ALETTA

Industrial Design

Aletta is a reframe of the classic pendant lamp. The idea evolved from an exercise in the functional limitations of everyday objects and the changing use of domestic space.

An inverting light cone expands light into a room or focuses it on the surface below. A simple adjustment of a counterweight changes this balance, adding a poetic gestural dimension. Aletta received the Forum Design Award, 10 best products - 1989 Milan Salone del Mobile.

 

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Why

Typical pendant dining room lighting is limited to illuminating the narrow focus on the ritual of dining. The innovation of a more responsive light fixture expanded that functionality in a simple way.

How

Aletta allows you to affect the quality of lighting in the dining room by adjusting the light source to allow more flexible use of the public/private space. Dividing the lighting cone into segments, hinging each, and connecting them all to a common counter-weight allowed a typical pendant lighting cone to be inverted, with the lightest of touch, allowing a shift in the ambiance of the room with a simple gesture. A downlight focused on the surface and the ritual of dining and the uplight opens up the room - a Promethean gesture.

Result

Winner of the Forum Design Award. Aletta was chosen as one of the 10 best products of the 1989 Salone Del Mobile in Milan.

Role(s)

Product/Industrial Designer.
Aletta. Aluminium reflectors balanced on the edge of a polycarbonate cone, and connected by thin silver chains to a silicone-coated counterweight.
Aletta composite
Aletta materials.
Aletta calibrated to provide focused downlight.
Aletta calibrated to provide diffused general light.
Aletta calibrated to provide focused uplight.

THOUGHTSHARE

DIRECTOR OF DESIGN

ThoughtShare Communications. Founding member and Director of Design. ThoughtShare developed tools for web-based knowledge management, a product suite for better collaborative use of web content.

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Why

The web was expanding exponentially, yet collaborative use of the growing shared knowledge base was limited. We set out to create a new framework for web-based collaboration, and identified a set of forward-thinking applications targeting the early-stage knowledge management sector.

How

With the participation of researchers at Simon Fraser University, we analyzed cognitive behavior and content aggregation and management in early web use. With our findings, we were able to develop a sophisticated suite of products that addressed collaborative knowledge sharing of web-based content. Adhering to human-centered design principles, the design team was responsible for the UX/UI, collaborated closely with the CTO and IT team to extend the IP into the conception of supporting server-side software, and played a pivotal role in the culture of the organization, including the design of company’s brand and physical workspace.

Result

As a founding member of a tech start-up, we grew the company from a small five-person team to a publicly funded company with 90+ staff. The design team was responsible for generating key software innovation, human-centric application front-end, corporate brand, corporate website and driving innovation through a creative collaborative culture.

Role(s)

Director of Design.

Software Ideation, Creative Direction, Design Management, Team Development, Information Architecture, UX/UI, Branding, Web Design.