Youle Chong Portfolio 2008

Experiences

Curriculum Vitae You Le, Chong (Malaysia) Curriculum Vitae

Interaction Designer Research Designer

Interaction Design Industrial & Research Design Corporate Identity & Branding

Industrial Designer

Experiences 2007

Studying MA Interaction Design, Umeå Institute of Design, Sweden

2003 - 2006

Research Designer, Orcadesign, Malaysia

2002 - 2003

Industrial Designer, Likom Casework, Malaysia

1997 - 2002

Bsc. (Hons) Industrial Design, University Technology Malaysia, Malaysia

Clientele

OSIM, www.osim.com Maclarenbaby, www.maclarenbaby.com PENSONIC, www.pensonic.com ORCA, www.orca.com.my Lotus Restaurant, Su Zhou, China Niceprint, www.niceprint.net MAQUET, www.maquet.com Motorola, www.motorola.com Danfoss, www.danfoss.com Nokia, http://onlyplanet.nokia.com/php/public/ Umea Airport, http://www.lfv.se/

How I Work?

Design Process

Each project has different weightage within individual phases depending on the project nature and the project scopes.

Industrial Design 2001 Orcadesign Consultants, Malaysia 2002-2003 Likom Casework, Malaysia

Likom LCD Monitor

Likom LCD Monitor Industrial Design

Concept 1

Ideation

Concept 3

Concept 2

Concept Development

Concept 4

Concept 5

Development 1

Development 2

Development 3

Zero Research Design Evaluation

1 Month (2002) www.likom.com.my

“WOBI” Sponge Holder

Sponge Holder

Industrial Design

Ideation

Product Usage

Concept Development

A sponge holder that bring in joy and happiness to the kitchen.

Zero Research Design Evaluation

1 Month (2001) www.orca.com.my

Research Design 2003-2006 Orcadesign Consultants, Malaysia

Maclarenbaby Stroller Research Program Identifying problems in existing baby strollers and defining design oppotunities in baby strollers market

Maclarenbaby Stroller Research Program Research Design

The objective of this program is to identify problems in existing baby strollers and to find out design oppotunities in baby strollers. This program enphasized on two (2) focuses, the product studies and the users studies. The research material were used as New Product Devlopment materials.

Examples of research findings We also identified parent who left their baby stroller unattended for a few minutes because of inconveniency to push in the baby stroller into the shops.

Research Process Interviews

On-site trials

User Observations

We had discovered interesting usage of stroller and who are actually sitting on the stroller.

Product Trials

Mechanism Studies

Product Studies

Analysis

Zero Research Design Evaluation

Market Research

Who sit on the stroller? Shopping Bag? Over Grown Kids? or Baby?

2 Weeks (2004) www.maclarenbaby.com

Parents who say NO to stroller due to the inconveniency of stroller in manuverable around especially when they are traveling alone.

Parents who misused the stroller that might endangers the children who say in the stroller.

Creative parents who modified their own stroller or even design their own stroller that suit their needs and the geographical climates.

Problem Identification

Maclarenbaby Convertible Cot and Seat A detachable seat module for an existing baby stroller

Maclarenbaby Convertible Cot and Seat Industrial Design

Convertible Cot and Seat (CCS) is a detachable module that allow it to be transformed from a cot to seat in seconds, catering for a wider usage and for a longer period of time. This project start up with a new concept that was proposed by Maclarenbaby and we carried on the design from the idea of converting cot to seat. In this project, there are 2 major focuses:



Mockup (Ideation) Size (1:5)

Low-fidelity mockup in ideation stage that help to push the idea forward.

1. mechanical design solutions 2. softgood design solutions (fabric & cushion design)

Convertible Cot and Seat Usage Converting from Seat to Cot

Functional Mockup (Development) Functional Mockup is essential in this products because it involved a lot of mechanism design.

Size (1:1)

Unlock the side lock and push the CCS Back Rest from the bottom till it change into Cot.

Converting from Cot to Seat

Released the safety lock at the CCS Back Rest. The gravity force helps to convert the cot into seat.

Zero Research Design Evaluation

3 Month (2005) Collaboration with mechanical Team

Prototype After a few functional mockups and design evalutions, the design is send for prototyping. In this project, the design was transfered back to the Maclarenbaby UK New Product Development Team for evaluation.

Mechcanical Design (Converting Cot to Seat)

Releasing the Safety Lock

Push the upper frame

Push it till both side of the locks snapped.

