James TaylorPortfolio (2014)

Digital + Industrial Designjamestaylor.industrialdesign@gmail.com

m: (214) 417-1143

Howdy!

Team Member (January - March 2014)Helped to lead a team tasked with designing “all 6 walls”, including a integrated rail system for hanging accessories and the lifestyle products that went on them. Over 10 weeks, I coordinated team members and talked with manufacturers working with us for our final design.

Design Experience

Work Experience Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts - Savannah, GACashier/Stocking (Jun. - Oct. 2013)

Worked register and stocking as I made sure that customer experiences were stress- free and enjoyable.

Nicholson-Hardie Nursery - Dallas, TX.Floor Attendant/General Help (Nov.-Dec. 2012)

Sold and delivered Christmas trees to homes around the Dallas area. Learned the basics of salesmanship and how to interact with customers.

Midas Auto Repair - Dallas, TXMechanical Assistance (Jun.-Aug. 2012)

Performed general auto maintenance (oil changes, tire rotations, battery testing, etc.)

Camp Classen YMCA of Greater Oklahoma - Davis, OKCounselor (Jul.-Aug. 2008, Jun.-Aug. 2009)

Placed in charge of children (ages 8-12) for periods of 1-2 weeks. Learned how to lead a group with often uncooperative members.

Education Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Savannah, GA. - B.F.A. Industrial Design, 2014, GPA 3.3

SkillsTechnical

Woodworking

Lathe (Metal and Wood)

Welding (MIG, TIG)

Model Making

Contextual Research

Analytical Research

Sketch Rendering

DigitalDigital Rendering

Microsoft Office

Adobe Creative Suite

Rhino 3D

Solidworks 2014

Keyshot 4

Wireframing

Axure RP

Arduino

ProfessionalLeadership Experience

Interpersonal Communitication

Conversational French

My name is James Taylor. I am a recent graduate of the Savannah College of Art

and Design (SCAD), where I recently finished my B.F.A. in Industrial Design.

And I would like to work for you!

SCAD Pad Sponsored Project - Savannah, GA

Extracurricular- Eagle Scout

- Dean’s List

- F in Funny

Improv Club

Table of Contents

Pedicab Migliore Pedicab Ergonomic Redesign

Aermotor A17Residential Wind Turbine

N.O.S.A App DesignStudent-Run Support Group iPhone Application

What makes a Great Residential Wind Turbine?

Wind energy is one of the oldest forms of sustainable energy that

has been harnessed by humans. And yet, in 2011, overall purchases

of small-scale electricity generating wind turbines was at the lowest

point it had been in nealy two decades.

In the spring of 2013, I was give 8 weeks to design a residential wind

turbine, using the American windmill manufacturer Aermotor as the

manufactuer in this scenario.

We were challenged to consider the whole process, like how individual

parts would be made, how the users would interact with it, and even

point-of-sale and shipping.

Aermotor WIndmill Company

Founded in 1892, Aermotor sold only 24 windmills in

its first year. In 1896, it sold 20,000.

In 1933, it began manufacturing the Aermotor Model

A702 Windmill, in continuous production ever since.

Production Capabilities: Stamped sheet steel parts,

cast steel parts, galvanization, paint application

Classic

Rugged

Honest

Target Persona: Henry JacobsonHenry is a proud, American family man. His grandfather grew

up on a farm in southern Missouri in a house his great-great-

grandfather had built. Today, Henry lives in Broken Arrow,

Oklahoma, just outside Tulsa, with his wife and 3 kids, and despite

living in a quiet suburban neighborhood, he is still proud of his

family’s hardworking, homesteading tradition (even though he is

a bit “soft-handed” himself).

Over the summer, the entire neighborhood has been experiencing

periodical brownouts as an overheated power grid tries to cope

with the scorching Oklahoma weather. After reading an article

about windpower online, Henry decides that he should install

a home wind turbine to help his family keep the lights on and

the costs down. He only wants to buy American-made, but not

anything too expensive either.

