Rachel Hu
Undergraduate
Hi I’m Rachel, an Industrial Design and Applied Languages & Intercultural Studies double major! As a graduating design student I have professional experience working in digital fabrication, user ethnography, soft goods, and furniture design. My design work emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to design, drawing influence from Sino-American aesthetics and international design challenges. Any project of mine will have a strong focus on materials and form exploration. Strengths? Physical prototyping, design research, and CMF design.
Capstone Project
Class: ID 4061 Capstone Design Studio I Instructor: Roger Ball
Waste not, want not. Through the lens of sustainable design this project explored the viability of systemically processing organic agricultural, industrial, and commercial waste into a flexible bio-pulp that could then be utilized as a raw material to parallel the use of paper products. Through a standardized set of processes both mechanical and chemical, materials such as peanut shells, corn husk fiber, hulls, and banana leaves were evaluated for their usability and strength in sheets, molded pulp, and other structural treatments drawn from paper pulp use. The design of this system resulted in a proof of concept egg carton and food packaging set consisting of 90% processed corn fiber and 10% recycled paper pulp, effectively reclaiming the bio-waste. In addition, by designing a material treatment system and not just the final product, this project has opened the door for a more comprehensive exploration of reviewing bio-waste’s viability as a sustainable material for design.
Century Bicycle
Group: Joel Fleming, Sarah Haymans, Vaishu Merugu, Daniel Nixon, Joseph Nixon, Caleb Platt
Class: ID 3042 | Instructor: Kevin Shankwiler
The Century Bicycle is a Porsche branded electric bike designed as the flagship product of the proposed sub-brand Porsche Cycling. Alongside electrification, the Century innovates with integrated user interfacing of lights, safety features, signaling, and live feedback to the rider when in use. When paired with the Porsche Cycling center, this bicycle becomes part of an innovative and immersive Porsche Cycling lifestyle experience, bring luxury and performance to the bicycle commuting world.
AQ-135
Class: Smart Products | Instructors: Wei Wang, Yaling Liu
Urban air pollution poses a growing problem in developing regions as increased levels of smog and particulate matter become a new baseline in Asian cities in particular. Whereas a mask is a passive measure, the AQ-135 is a real-time feedback based air quality monitor that not only checks pollution levels, but alerts the user to potentially harmful exposure times as well. Design to be carried, this smart product generates visual and haptic feedback that correlates with conscious tracking of changing pollution conditions. By moving away from a mobile interface the user can increase mindfulness of their environment and take immediate action to protect their long-term respiratory health.