Softgood Design (Converting Seat to Cot)

Unbuttoning the 4 buttons on the side of the softgood of CCS.

Hold on to the top frame and let allowed CCS converts from Seat to Cot naturally with the help of gravitational force.

Product Design Identity 2003-2006 Orcadesign Consultants, Malaysia

PENSONIC Product Design Identity Corporate Identity & Branding

Product Design Identity (PDI) It is a value, an image, as well as a visual expression of the company and its brand through design, aiming to create a desirable experience that happens between the user and the company A Malaysia company named PENSONIC would like to have a facelift in their brand image. Due to the constrained of time and resources, we’ve suggested them to do a PDI program specially on colours on their best selling product range, kitchen appliances.

Zero Research Design Evaluation

4 months (2005) www.pensonic.com

Zero Phase

Research Phase

Design Phase

Evaluation Phase

Planning

Setting up Colour Lab

Analysis & Ideation

Implemention & Testing

Market Research

Design screening

Colours Interpretations & Cultural Influences

Finalising Colours

Research Scopes a. Colour Feelings & Emotion b. Regional Studies (South East Asia) c. Kitchenware + Kitchen Environment d. Brand Image & Value e. Electrical Appliances Competitors (International & local brands) f. Trends Studies (Collaborate with Clariant) g. Target Users

PENSONIC Product Design Identity Corporate Identity & Branding

Proposed Colours Applications In their products range, there are significantly divided into 2 editions, 1. The original edition 2. The limited edition for special launching or occasion.

For the original edition, we used try to work with pastel colours which are natural, comfortable, soothing and suit very well with kitchen appliances. Pastel with some subtle vivid tone gives the product a bit of highlights especially with the companion of white.

For the limited edition, we selected Maroon with Silver because it is a distinctive and exclusive combination.

Corporate Identity 2006 -2007 Graphic Design Freelancer

Astra Pharmaceutical Corporate Identity

Astra Pharmaceutical Corporate Identity & Branding

Zero Research Design Evaluation

3 Weeks (2006) Graphic Design I

Nice Print

Corporate Identity & Packaging Design

Nice Print Corporate Identity & Branding

Logo

Zero Research Design Evaluation

60 Hours (2007) www.niceprint.net

Save 50-60% of your printing costs, align with your overhrad trimming strategy! Clear printing, good quality, 100% product warranty, and a good way to stay GREEN!

Cartridges Packaging

Advertisement

Lotus Restaurant, Suzhou Corporate Identity

Lotus Restaurant, Suzhou Corporate Identity & Branding

Logo

Zero Research Design Evaluation

60 Hours (2006) www.niceprint.net

Menu

Business Card

Interaction Design 2006-2008 Umeå Institute Design, Umeå, Sweden

Design is a Game Design reflection

Design is a Game

Interaction Design “Tick-Tock Time’s Up!”, a game was inspired by Danfoss (Micro-Drives) product manager who thinks that whole department is fighting with time. The game makes players aware of the important of time and the importance of collaborations within teams to achieve the goal. It also teaches the player to be open to what is done by others and triggers a discussion afterwards about their experiences in the game and everyday life. “Time is very costly,” he states and continues to say “and very big factor to look at.”

To transport the CUBE from “START” to “DEADLINE” by shooting the puck at it - the first team to complete this, WINS.

1

Collaboration in University of Southern Denmark - Sønderborg

Users Testing

Zero Research Design Evaluation

5 Weeks (2006) Collaborations with University of Southern Denmark - Sønderborg

Intuitive Door

Sound, Form and Graphical Interpretation

Intuitive Door

Intuitive Door Interface

Interaction Design

Signing in with your personal signature.

Door Unlocked

Please Sign In

Sign in Pad

Door Bell & Intercom

Devices detected user appoaching.

New designed sounds are incorperate into these interfaces the to make the whole device more intuitive and friendly. //Link to User Interface RFID Tag

User with RFID Tag The design of the device guide user to push like an handle and once the user pushed it, is a doorbell. Devices detected user appoaching.

User Sign in.

Code Accepted, door unlocked.

User without RFID Tag Door Bell connected to the receptionist.

User without RFID tag approaching and try to open the door by pushing the door handle.

With RFID Tag, the device can auto-detect whenever an user with the RFID Tag is approaching.

Door bell heard and connected to the receptionist

//Link to Product Demo - With RFID Tag //Link to Product Demo - without RFID Tag

Door unlocked by receptionist Zero Research Design Evaluation

3 Weeks (2007) Collaborations with MA Product Design

Ambient (Musical Visualiser) A multi layering information project; giving priority in information layering...

