michael deimen portfolio sample.general.07.6

M i c h a e l D e i m e n m d e i m e n @ y a h o o . c o m 8 1 2 - 6 3 0 - 2 1 6 5 C P

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“Train” - Training Table

Overview

Train is a table system that

overcomes the static approach to

training environments by allowing

fluid movement, ease of

reconfiguration, a simple statement

of line, and modular power and data

support.

Aesthetics

My goal was to communicate the

product’s ability to respond quickly

and easily to the changing demands

of the classroom environment. To

this end the table was given a lively

stance imparting a sense of motion.

Product Features

The form of the leg is offset from

front to back to facilitate in-line

nesting for storage. To put the

tabletop “at rest” two spring loaded

support arms fold away to allow the

top to pivot into the vertical position.

Each arm has its own release

independent of the other to prevent

accidental lowering of the top.

To put the top back into “use mode,”

the front edge of the top is lifted to

horizontal. As this happens the

arms swing out to greet the user

and are then rotated manually until

each snaps into its respective

release mechanism.

Connection

Each leg has a ganging feature

analogous to the coupling

mechanism on a real train. With this

mechanism deployed tables are

simply bumped into each other and

a mechanical connection is made.



Sylph

Objective

The goal of this project was to

develop a product capable of

establishing the customer as a

credible competitor in the high-

end ergonomic office seating

market. Research revealed

competitive products shared an

equivalent and known set of

functions; approached ergonomic

support with a unique and

proprietary solution; and

employed highly contemporary

aesthetics with cutting edge

material technologies

Ergonomic Research

Ergonomic research revealed two

key insights. First, the best way to

prevent back pain is to prevent

lumbar loss by opening the

included angle between the torso

and the thigh and allowing the

lumbar curve to establish itself

naturally. Second, even when the

lumbar curve is allowed to

establish itself naturally

maintaining the torso in an upright

posture without aid of back

support involves muscle groups

that fatigue easily. The backrest

is important as a passive, self-

adjusting supplemental support to

the torso and lumbar region.

The Solution

The solution combines ergonomic

insight, innovative mechanics,

cutting edge materials, and

contemporary aesthetics to in a

chair with few adjustments and

superior comfort.



Articulating Keyboard

Support – Version 1

Product Features and Design

Considerations

My goals on this product were

maximization of recyclability. To that

end components were designed to

be made of the same material

wherever possible to snap or

interlock together.

Solution

The solution combines rigid and

semi-rigid ABS snap-together

components with a self-skinning

urethane foam palm rest, a spring

steel retainer clip for the ball joint,

and a steel ball and fastening nut.

The keyboard tray is adjusted for

depth via interlocking slides. To

insert the keyboard, a release bar

on the underside of the tray is

depressed. This disengages a catch

on either side of the board from a

rack of interlocks situated directly

above. The tray can then be slid all

the way open and the keyboard put

in place. Finally, the tray is

squeezed together. The arched

shape of the tray creates a natural

spring effect putting pressure on the

front and back edges of the

keyboard. An arm, held in an infinite

number of positions by a gas

cylinder, supports the tray. This

configuration forms a modified four-

bar linkage. The mounting bracket

to which the arm and cylinder attach

pivots horizontally and is mounted

to a slide track to enable its

concealment beneath a work

surface when not in use.



Articulating Keyboard

Support – Version 2

Product Features and

Design Considerations

On this project aesthetics and

mechanics were combined to

discourage inappropriate use. As

difficult as it may be to believe,

keyboard supports are sometimes

used as stepladders.

Solution

The minimalist, almost skeletal

framework combined with the ball

joint pivot proposed by

engineering helps communicate

that the product supports only the

weight of the keyboard and

normal data entry impact.

Excessive pressure causes the

support to deflect dramatically.

The keyboard tray operates on a

torsion bar premise. The front

edge of the keyboard is placed

against the palm rest bar at the

front edge of the tray. As the back

edge of the keyboard is lowered

into the tray, springs within the

palm rest allow it to rise up

slightly over the front edge of the

keyboard to capture it. A soft

foam block at the rear of the tray

captures the back edge of the

keyboard. The supporting arm,

held in a variety of positions by a

gas cylinder, supports the tray.

The mounting bracket to which

the arm and cylinder attach pivots

around a vertical axis and is

mounted to a slide track to enable

its concealment beneath a work

surface when not in use.



Salt & Pepper Shaker Set

Concept 1

Description

This project was conceived as a

metaphor for joining and union. The

form of each peace revolves around

a shared axis. As a result they nest

alongside each other. When

separated the forms seem to beg to

be joined as if neither is complete

without the other. Because the axis

for the twist is between the shakers

and not centered within either one,

each is handed and will nest with

the other in only one configuration.

Together, the two pieces make a

strong metaphorical statement

about shared values, mutual

support, and ultimately, love.

