https://www.nuzhatarif.com/work daily 1.0 2020-05-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564357905096-XBS9SJ7G4JPH0M45409L/exploration+sketches.jpg Work - Something playful I had wanted to create a quirky but live-able form for this object. I started off with envisioning my own living space and sketching all the different designs that would be pleasing to be around. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564360465460-P0PMYQ0AQD5QN4NIKF6A/coatrack5.jpg Work - Dancing valet rack The leather “seat” invites you to throw your clothes at the it. Every time it manages to catch your clothes, it dances and sways a little. The longer it is used, the better the quality of this object becomes due to the nature of the leather material. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564357149940-QYETKF8PMY0R7YHZSPZN/Sella Work - Sella - valet rack This humble valet rack sits in the corner of your bedroom and takes on the form of that chair that currently resides in your room, hidden under a pile of clothes. You no longer have to feel guilty about throwing clothes on it at the end of the day because this object invites you to celebrate that very human behavior that we have all acted upon: To just let go and relax at the end of the day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564358707698-LG8BTM55C3WE8TSUPZQ3/scale+models.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564535870902-GF3QTDEK5LOR9H2I4HPK/at+home4.jpg Work - Sella at home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1562563456267-S7KGWDNWUXEF0JWC4QRH/details.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564358525938-N8S1NIULRSM5Q6JGI00B/IMG_20181031_122016.jpg Work I narrowed down on these three forms through some rapid prototyping of scale models. The image below shows “mockettes” of the final form as I was figuring out the details. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564357276300-Y0IET753DKQ4XZXX23LV/construction.gif Work - Equal angles The construction was fairly simple with effective results. I used a dowel joint for the back hook which makes it strong enough to hang coats and scarves. The three legs are slightly angled uniformly so that they look evenly slanted from all sides. This was an important design as well as construction decision because I wanted Sella to be stable and to distinguish it from other coat racks I had seen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564359253779-J8FDUHDVY9PBYLKQGP9P/Valetrack_building2.jpg Work Working on the full scale model and prototype was illuminating in many ways and allowed for testing out various proportions and fabric colors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564547462917-MGTB88QLRTWPW6Q644Q2/iterations.jpg Work - Visible and compact As I started getting closer to the form, I worked on the details such as proportions and materials using CAD. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564383998442-E0LD7DVJ4V862TWVLVL4/exhibition1.jpg Work - UIC Year End Show This project was exhibited at the Graduate thesis show at the University of Illinois at Chicago on May 2019 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564380141519-1WRBRLBVR71ZOEQDYVGS/homephotos2.gif Work - Household visits I visited 3 different households and went grocery shopping with them to understand their motivations. I discovered that people don’t consciously waste food and they do not always actively look for products that will help them reduce waste. They are also motivated by beauty and if an object is desirable they are more likely to use it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564383651764-V8TURVI6P0TNM8X6QCFU/sketches.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564375519449-Y968H7ONJAALMY4S2Q5E/distribution_center.gif Work - Distribution Center I visited a distribution center in Chicago to find out how they preserve produce and ensure quality and flavor profile. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564383724324-3NXJB71F5DRUJWSP96JG/3d.PNG Work 3D visualization helped figure out the scale as well as details like number of shelves and overall form https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564426348692-0RFHH35APK1S4UIOQKN8/chain-break4.jpg Work The carefully constructed chain that is created at every level of the food supply chain to ensure food freshness is broken when the consumer brings the food home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564384594764-B4F80P77B4DN9M6PAGOK/Claro_full_withfruits2.png Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564374871026-ETVLPXUABD0LGZMNTDAN/render_kitchen1.jpg Work - At home All fruits that are normally haphazardly placed in different locations in the home can now go into one space where it can be admired and consumed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564371982217-3W9HFHYF3T5558JTI8PI/object-render-with-fruits-labels.jpg Work Distribution centers, transportation companies and supermarkets ensure freshness of produce by keeping them in the right temperature and humidity conditions. Claro adapts this for a the home at a much smaller, attainable scale thus linking the chain of freshness back. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564384409743-GESQNIPXSSHTRFK6R2NM/prototype.jpg Work - CLARO Meaning “to clarify” or “make more valuable” in latin. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564369335448-R9FTZVUJZ92RACMF0FIE/food-waste-facts3.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564383812224-GAKXEHCWP2WBN5ESLVVM/acceptance.PNG Work - Why an object just for fruits? Objects that cater to help with display and preservation of specific foods already exist in the market: such as the wine fridge and the Kimchi fridge. The solution that I am proposing to help reduce food waste takes inspiration from such existing objects. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564383675400-TR78OE9K069XSD4J1Z2M/incontext-sketching.jpg Work In context sketching helped visualize the form living in the home and helped narrow down the choices https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564392460863-OV6SB8B7NJO8S03DTS17/sketches-of-dstk2.