Early Ideas
Linghua developed four original concept sketches
01
Linghua Zhu
The Phone Docking Station
designed in a collaboration with RIT & Poppin
The Brief
Poppin is rethinking every type of office product into a new colorful workstyle. The students of RIT’s Industrial Design department where challenged to create innovative accessories for this new line that accent, improve, or add to their use.
As a leader in design education, RIT constantly aims to connect students with real-world experience. Through the metaproject, students gain experience working with a real industry company while expanding their knowledge of design.
Poppin’s core goal is to create a #workhappy environment for everyone, everywhere. Their products promote an easy to use, customizable workspace, sprinkled with bright, bold colors.
Linghua Zhu
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I am a senior in RIT's Industrial Design program who always strives to be innovative and unique! I love design and I am trying to make the creative process a large and essential part of my lifestyle.
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explore linghua's creative process
Cell Phone Holder
The concept of a cell phone holder on the Poppin desk was the starting concept for Linghua's final product, The Phone Docking Station.
Lounge Accessory
Taking a step into the break room, Linghua tried out product ideas for different Poppin products, like the lounge.
Cable Management
Her cable management conept surrounded the idea of a system that would spin around and tighten your cords without any effort from you.
Standing Table
This two-in-one design gives easy transition from a sitting table to the dynamic standing table.
02
feedback
The concepts developed after meeting with Poppin.
03
prototype
Linghua began the daunting process of creating physical prototypes to test, tweak, and test again. She had designed all her models to have rounded edges to fit the Poppin aesthetic. Having already sketched out her concepts, she developed models and had them 3D printed so she could continue work through any problems.
04
problem solving
Charger Port Design
From a channel for the cord to a completely open bottom design, Linghua made multiple models and took into consideration how people would interact with the phyiscal product.
05
final product
The Phone Docking Station
#workhappy with the peace mind that at the end of the day, your phone will be right where you left it, fully charged.
What makes it 'Poppin'?
Poppin is a design company that is working on simple and clean, yet innovative and colorful designs in the workplace. The phone docking station accomplishes this goal and allows users to #workhappy! I do think it is a great opportunity and I learned a lot from this experience.
Summary
The most important thing I have learned through this process would be how to communicate with the sponsor and how to incorporate their advice into my design. Each time they walk in or have skype review with us, they give a lot of suggestions from their manufacturing perspective. Usually when we are taking courses, we do not consider others’ thoughts and we are not able to get this kind of experience. This is more like pre-work training where we can actually see what problems are going on in the whole process, which has been amazing for me.
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I’m essential & fun
