To obtain a job as a designer

Alex Dorfman DesignSeptember 2012-PresentIndianapolis, INDesign Consulting

Design InternSummer 2012 Summer 2012 Wieland DesignsGoshen, INFurniture Design and design maintenance

Design Intern Summer 2011 Kalu Yala Panama City, Panama Designed furniture and planned sustainable tourist destination

Purdue UniversityPurdue University, West Lafayette, IN2008-2012Industrial Design Major/Furniture Design Minor3.6/4.0 GPA

Purdue University 2008-2012, West Lafayette, IN Presidential Scholarship Dammon Dean’s Scholar Finest Furniture 2011 - Purdue University Undergrad Show Best Presentation - Hasbro Sponsored Toy Project 2011 Sudler Award Finalist 2012 - Art and Design Winner

IDEA Award Finalist 2012Freeride Special Needs Tricycle

IWF Design Emphasis Student Competition Finalist 2012Panama Chair

Design Quest Design Quest Furniture Competition Finalist 2012Outer Chair

Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 2009 Aided Professor Dennis Ichiyama in his research regarding early 20th century wood typography

CS6 (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Flash)Rendering Software (Keyshot, Bunkspeed Shot)Modeling Software (Rhinoceros, Solidworks)

AΛΔΦΗΣ AΛΔΦΗΣ National Honor SocietyIDSA Purdue President 2012Purdue Boiler Green Initiative (Head of Advertising)

Danish Institute for Study Abroad (Copenhagen, DK)Furniture Design Program Summer 2010

ResumeObjective

Work Experience

Education

Awards

Research Experience

Software

Memberships

Study Abroad

Study AbroadDISTTraining students in the process of furniture-making through design and building of a full-scale ‘sitting support’. Includes conceptual development, continued refinement of the concept, production of working drawings, building of a wood, laminate veneer, or steel prototype in scale 1:1, and training communication through the exhibition of their work

FactoryFactory ToursDIS tours furniture factories such as Fritz Hansen and PP Mobler in Denmark, Sweden, and Finland.

Design/BuildTwo weeks are dedicated to design and two weeks to building using facilities within The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.

Furniture ShowFurniture ShowA full scale furniture show full of students and professionals alike was held at the end to celebrate our accomplishments

InternshipKalu YalaKalu Yala has a vision for a sustainable vacation community deep in the Panamanian rainforest. They are a land development agency led by CEO, James Stice, a young entrepreneur with a dream.

ResearchThis vision is pushed forward by his expansive internship program aimed at This vision is pushed forward by his expansive internship program aimed at promoting fresh ideas. As an intern I was required to research the culture and building techniques of the country. It is important not to build some-thing that doesn’t belong. I also researched the plant life in the area sur-rounding the jungle plot. Much of the plant life has construction, culinary, and medical benefits. Equally as important, some of the plant life is very poi no no us and caustic to the skin.

DesignDuring my time with Kalu Yala I design an outdoor love seat. It is construct-ed using a cedar native to central and South America. It is cheap, dense, and resistant to bug and mold damage.

BloggingI was also required to blog my research and design to help promote the company.

InternshipFurniture ShopBecause I was one of the first designers to intern with Because I was one of the first designers to intern with Kalu Yala I was able to pick out all of the equipment. However they were still renovating the actual studio. All of my work was done on the back porch of a house in San Miguel, a small village just outside the jungle plot.

Jungle CrewIn addition to my design work, I was a member of the In addition to my design work, I was a member of the first employees to begin settling the jungle plot.

HutWhen we arrived, there were no buildings or anything yet. I used my research into native building techniques to begin constructing huts and furniture from the resources we had.

Senior ThesisA shoe that has exceptional ankle support, is light and nimble, has technology that is transferable to other sports, has commercial appeal, is comfortable, can be customized for different teams, is durable, and has a high breathability.