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564394739366-XLH21IELTIVC82UOA67V/viewing-angle3.jpg Work - New system: 20 minutes The angled screen allows for users to be hands-free as they work on doing the chemistry portion of the soil test. Overall time required for entire process: 20 minutes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564393628654-WZ55TWSTR0ZADNSZ52CB/research-testing-images.gif Work - 6 villages The prototypes were shown to 25 entrepreneurs in 6 different villages in Bangladesh and they provided valuable feedback on the concept and form. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564390577278-VZ7S30U5A7HXLOP1PICL/combining_4.jpg Work - To simplify the process The goal of the project was reduce the time and complexity needed to conduct soil tests (which would previously take 3-4 hours or more) and combine that with a pre-existing app which can give farmers high quality farming recommendations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564388580224-77R6466WZV7U7ZDJ7PX8/form+reveal_website3.jpg Work - The Soil Master This is a project with Technology for Social Impact (formerly known as Grameen Intel Social Business Ltd - joint venture between the Intel Corporation and Grameen Bank). This project has been piloted in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India and Nepal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564389281604-1GACRY9PX6IDDO7486PS/gaibandha2.jpg Work - 800 million people Almost 800 million people go hungry every day due to lack of food and low crop yields. This is an image of a riverside paddy field that I took in a northern village on Bangladesh. The farmers here are very hardworking but season after season, their crop yields drop. It’s hard to keep up with the demands of the market and it’s hard to be optimistic when issues like excess fertilizer, pesticides and wrong seeds result in terrible crop yields. It’s disheartening because of the money and morale lost from people who are already marginalized economically. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564391520141-GD2PO7K21TVOE2UTD6XR/observation2.jpg Work - Old system - 4 hours Local entrepreneurs in villages represent farmers by conducting soil tests for them and giving them farming recommendations using a software. The old system is tedious and takes all day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564392183258-AVPUIFIW1MWBCWNI7FI1/quick_working_prototypes2.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564391917029-S0TFOESSGTIKVZ334RU1/cardboard-box2.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564394215143-ETPJ4733IT1YE188QLZY/final-form-2.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564392923023-R5PSA4TSDTNZ4GDCBRZ2/research_postits.jpg Work - Insights Field testing from the prototypes helped determine that people enjoyed using the kit due to its portability and speed but also preferred that it be angled for easy viewing since the testing is usually done on a table. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564385003772-9M8UPL0NR7ZFQQG1ZAVU/speaker2.jpg Work - “A museum case” Can making the internal part of the speaker that is normally hidden away in the casing more visible and desirable increase the overall value of the object? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564388102202-DZAOSF90OOLDG1P6UZMZ/other-clear-speakers.gif Work - Other clear speakers Several other clear speakers exist in the market which have different design motivations than Hio but which ultimately have a similar effect. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564386569707-WOEDYUTVV6HKTJHA9XTO/clear-speaker2.jpg Work - UIC Image of Research Award This project was awarded an Honorable Mention at the UIC Image of Research Award in 2018. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564534148517-08EONWG2SPORDKHBQLO6/context.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564384925562-VE4ZP5LANB2BP7B8HQ46/speaker1.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564385160666-9FE60G3MH3LK6XOCL7CC/speaker3.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1564385693861-POFCDZU6D0SSXSLMWHVH/scrapyard-2441432_1920.jpg Work - Concept inspiration I learned from the book Emotionally Durable Design by Jonathan Chapman that 80% of the electronic items in landfills end up there because people couldn’t form an emotional connection with them. Beauty and desirability is essential for the lifeline of the object. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1565248522151-HGHPN2U5RQOTZKDMMHTV/AdobeStock_235741658.jpeg Work - Bug repellents can be toxic While there are many bug repellents in the market, the amount of chemicals in them can be harmful to breathe and toxic for the environment as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1565252052953-YXHUXVDQRZ2142C0KFKL/concept.jpg Work This is a 3D rendering of the final form that is reminiscent of a little UFO. It is intended to be made completely out of ceramic with space for storing the grounds that are not used. There is an opening for the stainless steel strainer where the coffee grounds are meant to be placed when in use so that they can be burned. The top cover has “windows” through which smoke can escape and spread across the surrounding. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1565249821578-6LSO5FK7OFBNX4MK1CY2/testing.jpg Work - Testing and interviews I found out that an object that is specifically used for the purpose of burning coffee to repel bugs does not exist in the market. I wanted to see the effect of burning coffee myself and so I started the design process with simply placing some used coffee grounds on some aluminum foil and burning it. I also conducted informal interviews with acquaintances who already use this method to repel bugs. They reported that when they use this method, they remain bug free in their homes for up to two days. This was an encouraging information as I pursued the design further. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1565251653411-LZMFL1LZD6O36V9SVSW7/sketches.jpg Work During the ideation stage, I sketched out various ideas for the form and the different ways that the object could live in the home as a beautiful piece while still being functional. I started thinking of a playful form that would be intriguing, thus raising curiosity and making it a conversation piece to raising more awareness. