Nick ValloDesign Portfolio

I have been an industrial designer at Trident Design for one year, where I have worked with both inventor and corporate clients to develop and commercialize new products.

My personal designs catalyze meaningful experiences that make the most responsible product, the most desirable option.

ABOUT ME

ABROAD

Venturing into the unknown, the unsettled traveler kindles solidarity and understanding among strangers, but also disinters personal insghts, previously unknown.

The traveler finds community and solidarity when he needs and becommes a fly on the wall when he wants.

Observe and Interpret

Ideate and Create

Realize and Communicate

DiscoverDevelopUnderstandVisualize

InspireCreateRefineEvaluate

FinalizeShowPresent

Process timeline, EnvironmentResearch Methods, Co-Creation ToolsProblems, Wants, Needs, DesiresInsights, Current and Ideal Scenarios

Lenses, Ideation FrameworkSketches, Mock-Ups3 Final Concepts, Digital ModelsObjectives, Constraints, User Feedback

Specifications, CMFPrototypeDeliverables

MY PROCESS

CONTENTS

DESIGNED TO WEAR IN

TAILORED TOOLS

DESIGNED TO WEAR IN

TAILORED TOOLS

AUKIPALO

Gardening Instruments

Bread Board

Precision Balance

Biochar Cooker

Bee Hive

Carry-On Luggage

DESIGNED TO WEAR IN

TAILORED TOOLS

BRIEF: Design farming instruments for evolving small scale food production operations.

NOMADFARM INSTRUMENTS

PERSONAL BUSINESS CONCEPT

DESIGNED TO WEAR IN

TAILORED TOOLS

PropagationINSTRUMENTS

High quality tools show respect for the user, who in turn maintains the product providing a more fulfilling experince.

Creating a meaningful product improves its lifecycle.

DESIGNED TO WEAR IN

TAILORED TOOLS

The demand for quality, responsibly produced food bought directly from farmers has allowed a younger generation to start small farms.

The Farmer

INSIGHT

Young farmers need tool manufacturing that can keep pace with evolving farming practices.

A market opportunity exists between hand forging blacksmiths and international purvayors.

The Market

Changing the way tools are made to complement young farmer’s evolving practices.

Distributed production ensures regionally appropriate designs.

Tailoredsolutions compliment evolving farming techniques.

Analogmachinery makes it all possible.

The Method

OPPORTUNITY

Assembled consistently with jigs.

Shaped by hand to finalize the form.

Forged tool heads have the resilience to last generations.

Turnedhandles achieve an optimal shape.

Analog machinery reduces overhead and barriers to entry, maintaining a shop’s flexibility to accommodate changing designs.

MANUFACTURING

Opportunity

Assembled consistently with jigs.

Shaped by hand to finalize the form.

Forged tool heads have the resilience to last generations.

Turnedhandles achieve an optimal shape.

Analog machinery reduces overhead and barriers to entry, maintaining a shop’s flexibility to accommodate changing designs.

MANUFACTURING

DETAIL INSTRUMENTS

These tools are used to manage the planting and transplanting of seeds and small seedlings.

Planting SeedsPricking out seedlings

Transplanting established seedlings.

Transplanting established seedlings in loose soil.

Pricker Dibber Widger

DESIGNED TO WEAR IN

TAILORED TOOLS

DETAIL INSTRUMENTS

These tools are used to manage the planting and transplanting of seeds and small seedlings.

Planting SeedsPricking out seedlings

Transplanting established seedlings.

Transplanting established seedlings in loose soil.

Pricker Dibber Widger

DESIGNED TO WEAR IN

TAILORED TOOLS

DESIGNED TO WEAR IN

TAILORED TOOLS

GENERAL INSTRUMENTS

These tools are used for moving larger amounts of soil and for handling well established seedlings.

Planting SeedsPricking out seedlings

Transplanting Fork

General soil moving

Transplanting Trowel

The tool’s form, function, and production techniques are guided in part by stakeholder participation.

IDEATION

ErgonomicsFunctionalityAnalog ManufacturingHow will it age?