Basketball Shoes to Prevent Ankle InjuryTo Design:

SketchesPreliminary Orthographics, Concepts and Refinement Sketches

“Wow this one really locks my foot into place. I feel much more support.”

1

2

Hard Plastic Support

Elastic Brace

“My foot didn’t really feel that much more support. The Strap around the top of the shoe was nice though.”

Mock-upsFirst Mock-up A n ankle support with a hard plastic insert was cut up and stitched into the shoe.

Pros Cons

Second Mock-up A soft elastic brace was wrapped around the outside of the shoe.

Pros Cons

The strap along the top of the shoe was nice and supportive.

Having the brace on the outside increases support without getting in the way.

A standard tan, elastic brace around the outside of the shoe is ugly.

The hard plastic insert was more intrusive than helpful.

Play hard

5.

Feed straps through center triangle

1.

Pull straps tight

2.

Feed excess strap through loops

3.

Make sure other side is buckled

4.

Squeeze center to unbuckle

6.

Materials

StrapInjection Molded Rubber

Center PieceZinc Die Cast

Buckle CoverZinc Die Cast

ScrewsStainless Steel

BuckleStainless Steel

Adjustment PieceStainless Steel

Strap holderInjection Molded Rubber

Physical ModelSilicon Molding Process In order to accurately display my vision, there was no way I could settle for a 3D print. After a lot of research I settled on a slow drying silicon. While the silicon was meant to be painted on models for movie masks, it seemed perfect for molding with, and so I experimented.

First Molding It was successful in that I decided it was not realistic to color the silicon the way I wanted. I also realized I had to do a better job de-gassing. There were far to many bubbles to make a strong strap.

Dowel Together Tape Up

De-gas Mold Has Excess First Molding Had Many Holes

Refill

CNCed Wren Shape Mold Silicon 1:1 MixtureMix

De-gas Bubbles Rise Up Pour Scrape Excess

Fill in Holes

Physical ModelFinal Version With better de-gassing and no dye added, I was able to create a strong rubber to portray my vision.

Loops andLoops andBuckle The remaining yellow parts were laser cut, glued together and painted.

Special Needs TrikeA ride-on bike/trike/toy for children with balance issues. Children with Autism and Down syndrome have difficulty learning to ride a bicycle. The goal of the vehicle is to develop balance skills in those children who are unable to ride a typical bicycle.

Tricycle w/ Lean-to-Turn Technology Design to Improve Balance

To Design:

SketchesPreliminary Orthographics, Concepts and Refinement Sketches

ExplanationUser Freeride caters to the needs of a wide range of mental handicap.

Range of Use 1. To begin, one can simply hold on while a parent or teacher pushes and steers. 2. Then, one can lean to turn while a parent or teacher pushes. 3. Finally one might learn to kick to push themselves and lean to turn.

Ride byYourself

12” 16”52” 26”

21” 25”

Ride withHelp

TurningLean on seat and grab handlebars for stability. The way you lean is the way you go.

MovementForward motion is achieved by kicking Forward motion is achieved by kicking ground with feet or being pushed from behind.

BenefitsLeaning gives children sense of balance without requiring them to focus on steer-ing and pedaling at the same time.

Explanation

Delta Bathroom FaucetA highly conceptual faucet that alters the way we view faucets today. The faucet should distribute water and take into account standard bathroom usage, and yet the faucet itself should be beautiful. It should keep the future in mind.

Innovative Spin on Bathroom FaucetTo Design:

SketchesWritten Ideas, Early Ideation, Concepts, and Final Refine-ment Sketch

On/Off To begin water flow pluck ball Water will cease to flow when ball stops vibrating

Hot Water To increase water temperature raise ball

Cold WaterCold Water To decrease water temperature lower ball

Physical ModelMy ModelCreated from laser cut masonite and Bondo

Delta Faucet’s ModelA two piece 3D print with a chromed out faucet and porcelain enameled basin