Overview

As the Director of Product Development, I have modernized Urban Umbrella’s product to be more flexible and economical while maintaining its architectural elegance and structural integrity. Using my intuition as a designer and education as a mechanical engineer, I have worked with our engineers and fabricators to develop a new design strategy: minimize the number of welded parts and simplify the majority of our components to be made out of the same stock material—12 gauge steel. The reduction in weldments and increased use of sheet steel cut overall production cost by 50% and allows us more flexibility to adapt to any width of sidewalk.

Design Development:

Urban Umbrella is disrupting the sidewalk shed market. As its head of design, I am constantly pushing the product to be better for customers, easier to install, and cheaper to produce. I understand the clients’ aesthetic needs as well as our construction costs, so I am able to innovate with both in mind. The resulting designs are uncompromising in providing maximum benefit to the customer while minimizing production costs and simplifying the installation.

Production to Installation:

As the lead designer, it is my responsibility to model, produce, and verify the drawings used for engineering and production. I also oversee project plan and detail drawings for official submissions and installation sets. Understanding a design from conception through technical drawing, production, and installation allows me to design efficiently to streamline the process between the various phases.

Project Management:

For all installations in NYC, I have been the on-site supervisor in charge of coordinating inventory logistics, overseeing contractor installation, insuring contractor and pedestrian safety, and serving as the point of contact for our clients. Having on-site experience has sharpened my organization and coordination skills and my ability to communicate with both clients and contractors.

At the intersection of my skills and experience as an engineer and designer is a unique approach to product design that allows raw creativity to be coupled with problem-solving and organization. With the engineering factors of design being considered at the outset of my process, the resulting products are more efficient in materials, cost, and manufacturing while maintaining their design purpose and aesthetics. This careful balance of thought and implementation quickens the design cycle, bringing products from conception to production faster.

This cantilevered stair for a Nantucket house incorporates a steel frame within a board-formed concrete wall to which the treads were attached with specifically tensioned bolts. The system created a stiff walking surface at the end of the treads to accommodate a glass handrail. As a demonstration to the architect and their client, a portion of the stair system was 3D printed to illustrate the internal structure. Using SolidWorks, I built the components, tested the structure using the FEA analysis, and created the shop drawings.

The bike trail system surrounding Clemson University requires maintenance in places that aren’t always accessible by truck or ATV. The goal was to create an add-on for the existing BOB bike trailer that allowed for secure storage of a variety of tools with quick access. The system is made from one panel of a Alupanel composite (two sheets of aluminum sandwiching a polyethylene core) that, after milling, is folded into shape and riveted to the trailer. The “scale” shaped holes allow bungee cords to attach by inserting horizontally then turning 90 degrees, but doesn’t allow the hooks to jostle loose during rough trail riding. In a team of students from various backgrounds, I learned how to project manage different skill sets, take a design through the iterative process, and operate CNC machinery.

Unsatisfied with the awkward size of the university-provided dorm desk, I made it a goal to build a desk to better suit my needs over the winter break of freshman year. With space as a constraint, the desk needed to be easy to stow but sturdy enough to not rock when writing or using a computer. Poplar was selected as the material because of its firm but workable surface, availability, and cost as a hardwood. Drawing by hand and building it out of our garage taught me how to work with wood and what details are necessary to turn an idea into a finished product.