KATHERINE LABONTE
Experience Designer
ANALYSIS: Product Design
CONCEPT: REVERIE BRIDGE
For this two level pedestrian footbridge, every element is strategically designed to calm its pedestrians. Echoing common relaxation practices, this bridge has cathedral-esque, a break-like fifteen minute crossing duration, and moments of choice between low paths and high paths.
Many cities already use bridges as sculptural, functional landmarks. Precedents include the Sydney Harbor Bridge in Australia, the Si-o-Se-Pol or “33 Arches Bridge” in Isfahan, Iran and the Lucerne Kapellbrucke or “Chapel Bridge” in Lucerne, Switzerland. This bridge withstands extreme weather and high winds because of its mesh suspension sails, wooden path and railing details and steel skeleton. Use of this bridge invokes the calm of spending fifteen minutes on a sailboat with a steady course and the dream walking among sails.
CONCEPT: BREATHING WALLS
Working with external client DAP Products'
Innovation Department, I conducted behavioral market research through consumer interviews and observations.
An insight from this research was that weatherization practices were planned, tedious rituals for people. In response to the predictability of changing temperatures and their effects on housing I came up with the idea of futuristic housing that intentionally expands and contracts in response to weather.
Similar to plate tectonics and fish gills expanding walls would allow houses to seal off or air themselves out to regulate internal temperatures.
AUGMENTED REALITY DESIGN: LAYAR-ED CARDS
Greeting cards that trigger additional
online content using augmented reality technology. This prototype is powered by layar.com