous ceramic pipes filled with sand and marble. Tiles create the second stage of filtration. In addition, they help to speed up the process of vaporization. Now, the water passing through the tiles is ready to be used for the next step. Water ends up in a little garden platform that could be used for growing vegetables or any other plant species. Entry of the water to this last stage is consistent and continuous. The container could be used for wet soil plants. There is a potential for farming vegetables if you manage your usage of water and calculate the right amount of water for each shower.

On the top of the wall there is a tank that controls the amount of water entering the wall after passing the first stage of filtration in a 40 liter tank embedded in the bathroom.

Ideation and Form Development

At the start, the idea was totally vague and unclear, but with more research and study about the issues, the final result became clear. For its form, I experi-mented with forms that have the most potential for spreading equal amounts of water in the entire system, as well as being attractive.


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Below is the link for the complete booklet about the product, including researches, idea creation, concept development, and form development.

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B02V3H99LW3vZm1xMkg2UXJvczQ


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Product Design EcoCool Process


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The amount of water consumed by this system depends on room temperature, wind (in this case 0), water temperature, humidity, and surface area of ceramic tubes.




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Product Design EcoCharge

EcoChrage

EcoCharge is a part of my green product develop-ment series. The mission of the series is to invent and design new systems in households in order to help the energy reduction and show off the value of green energy.

What is EcoCharge?

Ecocharge is a product that lets users possess their own source of electric power. Anywhere you are, EcoCharge allows you to generate electricity as long as you find a hot round or flat object. The hotter the object, the more energy you produce. The system employs thermoelectric modules to convert the heat to electricity, through the temperature difference be-tween the heat source and the outside air. The mag-netic rows on the front of the product help EcoCharge to grip the heat source. The thermoelectric modules and magnets are installed on a flexible silicone plate, which allows the front part to be flexible for round objects. When you draw EcoCharge near to the energy source, the plate bends and embraces the metal object.

EcoCharge comes with several thin, flexible, metal-coated rubber tapes. The user does not need to search for only metal sources; she/he can use the rubber tape to turn any non-metallic object to metal. Tapes will double the functionality of the product.

The goal of this project is not only turning any heat source to electricity, but also communication and education about design. EcoCharge represents one

unknown energy source among all the others around us. We are living in an age when humanity is shifting back to nature, mostly similar to the Romantic period, in a reaction to the Industrial Revolution. So, we are all responsible in this shift to lead each other towards clean energy sources.

EcoCharge is equipped with a display. An OLED display shows what voltage is produced by what temperature difference and what is the output. EcoCharge presents values of energy sources around us. No matter how little they are, they can make an impact.

In my opinion, products like EcoCharge can cause people to think more about the alternative energy sources around them.

EcoCharge works without having a battery. One of the design initiatives was minimizing the use of material, and to make it simple in parts and more understand-able in use.

EcoCharge Design

• Form as function: it is designed to perform best mechanically and technologically.

• Material: EcoCharge uses the lowest possible amount of materials.

• Easy disposal: during the process of design, one of the priorities was to consider the cost of dis-posing of the product after use.


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https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B02V3H99LW3vcFplMGE4cjNPR0E


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Product Design EcoCharge Process


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Packaging Design Accordion Water Bottles

Accordion Water Bottles

The Accordion Bottles project is a part of my green product development series. The mission of the series is to invent and design a product that is green, func-tional, and more appealing.

What is an Accordion Bottle?

Accordion Bottles are collapsible bottles made of Paper, used to keep and deliver water to the con-sumer. Environmentally friendly bottles that are easily disposable was the top priority of the design. The bottles are designed in such a way that after use, people can squish them to take up less space in the garbage or bag.

This project was about rebuilding a Canadian product from scratch in terms of graphics and packaging. It is really important to attract your observer in the first glance. To be more appealing to the consumers, emo-tions play an important role. The curiosity of humans in physically trying a product is a big deal when it comes to marketing. It is more effective when

it is involved with a little fun and play. One in three people got to try Accordion Water Bottles physically in the NSCAD grad exhibition. A little surprise keeps people’s interest in a product.

Accordion Bottle Design

• Simplicity and symbolization: a pyramid form that also represents a Canadian teepee.

• Performance: collapsible and playful.

• Understandable: the form speaks as the performance.

• Environmentally friendly: the product is easily disposable and %100 recyclable.


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Packagin Design Accordion Water Bottles


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System DesignPersio


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Persio

The Persio was a project about developing a system that follows a chain of rules. In a system, the rules are designed to organize activities and keep the com-ponents interacting to form a whole. In Persio, all the pieces (components) cooperate with each other to win the game by following certain rules. This strategy game requires anticipating and mapping out the forthcoming actions. Each player needs to plan out attacks to free their detained pieces.

