Saranya Rukmangadhan | Lifestyle accessories designer

Email : saranya_nid@yahoo.com | Phone: +91 9176662206 | National Institute of Design

Spirited and passionate, I strongly believe in following my heart. I am a keen observer and try to find reasons behind almost everything. I dream a lot and enjoy exploring new avenues.

Education

2008 - 2011 PGDPD Lifestyle Accessory Design, National institute of Design2004 - 2008 BE., Industrial Engineering, Guindy College of Engineering, Guindy, Anna University

Core competency

Analytical thinking and conceptualizationConsumer understandingSocial trend analysisPersona developmentScenario buildingOpportunity mapping Working in a team as well as independently

In my design process, I give a lot of emphasis on research as I believe that design is

about “spotting dormant human needs and simplifying user experiences artistically”

About me

Garment care

aspiration

CONSUMER

Identify the sample

Identify consumer segment

Persona building

Identify touch points

Ideal laundry

experienceUser

product interaction

Shopping and Buying behaviour

Need gap analysis of

demos

Brand positioning

BRANDProduct category

knowledge

Brand proposition

Brand philosophy

Target consumer

Cross category

study

Medium Trends in FMCG

communication

Study of various

mediums

Cross category studies

Consumers and the

mediums

Deeper understandi

ng of selected mediums

Ideal live product experience

Diploma project at Hindustan Unilever

1

2

3

4

Design for massproduction

Data collection

Opportunity mapping

Scenario building

Understanding the brief and the brand Elements researched

To translate the perceptional, emotional and cognitive experience while interacting with a product, into a live experience in order to affect the consumer’s buying behavior.

Live product experiences authenticate the effectiveness of a product and increase the value of the product, providing stronger and more valid reasons for a customer to make her purchase decision.

5

Prod

uct e

xper

ienc

e d

esig

nD

esig

n re

sear

ch in

FM

CG

Mrs.Know it all + Mrs.Busy bee

The consumer appreciates the over all experience of using a

product and not just the results.

Emphasizing on these elements along with the results in the live product experience.

Scenario 1Look, feel, buy

Word of mouth gives maximum assurance and

leads to purchase.

Scenario 4Talking spaces

Consumers remember

experiences in which she was involved and had some multi

sensory interaction.

Scenario 4Engage through activity

Consumers appreciate experiences where she feels

special and convenient

Scenario 3Tailor made for you

bservation 1

dea 1

bservation 3

dea 3

bservation 2

dea 2

bservation 4

dea 4Create platforms where consumers can talk and exchange information about the product.

Make the demos a part of an experience rather than making it a separate act or take the demo to the consumer.

Develop simple fun activities through which the consumers experience the product.

Concepts

Self happiness

Credibility Novelty

Consumer’s touch points

Consumer’s touch pointsConsumer’s touch points

Des

igns

bas

ed o

n a

trend

W

orks

hop

by R

enau

lt ,In

dia

With technological advancements and virtual spaces taking a toll, human beings would become aloof from real emotions and the instability in all choices would reflect their frivolous self.

Trend “ The frivolous me”

Identify patterns in current social scenario

Validate the trend

Visualize scenarios and persona

Design products and spaces

Community space inspired from banyan tree where people meet to have face to face interactions aiming at encouraging selflessness and bonding in people. And cozy seating inspired from random knots of banyan roots.

1

2

3

4

Primary colours

Accent colours

Col

ours

and

pat

tern

s W

orks

hop

by S

amsu

ng,In

dia

Busy lifestyle and high stress levels has created an increasing desire to decelerate and enjoy the real essence of life

Trend : “ Seeking life”

Validate the trend

Identify patterns in current social scenario

Visualize the mood

Make colour palette

1

2

3

4

Massager with an innovative surface

A simple, easy to use, cordless massager to give a feeling of a good hand massage.