Manufacturing Byproduct

BUSINESS AND MATERIAL INTEGRATION

Torrefaction & Electricity

Home Scale Biochar

Biochar Soil Amendment

Offcuts and sawdust from handle manufacturing can be used to generate electricity, biochar, or pelletized fuel.

The wood byproduct can, be used in myriad electricity, heat, and biochar generating processes.

The wood byproduct can be compressed into pellets or used as is to power a biochar cooker.

Biochar from any process is a highly beneficial soil amendment.

DESIGNED TO WEAR IN

TAILORED TOOLS

BRIEF: Design a cutting board that collects crumbs while slicing bread and disposes of them without removing any components.

BREADBOARDCUTTING BOARD

PERSONAL PROJECT

Bread BoardDETAILS

Ohio Cherry WoodBaltic Birch Crumb TrayMortise and Tenon CornersLap Jointed Slats

BREAD BOARD

PROTOTYPE NO. 001

Existing bread cutting boards can not be emptied of their collected crumbs without first removing a secondary component.

My design allows the user to empty the collected crumbs through a slot in the board’s end.

The Baltic Birch crumb tray only need be removed for thorough cleaning or oiling of the cherry wood.

INSIGHT

Solution

George and his monkeywere very curious.

.250.750

.188

.438.125

.500.156.313

.750

.250

.500

.875 .375

1.500

.188

5.500 5.000

.359

.625 .375 .359

18.000

10.875.375

.500.141

.750

.125

12.000

.625 .156

.625

18.000

.313

Right End

Left End

Middle Support

Surface Bars

Front and Back

BRIEF: Design concepts for the future generation of high end weighing solutions.

METTLERTOLEDOPRECISION BALANCE

WINNING TEAM - 2011 / 10 WEEKS - 3 PEOPLE

George and his monkeywere very curious.

THE NEXT GENERATIONPRECISION BALANCE

05

03 0401

02

ADVANTAGES

Multi-Position ScreenRemovable Weigh PanEasy to clean smooth surfaces1:1 Leveling Knob OrientationEasy Grip Form

0102030405

BusinessMettler Toledo has a 40% global market share in laboratory weighing equipment and 60 years of industry leading innovations.

OUR CLIENT

EthnographyFrom frozen fish guts and abrasive powders to proprietary compounds and volatile chemicals, these balances see it all.

DIVERSE USERS

Problem Identification UnderstandDiscover

Confirm projected problemsUser/product interactionWorkflow Analysis

Immediate CompetitionRelated ProductsRelated DetailsCurrent Considerations

Use scenarios and concernsExisting usersStakeholder research questionsProjected Problems

OBSERVE AND INTERPRET

RefineSketches Mock UpLenses

CleaningLevelingData TransferTraining

IDEATE AND CREATE

3 Final Concepts ModelEvaluate Refine

Interface angle

Portability

Leveling mechanism

Height

FINALIZE AND COMMUNICATE

BRIEF: Design a biochar producing outdoor cooking device.

PALOBIOCHAR GRILL

PERSONAL CONCEPT

George and his monkeywere very curious.

“With eight billion people, we’re going to have to start getting interested in soil. We’re simply not going to be able to keep treating it like dirt.”

David Montgomery, University of Washington Geologist

Hot wood gas is conveyed to a burner and is ignited under the sealed chamber.

Inner chamber’s exterior walls contain an inductive element to initiate torrefaction.

Exterior valve controls the flow of combustion gas.

Adjustable nacelle controls incoming combustion air.

How it WorksHeat induced decomposition of organic material without oxygen.

TORREFACTION

Fill the stove with wood pellets.

Pre-Heat to start torrefaction and adjust the gas flow to acheive the desired temperature.

Remove the inner canister when the fuel is spent and use the contained biochar to amend any soil.

USE PROCESS

PROTOTYPE

Constructed using a combination of off-the-shelf plumbing parts and scrapyard finds.

George and his monkeywere very curious.

Pre-Heat with propane burner beneath the inner chamber.

A burner is needed to confine wood gas directly beneath the inner chamber.

Refractory insulation is needed between the inner chamber and the outer stove body.

Inlet and exhaust airflow need control mechanisms.

