ROB BYE

Currently Interning at Seymourpowell

INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER

CREATING FOR EMERGING MARKETS

Developing a school bike for Africa

This was the focus of my final year at Brunel university and was an 8 month project. The key focus was on designing for emerging markets, developing a new design process, then creating prototypes. The first prototype was then take taken to The Gambia, in west Africa, for a week to test the prototype with the end users whilst also doing ethnography research.

The findings from this were then fed into developing the final design.

Received James Dyson Scholarship

Both of the frame prototypes were built by hand in the University workshops. This not only reduced the cost of manufacturing prototypes but also gave unsight into the problems that could be faced when mass producing the final design. It also allowed for complete freedom in design.

The start of the project was focussed on developing an understanding into designing for emerging markets; including looking at designing for the base of the pyramid and design for the other 90%. This lead to the creation of a bespoke design process built around the IDEO HCD method.

Due to a scholarship from the James Dyson Foundation I was able to take the first prototype to Africa for a week long test period. Working with the mechanics and conducting ethnography research gave great insight which will be used to develop the final proposal.

The final prototype was an iteration from the initial prototype. It includes a structural pannier rack to make it easier to carry heavy loads and another person, it works with components that can be purchased locally, and can be adapted by the user to suit their needs.

Working with a charity allowed various interviews to be conducted with people who had lived and worked in The Gambia. The findings from these discussions were used to create a first prototype, an adapted frame using the correct components with the addition of a structural pannier rack.

MANUFACTURERESEARCH

TESTING & RESEARCH FINAL CONCEPT

INITIAL PROTOTYPE

USER FOCUSSED INTERACTION DESIGN

Aquasist - Monitoring hydration in athletes

This project was the core of the Sports Innovation Minor in TU Delft. It spanned over 5 months and was a group project alongside a Mechanical Engineer, Human Movement Scientist and a Design Engineer. The fi nal outcome was an app and data system that

estimated the amount of fl uid lost by an athlete, and a bottle that measured the amount of water consumed by the user whilst giving feedback on how much should be drunk.

Published research in a Dutch scientifi c journal

Due to the multidisciplinary team we were able to focus on all aspects of the design including creating a data system, developing a mechanism to measure fl uid intake, creating an interface and researching the most appropriate ways to monitor fl uid loss.

To gain real insight into the problems faced with training athletes we worked with and interviewed various professionals from teams such as ADO Den Haag and others. Working with them gave us clear indication into what the problems really were and what they needed in the solution.

We tested various components in the design to ensure it was technically viable. Using 3D printing techniques and slow motion cameras we created diff erent models of the impeller to determine the most eff ective shape for monitoring fl uid passing through a tube.

DEVELOPMENTRESEARCH TESTING

Th e physical product concept was the drinks bottle that can be seen in the render above. Th e main features of the design include an LED strip indicating how much the athlete should be drinking, an impellor to measure the amount the athlete has drunk, and a bluetooth chip to communicate with the app.

Th e coinciding app takes data from the bottle and other wearable measurement systems to accurately calculate how much the athlete should be drinking. Th e data system includes post exercise measurement systems to help the system learn over time and accurately predict fl uid loss in diff erent sports.

FINAL CONCEPT APP DESIGN

TAKING A PRODUCT TO MARKET

Hangen - A simple adaptation to a hanger

This 18 month process started as a University project but later progressed into an exercise to see the complexities of taking a project to market. Investors and partners were agreed,

manufactures lined up in China and the design was developed until it was production ready. The initial concept and later development was featured on Core77 and many other

sites, and the feedback from readers was used as part of development.

Featured on Core77, Behnace and many other sites.

To assist with the rapid development of the overall shape cardboard was used to mock up models quickly. Th is allowed for changes to the overall structure and shape to be done on full scale,without the need for 3D printing or other complex and expensive methods.

Th e main reason for pushing forward with the project was to gain understanding of developing a product for manufacture. Th is meant in depth stress analysis was done to iterate the overall shape, alongside injection moulding analysis to determine wall thickness and injection points.