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1565252876658-Y7QQQ9WICNMZ9K91J2PC/urn_thumbnail.jpg Work I got a prototype of the object made from a manufacturing company in Kentucky. The bright colors were the results of experimentation and learning experience with working with a manufacturer for the first time. I plan on continuing to make further prototypes of the object in future iterations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1565252372302-0K8Q8ND2Q22XQHVQF8HN/large_loose_tea_infuser_ball.jpg Work - A design challenge One of the challenges of the project was to figure out a way so that the user wouldn’t need to bring in external material such as aluminium foil into the object before every use. I also wanted to ensure ease of use and safety when it actually came to burning the coffee without burning ones hand. A simple solution was to place a stainless steel tea infuser that was dismantled and glued to the middle tray of the final form with an opening so that the fire could be introduced from both below and above with a lighter/match. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1588871258973-5ZVG73GAZFOFABV352U7/P8210577.JPG Work Coffee Urn, photo credit: Theodore Burdett (UIC). Prototype built by Chinese manufacturer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1565247647161-WBTFQ2CYWW6RRVBCB0LW/AdobeStock_122826895.jpeg Work - An unexpected use for coffee During the secondary research for my thesis project about food waste, I came across a very interesting fact that thousands of tonnes of wasted coffee grounds end up in landfills. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), used coffee grounds are potent bug repellents due to the strong smell. This smell get stronger when coffee grounds are burned and the smoke spreads. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1565253881111-PMO34XL5RT0NDJZX6K6O/icff.jpg Work The coffee urn was exhibited at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in May 2019 as part of the UIC + Uncommon Goods collaboration booth. The conference was visited by thousands of attendees over the course of 5 days and the coffee urn garnered great interest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1565339554101-33QNPD49AK2QFT6TTQV1/flow_suppliers_all.png Work - Wireframes and user flows We created use-cases for each interaction that would be possible for the user. Different interactions have different wireframes and user flow. The team had a separate visual designer who created the design language and I continued on with the visual design afterwards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1565343130677-UG3PAVYO94FHDLQRY6K7/settings-and-licensing.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1565342241489-NDKOAHKX4RQJDT7KUYCS/4apps-into-1.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1565337632037-KZZ467EFMXTQLTOD3ZJ4/goal_intro2.jpg Work - Sustainable Development Goal SDG-2 of the United Nations is to “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture”. As such, 800 million people in the world have insufficient access to food, so it is imperative that the goal is reached as soon as possible . Through this project, Grameen Intel intends to aide in achieving this goal through the use of technology. I redesigned an app that provides farming recommendations to small holder farmers in developing countries and helps increase their farming yields https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1565319112779-WTS88N6B77M2SSZXPXVO/soil-test-UI_ab.gif Work - Testing the UI An example of how I conducted testing while designing the visuals and wireframe flow for the “fertilizer recommendation” part of the software was through AB testing. I wanted to figure out what was visually most appealing as well as what had most usability potential. Minor changes like this, done throughout the app, made a difference to the overall experience. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1565335052050-ZE5DISLQHQG4YHQUBKQ9/local-entrepreneurs.jpg Work - The end users The end user of the app are local level entrepreneurs in various villages who are well known trusted members of the community. Farmers come to them with their queries and work with them to get farming recommendations and do soil tests for a small fee. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1565334738687-8H8QF7HYWXUWBSQAPMDG/amena+begun3.jpg Work I created user personas for the different levels of users to better understand their motivations. This is such an example from a field visit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1565338899324-UV32V3ZNL3TMA2VSUK17/3+usersb.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1565338946941-OZZDDQWCB1UWLSXUFMH0/both-dstk-and-app.jpg Work The app has been designed to be used on any Android phone as well as the Soil Master soil testing kit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1565330919831-TCYXTD41G7N58SWVPOUS/buyer-rec-main-image.gif Work - A comprehensive farming solution for small-holder farmers These screens show one of the flows in a 4 part solution for farming: fertilizer, seed, pesticide, and buyer recommendations. This project involved redesigning 4 legacy apps that the company was operating with and combining them all into one cohesive solution with a user-centric approach. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1562619821185-NSII5M32NS1JYGBFYYJQ/speaker1.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1562713457631-BBONJCJSW5O78LOFRQIC/form+reveal_website3.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1562726207779-P5IM47O25RX34OMG0CKD/renderWithFruit.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1565245649566-SCYX7C0P9RANAAUC51AR/thumbnail_krishe.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1588871701217-EBG93EUFLPLZ31ZDSEQS/P8210570.jpg Work https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/1588877376176-XCR5UCQYG8JCS1V97UOG/at%2Bhome2.jpg Work https://www.nuzhatarif.com/contact daily 0.75 2019-06-28 https://www.nuzhatarif.com/new-page daily 0.75 2019-06-28 https://www.nuzhatarif.com/about daily 0.75 2025-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c4bd6f21aef1d55583fed7a/db7d0984-6f1b-4b9e-bc14-071d2a08b829/About+me.png About