Divita Chillakuru

Undergraduate

I came upon Industrial Design as a major by chance and have adored every second I have spent in it. Design possesses the ability power to delight and I aim to develop products that create enjoyment for whoever comes across it. I strive to find the fun in mundane things and carry this along in my designing process. Sophomore year has involved the most rigorous projects so far, involving intensive user research, wider materials scope, and building brand experience. As a new Denning T&M minor, I look forward to seeing how my design process changes when considering marketing. Outside of class, I am an avid dessert eater and will never say no to a donut!

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Quartz

Quartz

Quartz

Class: ID 2024  |  Instructor: Kimberly Snyder

Quartz is a decorative floor lamp that emits colorful fractals of light to liven up any minimalist office area. The acrylic faces refract light to create a glowing, iridescent gemstone when the lamp is turned on. Its geometric form mimics the sharp, faceted nature of a quartz crystal as the lamp transitions from black aluminum panels to acrylic, iridescent ones. Quartz was constructed using 65 waterjet cut aluminum triangles, which were attached together using bent steel tabs and rivets. Iridescent window film was applied on acrylic triangles to cover the open edges and to create the vivid stained-glass effect when lit up.

Nest Away

Nest Away

Nest Away

Class: ID 2024  |  Instructor: Kimberly Snyder

"Nest away" is a set of two lamps, set to regulate contact between parent and child as the latter leaves the nest and heads off to college. The lamps pair with a chatbot AI app that acts as a mediator and allow the individuals to gain independence. Each lamp is placed in their respective “safe” spaces and when the user is more than ten meters away, a blocking function is activated wherein the child cannot contact the parent or vice versa. The child would have to go through “Sora”, the chatbot AI, that would determine if the contact is necessary or not. Once the child gets back to their room, the blocking function is turned off and the users can freely contact each other. Before they go to bed, the child is encouraged to tap their lamp and provide a small anecdote of what they accomplished that day. The parent’s lamp counterpart will light up in the morning and recite it, reassuring them that the child arrived home safe. “Nest Away” aims to evolve the parent-child relationship into one of two adults, while keeping the bond between them strong.

Chérie

Chérie

Chérie

Class: ID 2023 | Instructor: Kimberly Snyder

Chérie is a stack-able French inspired dinnerware set that includes a cup, bowl, and plate to form a displayable art piece at cafes. Its pearlescent porcelain finish, along with the embossed, perle grooved base, gives the set a distinct French touch. The copper rim and beading add a sense of understated opulence, without the dinnerware overshadowing the food. Its stack-ability aids in serving, as the customer would be served their meals in its tower form and receive an element of surprise prior to dining, similar to unboxing a present. Chérie was developed as an alternative serving feature for afternoon tea-which includes a hot drink, a bite size pastry, and a light, savory main course.