The primary mission in Persio is to give the brain a little bit of exercise in problem solving, attention and decision making. The goal in this game is to free your Vazirs who are held in the opponent’s territory. They can be freed in two ways; you can free them by taking their position or by reaching the conquer point.

To see the video of how Persio works, please visit http://ardavanmir.com/work1.html.

Persio Design

• Understandable: Persio is easy to comprehend, in such a way that you can become a master in 2-3 matches.

• Storytelling: Persio is a reminder of traditional battles, where you must keep all the troop mem-bers united and discipline them in the battle.

• Eligibility in the product: the pieces and the board are designed in such a way that you can easily read their directions.

• Keeping the player excited and interested in the game: you are totally free to change your strat-egies, because of the variety of choices you have in your moves and positions. Persio is also a fast and quick game which will not tire players’ minds.

• Persio can be available in different formats, such as a web application, social media gaming, tablet, and so on.

System Design Persio


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Branding StrategyKanata, the Canadian Museum of Civilization Magazine


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Kanata

Kanada was a magazine branding and layout pro-ject for the Canadian Museum of Civilization. This is a monthly magazine published by the Canadian Museum of Civilization containing events, history, children, and international sections. The magazine’s formula is designed to appeal to Canadians of all ages, tastes, and interests. The name obviously comes from the original name for Canada. While masthead also represents Aboriginal culture, inspired by Western Cree Syllabics, the “A”s represent teepees, calling this country a home. Kanata is composed of four different departments.

Teepee includes articles about Canadian adventures and historical events. Wigwam is about the events that take place inside the museum. Canoe includes international politics and culture. At the end is Moc-casin, which is related to youth culture, such as sports, arts and music.

Kanata Design:

• Symbolism and metaphors: the strategy of the branding and design departments is to target audiences by connecting with Canadian roots and interests.

• Legibility: in the masthead/logotype design as well as the selling line.

• Strategy: using Canadian fonts, typography, nam-ing/nomenclature, imagery, and/or subject matter in the magazine’s content.

Branding StrategyKanata, the Canadian Museum of Civilization Magazine


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Communication DesignReduce Energy Consumption


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Reduce Energy Consumption

The poster is a peaceful call for energy reduction; energy in terms of power. The poster relates to my eco-friendly products, EcoCool and EcoCharge. These are products leading towards minimization in energy consumption. The poster is designed to be installed in bus shelters, and to be seen from far away. Reduce Energy depicts a pig with a power plug nose. The pig is a radical consumer among other animal species, but this time in the energy field, it is indeed a meta-phor for humans as the most consuming animals on earth. A statistic is added at the bottom of the page, showing the depth of the disaster through numbers. The poster causes passers by to think about energy reduction.

Poster Design:

• Metaphor: a pig is a huge consumer.

• Minimal design: the poster conveys the minimum amount of information needing to be communi-cated.

Communication DesignNight, book cover


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Night

Night is a book written by Elie Wiesel about a father and a son in Hitler’s concentration camps. The book is designed in a way that embraces the story through its design elements.

Night Design:

• Eligibility: the use of typeface and colors helps the cover to be seen and read among all the other books on the bookstores’ shelves.

• Minimalism: less elements always keeps the user curious and excited.

• Composition: the use of empty spaces guides you around page to get all the information provided on the page.

Branding StrategyPranzo, logo development


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Pranzo

Pranzo is a high-end Italian restaurant. The mission was to develop a brand identity for the restaurant. So, I invented a modern typeface that represents luxury and indulgence in terms of shapes and colors.

Pranzo Design:

• Italian radical design: the shape of the letters is inspired by the Italian radical design movement.

• Sign: it represents an Italian dish.

• Color coding: the Italian flag, and also dark blue signifying royalty.

Product Design The Mobile Workstation Project


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Mobile Workstation

The mobile workstation project was to define the work area in studios in such a way that they can be rearranged quickly. The desk is built out of two parts;

the smaller part detaches from the main body and matches the other colleagues’ desks to form a larger desk for meetings and collaborative projects.

Additional ProjectsPersonal & Professional


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Why We Make Mistakes

Book cover project for Joseph T. Hallinan book.

Shima Studio

Logo development for photography studio.

Wellington

Logo development for garden furniture producer.

Additional ProjectsPersonal & Professional


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Micareme’

This project was about redesigning the crafts shop of Micareme’ centre with the lowest amount of cost possible.

LE

LE is a character development project. LE is an extraterrestrial creature back on earth for revenge.

