Thesis MID
Spring, 2023
Master of Industrial Design / Pratt Institute
Advisor for 6 thesis projects: Mary Lempres developed Reef Rocket, an oyster reef structure cultivated from biocement. Its purpose is to facilitate citizen science monitoring and contribute to the restoration of marine ecosystems. Luo Shengbai created Flex Light Nesting Tables, a collection of tables and lights tailored for compact home spaces. The design aims to enhance intimacy and comfort in limited environments, encouraging social interaction and improving the overall interactive experience; Zihao Wang introduced MOVY, a project focused on assisting individuals who frequently relocate in urban areas to establish their ideal rented homes.
Artifacts for Tourism
Spring, 2022
Special Project / PRATT – EAPD
Artifacts for Tourism (Puerto Rico) was a collaborative project between the School of Art and Design of Puerto Rico (EAPD) and Pratt Institute’s Industrial Design Department to generate design ideas within this wide-ranging industry. This course explored the design of portable products, small scale objects for diverse emerging or nontraditional scenarios, such as the ‘sharing economy’ of Airbnb and Uber, or the post-pandemic tourism boom phenomenon. Projects focused on context, with the exchange of local experiences between the groups from both schools, and the students practiced their competencies in research, documentation, ideation, testing, modeling, prototyping and presentation. The final works can be seen in Milanote.
Thesis MID
Spring, 2022
Master of Industrial Design / Pratt Institute
Thesis Advisor on 6 projects: Chenqi Zhang, ZERO: A helper for static postural measurements in gym; Elira Duro, Jemi Një: which translates to “we are one” in Albanian, is an application, a gesture and a speaker that facilitates translation; Guanbo (Bert) Liang, Bamboo Ready is a solution that utilizes the nature of bamboo and incorporates ready industrial accessories into a furniture design; Ross Cameron, Wetwork: enabling escape from flooding spaces; Tengbo Rong (Tony), Interact with Trees: a set of tools for children’s social activity experiments to detect tree health; and Yiting Liu (Frank), MUU is a modular design hive for solitary bees that aims to reintroduce solitary bees as pollinators into an urban environment.
Sound in Design
Spring, 2022
Senior Design Studio / Capstone Project. Pratt Institute
Interaction with objects and experiences involving artifacts are largely mediated by the senses of sight and touch. The acoustic space is a territory of perception full of opportunities for design. This Studio explores the design of products where sound plays a functional role, like in design for the blind or safety products. In addition to an investigation regarding the geometry of sound and the different sources of production and reproduction of acoustic stimuli, the studio explores relevant contexts (public and private) and unique experiences connected with the perception of sound.
Biomimetics for the health and safety of people
Fall, 2021
In this other edition of the workshop, dedicated to the study of design and nature with applications in the area of health and safety, 12 students explored topics such as floods, inclusive design or plant pests. A face-to-face workshop with the use of collaborative and remote work platforms. These workshops seek to explore natural systems for their application in products, with an exhaustive process of synthesis and construction of three-dimensional models. The Tackl Board: Adaptive Cooking project, tools for people with restricted mobility, by designer Selin Miskavi won one of the Research Open House 2022 awards.
Design for Emergency
Spring, 2021
Special Project / PRATT – EAPD – ESNE
Design for Emergency / Special Project (Puerto Rico) is a collaborative project between Pratt Institute (NYC), EAPD (Puerto Rico), ESNE (Spain), and the international organization Socentlabo. A project to explore design opportunities in the emergency area with an emphasis on objects / devices / systems of assessment, measurement or visualization of some variable of emergency situations for technicians or communities. The final works can be seen in Milanote.
Design for the Elderly and the Wellness
Spring, 2021
Senior Design Studio / Capstone Project. Pratt Institute
Fourth edition of the Design Studio dedicated to the elderly, in different contexts of daily life. The final works and the description of the projects can be seen in Milanote.
Thesis MID
Spring, 2021
Master of Industrial Design / Pratt Institute
Thesis Advisor of 5 students and thesis work and presentations in a remote experience due to the pandemic.
Naixin Kang / Remote Mourning & Online Funeral. Asad Jawed Ahmed / Pause and Reflect: a line of furniture to explore the intersection between Religion and Sustainability. Nan Zhou / Story “Characters”: a set to help Chinese children to learn Chinese outside China. Yiming Ding / Desk Organizer System. Sophia Yimeng Sun / Watchya – Home Office motivation Tool.
