2. Design Vision:
Art and engineering are often thought of as conflicting
disciplines, but I believe they’re simply opposite ends on the
same spectrum; they’re connected by an iterative design
process, and by an intimate knowledge of materials and tools. By
implementing ideas from both art and engineering, form and
function, we can develop a whole-minded approach to product
design and give users a more complete experience.
Education:
Northwestern University - BS Mechanical Engineering
Indiana Professional Licensing Agency - EIT Certification
Experience:
Designer, DePuy Synthes
February 2015 – Current
● Developed proposals for surgeons illustrating
recommended implant sizing, patient anatomy and
surgeon preferences
● Designed customized femur and tibia cutting guides for
patients by utilizing 3D models of patient's' knee
constructed from CT scans
Manufacturing Engineer, Zimmer
January 2014 – January 2015
● Conducted process validations for the cleaning of knee
replacement products
● Wrote and compiled validation plans, OQ, PQ, IQ and
supporting documents for cleaning projects
3. Shoe Design
Why are high end women’s shoes still made with the
same plastic heels that have been used for over a
hundred years? I wanted to explore more compelling
high heel concepts by incorporating bold, geometric
patterns, higher quality materials such as polished
metals, and computer-aided design.
Ideation:
For my first shoe design, I wanted to keep the upper pattern simple yet eye-catching as this is a
proof of concept for the unique metal heel.
4. Plastic Prototype:
With the upper made, the outsole was 3d scanned to ensure accurate
interface with the custom heel. Several iterations of heels designs were
printed in PLA.
Metal Prototype:
A second prototype was made with an aluminum heel through lost-wax
casting. Custom drilling guides were designed to accurately drill the screw
holes in the heels and shoes.
5. Medical
Device Designer
As a designer at DePuy Synthes, my primary role is
to develop customized cutting guides for surgeons
conducting total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The first
step of our process is to compile a proposal for the
surgeon detailing all of the surgical parameters such
as resection levels, rotational reference, implant
sizing and much more. Once the proposal is
approved by the surgeon, I customize the femoral
and tibial cutting guides to provide enough clearance
over osteophytes and sufficient contact on reliable
surfaces according to the patient’s bone anatomy.
Surgical Proposal:
By providing an accurate preview of the
surgical parameters and how the
recommended implant sizes fit on the
patient, our process drastically reduces
operating costs and surgery time.
Customized Cutting Guides:
Our patient specific instrumentation reference 3d
models generated from CT scans of the patient’s
knee. These custom resection guides enable the
surgeon to reduce the number of traditional surgical
tools while providing increased operating accuracy.
6. Exhalation
Valve Design
Breathing Systems International challenged my team
to redesign the exhalation valve used in their safety
helmets. The valve allows exhaled air to leave the
positive-pressured helmets and prevents harmful
dust particles and chemicals from entering. The
helmets are worn by technicians who clean industrial
catalyst tanks, environments that are often very
cramped, dusty and dim. Problems with the old valve
include jamming due to poor tolerances, dust
build-up, clogging along the opening and exposed
spring, and difficult assembly because of numerous
small and parts.
Ideation:
Implementing DMFA
techniques, I designed
many one-way check valve
concepts focused on
reducing the number of
parts and simple
functionality.
Prototyping:
Sourcing an elastomeric
umbrella valve from miniValve
and Delrin stock from
McMaster Carr, we designed
an enclosed, six piece valve
with large, easy-to-handle
assembly screws.
Final Concept:
I conducted a
Boothroyd-Dewhurst assembly
analysis and found that our
final concept reduced
assembly time from 95 to 35
seconds and reduced cost
from $32 to $18.87.
7. Furniture Design
Can a desk be more than just a functional
platform? Can furniture entice people to walk
around it to admire instead of simply walk up to
it to use? The following designs are my
exploration into furniture concepts that offer
compelling views from every angle. My focus is
creating complex forms through the repetition
and variation of simple members.
8. Jewelry Design
Maui Divers, a jewelry manufacturer in Honolulu, Hawaii,
approached me to design a concept based around
movement and local Hawaiian themes. I designed a
hanging gyroscope and branch piece to promote natural
swinging motion and included a plumeria flower and
pearls to reflect the native style.
