Tony Hawk Ride

 

Tony Hawk Ride© is a video game peripheral designed for the next generation of skateboard gaming. The goal was to bring real skateboard experience to living rooms. The player can stand on the actual board to control the character, by tilting left and right and doing many other simulated skateboard movements.

Product Council finished the industrial design of the skateboard. The graphic and color was done by fuseProject.

The official website of Tony Hawk Ride©
http://www.thride.com

Project Background

This project started with an engineering prototype model. It was well-built. However, being lack of design capability, the game publisher Activision and developer Robomodo came to us for industrial design help for the skateboard.

Body Design

The cross section is crucial to this skateboard design. It determines the overall control experience for gamers. We designed several cross sections and made the models for prototype testing. We also invited the client to stand on them and tried the controlling of the board. The final design was picked based on the best control and the look of the skateboard.

Skin Design

We had a discussion among game developer, manufacturer and Microsoft (for Xbox version of the Tony Hawk Ride) about the skin design.  Just like the very successful game peripheral- Guitar Hero, Activision wanted to add swappable skins to this skateboard. We thought the skin should be assembled with screws to make it look more like a real skateboard. The manufacturer also thought screws could help with engineering to make the body really strong to support the weight from the user. However, Microsoft had a different opinion. According to Xbox peripheral design guide, using screws to change product skin is not user-centered and not allowed. After the discussion, the client gave up the idea of swappable skin, but designed a standard graphic for the skateboard.

Button Design for 3 Systems

We suggested a skateboard design with no or only one button to make it look simple and more like a real skateboard. The gamer can control the skateboard through by tilting board and the RF  sensors. If they want to control the game menu it’s easier to use the game remote instead of picking up the board for the buttons. However, Microsoft game peripheral design guide insisted that all devices should include all buttons as the game remote. It was impossible for them do change the rule.

To make the board also good for 3 major systems, we also designed the button layout for Wii and PS3.

A larger “start” button is placed on the side of the skateboard to allow users to kick on it without picking up the board.

Final Design

Product photos:

      

Medical Histology Devices

Histology is the medical process to preserve human tissue before it can be analyzed under a microscope. This design of a series of histology devices started with user observation in the client's own histology lab and 2 hospitals. Through the user observation the we not only educated ourselves about the basic process of histology, but also gathered the information of user experience which later provided the insights for our design. A signature element was introduced to the new product line as the brand visual language.

User Observation in Hospital Labs

Before this project, we knew nothing about “histology”. We visited the client in their own factory lab and had them explain the process of histology for us. There are several medical products in histology for different tasks and steps:

1. tissue processor- prepare the tissue
2. embedding station- apply heated paraffin to enclose tissue in a small square mold 
3. tissue slicer- cut blocks of paraffin with tissues into thin slices
4. waterbath- use warm water to melt paraffin slices and place thin tissue sample onto glasses
5. autostainer- stain tissue sample so that it can be observed under microscope

After we understood the basic of histology. We also visited several hospital labs, talked with people and watched them operating histology devices. The research result showed us a great opportunity to improve the current product line.

Concept Development

Several concepts were developed and presented to clients. For the autostainer (the product shown above), we designed several different configurations for electronic components. We also considered different positions for the monitors and different ways to open the lid. I had the idea of using a small window to allow quick access without opening the whole lid (top right)- based on our observation, sometimes the user needs to open the lid to access the tissue quickly. A dedicated window can be very helpful.

Luckily, I had the chance to work very closely with our on-site engineer. There were so many problems in every detail, like the screw size, material wall thickness that we needed to pay attention to.

Product Prototype

A real size foam core prototype was made for the autostainer. It helped us to understand the opening structure and the assembly issue. We also used this prototype to discuss and compare several alternatives for the arm monitor position.

Another foam prototype was made for the “waterbath” device to visualize the real size of our design.

We introduced a front curve on the product surface as a “signature element” to add to every product in this histology device line. We used 3D printer to print the front panel of the autostainer, to ensure that the feature would be visually noticeable and correct.

Final Design

The users need to leave their wrists on a sharp sheet metal corner on the waterbath device for hours, so the new waterbath was improved with a new nice front as a comfortable arm rest. We also changed the old “medical instrument green” on the original control panel buttons and the display text to a sophisticated red to let it match the brand identity color.

From this comparison of our design and the original product, you can see the new design enjoys a brand new look and more comfortable corners. It’s also lower and easier to use.

The final design of the autostainer, the linear stainer and the waterbath all share the “signature curve” to effectively present the brand identity. This histology device line is a very good project for us to utilize the user observation methods into actual product design. And thanks to the client to allow us control most of the engineering of the devices, the final products are not far from our design.

Dewbop Shower Media

Dewbop is a series of wall-mountable shower media devices designed for the bathroom environment. Dewbop provides a more specialized shower room music interface and usability built on a person’s needs in a bathroom while showering, bathing and brushing teeth, etc.

 

User Research

Can you find the right button when your eyes are covered with shampoo?

 
The problem of using a shower media player

We interviewed some shower media device users and tried some products in the market. We found that the shower media interface was difficult to use. There are too many buttons to confuse user, it’s hard to operate a shower media player with soapy hands. When you are washing hair, you cannot operate the music without seeing the buttons. Also, the devices are not stable while standing or hung on the shower head. When pushed, it goes backward and falls.

Dewbop Concept 1

Dewbop concept 1 introduces a new interaction method for a humid and wet environment. The player body is rotatable. You can tilt the dewbop toward left and right to jump to last song and next song. The LCD screen and speakers are integrated in the body. A strong locking suction cup fixed on the wall is the pivot of rotation. One can operate it with wet and soapy hands, even blindly. The whole body is an input module. With a well organized software interface, all the tasks can be done with the rotatable body and a single, generously proportioned knob. A time button is dedicated for time display only.

Below is a flash demo of Dewbop concept 1.

Dewbop Concept 2 

Inspired by a user talking about her shower experience under candle lights, the concept 2 is a music CD player with modular blocks. Each block is a button to control music. It emits weak light when you turn the lights off in the shower room

Dewbop Concept 3

The concept 3 is a shower CD player simulating the interface of a faucet as a music controller. What if the most classic interface- the caucet, controls the flow of music, instead of water?

Dewbop Concept 4

Concept 4 “Faucet” User Interface

Dewbop Concept 4 lets the users control music with its  faucet-like interface, just like concept 3, but with a simple form. It can be placed on the bathtub or wall-mounted.

Home Office Storage Concepts

A set of sketches developed for home office storage concepts, based on the idea of using furniture as additional storage space at home.

Innovative document folder design

“Mobile storage”

  

Mobile laptop workstation

Garage Storage System

A garage storage system designed for users to change color and customize the color with different plastic pieces and configuration with hooks and bins.

Concept Development

 

Product Prototype

A bubble level is included in the product to help people install it on the wall.

Bedside Tray

This bedside tray is designed for senior people. It comes with different compartments for pen, jewelry, medicine, glasses and other things. A skid-proof mat is placed in this tray. It also provides a detachable writing pad and a small reading light.