Interviews with Heloise Rajkumari

The primary focus was to give a minimalistic perception and make the spoon appear that it belongs to the serving dish set and not just retrofitting.

Commercialize it.

Three months.

I designed this particular concept to change the conventional way of serving ice cream.

I intent to produce my own work.

It all started when dessert came in a conventional ice cream bowls and spoons on a separate plate. It provoked me to think why these elements are treated separately when they are meant to be together.

Icy is very much influenced by the contemporary design trends and also by faceted crystals of various shapes such as Marquise, Princess, etc.

Hotels and Restaurants

This design has an aluminium base to support the crystals and also hold spoon at the base and these make Icy unique.

The name came up when I was arranging the set in order. And suddenly the frames began to appear as the word "ICY". The entire set also gives a perception of chill, cold and transparent ice crystals floating above the frames.

Solidworks and Keyshot

The most unique aspect of ICY is that, it brings together all the elements required while serving ice cream by using a frame to support the crystal bowls and hold the spoon. It also has a magnet embedded at the base to keep the spoon intact.

I had few discussions with my designer friends to solve technical and manufacturing problems.

Technology is playing an important role for realizing this product in the way it is intended.

Study and research on materials which do not shield magnetic field and also magnets which has high curie temperature were done.

Casting the Aluminium frame with thin Sm2Co17 magnet embedded inside it.

I felt that this design is unique in terms of its functionality and aesthetics.

I had to drop many other ideas while developing this design because it will be difficult to manufacture. So, I had to think of a good idea which solves this manufacturing problems while the functionality remains the same.

The Crystals bowls have faceted surfaces. Even the grooves on the frame for holding these crystals have exactly the same surface facets. This is done so that the crystals sit only in one position without slipping off.

I wanted the vase to aid flower arrangement in different patterns and make addition of water easy without disturbing the arrangement and at the same time to allow air circulation around the stems.

I would like to commercialize it.

This particular concept was designed for those who love flower arrangement. I decided to pursuit an inspiration.

I wanted to provide arrangement aids so that users can arranged in a pattern. So, the bird Peacock inspired me to developed the form into a bird with long upright tail and a detachable wing piece which has perforations in a pattern. The semi open form also helps in air circulation for reducing bacterial growth.

Flower lovers.

Follow Me does not only hold flowers. It provides aids for arranging flowers in a pattern and also improves the post harvest life of cut flowers by reducing bacterial growth around the stems due to semi open form. Water or chemical solutions can be easily added below the wing piece without disturbing the flower arrangement. And more over the vase has been designed to be a functional sculpture.

"Follow Me" means follow the patterns on the wing piece to arrange the flowers.

Solidworks, Keyshot

Arrangement aids in pattern and semi open form, detachable wing pieces.

During manufacturing

Research on improving post harvest life of cut flowers and conditioning of flowers.

The challenge was to solve a conflicting criterion and bring the bird form and functions together. For easy adding of water, wide mouth is good but it does not provide enough aid for arranging flowers in pattern. Additional aid may be needed for arrangement. The design has been developed as semi open form with three pieces separating the conflicting functions. The perforated wing part serves as the aid, while user can easily add water below the wings. The large gap also allows air circulation.

I felt it was a good design.

The main focus was developing the leaf form to serve two functions - Vase and Dining Table

I would like to commercialize it.

I designed this particular concept to bring in the concept of user experience in furniture design. I decided to pursuit an inspiration.

I intent to produce my work myself.

The exhausting city life and less contact of people with nature in urban area inspired me to design Humming Tree.

Urban families and restaurants

This design has unique form of leaf in three dimension and apart from that the human sized arrangement in the table makes it unique.

I named it Humming tree because the table will be used for arranging human sized tall branches of trees, leaves etc. mimicking a tree.

Solidworks, Keyshot and Ansys.

The 3 dimensional leaf form with veins supporting the table top and the fusion of two functions that is a floor vase and a dining table giving a new experience to diners.

Technology will play role during manufacturing the unique form.

The challenged was the stability of the table. In order to obtain stability, a little leg was added which remains hidden after assembly.

I wanted to see how good my design is by comparing with other designs.

Designing Humming Tree was a good experience. I have improved my structural analysis skills and also developing the a form from my inspiration source.

A creation for better experience.

Furniture and lifestyle products

My most favourite design is my "Humming Tree" Dining Table. It is a fusion of floor vase and dining table for holding human sized arrangement of dry flowers, tree branches, etc. The design aims to bring the diners close to nature and help them reduce negative feelings of exhausted city life.

Dining Table set.

When I get inspired by something that I see.

Functionality, aesthetics and ergonomics, its value to the target market.

A design is successful when you know the real needs of the target market and when your designs deliver them.

The design intent of the designer and whether it has been delivered or not.

I believe designers can change the world and the way we live and how we react to the environment. Designers can change the way people think and do activities.

Design is always evolving for better life and perfection of creation. I feel the future will be more of intelligent products.

I get inspired mostly from Nature. Some of my sources of inspiration are leaves, rocks, water flowers and organic forms.

My style is contemporary and minimal. I like designs which have least elements, for example a mono-bloc design or may be two to three elements. My designs are mostly characterised with few elements, bold colours and organic form.

Imphal, Manipur, India. Yes I feel that the cultural heritage and vegetations affect my designs since i get my inspirations mostly from what I see around.

My design process starts with research and finding the key problems and the needs of the target market. Then, I start developing ideas by taking inspirations from various things. I like sketching, so I sketch till I get what I am looking for. Then detail out, carry out simulation and make a mock up or a prototype for visualization and testing. And make changes wherever necessary for the final design.

Sofa, Tables, Lamps, Jugs, Vases

Innovate and become a trend setter.

Being a Designer, I can create what I want. I don't see any negative.

Uniqueness

Sketching, keen observer, listener

I use pencil colours, markers, fine liners while I sketch. Software such as solidworks, alias automotive design, keyshot, Ansys, 3Ds Max, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop are used. For mock ups, I use mostly card board, thermocol, foam boards.

3-4 months

Furniture and lifestyle products. They are the products which one cannot avoid in any case. So I want to give users a new experience with features that excites them.

I planning for a start-up company.

I develop my designs myself.

Through email.