About me
Rachel is a product designer with an interest in design research, concept development and prototyping.
Whilst being an independent freelancer, she also works collaboratively within team scenarios and client centred design. She is able to develop concepts in 2D and 3D, based on research using creative software and technologies.
Recent projects by Rachel include a controller to help develop fine motor skills in children and a set of coasters to encourage fathers to read to their children.
Projects
- D.O.S.TThis is a collaborative project creating temporary solutions for water hygiene. Mosquitos lay eggs on the top of stagnant water which transfers diseases such as legionella, cyanobacteria and single-celled amoeba. This project aims to prevent that happening. disturbing water A screw into the ground stabilises the product. The pole connects through and a pebble weighs down the end. The string has a changeable length from a system at the back. Through the day the solar panels power the motor and charge the battery. During night the battery powers the motor. This lasts about 7 hours which provides movement during the peak hours where the mosquitos lay eggs.
- Save the childrenYCN brief for Save the Children charity. The aim was to get dads to read to their children. The idea is a set of coasters that dads would pick up in pubs and cafes and take home to their children. Inside is a short story to read to their child and encourage literacy. ‘10 minutes of reading to your child a day can be the difference between a child being a year behind their classmates, or succeeding in school by the age of 7’ - Save the children. On the back of the mats is an encouragement to collect more mats and sign up to win free prizes on the save the children website. Therefore encouraging them to read more consistently. The main page has a bookshelf where dads can count up their reading for each day. There are also extra reading pages explaining why dads should read to their children and page to help find local libraries in the area. ‘This is such a lovely, unique idea, my children would love it!’ - Tim ‘I think mums would be encouraged too, even take them home for dads!’ - Nick
- GuuA controller and game, which require use of the tripod finger hold, to help develop fine motor skills in children between the ages of 3 and 8. Research led to a focus on fine motor skills between the ages of 3 and 8. Testing of basic and 3D printed models helped to develop and create form and scale. Guu is a blob like character that is manipulated by the controller. The movements are one to one, for example when the controller is twisted, Guu twists on the screen. Guu's world has been taken over by a virus and the only way to save it is by exploring the world and capturing the virus. Once captured Guu must take the virus back to his home and trap it inside its teapot.
- AccentuateFreelance work for Accentuate designing a point of sales display stand for their game, recently featured on BBC's Dragons Den. Inside the top part of the display are graphics demonstrating how to play the game. This is then accompanied by the shelf underneath which houses an open copy of the game, allowing customers to ‘try before they buy’. Featured in... Toy news - www.toynews-online.biz/news/read/accentuate-boosts-in-store-offering-with-new-fsdu/044215 BBC Dragons Den episode - www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b063hr2s/dragons-den-series-13-episode-2
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Work history
Freelance Product Designer
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After meeting the company at the Toy Fair 2015, I was approached to create a point of sale display stand to hold the game Accentuate. I came up with concepts, developed them and created a final design that fit with with the branding for the game.
Inside the top part of the display are graphics demonstrating how to play the game. This is then accompanied by the shelf underneath which houses an open copy of the game, allowing customers to ‘try before they buy’.
http://www.toysnplaythings.co.uk/news/latest_news_2/accentuate_unveils_new_branded_fsdu.aspx?dm_i=GSU%2C3AKM0%2C9AHKTZ%2CBSD7H%2C1
Intern
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As an intern for FWRP I was able to learn about client work. I attended meetings with clients and a colleague, mostly from primary schools, and assisted in designing the space and what play equipment would be most beneficial for the children's development through play. When assigned a space to design on my own I was able to work efficiently and please the client. FWRP builds all of their products as well as designing them. As part of my role I helped to cut, sand and put together sheds, and outside play equipment. By the end of the two months I had become a valued member of the team.
Skills
- Design
- Illustrator
- Indesign
- Photoshop
- Solidworks CAD 3D
- Sustainable Design
- Concept Generation
- Innovation
- Design for Manufacture
- Design for Children
- Design Build
Education
Product Design (BA
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2:1
Awards
Design that makes a difference