Cost:

Rated Capacity:

Rotor:

Interconnection:

Estimated Energy

Production

$5399*

1.9kW-2.6kW

12 feet; 50-325 RPM

Utility Connected or

Battery Charging

400kWh/month @ 12 MPH

(5.4m/s)

Xzeres Wind Skystream 3.7 Honeywell WT6500 Bergey Excel 6

Cost:

Rated Capacity:

Rotor:

Interconnection:

Estimated Energy

Production

Cost:

Rated Capacity:

Rotor:

Interconnection:

Estimated Energy

Production

$4500*

2.2kW

6 feet(1.8 m)

Utility Connected or

Battery Charging

230kWh/month @ 14 MPH

$21,900-$27,900

10kW

22 feet (6.7 m)

Utility Connected or

Battery Charging

826kWh/month @ 11 MPH

Current Market

Ideation

Final ProductCost:

Rated Capacity:

Rotor:

Interconnection:

Estimated Energy Production

$3500

5 kW

6 feet; 325 RPM

Utility Connected or Battery Charging

500 kWh / month

Classic DesignA rugged but streamlined design that wouldn’t look out of place in the suburbs or out in the countryside. A modern look that keeps several iconic Aermotor details, like the classic tail fin shape and the sail support ring.

Easy to Use And MaintainA straightforward design lowers the amount of parts while the whole maintenance process was made to be as tool-less as possible. This ranges from a single twist to remove nose cone to replace broken sails, to simple latches on the body that help keep the body watertight until you need to open it up.

Carefully Chosen MaterialsBy making most of the parts from standard Aermotor 26 Ga. steel, this design minimizes the amount of new tooling costs for Aermotor, which keeps costs low while maintaining a light weight. Meanwhile, parts like the sails and tailfin are made of a impact-resistant ABS plastic that can really take a beating.

customizable And ModularColor is often one of the top priorities for the modern day consumer, so we made it easy and cheap to add a durable enamel coating to give each customer’s turbine a unique personality. Combine that with a simple-to-use labeling system that makes replacing any part of the turbine or tower a breeze (pun intended).

Features

The Tower

While the turbine itself is the main focus, what

makes this system really unique is the tower. While

most turbines have a solid tower or scaffolding

that is a pain to ship and transport, our tower is

divided into sections that nest within each other

during shipping. Also, whether you decide to use

the turbine off- or on-grid, all the connections are

centralized in a power box near the base. No need

to break out the ladder to check on the electricals.

Features

Assembled Collapsed for shipping

Placed in a group of 5, we were given 10 weeks to study, test with

users, and redesign a form of public transportation, with a focus on

human factors and ergonomics.

My group and I settled on the pedicab, a centuries old concept

that is still very popular among the tourist population of Savannah,

Georgia.

H ow can we i m prove th e si m ple ped i cab?

The Team

Research Analysis Development Product

+ Ethnographic

Research

+ Preliminary Analysis

+ Preliminary User

Testing

+ Ideation

+ Secondary Testing

+ Full Scale Mockup

+ Design Features

+ Comparison vs.

Original

+ In Context

+ Design Oppurtunities

Process

We began our project like all good designs do -

with a web search. We researched its history and

development, common accidents and injuries

involved with pedicabs, and local laws and

regulations regarding pedicabs.

Background Research

Our background information in hand, we then

went out and did our own research. Some of us

rode pedicabs and recorded our experiences, while

others went and interviewed actual pedicab drivers

to understand their side of the story as well.

Ethnographic Research

After we had all the information we needed, we

reconviened and shared what we had learned. Using

that data, we identified 7 touch points:

Data Analysis

Sides

Security

SeatHeight

SeatShape

Back

Step

SittingDown

Using measurements taken from a real life pedicab, we then built

a sketch model from plywood, 2x4s and cardboard. We then asked

student volunteers to talk us through their experience as they used

the pedicab, making sure to take notes on their responses.

Preliminary Testing

Analysis Increase comfort for

both taller and shorter users

by focusing on seat height and

the floorboard area.

Include a way for disabled/

elderly users to get on.

Improve

current features for the drivers.

(storage, repair, safety, etc.)

Improve both the percieved and actual safety of the pedicab.

