/ VENT
//smart materials
Changes in the mobility sector are evident, more and more vehicles run on electricity and become autonomous. This also changes the needs of passengers, communication with the car and the outside world as well as entertainment stand in the focus of current designs. Some indispensable parameters of our physical comfort are however ‘invisible’ such as the need for fresh and well-tempered air. In todays cars air-flow is adjustable through arrays of buttons, sliders, touch displays that lead the air through lammellae or circular designs. Shape changing, interactive, and smart materials are being researched in human computer interaction research while they also evolve through advances in material science. This is why I have decided to focus this project on the design and application of such a material in the automotive context and specifically the design of an air vent. Through material explorations, drawing inspiration from pinecones and leaf stomata by the means of biomimicry, I have developed different options of opening and closing a flat surface to open up for air flow and to close and hide the vent when not in use. In a first attempt flaps were actuated using a shape memory alloy, that opens up flaps when exposed to a high temperature. In order to bring this project further other options for actuation need to be considered such as the creation of a bi-layer material, and the whether it is activated by heat, humidity or electricity. Furthermore, an interaction with the user needs to be designed. Support and input from automotive company would be very beneficial to develop a product that truly fits the market. It will also help to understand the view of the industry, and give guidance in important decisions.
School: TU Eindhoven semester: winter 2018 (and summer 2019)
Friederike Rümelin
/ stretch
// interactive material
Inspired by an old piece of synthetic leather that cracked when stretched, we tried to imitate and develop an interactive material. In the exploration we made use of 3d-printing and lasercutting. Using servo-motors to initiate the stretch we actuated the material. With it’s shy personality it is becoming flat when approached and slowly relaxes again when the hands are moved away.
School: TU Eindhoven Semester 1 2017/18
Team: Friederike Rümelin, Fabienne van der Weiden, Eleonora Zanus
Client: Independent
Ceramic
// ceramic workshop
Ceramic workshop experience realizing designs by Antonio Arico. Learning about the way a ceramic workshop works and different slip casting methods and mould- making using traditional methods as well as CAD and rapid prototyping techniques.
School: RMIT, Semester 2, 2015
Client: realisation of product ideas for Antonio Arico
/breathing split
// bio-design
Breathing split is a room divider which makes use of the photosynthetic activity of algae and its product oxygen. A higher amount of oxygen in the air can help to increase brain activity and general wellbeing. It is Inspired by natural structures and aims to bring nature back into a sterile office environment or home forming a reconnection focusing on the symbiosis between human life and photosynthesizing organisms such as algae.
School: RMIT, Semester 2, 2015
Client: Independent
/ PAPER
// material exploration
During this project I explored possibilities of applying textile techniques such as weaving, knitting, crocheting and lace making and dyeing to paper.
School: The Hague University of Applied Sciences
Client: Independent
/Other projects
/Pancakes
//designing for everyday rituals
Pancakes occur in most cultures, but the recepies differ as well as the time of day they are commonly eaten.
In this project we designed a set of tableware to use when eating pancakes with a group of friends, using solid, powdered and liquid toppings. The outer plates are shaped to hold the topping that is placed in a smaller bowl in the middle of the plate.
When passing the toppings around the outer plate is presented to the recipeint and then passed on with two hands requiring both parties to be present during this moment of sharing and caring for each other.
School: TU Eindhoven
Team: Friederike Rümelin, Minerva Loos, Ana Torralba, Miguel Cabral Guerra, Luke Noothout, Iris Roojakkers, Troy Nachtigall, Marije Kortekaas, Joyce Fisscher, Leonie van Buuren
Client: Independent
/ Attento
// wearable technology
Emergency buttons for the elderly are mostly designed in a way that signals their function in a very visual way, not only to their owners but also to the people around them. This is one of the reasons why many reject to wear them. In order to make the elderly feel more safe we have designed a customizable button that can be worn as a bracelet or necklace. During the process we have conducted co-creation sessions with potential users, talked to experts, developed a business plan and explored materials and production methods.
In the bracelet option the two parts that form the button also function as the closure mechanism.
School: TU Eindhoven
Team: Nicholas Robineau, Jelle-Jan de Groot, Vera Losse, Friederike Rümelin
