HELLO

Welcome to my UX Design Portfolio. I am a London-based UX designer with a background in Computing. I also mentor fellow designers and I love to speak about design.


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PROJECT

UX OF SKIN I

  • Timeline: 1 Week (Oct 29 – Nov 12)
  • Brief: Design a way to express the skin/world interface.
  • Team Members: Damul Yang, Jinsong (Sylvester) Liu, Cat Achieng
  • Key Deliverables: An Embodied Experience / Prototype

During our second week at UAL, we were presented with the UX of Skin assignment. Our main goal was to create a physical skin expression model that is intended to externalise our ideas in forms that can be touched, worn, heard, and smelled. 

We began by individually researching the topic of skin and listing different ideas prior to beginning our group brainstorming session. 

UX Of Skin I Project Timeline.

IDEATION

EARLY RESEARCH & BRAINSTORM 

We explored several concepts. They are; 

 

  • Microbial Ecology – These are organic, living materials that are wearable or can be used to build. This idea was inspired by Neri Oxman’s work.

 

  • The Adapted Human –  Advanced skin that filters polluted air and protect humans from the virus. This ‘skin’ can be applied as an extra layer to a human’s skin or can be used to seal shut windows of a building.

 

  • Fluffy Skin – Most of the comfortable sitting/standing positions usually tend to be back for our spines and backs. This idea involves creating fluffy skin that temporarily swells up to aid us in sitting in correct postures.

 

  • Glowy Skin – This is skin that when applied it can easily detect and diagnose sore spots or bruises on our bodies by glowing on the specific spots.  

UX Of Skin I Project Timeline.

CONCEPTS

THE EFFECTS OF ANXIETY ON SKIN 

A human’s body stress response can go into overdrive during an anxiety attack episode. This usually affects the nervous system and therefore resulting in other symptoms such as burning and itching of the skin. These sensations can be felt on any part of the skin including the face, legs, arms, etc. 

High levels of stress and anxiety can also result in forming physical habits that are very difficult to undo. These habits are known as ‘body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRB) .

Dermatophagia is a condition where an individual picks, chews, or bites the skin/cuticles around their fingers. Dermatophagia is an example of a BFRB.

Skin Anxiety. Credit: Sylvester Liu

Main Inspiration: Dermatophagia

SOLUTION

WHAT WE DECIDED TO BUILD

As a group, we decided that our main topic would be ‘Dermatophagia’ and the prototype we create would metaphorically demonstrate the processes of body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRB). 

We decided to create a prototype of a humanoid hand figure that has peel-able skin. Positive message/s are revealed with each peel. The skin represents our anxiety and the peeling process represents the process of healing.

Main Inspiration: Dermatophagia. Credit: Damul Y. 

PROTOTYPE

LOW-FIDELITY MODELS

With our main concept in mind, we began creating low fidelity prototypes that would demonstrate anxiety and the peeling and healing process.

Low Fidelity Prototype. Credit: Damul Y. & Jinsong (Sylvester) L.

REFERENCES

  • Heredia, K. (n.d.). B1: Identity. [online] MCHS AP Studio Art. Available at: http://mchsapart.weebly.com/b1-identity.html [Accessed 7 Nov. 2020]
  • Sampson, S. (2019). Dermatophagia: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment. [online] www.medicalnewstoday.com. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325111 [Accessed 7 Nov. 2020].
  • Guda, N. (2012). Body Canvas • Projection Art on the Human Form. [online] nelsonguda.com. Available at: https://www.nelsonguda.com/project/body-canvas/ [Accessed 7 Nov. 2020].
  • “Abstract: The Art of Design” Neri Oxman: Bio-Architecture. (2019). [film] Netflix.