Biomimicry, Health and Wellness
Fall, 2020
In our recent Senior Design Studio session, we explored the fusion of Design and Nature, focusing on health and well-being. This Studio took place online during quarantine and involved 12 students from 6 different countries. Our approach involved exercises using natural references and exploring potential applications, considering how these solutions could be applied in different situations. We were honored to host guest designers like Juliana Serna Mesa, Luis Angarita, and Yen Chieh Chiu, among others. You can view the completed projects on Milanote board.
Thesis MID
Spring, 2020
Master of Industrial Design / Pratt Institute
Advisor of 6 students and Thesis presentations online due the quarantine: Alex Thompson / You Are Here: Navigating a City’s Narrative. Angie Weixue Zhang / Embarrassment in Gynecology: Redesigning Orientation Kit. Jane Wei Chen Shih / Fresh Food Favor. Logan Good / Sustainable Way, Cigarette Receptacles Supporting Sustainable Behavior. Martin Sombathy / CMC* Machinery: Creative Construction for Kids . Tina Haiqi Yu / Phone-lift.
Design for Disasters & Resilience
Spring 2020
Special Project / PRATT – EAP
A cooperation course between Pratt Institute and the School of Plastic Arts and Design of Puerto Rico (EAP). 19 students participated in this experience where everything was prepared for a dive on the island and was canceled by the pandemic. Work continued remotely with teams of mixed students from the two institutions. A project, developed together with Prof. Vladimir García B., Armada designer and EAP Director, to explore disaster scenarios with a focus on Hurricane Maria in 2017.
Design & Elderly
Spring, 2020
Senior Design Studio / Pratt Institute
In this third edition of the work that we have developed in the area of design and older people, together with 12 senior students we took a course in the Capstone Studio format. During a semester we are not primarily dedicated to exploring product design opportunities for active seniors with chronic illnesses and living at home. Some of the projects are specific but highly relevant as objects for people with Parkinson’s disease or insulin doses for people with diabetes with symptoms of arthritis. Other projects were devoted to more general topics such as difficulties in reading, controlling the expiration dates of food, assisting the senses of sight and smell in everyday objects, autonomy within the home of people with memory deficiencies, or sleeping problems.
Biomimicry & Health
Fall, 2019
Senior Design Studio / Pratt Institute
Another edition of this course dedicated to the study of Design & Nature in the areas of health and well-being for people. We implemented a methodology to find the final solutions by doing exercises of natural references and potential applications, in contrast to the contexts for their application.
Design for Seniors
Spring, 2019
Junior Design Studio / Pratt Institute
Because “old age is definitely not a disease”, in this third edition of the design course dedicated to the elderly, we focused on products for everyday life, related to the health of fully active old people.
Special Project:
“Making in Medellín”
Spring, 2019
Special Project / Pratt Institute
A collaboration project between EAFIT University and Pratt Institute to develop projects for a rural elementary school near Medellín. Students from both institutions did a one week immersion activity on the ground and developed concepts to implement within the local authorities and the university.
Thesis MID
Spring, 2019
Master of Industrial Design / Pratt Institute
Alejandro Moyano / Products for Undocumented Latin Communities; Xinwei Tang / Redesigning the Rape Kit; Josh Bird / Public Showers for Cities; and Brandon Terrien / a Reviewed Process for Fish Treatment in Food Chain.
Design for Emergency
Fall, 2018
Senior Design Studio / Pratt Institute
This Senior Studio explores design opportunities in the area of emergency while trying to learn the functional efficiency in this type of products that can be used in other fields, for other purposes.
GID Seminar
2014 | 2018
Master of Industrial Design / Pratt Institute
Faculty in the Global Innovation Design GID program, a collaboration between Pratt Institute, RCA in London and Keio University in Tokio. A design studio dedicated to the three-dimensional aspects of design, with themes from the local. It has been taught together with Prof. Katrin Mueller-Russo and Prof. Matte Nyberg.
Especial Project:
Kikkerland Design Challenge
Fall, 2018
Design Studio / Pratt Institute.
