Ben Rodgers

H e

l l o

I believe that as people we all have the capacity and desire to create. It is in this expression that we learn about ourselves. Nothing truly unique ever came from following the same course as the person before you. Why not create the world you wish to live in?

My name is Ben Rodgers and I love to create. From objects to experiences I enjoy the process of bringing an idea into reality. It was this drive that pushed me receive my BA in Industrial Design from Purdue University. I am proud of the experience and skills I learned there but I feel my best lessons came in learning to be part of a team. The limited admittance of the program allowed me to spend two years in the same studio with 15 other design students. We learned quickly that our best ideas were born when we shared with one another and gave help freely.

This portfolio is a sample of the work that resulted from my experiences at Purdue. I am currently seeking full time, part time, and contract work. If you’re looking for fresh talent and a positive attitude, or just to give feedback, feel free to contact me. Thanks for viewing!

(assist)An intuitive solution for bilateral amputees

I had the opportunity to participate in a project sponsored by DePuy orthopedics intended to allow paralympic athletes to participate in a sport not currently a part of the events. However, when I began investigating I found a problem that went beyond the field of athletics.According to the National Center for Health Statistics 25,000 individuals lose an arm every year in the United States alone. For most, this is an incredibly traumatic and life-changing experience. But...

What if you lost BOTH arms?

As long as a person has one functioning hand they can use it to secure and remove their prosthesis. But when they lose both, these basic tasks become much more complicated. Assist offers these individuals with a possible solution.

The only requirement for use as intended is that the prosthetics should be secured by a suction valve and would benefit from being myoelectronicaly controlled.

(assist)

After releasing suction from sockets, place strap around neck and insert prosthetics through rings.

Twist until prosthetics are secure then remove limbs.

injection molded ABS or HDPET

stainless steel

translucent rubber

die cast aluminum or zinc

adjustment bolt

trn tbleSpace efficiency for young adults.

What are the key furnishing issues faced by young adults 18-25?

One of the first comments I received was that, “multipurpose furniture is

awesome.” Many young adults are on a limited budget and can only afford

so many pieces of furniture. As a result many resort to makeshift solutions

such as the ‘chock-a- block hero’ coffee table. (top)

Several young adults told me, “I move around a lot.” Their furniture should be

mobile but too often what’s available to them is old, large, and usually quite

heavy. It was also brought to my attention that you can only fit so much inside a compact car. (middle, bottom)

Finally, space efficiency becomes an important issue not only for car

space but also inside dorms and studio apartments. These small spaces become cluttered quickly and require

both flexible and space efficient furniture.

Research Conclusions:

In the hierarchy of furniture for young adults the futon/couch is king. Almost everyone has one or the other and some prefer it to their bed. Nearly all activity is centered around this piece of furniture. These activities frequently involve eating, drinking, and playing games that require a flat surface. Because of this the coffee table is also in high demand. However, this requires a significant space commitment and many complain of the need to move it when having larger numbers of people in their home.

Interview Responses:

“Furniture is hard to move. It’s hard to rearrange a room.”

“furniture could be more compartmental/modular for storage use”

“Making furniture functional while it’s in an apartment or house, while still easy to move when the times comes would be great.”

“There’s no good way to clean your furniture.”

“Proportions are clutch.”

Thesis Statement:

“To create a piece of furniture that stylishly addresses the comfortable, portable, and affordable wants and

needs of young adults.”

Existing products and

Possible solutions:

Final Three Concepts:

Mock-ups to final model:

Dead End

trn tble

LumoireA regenerative clothing solution

50% of the world’s population lives in cities and by 2050 this figure is projected to increase to two-thirds.It’s going to get pretty crowded...

Consumers create waste Clutter fills closets Crowded cities minimize space

Lumoire offers a solution

morning

evening

Lumoire uses the technology of 2050 to recycle the same fabric and die into different outfits each day. Long gone is the over-stuffed t-shirt drawer and the closet overflowing with unused clothes. Since the fabric is being broken down the dirt and impurities are removed in the process. The need to wash any but the dirtiest of clothes would disappear as well. Each morning the user would search through his or her personal profile containing the patterns for the clothing they ‘own.’ Once they have made their selections Lumoire begins fabricating that day’s clothing before their eyes. When the user undresses in the evening he or she places the clothing back into Lumoire via the top chute. They then select the recycle option to prepare the materials for tomorrow’s clothing. Lumoire effectively removes clothing clutter by turning a person’s wardrobe into a digital belonging.

Materials Port

arch table

Sketches

Sketches

Thank YouBen Rodgers benrodgers171@gmail.com (317) 448-8946 6 S. 4th st. Apt. #1 Lafayette, IN 47901