Include a way for the user to brace themselves.

Improve the comfort of the seat, focusing on the cushioning and the angle of the seat back.

Ideation

We had our solutions, now we needed specifics.

In order to nail down some of the technicals, we

came up with several tests to get the measurements

we needed to make things as comfortable and

ergonomic for as wide a range of people as possible.

Secondary Testing

Once we had everything figured out, we

constructed a full-scale mockup of our design in

order to fully demonstrate how comfortable and

ergonomic our design was.

Full Scale Mockup

Final ProductConstructed in Solidworks 2013

Rendered in Keyshot 4.5

Use it to get on or off the pedicab, to brace yourself on bumpy roads, or just hold on to it for comfort.

Whatever you need it for, our handles are designed to be comfortable no matter what.

Entrance HandleTypical pedicab brakelights are small and close to the ground. By raising them to the top, we have increased the visibility and safety factors of riding in nighttime traffic.

Raised Brake Lights

With the elderly and disabled in mind, we did what most pedicabs don’t and added a fixed step to help with getting on the pedicab.

Footstep

Features

Super-bright LEDs help prolong battery life while increasing visibility of the pedicab and for the driver for riding at night.

Lowered Front Lights

Sub-Seating StorageCarefully planned storage means that riders have more space to store personal possessions, a tool kit, even a spare tire or a tool kit. All storage is watertight and easily accesed by folding either the seat back or base.

Our new, ergonomically designed armrest is more than just a place to rest your arms. It is a safety barrier, shielding you from the dangers of the road and your limbs out of open traffic.

Migliore Armrest

A longer footrest and sloped seat support mean that taller passengers will finally have a place to put their feet. No more dangling off the side!

Increased Foot Space

Features

In the fall of 2013, we were tasked with creating

an app that fostered community and kinship

among the student population at SCAD. We were

challenged to use one of a variety of words as our

inspiration of how accomplish that, mine being

empathy. In 4 weeks, we went through the entire

app design process: conducting research, creating

paper mockups and wireframes, and creating high

fidelity mockups.

The No One Sits Alone Project aims to solve

problems with the current system of student

emotional support as well as build a feeling of

community among students by promoting empathy.

The app was built around it and its needs.

How do we generate empathy among the students at SCAD?

To just say “college is a time of change” is a massive understatement. Students are exposed

to a unique social environment which, when coupled with a large class workload and a new list

of responsibilities, generates large amounts of mental, emotional, and even physical stress on a

daily basis. And while most colleges and universities offer support and counseling services free

of charge, sometimes that is not enough.

I first got the idea for the No One Sits Alone Project (NOSA Project for short) my freshman

year at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Sitting in the cafeteria one day, I noticed

fellow classmates who were sitting alone at their table looking miserable. I wondered if there

was a system that could be made that let students find a fellow student to talk to. I realized

how important such a service could be a year later, when a class with a larger workload than

expected caused me to have daily panic attacks.

When this project was assigned to me, it was almost 3 years after I first had the idea, however

I saw it as a perfect oppurtunity to create an app that would tie in with my original plan of a

student-run support program.

ProjecT Background

Process

+ Analysis of the current system + flow

+ Surveys

+ Problems + Analysis

+ Product Features+ Research

+ Threat + Guidelines

+ Rules

+ Paper prototypes

+ Wireframing

Research Development Final Products

How do you set up an appointment now?

Log into MySCAD,

SCAD’s email

system/student

services network.

- 1 -Find the Student

Support Services

link and log into

the appointment

making service

with a different

login name.

- 2 -Set up 30 minute

long appointment

several days in

advance

- 3 -Show up at

appointment at the

scheduled time.

If you show up 15

minutes late, the

appointment is

cancelled.

- 4 -Follow up email is

sent to students.

- 5 -

Typical Reasons for Visit

How many times have you used the student support services?

We asked Students:

4. Relationship

Issues

5. Drug Abuse2. Social Stress

(ex. peer pressure,

roommate problems,

etc.)

3. Professional

Stress

(ex. classwork, job

stress, etc.)