We had the opportunity to conduct a Studio dedicated ‘Objects for Wellbeing’ for the Kikkerland Design Challenges, in a collaborative project between Kikkerland, UncommonGoods and Pratt Institute.
Thesis MID:
Design for People with Parkinson
by Paul Gulla
Spring, 2018
Master of Industrial Design / Pratt Institute
A Pill Case combined with an Exercise Product and a Walking Cane are products developed directly with people with Parkinson disease.
Special Project: Cuba
Spring, 2018 | 2017 | 2016
Undergraduate and Graduate / Pratt Institute
Designing with Limited Resources is the name of this course in its 3rd edition in a collaborative project between the Higher Institute of Design – ISDI in Havana and Pratt Institute. The idea of this workshop has been the exploration of design strategies that arise from the tension between scarcity and abundance.
Design + Biomimicry
Fall, 2017
Junior Design Studio / Pratt Institute
This Junior Studio was dedicated to exploring design solutions on Biomimicry. An exercise to rescue biological systems to apply in products. A collaborative project with the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York.
Sophomore Design Studio
Spring, 2017
Undergraduate / Pratt Institute
Powerful experience teaching for the first time in the lower levels of the curriculum. Running a few design exercise to explore form language, time, production methods and storytelling. Students: Abby Klein, Siguang Ma, Ava Chun and Jonathan
Aging + Design + Technology
Fall, 2016
Junior Design Studio / Pratt Institute
This course in collaboration with Prof. Karol Murlak sought to explore some everyday situations with older people and their interaction with household products. Special guests: Sonia Gil from Fluenz and Ashton Applewhite, author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism.
Design + Technology
Spring, 2015
Junior Design Studio / Pratt Institute
Design of a Chess as an exercise to explore materials, production methods in different product scenarios. Students: Selin Sonmez, Kerchuan Soong, Isabella Artale and Tina Sinay.
Thesis MID
Pattern Language Recognition
by Alexander Smith
Spring, 2014
Master of Industrial Design / Pratt Institute
Research that explores the structure Patterns of formal language and its use as a cognitive tool in the design process.
Thesis MID
Calming Distractions
by Sunnie Hwang
Fall, 2014
Master of Industrial Design / Pratt Institute
Calming Distractions is a designer’s approach to anxiety. A Thesis that explores scenarios of anxiety in people from a simple and daily ‘tics’ to disorder.
Thesis MID
Consider This
by Anthony Villanacci
Spring, 2013
Master of Industrial Design / Pratt Institute
In a culture dominated by efficiency, we overlook how slow and more experiential qualities physical world. This glass kettle is part of a series of products designed to provide an opportunity to participate in a rich and layered experience based on gestures.
Thesis MID
Cook’s Dance
by Tom Bonamici
Spring, 2013
Master of Industrial Design / Pratt Institute
An analysis of storage and work surfaces in the home kitchen. This Thesis questions the validity of 20thcentury efficiency studies, and suggest that through constraints in both structure and media, the home cook’s practice can be improved in commodity, efficiency, and delight.
Ladder Lizards
by Jacob Turetsky
Fall, 2012
Senior Design Studio / Pratt Institute
Accessories for Ladder Safety. Market analysis shows there are opportunities for accessories for frequent DIY’ers to mid-level professionals who require functional but attractive solutions to safety concerns.
Advance Syringe
by Masamune Kaji
Fall, 2012
Senior Design Studio / Pratt Institute
Pre-filled syringe models BS-001 and LP-001 for vaccination can be capped by one hand, diminishing the risk of the contact with the needle. An exhaustive exploration on hand gestures.
Zebra Competition
2012 / 2013
In 2012, and then in 2013, I coordinated the groups of students who participated in the international design competition sponsored by the Japanese company Zebra. Pratt Institute was invited to participate in this contest in a short list among design schools around the world. In both editions, Pratt students arrived at the last stage. David Krawczyk and Alma Vander Molen.
Design in Prodiseño
From 1995 to 2010
The focus in our classes and Design Studios in Venezuela at Prodiseño – School of Visual Communication and Design, as well as in other schools, were mainly in three directions: product design and development of objects, understanding nature to design systems and designing interfaces using our knowledge in the real world and human gestures to approach digital environments.
Caracas, Venezuela.