Hikking Camera

This project is a form development for a hikking camera.

Design ProcessRapid Prototyping


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Tea Pot Persio

Design ProcessRapid Prototyping


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6.5 cm

14 cm

3.2 cm

Perfume Container Hiking Camera

ResearchSystem Design for Community Forests International

Six Weeks & Three Team Members

This was a group-based pro-ject. Due to the scale of this project we were split upinto groups at the beginning

of the quarter. Each group was suppose to come up with a system that could help Community Forest International (CFI) to survive and continue its services. CFI is an international, non-profit organization that is trying to preserve tropical forests all over the world. Each group of students started with their individual researches about the causes and problems facing for-ests, how we can help, and what attempts have been made in the past.

We came up with a system that can be connected through four categories, which are cyclical with each other: website, social networking, volunteers, and guerilla marketing.

A website would be the starting point of the system (while it is being developed) and would connect with the CFI website. The rest of the system would then be built up, having the website to connect all categor-ies. When successfully conducted, this system would raise funds for the many issues involving deforesta-tion around the world, raise awareness globally, and encourage discussion about the various issues.

WebsiteThe website acts as the central hub of informa-tion and planning for the rest of the system. It is the jumping-off point for all the action and events that are to follow. It is run by CFI’s primary Web Advisor, who controls the content and maintains the site, as well as providing updates on the events and campaigns taking place. The website deals with three main aspects of the system online that impact everything after: Organization, Awareness, and Funding.


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ResearchSystem Design for Community Forests International

Social NetworkingThrough social networking, the goal is to create interest in CFI and it actions against deforestation.A large part of this revolves around rallying the general public to help out and provoking them to interact through various methods of communica-tion. The outcome is to gather and inform as many people as possible about deforestation and what they can do to help. With this in mind, the first and most effective way to inform and engage is through social networking – using video, instant messaging and pod-casting to relay the informa-tion to the largest possible group of people.

Volunteers The social networking in the system is meant to generate interest and participation, which will create volunteers. From here, the volunteers can decide to actively participate or continue to partici-pate through the website and social networking.This page illustrates the choices that participants have in terms of taking action: donating via web-site, participating socially, or volunteering their services in guerilla campaigns.

This system breakdown explains how the vol-unteering section connects directly to the final marketing strategy.


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Research Preserve, Maintain, and Develop the Gaelic Language & Culture in Nova Scotia


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Fourteen-weeks & Five Team Member

This project was constructed as a collaboration of five team members within fourteen weeks. The work con-tained in this document focuses on working within the mental landscape of a different culture: Gaelic in Nova Scotia. Critical thinking, investigation, and prob-lem solving were major factors in the discovery of the proposed solution.

Our research led us along the path to constructing a process that would help strengthen the resolve and importance of the Gaelic community and bring them together for future growth. The apparent solution is a Gaelic periodical, which captures the essence of the active community and educates those unfamiliar with it about everything Gaelic, from culture, politics to news and humor. Our hypothesis for this solution is to aid the growing efforts in restoring the culture by giving a physical sense of belonging and ownership to this predominately verbal culture.We began the project by researching and getting deep into their culture in the first few weeks. We studied history, language, and cultural strengths and weaknesses.

Upon completing all the research, it became apparent that many problems in cultures today is losing their sense of identity because they have no sense of tactile belonging. After making this discovery, we proposed a quarterly periodical, which will build a strong social network and will increase the number of people that want to reconnect with their cultural legacy. It will

Abstract

This project was taken on based upon the current state of the Gaelic community within Nova Scotia. Ex-tensive research into the history and current cultural status of the community and its language were docu-mented and used as a basis for further exploration.

During this process, visits from key Gaelic commun-ity members helped to focus the research process further and provided valuable insight into what kinds of solutions would be viable. We decided to create a new Gaelic periodical that would function as an inter-language and inter-generational tool, preserving the culture and customs, as well as presenting them to outside groups unfamiliar with the language. The periodical was divided into key sections that each reflected current issues, and stressed the importance of the language to the widest body of people pos-sible. It was not our goal distill the oral component of the language, but to enhance and preserve it through a medium that can be readily available to the local community and beyond.

become the driving force for the establishment and growth of Gaelic culture. The periodical is intended to be free, so that achievement can be possible with the commitment and support of the community and its many dedicated volunteers and supporters.

With this in mind, four different ideas have been identified and presented as a different section of the periodical, each catering to a specific aspect of Gaelic life: Local and World News, Politics, Customs, Music and Stories and Food, Cartoons and Games for Kids, Promotional Poster. There will also be a poster attached in the form of an events calendar, giving people the opportunity to fill in the upcoming events themselves and post it around town.