Once the fi nal shape had been decided 3D printing techniques were used on varying scales to test the strength and function of the design. Th e image on the opposite page depicts the full scale working 3D printed model which is fully manufacturing ready using injection moulding.

MODEL MAKINGANALYSIS PROTOTYPING

Th e fi nal concept makes it easier to hang up T-Shirts, jumpers or blouses that could be stretched using a standard hanger.

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PACK AGING

Developing fast food burger containers

Developed as part of the Masters course in Packaging Design at TU Delft, the brief was to redesign the packaging of a product to reduce environmental impact through resource minimisation. The fi nal design reduced the weight packaging from 50 grams to 28 grams

whilst increasing usability through integrating all the food items into a single container. The concept was featured on The Verge.

Featured on Th e Verge and presented to McDonalds

Cardboard was used to create quick mock ups to determine the function of the solution and create iterations of the net quickly and easily. Th e overall size of the packaging was reduced from the knowledge gained from doing this and allowed for simple user testing.

Th e brief was to redesign food packaging and it was quickly decided to focus on fast food packaging. Th e current solutions product large amounts of waste, and don’t really suit the way people actually use them. Observations were done alongside sketching to ideate.

Th e fi nal solution is considerably easier to use and suits the way people actually use the packaging.

Even though this was only a short project, the fi nal concepts were given to various people to see how they reacted to the design. Some changes still need to be made to the design, however considering the time constraints the solution was a vast improvement.

MODEL MAKINGRESEARCH TESTING

BRAND ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPMENT

Moving The Scouts from 2013 to 2030

Part of the Contextual Design module at Brunel the project was focussed on analysing the Scouts core values then moving the brand forward to ensure they will still be relevant in 2030. This was done by predicting issues that society is likely to face and adapting the brand to counter these problems. The project is still in progress and concepts are now

being designed to show how this would be done through a product.

Published in the Made in Brunel book

These were used throughout the project to portray it’s current audience and also what the future target market would be. Doing this allowed us to have various people in mind when adapting the brand for the future and will also be used when designing future products.

This project was done alongside 5 other designers and began with the deconstruction of the Scout’s brand. Not only the way it presents itself, but also it’s core values, marketing methods, how it has changed over the years and what makes the Scouts what it is.

Once we had analysed current trends and predicted what contextual issues people and society would be facing in 2030, we began to create various adcepts. These were used to visually present how the brand will have move forward to maintain future relevancy.

PERSONASANALYSIS ADCEPTS

Working as a team of 5 students we developed a product language for The Scouts that we believed would be appropriate in the future. We then created concepts that would not only align with the brand’s morals, but would also solve the contextual issues society would face in 2030.

The final concept was an internet connected device that would encourage people aged 12 - 22 to interact with each other outside the home. The device takes data from social networks and glows to indicate friends are doing something nearby. Tilting the device instantly puts you in contact with them.

PRODUCT LANGUAGE FINAL CONCEPT

Th e NOOKone is a concept for a bedside iPhone alarm clock speaker. Many solutions for this exist however most are ugly, obtrusive and hard to use. Th e design of the NOOKone is focussed around how the user actually interacts with their phone in bed allowing them to pick up the device with ease.

Students oft en record lectures on dictation machines however these miss the visual element of a presentation which oft en is the most important part. Ditto sits on top of a laptop and uses mirrors to allow a student to record a whole lecture using nothing more than their in built webcam.

BMX riders rarely use bike lights as most are not suited for this use, and are generally considered un-cool by this demographic. BrightBar is a BMX bar end that has a removable LED light fi tting allowing riders to be safe with almost no visual impact to their bikes style.

Th is longboard was completely custom designed and shaped by hand. Layering wood plys separately made it possible to give a natural concave to the boards deck, and the graphics were laid up by printing them in rice paper before sealing the whole board with epoxy resin.

NOOKONE

DITTO

BRIGHTBAR

LONGBOARD

Lunch Jo football

Jo School Dinner Reservation

Wake

up

Meeting

Th is is a simple app that makes it possible for people to fi nd the nearest independent coff ee shops near their location. It allows the user to favourite stores, leave and see reviews by other users and discover featured stores nearby. Targeted for London it helps people get away from large chain Cafes.