Analysis and Mind mapping

Opportunity mapping

Material exploration

Working prototype

Research findingIn Ahmedabad many elderly live alone as their children preferred to settle abroad or in other states and they avoid using any personal wellbeing products because they simply cannot understand or relate with them.

Main insight“A massage from my grand daughter’s hands is what I long for”

Des

ign

for e

lder

ly

Mas

sage

r for

arth

ritis

patie

nts

uninflated state

When the air bag gets inflated, the massaging surface on the inner side presses against the body giving the required pressure.

The concept

The massager is like an air bag made of thin rubber whose inner side has the massaging surface. At a press of the button, the embedded gas generator inflates it and vents out air through small holes on the surface, creating the required thumping action.

Interviews, Simulation study1

2

3

4

5

Massaging surfaces explored

Innovative massaging surface on the inner side made of rubber pipes to simulate that hard yet soft feel of a hand massage

Working prototype

Des

ign

for t

he v

isual

ly im

paire

d

Obs

tacl

e d

etec

ting

jew

elle

ry

Pendant replaces walking stick

The pendant inspired from the form of dolphins with obstacle detecting sensors embedded would be their intimate guiding pal.

SRF02 ultrasonic sensorRange - 16cm to 6m.Power - 5v, 4mA Frequency - 40KHz.Size - 24mm x 20mm x 17mm height.Vibration alert

Prototype: silver plated copper

Research finding

Their most important aspiration is emotional security and social acceptance as a normal human being.

Main insight

“I don’t like carrying a walking stick because it tells everybody that I am blind and people start showing sympathy.”

Var

iatio

ns

In depth interviews, Obesrvation

Literature review, expert interview

Opportunity mapping

Form exploration

Mock up

1

2

3

4

5

Jew

elle

ry w

ith tr

aditi

onal

but

tons

Inte

rnsh

ip w

ith U

pasa

na, A

urov

ille

Contemporary jewellery design with traditional buttons of Varanasi to improve their demand and generate employment to the craftsmen.

Contemporizing traditions

Select product category

Select target market

Decide the looks

Design for mass production

Look 1

Royal elegance1

2

3

4

Look 2

Understated

Look 3

Urban cool

Clutch bag for FabIndia clients

Des

ign

for s

usta

inab

ility

Leat

her e

mbr

oid

ery:

Kutc

h,G

ujar

at

Field study: capture needs

Current market and customer analysis

Craft strategy

Design and deploy

Sustainability of a craft depends on the craftsman’s willingness to adapt to change...And this is possible if the change introduced respects his values and fulfills his need. Need identified: Improved range and quality of embroidery

Problem identified: Women being embroidery experts not involved in the craft as it is considered difficult to stitch through leather.

Solution: Introduced easier ways of doing embroidery on leather to facilitate women toget involved while men did the structure of the bag.

Design traced on leather and holes made using aari (locally used sharp tool) to make stitching easier and explore more designs.

1

2

3

4

Bag

for a

des

igne

r lab

el

App

arel

des

igne

r: A

neet

h A

rora

Organic leather bag

The signature style of apparel designer Aneeth Arora “natural, unrestricted and elegant” was translated in the form of a bag to suit her clientele.

Brand, Client study

Concept exploration

Form, material exploration

Prototype

1

2

3

4

Natural Unrestricted Elegant

The mystic pinkroom divider A

n ex

perie

nce

with

orig

ami

Hand

skills

exp

lore

dOrigami was explored on silk fabric to create beautiful forms and tesselations.

Technique and material exploration

Conceptualization

Design

1

2

3

Intim

acy

thro

ugh

des

ign

Emot

ions

of s

ound

s

Conceptual space installation

Understand the emotive aspects of clay

Conceptualization

Design

A space installation concept using the whooshing sound generated by air flowing through empty clay pots of varying sizes to create an intimate experience.

1

2

3

Thank you

Email : saranya_nid@yahoo.com | Phone: +91 9176662206 | National Institute of Design