The designer has considered few constrains when designing the violin, such as, a half violin and half music player that would break down the notes of a tune and show how to play it. A ball using as a bow grip that will always give a perpendicular stoke to the user and a lighting fingerboard that will indicate a node for a particular whistle sound. Digital strings have replaced the ordinary strings that are able to considerably reduce the learning pain and the sting setup has been done in a way that can create surround sound experience. Marks are no longer in use when a violinist gets proficient; therefore, the fading marks are another noticeable feature of the design.

The name Squidolin was driven from the squid like shape with the functionally and aesthetically right proportions of the design development. The shape of the bow of Squidolin is newly designed and is smart enough to detect motions and communicate back accordingly.

Giving the idea into shape was the toughest part. The designer used the mirror modeling to get a great symmetrical shape and then moved into Solid-works to CAD for milling. The interface of Squidolin is an essential part of the design and can be represented in different ways. When learning, students might come across synesthetic relationship screen which represents the reaction of virtual objects to sound in real world situations. Organic timing or tempo can be learned from real-world experiences like water drops in steady water surface. Monkey-Do will teach the violinist the correct posture and Squidolin could be connected to the social networks via internet where violinist could perform or share his/her musical talent.

Designer : Carlos Mendez

Perch is the result of a two year research MA in Industrial Design with the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, Ireland by Simon Dennehy. The results show that it is impractical to design a chair for primary school students, without considering the desk as an item of equal importance. The main objective of the project is to encourage students to sit and work in a much higher position.

The seat and backrest benefit from ventilated slots throughout. This reduces weight, increases user comfort and creates a visually stimulating aesthetic for the students of today. The chair’s simple yet effective height mechanism prevents accidental release and requires the student to stand to adjust the height. The chair’s legs protrude from back, while incorporating a footrest. This allows the student complete freedom of leg movement. The front wings at either side of the seat are completely flexible. This patented design prevents build up of pressure under the student’s legs, while the resistive feedback encourage the students to continually move their legs playfully, increasing blood flow and muscle use.

The desk profile incorporates an elbow rest, where students can perch themselves during task work. This decreases load on their mid-sections. The profile, from co-extruded hollow-section polycarbonate, incorporates a soft rubberised working surface (in orange). This provides a warm tactile surface that can resist abuse, prevent books from slipping, and can be easily cleaned. A storage trough, at the rear of the desk, includes a book ledge for when students are copying from text books. An accessories tray hooks onto the desk edge and is replaceable with a Lego base, or arts and crafts palette. This “hot-swap” system is developable, and makes task change-over much faster, and tidier.

Schools furniture among the majority of schools, internationally, is severely damaging to students’ health and, as a direct result, they can expect to develop serious disorders and illnesses in later life. The research carried out shows conclusively that school children, in particular, sit inappropriately during their primary school years, as a result of the failings of the furniture’s design.

Schools are the offices for children. They spend a large amount of their youth attending both primary and secondary schools, and during that time, are likely to be sitting at a desk. A drastic change to the standards, which dictate measurements for furniture in schools, is required.

It is hoped that this project will encourage more researchers, designers and ergonomists to peruse the subject matter so that, in years to come, the quality and understanding of furniture requirements for students will radically improve, to the benefit of the students, teachers, education and health system.

Designer : Simon Dennehy