Both of these object design projects arose in response to challenges faced while undertaking my Master's degree studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Both designs explore the impact of our increasing dependence upon technology on underserved populations. In each I explored how the convenience of the internet and ability to access this convenience through hand held devices may, through design solutions, avoid leaving poor or handicapped people at a social disadvantage.

Each project involved several months of research, diagramming, 3d modeling using Maya, Rhino and Form Z as well as video and print presentation materials of the final prototype.

For a more complete view of these, please down load my presentation book. (8mb)

Scroll across the buttons at the top to view work.

Chicago Area Network

When I first arrived at the Art Institute in 2003, I and my entire incoming class of Architecture, Interior Architecture and Designed Objects students were presented with the "Chicago 2020 Plan". We were asked to come up with a design solution that addressed one of the pain points this plan outlines for the Chicago area.

My particular solution was intended to address the "digital divide". Unequal access to technology segregates opportunity and closes off the means of being able to keep up with our evolving culture. My intention with the "Chicago Area Network" was to provide physical, contextual access to technology by putting computer terminals into public spaces and thus augmenting the informational landscape of Chicago.

This project was ultimately one of two from the Art Institute's AIADO department selected to be a part of the Chicago Architecture: Ten Visions exhibit at the Art Institute.

Collaborative Visions of an Urban Future article on Adobe's Education website (includes video)


2:40 video which I animated, shot, edited and produced myself. Auto play is turned off, press play when you are ready to view.

Side view of terminal in use

Access to new technology is a must, not a perk.

Information Architecture

Users construct a virtual set of choices using a spatial vernacular.

Modularly assembled from a kit of parts, terminals can fit into any environment.

Ambient Envelope

In January of 2005 I was attacked by a dog. The resulting injuries left me without the use of my right hand for a couple of months. I realized right away that I was unable to use any device that required me to press small buttons. Remote control devices, keypads and my cell phone all left me helpless. The complaints of elderly or handicapped friends now rang true in my ears.

So I began exploring ways to conform our technology to our physical capabilities rather than constantly expecting our hands to conform to the gadget. I did a series of studies and came up with this "envelope". This is based upon the shape our hand cuts through the air when opening and closing the fingers. My idea is to take that shape and imbue it with the technical capabilities of cell phones, pda's, pagers, heart rate monitors, blood sugar monitors, step counters, and whatever else we stuff into our pockets or strap onto our bodies.

I currently have prototypes of the shape created in several materials.

 One gesture, a landscape of meaning

I focused in on one gesture to proved a terrain for mapping a network of needed properties into a practical context.

a universal gesture of opening the thumb

mapped to zones of pressure, stroke length and timing

and then adapted to a physical interface with
functionality customized to that zone.