Ambient (Musical Visualiser) Interaction Design

A display that visualises the architecture of sound and projects the mood based on the music that is playing in the living environment. Ambient the musical visualiser was inspired by the Music Genome Project which capture the essence of music at the most fundamental level. Community that listening to the same music channel

Time

Event Information

Song Information: 1. Song Title 2. Artist 3. Album 4. Year Current Playing Track

Coming Tracks

Colours and Mood of the Genre of the Music

Previous Tracks

Melody Harmony Rhythm

Orchestration Intrumentation

Vocal Rich of Vocal Harmony

Percussion

Zero Research Design Evaluation

Link to example

5 Weeks (2007)

“Stretch Your Body” with Nada A research program comparing 8 others mobile phone brand identity with panda

“Stretch Your Body” with Nada Interaction Design

“Tap-tap” File Sharing Platform

“Stretch Your Body” with Nada is an exercise that was carried out with Tellarts. It was designed to use Nada Sketchtools with MAKE controller, an asssortment of sensors, Nada software and Flash actionscripts. During the exercise, three projects were developed during this exercise with Heewon Lee and Jannes Peters.

In this virtual files of sharing, the tangible interactivity between each other become invisible and sharing activities have dimmed gradually. This design allows people to share their files through network by simply tapping the side of the screen. The shared files will fly through the screen of the sender to the screen of the receiver.

MAC platform

NADA Sketchtools RFID inputs

MAKE controller outputs

Zero Research Design Evaluation

1, Mac Mini 2, Make Controller (analog and digital converter kit) 3, Phidgets RFID Reader 4, An assortment of sensors, motors, lights, fans, servos, and RFID tags 5, NADA software and Live Manual 6, Flash 8 Software

5 Days (2007) www.sketchtools.com

//Link to design demo Approximately Sensor Touch Sensors MAKE Controller

: to identify the location of the user’s hand relatively to the files location of the screen : to trigger the sending signals : links the computer and sensors as a platform

“Stretch Your Body” with Nada Interaction Design

“Stretch it “ health monitor

“Drink me” reminder

“Stretch it” is an health monitor that reminds users to do some daily exercise in their computer work routine.

“Drink me” reminder is designed to remind the computer user to drink more water.

The computer screen will shrink down after 2 hours of non-stop work as a reminder to the user that they need to take a break and exercise. To resume the screen, the user is forced to pull the stretching tool with a friend. If a juicer is connected, the system will activate it once the exercise is completed.

//Link to design demo Pressure sensors Motors Make Controller

This device just looks like an ordinary cup coaster but it is embeded with a pressure sensor. It records the weight changes of the cup over time. From time to time, a pop up screen appears on the monitor, “It is time to drink water!”.

//Link to design demo : embedded in the handle to simulate the pulling actions : lab-made fruit juicer : links the computer and sensors as a platform

Pressure Sensors Make Controller

: embedded under the coaster to weigh the glass (the amount of the water) : links the computer and sensors as a platform

“Happy Feet” the music floor Experience prototyping project with the objective of build, test, build, test and build...

“Happy Feet” the music floor Interaction Design

“Happy Feet” is a luminous music player that could be played by anyone. In this project, we intended to explore the integration between dance steps with digital interactivity, in this case with sounds and lights.

// Link to demo This project was carried out over 12 working days with the approach of prototype early and prototype more. We nearly spent 80% of our time in prototyping, testing and trouble shooting.

Zero Research Design Evaluation

12 Days (2007)

B.O.M list 2x Laptops 2x Speakers 1x Power supply 2x Keyboard Emulators 2x Arduino Boards 24x Tiles

192x LEDs 24x Pressure sensors 24x 100k Ohm resistors 2x 100 Ohm resistors 4x ULN2003 chips A lot of wires

“Happy Feet” the music floor Interaction Design

HOW WE WORK? Trial and error

Day 1

Finding ideas and exploration

Day 7

Facing lots of difficulties with the hacked piano system

Day 2

Sourcing for Materials

Day 3

More experiments and building our own pressure sensors

Arduino with processing and Flash (matching hardware & software) Day 8

New attempt with Arduino using flash actionscripts with keyboard emulator

Day 9

Using ULN 2003 chip as a switch to allow external power supply to power the LEDs

Day 5 Development

Day 4

Production

Hacking an electronic Piano to get some sounds

Day 10

Production starts (duplicating the code, physical parts, soldering, wiring...)

