SMART DESIGN Industrial Design / Strategy / Research

Harper Ethan Hunt Internship Portfolio

1, 2 - Learning Something New Mastering the Physical Craft

3, 4 - Phenomenology of Design Thinking

The Art of Storytelling

5, 6 - Service Design Experience Entrepreneurship 101

After a short undergraduate summer internship I was left with two months idle in small town, Paris, Texas. I needed a job!

I was challenged to find an employer who would hire me on a temporary basis. Furthermore, I strived to do more than wait tables or work as a lifeguard. I wanted to learn, create, and have autonomy.

My Dad is a builder; I quickly identified my resources: rows of carpentry equipment and power tools. It began with a book, “the rocking horse guide”. I invested my savings and went to work. I sourced vendors, compared prices, purchased supplies, made design choices, drafted cutting templates, and then began the assemblage.

I toiled diligently in the triple-digit heat and learned as I went; the guide was not as comprehensive as I hoped. I became versed in wood-carving, leatherwork, upholstery, sculpting, and painting. I learned to use chisels, mallets, table saws, jigsaws, band saws, chop saws, a lathe, and sanded until my fingers were raw. I adjusted quickly to hard work and the scent of sawdust.

My summer project became a two year project, each time I returned home, I dedicated myself to this venture. If I could sell a rocking horse at market average, I would reap rewards.

The final results were phenomenal, but this was not a lucrative idea; the market was too small and rapid prototyping was not possible. Beyond the finite market, I learned artistry should not be capitalized upon, this risks the authenticity and integrity of the work. I was left with debt, a few rocking horses, but more importantly I was happy. I found something I loved doing and I finished the job.

How To Make a Rocking Horse

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The Process

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I love the beauty of singular objects. They exist exponentially in the world we live in. How do they affect our way of living? What does an object evoke in a visual medium without context? What distinguishes an object versus a prop in narrative? Does visual perspective or scale change the viewers’ understanding of a story?

My curiosity compelled me to create an extended thesis that evaluated objects separately and within narrative frameworks. I started by finding unique objects. I photographed these on color film and developed the images in the darkroom. After many critiques, I transitioned to from an analogue camera to a digital camera, later adding a macro-lens. Finally, I created my own story. I wrote a screenplay incorporating the found objects and directed a short film with my peers.

My discourse provided me with an elaborate experience of the creative process. Through visual and textual analysis, photography, darkroom color printing, screenwriting, casting, set-building, directing, editing, and teamwork I identified that storytelling is a dance. Every story and idea is a rendition of another that has evolved from characters, objects, and history.

A Critical Analysis of Inanimate Objects

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Research, Screenwriting, Casting, Set-Construction, Production, Editing

The Film: Perspective Treatment

vimeo link to Perspective Treatment

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The Problem Independent fashion designers do not have affordable methods to produce their designs at large scale because an investment on a product without prior consumer validation occurs at a high risk.

The Solution ChanceMe was a market research company that crowd-sourced statistics to provide independent fashion designers the ability to adjust their production plans before manufacturing in order to lower their production risk.

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How it Works ChanceMe was a service that operated similarly to the dating app Tinder, swipe right to like a product, swipe left to dislike. Once users provided feedback, designers would receive data from potential customers, such as their likes, sizes, and color choices. In return, the user would receive special discounts and have access to limited edition designs. This service also enabled designers to sell their products on our website through pre-order and post-order manufacture order options.

Steps to Get There My partner and I interviewed manufacturers, boutique owners, entrepreneurs, and designers. We created a business plan, beta website, conducted polls, and manned sign-up booths. Also, we were selected and participated in an entrepreneur boot camp at Golden Seeds, one of the largest angel investors in the United States.

The Take-Away The largest obstacle was user acquisition; we needed several million users before the data would become valuable. We qualified, pitched, and won an entrepreneur festival competition. It turned out, neither my partner or I had a passion for fashion; thus we were not willing to risk the time and financial investment to take the idea further. This resulted in a huge learning curve, when you are an entrepreneur; commit to an idea you love!

Surveys on Our Website

Collect/Analyze Data

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