Author: Jae Lee

After constructing a better research with our team, this week, we had an opportunity with Micheal Hansen from Earth Sense. Micheal showed us his story at his work. He didn’t just showed us a series of prototype models he created at EarthSense, but he focused on how he came to these conclusions. He told us how first hand research helped him to come to conclusions he never imagined to happen. He went out to the agriculture sights and interviewed users to collect data. And through his first hand experience, he told us how he went from this square block into a more slim down organic shaped vehicle called Terra Sentia. I really like how he told us to first hand experience and think broadly before we start narrowing down to one product.

Similar to Micheal’s story, we had to watch a video about the importance of analogous research. Analogous research is a research method where people use a disruptive and risky eureka moment to get inspired and design a product. Unlike other methods, analogous research does not have any usability test and it only depends on the vague similarity between the two topics. For an example, people who want to work on a beauty product will go experience in a lumber factory. After multiple of these experience, the group will collect the data and come to a conclusion. I feel like our team are in need for an analogous research.

This week, we used the 3d printer for the first time. We used a 3d modeling tool called the Tinkercad to create our group name, Movi. Our name was created after the word, movement. This is why we have a a triangle shaped in a shooting star that signifies movement. When we were creating our logo, we really liked the program, but we all agreed how the program lacked creating organic shapes. Our project, the knee pad, is an organic shape and I think the Tinkercad is a good start, but we need to learn a program that will be able to mold a more organic shape

So far, I thought our group were ready to create prototypes and start hand making our project. However, after this class and video, I think our team still needs to conduct more experiments. To do this, first we met our mentor Jenna on Friday. And hopefully we will get in contact with more people with prosthetic leg through her in the future. Also, I think our group should go ice skating to experience how it feels to fall on slippery ice. I feel like this will give us a eureka moment to extend our thoughts.

Due to the weather condition, we did a online session with the Milestone Labs and Professor Vishal. We used this program called Zoom and it was a enlightening experience for each group and it changed my mind in approaching our project.

I really loved how Milestone guided us through making our project step by step. Today, we went through ideation which I feel like it’s one of the most key steps when it comes to designing. As an industrial designer, we were told that the best design is when we have achieved to fulfill the needs of our target audience. Products that looks aesthetic and has no purpose is a terrible design because no one will use them. So, I really love how Milestone pushed us to collaborate between our groups through activities to clarify our target audience and project scope. Our group mostly focused on the need of the user and the feasibility that comes out from it.

With the help of Milestone Labs, we came to a conclusion to make a knee cap for people who are using prosthetic legs. We discussed that most prosthetic legs that have knee caps or protect them are four times more expensive than the ones without it. And with the help of our mentor, Jenna, we will further explore to minimize the cost and weight of the cap, so other people will be able to use it as well. This way, our product will be sustainable in the business as well.

Thanks to the online seminar, I feel like our group is much more confident going into week 4. Our mentor Jenna will help us figure out the dimensions of her prosthetic leg and try out our prototypes to find the best model. We will make 3d models of the buckle that goes around the knee, but we will try to make the cap using other cushion materials.

My first time visit to the DRES was really awesome. I have heard a lot about this place thanks to Professor Dr. McDonagh inviting coach Adams to our class. And I was always very excited to visit this place since then. When I first entered the gym, the first thing I’ve realized is that there were no mirrors. For me, when I worked out during my army years, I loved to workout in front of a large mirror. This way, I can look at my body position and fix it if I am in a bad position. But other than that, the training room was really clean and didn’t smell like sweat at all! My favorite had to be the Paralympic wheelchairs hanging on the ceiling, making me feel like I’m part of the history.

I loved how all the mentors had their own stories and they were very supportive when we had questions. Also, I loved how each one of them sparked us with some questions. Such as Ryan telling us to look into the opportunities in “snow tires” and “ski tires”. Ariel gave some statistic of how 65 million people do not have any access to wheel chairs, so we have an opportunity in where we can create a wheel chair out of 3d printers.

For me, I am most interested in mentor Jenna and her prosthetic leg. She is a senior majoring in Kinesiology and is a RA. As the weather gets cold and the roads get icy, she told us the ice makes it difficult for her to get her from one to the next. And when she falls the ground, she tells us how careful she is when she falls down to the ground. Because, her prosthetic legs are very expensive (about 100,000 dollars), she needs to be careful not to fall on the knee part of the leg. Then she showed us how she has already scratched it. (even though it was made out of titanium) Also, since her prosthetic leg isn’t water proof (water proof ones costs 1/4 million dollars) she has to always rinse her leg after going outside in the winter. So, I feel this is the opportunity our team is going to tackle for the next few weeks.