Using PhidgetLED 64 to create the luminous effects

Day 11

Production continue (subassembles the parts)

Day 6

Day 12

The final assembly

Airport as an Interface Shaping a Pleasure Departure

Airport as an Interface Interaction Design

The Airport as an Interface is a 8 weeks group project with Stina Jonsson and Paula Segura, in collaboration with Umeå Airport. The goal was to create an user experience, considering the airport as an interface to the city of Umeå. We also aimed to give the airport some ideas for the future reconstruction.

User Observations & Shadowing

Interviewing

Grounded Theory

Participatory Design (i)

Participatory Design (ii)

Participatory Design (iii)

The final design is based on eight weeks of ethnographically inspired methods such as User Observations, Ethnomethodology, Grounded Theory and Participatory Design. The concept is declined in four parts: an interactive floor guide, a culture cube, a motion detector OLED information on tables and some arrivals, departures and gate screens. dscreens.

Zero Research Design Evaluation

8 Weeks (2007) www.lfv.se

Airport as an Interface Interaction Design

Shadowing (Research sample)

Grounded Theory

It is a well known fact that there often is a discrepancy between what people say they do and what they actually do. In light of this, we decided to shadow and film behavior as well as interview the travellers. Shadowing and then interviewing the same individuals would provide us with a deeper and more complex understanding of how the airport is being used.

This part of the research was very much inspired by Grounded Theory with the less strict version that is connected with Glaser (1998). The aim of Grounded Theory is to discover the theory implicit in the data. You start with data collection which we did by shadowing and filming and by interviewing. The next step is the coding.

Link to research video

Airport as an Interface Interaction Design

Quotes from Interviews

Joakim (student)

Sara & Lena (scientists)

Interview

Austrians (engineer)

Footage from Shadowings

Henricksson Family

Umeå Man

Coding

Memoing

Hypothesis (Design Opportunities)

Design

Shadowing

Sony Ericsson’s Sales (Foreigners)

Grounded Theory

Participatory Design

Airport as an Interface Interaction Design

Participatory Design (PD) We had two participatory design sessions at which nine travellers and seven design students participated. For the first session we decided to divide the group into two groups. PD -1 is “the white room” which included role playing and body storming.

PD -2 is “the mini airport”. Is it a miniature model group, made a 3D collage about how they wanted the new departure hall to be. The could draw on the plan of the airport, cut and paste from magazines, hang signs in the ceiling and use play-doh to make furniture.

PD -3 is “the departure hall”. For this session we took ideas from the first two sessions ideas and build a departure hall with lo-fi & wizard of oz techniques to allow people to experience the environment. A discussion is held after this session to discuss about the pros and cons or each idea.

cultural cube The cultural cube is a collaboration between the airport and the library, supporting the project of getting Umeå elected European cultural capital 2014. It gives travellers a nice way to spend time in transit by listening to sounds, music, books and facts about Umeå. They can bring a bit of Umeå culture with them on their journey afterwards, by downloading from the cube on their pendrive. // Link to demo

interactive floor guide Although Umeå City Airport is a small place, signage is a must have and it presents an opportunity to create an innovative experiences out of the ordinary. Inspiration comes from the nerves of the leaf but it is also an attempt to reduce the information overload by only showing the information to people who need it. // Link to demo

Info screen and gate screen Time passing is displayed using Storytelling. Complementing the accurate clock, birch leaves fall smoothly one by one, during the last ten minutes before boarding. The leaves are of course also a connection to “The City of Birches”. It gives to passengers a calm feeling. // Link to demo

At least 60% or the students.

motion detect OLED information Keeping the essential airport information close to the travellers when they are in transit at Umeå City Airport is one of the important parts of the new airport experience. Nervous double checks of flight time or gates are no longer needed. Passengers can relax and enjoy their time in the departure area. // Link to demo

Connect the Unconnected “Connect” the “Unconnected”?

Nokia Only Planet Interaction Design

This project spread over 10 weeks and resulted into a documentary about the “unconnected” community from the massive digital communication network.

IMMIGRANTS

their aspirsations and their stories

Zero Research Design Evaluation

10 Weeks (2008) www.nokia.com

It started up in a group of three and after 2 weeks of research, we proceed into our own direction. In our research wedecided to look back at our own cultures, and try to find a common ground to three of them.

