Sumher Panjabi
Undergraduate
Design is a JOKE.
Good design will illicit a visceral response
Bad design makes everyone uncomfortable
Design that needs explanation has failed
The best jokes require an enormous amount of thought to make, but almost none at all to be effective. They're usually highly contextual, and require deliberation as well as insight, and that's nothing to laugh at. My goal as an Industrial Designer is to use this ever-changing "Sense of humor" and my prototyping and presentation skills to craft better experiences whilst being mindful of their impact at large - on people, nature and over time. I pride myself on my enthusiasm to learn. In the last 4 years alone I've learned to code, weld, cad, sketch, think, print, paint, render and most importantly - Be lazy enough to get a good night's sleep.
SUIT SAX
Class: ID 3052 | Instructor: Noah Posner
I hate wearing ties. They choke, they flop around, but worst of all - They serve no purpose. Next time the corporate machine tries to stifle your individuality with "Wear a fun tie", slap on the SUIT SAX and jam out! In the line at subway, on the bus, or when someone makes the mistake of handing you the Aux cord. This otamatone- like instrument takes in pressure input on one end and the intensity of your blowing on the other and outputs a sax-like sawtooth wave, all whilst being stealthily integrated into the tie of your choosing. Expressing yourself with your clothing is at a whole new level with this one.
SOS Oven
Class: ID 3051 | Instructor: Wei Wang
Most students cook every day. Many have leaned into it and enjoy it.
68% said kitchen space is restricting.
Sharing appliances with 2-4 people is the norm for college life, that kitchens get gross.
They move once a year or more, 90% said they move with appliances.
College students cook with Stoves (93%) Ovens (67%)
90% of college students cook for just 1-2 people
Not monitoring the oven causes accidents, but multitasking is the norm.
Most Oven Ranges are overkill - They waste far too much time and energy for college student cooking and are a dated form factor in dire need of re-design.
Meet the SOS Oven - The Smart Oven and Stove that isn't smarter than it's user.
Modular design and efficient, dual use of heating elements in the footprint of a toaster oven can now be your whole kitchen - at tailgates, camp sites, or even in the bedroom. What's more, it's easy to clean and replace just the parts that break down the line.
The minimalism of this product carries through to the two knobs that intuitively control everything.
A House Clad in Copper Project
Solo Project
Working with Jivaram, a distinguished Indian wood-worker, craftsman and entrepreneur was an eye opening experience. Being able to create beyond my skill level was an opportunity to create this minimalist yet intriguing towel rack, tailor built for the latest SPASM Design Architects' project, "A house clad in copper".
This simple bent pipe and two wooden dowels epitomizes the idea of a product being greater than the sum of it's parts, and I'm immensely proud of what the craftsmen achieved with my simple design and direction.
Radical Wrenches
Class: ID 2023 | Instructor: Kimberly Snyder
The adjustable wrench is a design that hasn't changed in over a 100 years. They are awkward to use, aren't very stable, and rely on a clunky, unergonomic mechanism . If the jaws slip even slightly (a common occurrence) the users risk stripping the bolt - or worse - hurting themselves. No professionals I asked recommend using them.
Mechanical pragmatism, user centered design and a unique aesthetic make Radical Wrenches the only wrench a normal household needs.
The print-in-place herringbone planetary gearset is perfect for the additive manufacturing processes of the future - like DMLS. It eliminates a two step process in favor of the muscle memory of using scissors or pliers - All while being cool enough to live in the kitchen drawer.
Zenthisizer
Class: Sophomore Studio | Instructor: Steve Chininis
A very close friend of mine at Georgia Tech takes “The legal maximum dose” of Prozac, a terrible withdrawal causing anti-depressant. She’s not alone in doing so and has been prescribed the Drug with increasing doses since she was 12.
Between 2009 and 2015, the number of students visiting counseling centers increased by about 30% on average, while enrollment grew by less than 6%.
Anxiety and depression are a major problem on college campuses and society often treats them like a disease rather than the nuanced psychological problem it is. Music therapy is proven to be effective in its treatment non-chemically, but most implementations involve going to an expensive therapy center regularly where the vast majority of attendees are terminally ill. This is obviously unsuitable for college kids and since picking up an instrument voluntarily is a major time commitment, the "Zenthisizer" is an approachable and relaxing music therapy tool and the perfect gift for a student leaving the nest.
Engage Bracelet
The "Engage Bracelet" is a modular and unique solution to a myriad of college student problems.
It seeks to make ID cards, clickers and even having a computer open in class a thing of the past.
Forgetting a buzzcard at home before a day of classes results in hunger, disappointment and being locked out of class. The engage bracelet uses inexpensive accelerator and wireless communication technology to include students in a seamless mesh network of inter-connectivity.
With simple gestures like raising your hand to be added to a speaking queue and to answer questions in class, professors can speak uninterrupted and students in even the largest lecture halls can feel engaged without the distracting void of an open laptop or phone screen. Question already answered? Save the class some time by shaking your wrist to remove yourself from the queue. Professors hate taking attendance? Students whose bracelets aren't in class are simply marked absent. Want student feedback? Ask questions and count the number of raised hands with a press of a button.
What's more, it lives on the student's wrist, making it much harder to forget, and can truly take learning into the future all whilst demanding less of the students and professors.
Big Soda Lamp
Class: Sophomore Studio | Instructor: Steve Chininis
The Big Soda Lamp is a joke. Its a lamp for the poolside that'll make drunk resort goers chuckle and give the highly-strung ones a reading light. Oh and it's also a side table.