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What did you learn from your primary research?
It was interesting learning about someone’s life in such a short amount of time. It was a challenge to gather both information about Amal’s past and present day life. I learned that there is a reason for why everyone acts a certain way. I learned to allow myself to be somewhat vulnerable with a stranger. Recording the interviews helped me reprocess what we had spoken about. It helped me pinpoint certain elements I wanted to include in my design.
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What other artists, designers, and/or articles were you inspired by? How did it effect your work / process?
https://www.architonic.com/en/product/isku-desk-bike-active-bike/1562499
I was inspired by the efficiency and simplicity of this stationary bike. I wanted to research things related to the design of gym equipment, but also research the design of modern rooms, equipment, boats, etc.
https://www.designboom.com/readers/new-royal-jet-capsule-luxurious-experience-water-02-05-2019/
I looked back at the boat article. This boat design is extremely thought out. The seating is leather, and the surface is shiny and smooth. The shape is made for efficiency. I thought this article was very useful when designing my own machine.
https://www.architonic.com/en/microsite/metalmobil/3104278
MetalMobil has a wide range of furniture that pairs well with what I had in mind for my design. This furniture is curved and includes small pops of color. There is a playful yet sophisticated quality to these designs.
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What did you design and why?
I decided to design a virtual reality stationary bike/closet.
One big thing Amal and I had in common was how we used to be athletes. We both stopped due to injury. We both discussed how it’s hard to enjoy working out because it just seems so sad compared to doing a sport. I thought it would be fun to design something that could make being active in New York more enjoyable. Amal is also very fond of hiking and being in nature. I wanted to bring that into this design.
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How does it work? How does it help / support your partner?
This gym pod serves as a closet and workout space. One side includes a curved VR screen and a stationary bike. The screen interacts with the person. I have “hypothetically” set locations that Amal has visited and wants to see. It comes in a few color combinations. Amal’s room is mainly grey, so I included this in the design. He is a fan of minimalism so I went that way. The second half is a regular closet space. Amal would be able to workout and feel as if he is out of New York. Being active helps both the mind and body.
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What is the ideal scale? Materials?
The seat hight would be customized. The pod would be about 6 ft by 7 ft. The VR screen must be at least an arms length away in order to be safe for the eyes. Materials would be metal and plastic. The facing of the pod would be a slick acrylic. The pod would fit on a side of a room.
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What was most challenging about this design?
It was challenging narrowing down all of my ideas into something realistic. This technology (VR) is relatively new, so I wanted to figure out a way to focus and figure out a realistic approach to this design. I also wanted to make it more functional for a living space in New York. Amal and I talked about his interest in fashion, and I thought adding a closet space would be beneficial for living conditions in a city.
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What was most exciting to develop?
It was exciting seeing everything come to life once I started putting it on a page. Having to finalize the design after doing those fast sketches in class was exciting. In terms of color and style, I looked back at how Amal dresses and designed his dorm. I could then decide on what I think he would find appealing.