FUTURE MODIFICATIONS

Ignition of propane pre-heater

Sustained Combustion

TESTING RESULTS

Warm up timeSustained CombustionHeat Output

The stove ran on its own power once up to temp.

IDEATION

General form development of one concept.Focus on proving concept through prototyping.

BRIEF: Design a hive to increase the efficiency of current apiarists and bolster interest in bee keeping to promote honey bee proliferation.

AUKIBEE HIVE

10 WEEK STUDENT PROJECT

Decline in US honey bee population in the past 50 years.

50%

Bee LocationsBrood ProductionComb ProductionHoney ProductionDiseasesPests

Organizes Food StoresShifts Bee ActivityEncourages ProductivityAids Pest ManagementImproves Overwintering

Inspecting

Arranging

InsightThe beekeeper has a lot to manage and track. Increasing his access to the hive’s interior streamlines his operations.

ACCESS

AUKI HIVEACCESSIBLE BEE KEEPING

Increasing a beekeeper’s access to his hives allows increased vigilance against diseases and pests, while encouraging practices to maximize honey yields and overall hive wellbeing.

CONSTRUCTION

Ohio walnut stand with inlaid steel support. Boxes of knot-free pine holding Baltic Birch frames.Steel handles and supports.

Select a Box

Easier-to-grip frames work better with gloves and with hive tools.

Entrance Guard to keep out pests.

Solid box material allows seasonal temperature fluxuations.

Arrange Frames Arrange Boxes

DETAILS

A three box hive provides the bee keeper with a deep box for brood rearing and two smaller, interchangeable boxes to be used as honey supers.

IDEATION

Backyard Furniture Hinged / Hanging Langstroth Bee SpaceFrame Support Structure

Industrial design consulting firm in Columbus OH USA

Prior art & patent searchesResearchConcept ideationSketchingMock-UpsClient Presentations

My time at Trident has allowed me to expand my traditional industrial design skills in sketching, ideation and research, while also affording me opportunities unique to inventor concept incubation.

Trident’s small size, extensive client base, and expedient process generates projects with widly varying requirements.

The majority of our work concerns developing licensable solutions based on inventor’s ideas. However, our corporate clients also seek the development of unmet product experiences or market positions, in addition to the refinement of existing concepts.

Responsibilities Experience

Due to confidentiality, I am unable to show you more than I have in the following “Carry On Luggage” Project. However, I am happy to further discuss my work at Trident.

BRIEF: Research the current travel experience to inspire innovative handle and wheel assemblies for carry on luggage.

I implemented an improved design research and ideation methodology to develop a stimulating concept development framework.

CARRY ONLUGGAGEINNOVATIVE UPDATES

IN PROGRESS

LEAD 2 WEEK RESEARCH AND IDEATION PHASE

Visualize

InsightsTravel ProcessInformation SynthesisAreas for Consideration

The identified problems were subsequently organized according to their occurance in the travel process.

Context at AirportUser/Product InteractionTravel ProcessIntended and Unintended Suitacse UsesSecondary research literatureDiscussions about potential issues

Understand

Market OpportunitiesCommon Travel Issues

Discover

Information Analysis

Packing Leaving for Airport

Check-In Boarding During the Flight

Moving Around Airport

At the Gate

Comfort

sittingsleeping theftwarmthreadingmusicwritingcharging

Restroom

Limited Space

Accessmake-uptoiletries

Safety

Limited Time

speed & agilityobstacles

Shopping

Too much to carry

Leaving Airport

Safety

Layovers EatingClutter

other bags get in way

Access

Wallet

Eating at Gate

No room

Security

Restricted Items

liquidssharp objectslaptopshoes/belt/jacketjewelry

Repacking

organizationquick access

Safety

Itemsmake-up/hairfor the planedocumentationextraspriority items

Techniquespace savingpreporganizingclosing

Place Fittingnesting abilities

Handlingstairswheels & rough terrain

Safetycrowded metrodense urban area

Waiting Lineheavy carry ontired feetkicking bag forward

Inside Planeoverhead bin liftingaislenarrow

Aislenarrowagility

Overhead Accessin-flight accessquick & easy

Restlong lines

Accessibilitywalletboarding passdocumentation

Weightdragginglifting

Characteristicssize-restrictions

Obstaclesstairsmoving sidewalksescalatorbumps ramps & curbs

Accessibility on-the-godocumentationsnacks

Insights documented during research indicated a 9 step travel process encompassing common elements of most travel scenarios.