1. Emotional

Stress

5-6 times

7+ times

1-2 times

3-4 times53%

27%

13%7%

I kept needing help as soon

as possible - a few days later I

would have rationalized and

internalized the problem. That,

or I would have completely

forgotten why I was so upset...”

Sometimes it felt like

the counselors didn’t really

understand the problem,

especially if it related to classes.

They hadn’t gone through what

I was going through, so it was

hard for them to identify with my

problem...”

The process just kind of added

to the stress. Trying to sign up

was frustrating, and I missed

several appointments because

I couldn’t find parking. I was

frantic, I needed them to meet on

my terms...”

Poor Timing Lack of ResponsivenessLack of Connection

Problems with current system

“ “ “

Solution: The student-run support program

By keeping volunteers on-

campus, students in need can

meet immediately rather than in

a few days or weeks.

Volunteers can also meet on the

student’s terms, instead of forcing

students to meet on the school’s

terms.

Students identify more with

volunteers because they have

taken the same classes and felt

the same stresses.

Research

After a bit of development, it became apparent

that there had to be more to the app’s design

than just looking pretty or working smoothly.

More importantly than that, it would have to be

“psychologically designed”. Psychology books from

the library, online articles, and even lessons from

color theory classes were used to analyze threats

and create the guidelines for the design.

Threats + GUidelines

Students in distress are inclined to form

unhealthy attachments with the student

volunteers. We need to find a way to

prevent this to protect the volunteers.

As I learned from the surveys, causes of

student stress are extremely varied.The app

should be psychologically designed to be as

calming as possible- especially when trying

to find volunteers or in the travel time.

Unhealthy Attachment TriggersSometimes, students in distress can make

split-second, irrational decisions that can

add to the stress if blocked. If I want to

ensure that the app always responds to

the students terms, they should be able

to change their setting as quickly as they

change their mind.

Flexibility

Guidelines:

- Don’t allow students to know

volunteers’ phone numbers

- First name basis for volunteers, no full

names or majors.

- Volunteers can only meet in safely

predetermined areas.

Guidelines:

- Dominant color(s) should be in the cool

color palette

- Calming imagery, preferably savanas

and other natural environments

- Nonaccusatory/non-inflammitory

language

Guidelines:

- Ability to change or end any aspect of

the experience at any point.

AppLication Rules

1. Students must set an appointment time.

2. Students must set an appointment place.

3. Volunteers must be nearby.

4. Volunteers must be available.

5. App must be as calming and friendly as possible.

6. App must allow students to change any aspect of the appointment at any stage of the process.

Paper Prototype

WireframingMid-fidelity prototype created in Axure RP

Final productScreen layouts created in Illustrator

Renderings done in Photoshop

Login

Log in with your student login instead of a new

username and password you have to struggle to

remember.

Your profile is directly linked with your student

file: Your student I.D. photo is your “profile

picture”, your name is displayed with your age,

grade level, and major, etc. etc.

Features

-

-

Home pAge

Students can select to have a meeting right now,

or if they want to set up a meeting down the

road.

Students can also select to message back and

forth with a volunteer like pen pals for long-term

assistance.

Features

-

-

Appointment Set up

For the protection of the volunteers, all meeting

places take place in public areas that the

students can select.

If students refuse to meet in public and instead

want to have a conversation in private, they can

select video chat instead of a location.

Students can add a reason or a note describing

why they want to meet or something they want

the volunteers to know.

Features

-

-

-

Step 1: Select location group

Step 2: Select specific location

Step 3: Add a comment (optional)

Hit submit, and an alert goes out to nearby

volunteers

Searching function

The app contacts local volunteers, students are

shown a slideshow of calming images coupled

with either a helpful tip for managing stress or

an inspirational quote.

Students can change any aspect of the meeting

from the screen and can also pull up the map at

any point.

Features

-

-

In- App Chat

Protects the volunteers from letting the students

get a hold of their phone numbers.

Students can change volunteer, location, even

switch to video chat if they want from the menu.

Features

-

-

Forget where the

meeting place was? Pull

up the map while the

chat continues below.

Thank you for your time!- James