Joseph Bakas
Undergraduate
I approach design as a problem solver. I am relentlessly searching for creative solutions to all problems I encounter. I analyze the task, adapt my process, and dive into developing a solution. In my process, I strive for perfection and evolution of design. My key skills, and abilities that I am most confident in, involve User Centered Design, rapid prototyping, digital design [Adobe Creative Cloud, Fusion 360, CAD, etc], and market research. I am extremely proud of my ability to remain calm under pressure and tackle any challenge I am presented with. Additionally, if I’m not familiar with certain things, my ability to learn quickly allows me to understand and excel in most any environment. I believe my versatility and adaptability makes me an asset. Overall, technical skills can be shaped but what truly makes me an ideal candidate to join any design team is my ability to work well with all individuals and form meaningful interpersonal relations that ignite collaborative creativity and propel the field of design forward.
Clinique Writing Utensil
Group Members: Ashlyn Sasser, Amanda Wooten
Class: ID 3041 | Instructor: Sam Harris
Our goals for this project were to establish how the brand language related to the user, create a writing utensil that fit into the Clinique user’s life, and also to push ourselves to make something that was more than just a pen. Ideation took us in many different directions, such as color pastels, an ink brush set, and even an airbrush, but eventually we decided on the marker. The marker fit our working woman user profile, especially the fashion designer niche, and by being a utensil that makes a statement while still being an everyday use writing utensil. Since we were a bigger group, we decided to push ourselves by creating a carrying case and make it a whole set of markers. While it took on many forms, at one point being a mini purse, we designed a small marker carrier that can easily be thrown in a purse and with its hard shell casing can easily be identified by touch when sticking one hand into a bag to search for it. Our goals have been met with our final products, and we gained insight on how to really dissect a brand, what value brand holds for the user both mentally and physically, and also how to apply a brand language to a form that differs from the normal products sold by the company.
MOMO Hot Wheels
Class: ID 3041 | Instructor: Sam Harris
This goal of this project was to design, detail, and model an automotive wheel. This project was sponsored by MOMO, an Italian based company that designs automotive accessories and professional racing gear. In addition to making this wheel in the image of MOMO, we were also tasked to adapt our final design for use in Hot Wheels toy cars. I chose to design a wheel that allows for extensive end user customization through its use of plastic inserts. These inserts allow for the consumer to choose many different shapes and colors, for a truly tailored experience. If you would like to see the full process, visit joebakas.myportfolio.com
Eir
Class: ID 2024 | Instructor: Kimberly Snyder
Eir is a holistic health smart device that aims to assist and improve the user’s emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing. Eir offers consumers a customizable solution to the growing global mental health crisis. This product tracks essential factors that contribute to our mental wellbeing, through passive monitoring of daily activities. It then takes this information and outwardly projects how our behaviors could be affecting our bodies, by expressing the data through its companion-hub.
Oracle
Class: ID 2024 | Instructor: Kimberly Snyder
Oracle is an elegant and organic outdoor floor lamp, designed to radiate intensity and power while simultaneously enticing onlookers with its beauty. This sculptural lamp has evolved drastically from its conception. The main driving force behind it’s design is the Fibonacci Spiral. Every side draws inspiration from the Fibonacci spiral, with every edge and aspect playing to the spiral’s delicate form. The lamp is specifically modeled to cradle the bulb, with incremental wooden wedges that aid in supporting the metal plates as well as being an additional element that lends to the overall fluidity of its architecture. Oracle is not just an attractive sculpture; the light projects elegant shadows that disperse into different colors upon shining on the spires. The purple light exudes an attractive glow, encourages plant growth, and provides a colorful alternative to tradition fixtures
Southern Cross
Class: ID 2024 | Instructor: Kimberly Snyder
Southern Cross is a cutting edge hiking pole that has multiple utilities and improves safety and efficiency for all outdoor adventures. So that the stigma around hiking poles is toppled, and more people take care of their bodies. Southern Cross is a new take on hiking poles. Through market research, user testing, and input from industry professionals, this ergonomic and versatile body tool was born. Southern Cross functions as a traditional hiking pole, while also hosting an illumination ring around the base (illuminating the ground as you walk), flint and steel fire starter, toilet paper holder, safety reflectors, as well as an integrated GPS and emergency service interface (App integration).