Industrial Design — Eric K Chiu

In 2014, I graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in Industrial Design with an Environmental Sciences minor. Through this "engineering meets social sciences" curriculum, I was introduced to a wide array of design processes and scientific methods. I studied abroad twice, which left me with a complex paradigm on UX and universal design. My course work at Georgia Tech and Chalmers (Gothenburg, Sweden) included:

Material science and engineering
Usability
Prototyping
Cognitive psychology
Sketch ideation
Digital imaging (3D, 2D)

Wearable Device for NASA

Astronauts aboard the international space station (ISS) are constantly monitoring screens and manipulating screens from across the room. How can we make it easier for astronauts to get things done without creating distractions?

Proposed Scenario

Since astronauts are constantly on the move inside different parts of the ISS, communication has to be wireless. At the time of this project, multi-lingual voice-activated controls were not deemed feasible.

Leveraging the brain: Proprioception

A properly functioning central nervous system has the ability to locate various parts of the body based on fine-tuned sensory input; this is known as proprioception. The "F" and "J" keys on a QWERTY keyboard are great examples of how design can leverage proprioception in helping people orient them bodies with devices.

Arduino + Breadboard prototyping

2013 NASA Wearable Symposium

This project was presented at the 2013 Wearables Symposium at the Johnson Space Center, near Houston, TX.

Eric K Chiu, B.S. Industrial Design (Human Factors, design, circuit configuration, prototyping)
Hunter Clarke, B.S. Computer Sciences (Coding, networking, simulations)
Xiao Xiong, M.S. Human Computer Interactions (GUI, networking)
Bala Ganapathi, M.S. Human Computer Interactions (GUI, simulations)

Oxygen Concentrator Redesign

In collaboration with Philips Respironics, I and a team of two other industrial design students redesigned the physical design of a oxygen concentrator. These devices are used by people who suffer from respiratory diseases, notably chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Our design goals were shaped by usability issues, and our execution was driven by engineering constraints.

Identifying Usability Issues

Through research interviews, we found that the majority of people who use the current product suffer from mobility issues. Unfortunately for these users, the device was designed to be as compact as possible. We decided to raise the interface through our design.

Thermodynamic Considerations

Certain components created more heat than others. In order to optimize performance, I iterated component configurations to cater to our height goals.

Sketch Iterations

Rough Foam Modeling

In order to work through design decisions, we prototyped the device using foam. This allowed for us to make high-impact changes with low time investments.

Final Prototype

Collaboration: Sarah Brand and Leslie Bush

Interactive Exhibition Device Concept

Tasked with designing an immersive interactive experience, I and project partner (David Hotard) decided to leverage near field communication to create a photo-sharing platform for those in public and private spaces, using fixed cameras and location based intelligence.

Wearable Device for NASA

Oxygen Concentrator Redesign

Interactive Exhibition Device Concept

Sketching