Prototype layout of Kids page


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ResearchPromoting Sociopolitical Discourse Through Design

Fourteen-weeks Project

This was a fourteen-week project for a Design Re-search course. A research class with open topics gave me the chance to explore and read about things I have always been curious about. This also resulted in the formation of new ideas for future projects, Eco-cool and Eco-charge, that I will be discussing latter in this booklet.

Introduction

There are serious issues facing our planet and our lives as individuals. These issues have not been con-sidered by mainstream society, due to reasons such as a lack of information, and cultural/political restric-tions. Designers acting as social activists or designing

from an arts standpoint, separate from commercial functions, could address these issues and bring this critical discourse into our homes, streets, and work-places. Design has the potential to express ideas, affect minds, and impel users to take action. In this research, the process, methods and impacts of a well thought-out design have been explored.


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ID Number262-108226Eco Solutions

Project EcoCharge

DesignerArdavan MirhosseiniBachelor of Design

UniversityNova Scotia College of Art and Design University (NSCAD U)Halifax / CanadaDesign

[email protected]

Ecocharge is a product that lets users to possess their own source of electric power. Anywhere you are EcoCharge allows you to generate electricity from a hot round or �at objects. More hot the object be more energy you produce. The system employs thermo-electric modules to convert the heat to electricity by temperature di�erence from the heat source and the outside temperature.

EcoCharge sticks/attaches the heat source by its magnetic rows embedded in front of the product. For doing so, thermoelectric modules and magnets are installed on a �ex-ible silicone plate. When you approximate EcoCharge to energy source, the plate bends and embraces the metal objects. This attribute helps the product to be used for round and edgy objects such as pan or pipe.

EcoCharge comes with several thin �exible metal coated rubber tapes. The user don’t need to search for only metal sources, she/he can use the rubber tape to turn any non-metallic object to metal. This will double the functionality of the product.

The goal in this project is not only turning any heat source to electricity, but it is the communication and education with design. EcoCharge represents one unknown energy source among all others around us. We are living in an age that human is shift-ing back to nature, mostly similar to the Romantic time in a reaction to the Industrial Revolution. So we are all responsible in this shift to trigger each other for leading towards clean energy sources. EcoCharge is equipped with a display. A OLED display shows what voltage produced by what temperature di�erence and what is the output. EcoCharge presents values of energy sources around us, no matter how little they are, but they can have impact. In my opinion, products like EcoCharge can trigger people to think more about alternative source around them.

EcoCharge works without having a battery. One of the design intentions were minimiz-ing the use of material, and make it simple in parts and more understandable in use.

Side (Left)Side (Right)

Top

Front

Bottom

Metalic Object Mobile Device

5 cm

9 cm

5 cm

4.3 cm

AluminiumHeatsink

Micro ThermoelectricGenerator

Magnet Row

RetractableUSB output power

OLED Display

ID Number262-108236Eco Solutions

Project EcoCool

DesignerArdavan MirhosseiniBachelor of Design

UniversityNova Scotia College of Art and Design University (NSCAD U)Halifax / CanadaDesign

[email protected]

EcoCool is a system for returning the grey water produced in bathrooms

plants. The vaporization of the water absorbs hot air and moisturizes the place.

The main product is an assembled series of tiles, creating a wall that uses hot and dry air to cool and moisturize the place. These tiles are made of porous

Now, the water passing through the tiles is ready to be used for the next step. Water ends up in a little garden platform that could be used for grow-ing vegetables or any other plant species. Entry of the water to this last stage is consistent and continuous. The container could be used for wet soil plants. There is a potential for farming vegetables if you manage your usage of water and calculate the right amount of water for each shower.On the top of the wall there is a tank that controls the amount of water enter-

ded in the bathroom.

Grey Water

+ impurities from tainted water, including: bacteria, parasites, pathogens, protozoa, sediment, dirt, rust, cysts, algae, mold spores, certain viruses... and other disease causing agents.

+ Pump

30 L Tank

First Filteration

145 cm30 cm

9 cm

265

cm

12 cm Ceramic Container

15L Stainless Steel Tank

30 cm

5L in the 40 tiles

Second Filteration

26.5

cm

Mixed sand with gravel inside the tubes

Porous ceramic tubes

Rotary pipe connector (aluminium)

Wood pole Increasing the tolerance

Wetland plants

“A designer is an emerging synthetic of artist, inventor, mechanic, objective economist and evolutionary strategist.”

Buckminister Fuller

My new portfolio

Documents

interdisciplinary design

yanko design

freelance graphic design

bachelor of design major

designed brand identity

designed posters

designed variety of

designed business cards