“Conventional” Communication Methods

What is communication? What is non-verbal communication

“A man’s reach must exceed his grasp... or what’s a heaven for?” - Robert Browning

Visual Memories

The “Malaysian Way” Who is the unconnected?

reflection | role playing | brainstorming | interviews

brainstorming | interviews | story telling | wizard of oz

In my project journey, I had experienced a totally different design route. Instead of continuing in design, I moved on with more research. New information, new sight, new exposure and new aspiration strike.

mock-up | user testing | reflection | decision making

shadowing | observation | exploration | interview

documenting | video editing | sharing | reflection

Nokia Only Planet Interaction Design

A stronger insight has extended the limits in design from a design solution into a documentary.

A day with Anthony Chu (the photographer)

User experience (the immigrants with the camera)

Message from Home (Nepal to Malaysia)

The Postcard Camera Concept (Story telling)

Visiting the Immigrants Accomodation In Melaka, Malaysia

More interviews and observations were carried out with the immigrants. The intention was to comprehend their social contacts as immigrants in Malaysia. On the other hand, shadowing Anthony Chu had become part of the plan to grasp further his daily contribution to them. This project went through various phases of design. From ideation to development till refinement, but after the user testing exercise, instead of proposing a design solution which at that stage was not mature, a decision of continuing the search was made. Although the project requirements were not met with the deliverables of documentaries but it has definitely gave me a clearer insight of immigrants life and expanded my view. The last 4 weeks of my project had changed my design vision and questioned my personal positioning in design.

CLICK on the images to play videos. Read more about this project:

Project Blog The Malaysia Ways My Experience (Project Report)

Green Umeå

Make sustainability a living community

Green Umeå

Interaction Design

Research Focus

As a final examination, the students of Master in Interaction Design programme have to develop a project in co-operation with a company, demonstrating their skills as interaction designers. This project lasts about 20 weeks starting from 21 January till 4 June 2008.

Dec

Preliminary basic understanding about the subject plan - time, budget, collaborators

Jan

Waste Management Operating System

Research collect, sort & analyse data identify problems and design opportunities

Feb

The Process (Behind the scene)

Ideation use the inspirations from the research to generate ideas lot of sketchy ideas

Mar

Development use the inspirations from the research to generate ideas lot of sketchy ideas

Photo by: B Tal

I am an Interaction Design Master Student with a professional background as a Research Designer for 4 years. I have always been interested in the environmental topic. I will take this project as an opportunity to explore “What could be the role of Interaction Design in Sustainability? ”

Zero Research Design Evaluation

20 Weeks (2008)

Apr

Refinement improve and refine the design constrains implementation

May

The Process (User experience)

Delivery build final design mockup or prototype final presentation

Waste Management Information

Visiting sites and interviewing professionals

Shadowing, Observing and Interviewing users

Problem Identification To have a clearer view, I have devided the recycling route into three different zones, 1. recycling at home 2. the journey from home to recycling center 3. at the recycling center

Proper waste management needs efforts, extra knowledge and is very time consuming. Results are not prominent, facilities are not well maintained and community contributions are not appreciated.

What if... recycling becomes enjoyable information is in the air recycling is a lifestyle someone say thanks The design challenge of the following phases are to make sustainable a living community in Umeå

This project is still on going till 5th June 2008...

Example of Research Video at iLRecycling Link to Mid Presentation

Skills & Strength Curriculum Vitae Skills Softwares

Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign Adobe Premiere Element Macromedia Flash and Freehand Microsoft Word and Powerpoint Sound Software - Audacity ProEngineer

Hardware

Make Controller with Nada Phidgets Arduino Electronics

Knowledge

Experience Prototyping - Low Fidelity and High Fidelity Prototyping Electronics with sensors and controller (with flash actionscripts) Design Research - Grounded Theory, Participatory Design, Shadowing Design Research - New Product Development and Trend Studies Video Documentary Short Movie Making Branding and Product Design Identity Project Management Interactive Presentation

Languages

English, Chinese and Malay (Advance) French & Swedish (Beginner)

Strength

Strong in Design Process & Methodology Strong in Research, Documentation and Presentation Strong Coordinating, Planning & Organizing Skill Innovative & Creative Responsible & Self Initiatives Problem Analytical Skill Work great in Team & Individually

Thanks for viewing.

You Le, Chong (Malaysia) [email protected] +46 73 031 00 85 Pedagoggränd 1C:15 SE-907 30, Umeå, Sweden