Th is event was organised and run to promote the students of Brunel design to a global audience. Over 157 students tackled briefs from world renowned companies including Lego, Rolls Royce, IDEO and Seymour Powell. Th e whole event was streamed live on Core77.

Th e visions magazine was created to promote the design students at Brunel university. Over 3000 copies were printed and these were distributed to schools and professionals around the UK. 1000 of these were hand delivered to design consultancies in the local London area.

A wall clock that includes an integrated whiteboard helping people to plan their day. Created as part of an interaction course, the wooden wiper enables the user to symbolically clean off the previous days tasks with a single sweeping motion. Th is starts each day with a ‘clean slate’ to build upon.

COFFEE COMPASS

24HR DESIGN CHALLENGE

VISIONS MAGAZINE DESIGN

INTIME

ABOUT ROB

EDUCATION

TU DELFT Industrial Design Engineering - 1st ClassExchange Year 2012 to 2013

Masters Courses- CAD Applications- Packaging Design- Tactility

Bachelors Courses- Sports Innovation- Design for Cultural Impact

BRUNEL UNIVERSITYIndustrial Design and Technology - 2.1 (Predicted)Graduating June 2014

Bachelors Courses- Design Process- Contextual Design- Environmentally Sensitive Design- Graphic Communication- Creative Engineering- Design for Manufacture- Product Analysis- Innovation Management

BOURNEMOUTH GRAMMAR SCHOOL2001 to 2009

AS & A Levels- Maths- ICT- Design Technology

GCSE- 11 Subjects grade A* to B

The ambition and intuition demonstrated through a diverse portfolio of work has lead to participation in numerous freelance design projects with start ups and students from Europe, Asia and America. This, alongside the experience gained from studying at Brunel University and TU Delft, have established a broad understanding of design skills, techniques and methods. Crucially they have also established a motivation to collaborate on projects and explore new areas of design.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Received the James Dyson Foundation Scholarship for my in progress Graduation Project designing a school bike for children in The Gambia.

Projects and concepts featured on Core 77, The Verge and The Next Web.

Student Employee of the Year award winner (2013) in London and the South West for independent freelance with start-up companies in the EU.

Selected from 1800 applicants as the UK Erasmus Exchange Representative for time at TU Delft (2013).

EXPERIENCE

DESIGN INTERNSeymourpowell - 2014 to Present

Actively participating in the concepting, prototyping and researching of products and packaging for various companies, alongside an award winning design team.

MANAGING DIRECTORMade in Brunel - 2013 to 2014

Led a team of 6 Managers and 30 Students in the publication of a design book and the design & running of an exhibition in the OXO tower with over 150 exhibitors.

ACCESSORIES DESIGNERAnimal Boardsports - 2012

A short placement working in the Accessories and Footwear design department; developing new products, assisting in trend analysis and presenting concepts.

FOUNDER AND TEAM LEADDesign Students UK, 2011 - Present

Was the founder of this organisation that was created to promote young designers whilst equipping them with essential skills.

FREELANCE DESIGNERSelf employed - 2010 to 2014

Worked alongside many startup companies and small business developing brand identities and creating print and online graphic designs.

ACTIVITIES MANAGERRichmond World Holidays 2012

Helped in the running of a 60 bed chalet in the French Alps whilst organising activities for guests including mountain Biking, white water rafting and rock climbing.

SKILLS

TECHNICAL- Creative concepting and idea searching- Running of creative sessions- User research and focus groups- Well practised in manufacturing and prototyping- Regular model making using various materials- Product photography

SOFTWARE- Very high level of understanding in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator- Experienced user of Solidworks- Production of photorealistic renders in Keyshot- Good understanding Premier Pro- In depth knowledge of Keynote

COMMUNICATION- Good drawing and hand rendering- In depth research and report writing- Excellent presentation and verbal communication- Excellent at individual and group work- Development portfolios

HELLO@ROBERTBYE.COM

+44 (0) 7794 444 604

www.robertbye.com