OBSERVE AND INTERPRET

INFORMATION ANALYSIS

Insights documented during research indicated a 9 step travel process encompassing common elements of most travel scenarios.

Packing Leaving for Airport

Check-In Boarding During the Flight

Arrival & Baggage Claim

Mass Transit Being a Guest

Moving Around Airport

Preparation

Transportation

Arriving/Departing

Airport

Plane

Destination

At the Gate

Comfort

SittingSleeping TheftWarmthReadingMusicWritingCharging

Restroom

Limited Space

AccessMake-upToiletries

Safety

Limited Time

Speed & agilityObstacles

ShoppingToo much to carry

Leaving Airport

Safety

Layovers Eating

ClutterOther bags get in way

AccessWallet

Eating at Gate

No room

Security

Restricted ItemsToilettriesLaptopShoes/beltJewelry

Repackingorganizationquick access

Safety

Missed Flight

Living out of bag

Comfort

Safetysleeping

Items

make-up/hairfor the planedocumentationextraspriority items

Technique

space savingpreporganizingclosing

Place FittingNesting abilities

HandlingStairsRough terrain

SafetyCrowded metroDense urban area

Narrow Isle

Waiting LineHeavy carry onTired feetKicking bag Forward

Agility

Overhead AccessIn-flight accessQuick & easy

Place FittingNesting abilities

HandlingUrban terrainCar trunkMetro

SafetyCrowded metroDense urban areas

Limited SpaceOrganizationStorage

RestLong lines

AccessibilityWalletBoarding passDocumentation

WeightDraggingLifting

Nesting

HandlingMultiple BagsBaggage ClaimCurbsStairs

CharacteristicsSize-restrictions

ObstaclesStairsMoving SidewalksEscalatorBumps Ramps & curbs

Accessibility On-the-goDocumentationSnacks

Refine (Confidential)

2 Rounds of concept sketchesMock-UpsComputer Models

The lenses used in conjunction with the 9 step scenario provided a stimulating framework for ideation in the following phases:

The designers, primed with research information and inspired through deliberative discourse were now ready to produce mock-ups and generate concepts sketches and computer models.

Research PresentationIndividual ReflectionDeliberative Discourse

Create

Arranging the insights into the nine step travel scenario revealed comprehensive categories pertaining to accessibility, organization, handling, and safety.

These problem areas will be used as “lenses” through which the design team can view the issues at each stage of the travel process.

Accessibility

Organization

Handling

Safety

Inspire

!

IDEATION

Experience

Mettler Toledo - Freelance DesignStyling and presentation sketches for first generation package dimensioner concept.

Mix:HomeCommissioned residential furniture design using reclaimed and industrial materials.

Jetpak - Industrial DesignerBoutique, small batch, independent industrial design

Trident Design - Industrial DesignerDevelop and commercialize breakthrough products.

2011

2011

2011-2012

2012

Presentsince 2012

Accolades

Languages

Winner Mettler Toledo Student Design Project Best of 5 teams

English Native LanguageFrench Elementary Proficiency

Technical Skills

User Inspired Design and Co-Design toolsDesign ResearchStrong design sketching Adobe Creative SuiteSolidworksBunkspeed ShotExperienced with shop tools including CNCMIG welding and basic metworking

Objective

I would like the oportunity to use my proven analytical skills as a designer, to enhance the value of your company by discovering and developing unmet aspects of the user experience.

Nicholas Vallo njvallo@gmail.com nickvallo.prosite.com +1 937 621 9294

Education

2011

2010

The Ohio State UniversityBachelor of Science in Industrial Design

Exchange ProgramAalto University School of Art and Design Helsinki FinlandIndustrial and Strategic DesignUser Inspired Design focus

Resume

Thank YouFor Viewing My Work

nickvallo.prosite.com

njvallo@gmail.com