The concept is intended to be

fabricated as investment cast

aluminum, pewter, or possibly even

stainless steel. Each shaker is

made from three pieces. The upper

shell, a base, and a threaded filler

plug. The base and filler plug would

be common to both shakers.

Depending on the material of the

upper shell it may require a plastic

coating on the inner surface to

prevent corrosion.



Origami Lounge

This lounge is targeted at the need

for a more cost effective

manufacturing approach to a cutting

edge contemporary swivel lounge.

The solution eliminates the expense

of injection mold dies or even

stamping dies. The outer shells of

the seat, back, and arms are brake

formed sheet steel. A secondary

reinforcing gusset would be bonded

or spot welded below the seat foam

at the bend between the backrest

and the seat pan. This, combined

with the general form of the bent

panels and the gauge of the steel,

provide rigidity for the back, seat

and arms. My initial intent was to

use 16 to 20 gauge steel.

The base shown could be powder

coated cast zinc or aluminum, or

glass reinforced plastic.

Pictured at right the chair can be

seen with and without arms and

ottoman.



Pi

Pi is a table/seating concept that

draws on the tension between the

warmth of natural materials and

the utility of man-made materials.

The concept is simple and

elegant. The structure capturing

the horizontal wooden deck is a

loop of powder coated ¼” thick

bent aluminum alloy. The tapered

legs rely on a similar premise and

can be filled with a wood core

matching the deck, or left hollow.

The band wrapping the deck is 4”

wide and can be slipped along

the deck to any position, allowing

unlimited deck lengths while

leveraging flexibility of application

and design for the A&D

community. The 4” width allows

sufficient overlap at the joint

between successive decks to

provide a shared leg with secure

mechanical connection.

The minimal number of structural

elements leverage economies of

scale and limit cost of inventory,

while the shared legs eliminate

redundant structure and optimize

costs for the customer. Hollow Leg

Powered Leg

Power & DataOutlet - Deployed



Context Office Furniture

Description

Context is a system of modular

freestanding core units. Each

module is designed to provide its

own light duty privacy/space division

and structure supporting work

surfaces and overhead storage.

Bolting each unit to an adjacent unit

facilitates creation of larger

workstations or workstation clusters.

Each unit is shipped assembled to

lower installation cost.

When first introduced, the product

aesthetic was faintly post-modern,

relying on simple forms and large

fields of color. Over the course of its

lifecycle the product line has been

updated and extended ensuring its

functional and aesthetic relevance.

Contribution

My primary contributions included:

- Quarter round structural column

for overhead cabinets and

related trim cap

- Power & data distribution

channels, raceways, storage

reels, and feed columns

- Glazed & solid Privacy Screen

detailing

- Space division panel detailing

- Drawer and door pulls

- Freestanding tables

- Ambient and task lighting

- Work surface edge detailing

- Personal work tools and

accessories



PC Lounge Seating

The images on this page and the

pages that follow illustrate a seating

system and two table systems

intended for teaming, reception, and

other collaborative areas where

laptop PC’s are likely to be used.

These systems route power, and

potentially data, to corner access

points not typically seen in tables

and seating. These points are

chosen because they are easily

shared by adjacent occupants and

thus provide unusual convenience

and utility in collaborative

applications.



Elective Elements

Systems Furniture

Description

Elective Elements is modular

systems furniture with a wood

expression targeted primarily and

legal and financial markets. It’s rich

array of finish options communicate

status, competence,

professionalism, and authority with

a contemporary flair. It lives well in

free-standing open plan or private

office application.

While employed at Steelcase I

spent some time making

contributions to this case good

system.

Contribution

My primary contributions at the time

involved the following component

areas:

- Overhead and freestanding

cabinet detailing

- Space division panel detailing

- Locking systems



ConTra Lounge System

This concept seems to me a sort of

hybrid between contemporary and

transitional which, depending on the

materials applied, could work well in

either type of setting. The

supporting platform and back frame

create a simple, powerful line that

speaks of stability and support. The

seat, arms, and backrest appear

plush and full suggesting comfort for

extended sitting.

Trim components can be specified

in a variety of wood species and

stains. Arms, backrest, and seat can

be upholstered in a broad array of

complementary or contrasting fabric

combinations. Legs for both the

lounge and table would be offered in

either aluminum or wood. This

range of options should make the

line extremely flexible, appropriate

to a broad range of applications.

Wow Factors

The big Wow factors in this lounge

design are:

1)Simple, clean, sophisticated

contemporary aesthetic (appeals

to A&D)

2)Flexibility in material options

make it robust and adaptable in

its application relative to both

contemporary and transitional

environments (appealing to

Facilities Management and A&D

alike)

3)Seat Cushions are reversible,

extending usable life of product

and limiting frequency of repair

or replacement (appealing to

Facilities Management)

4)Low investment in tooling

(appealing to manufacturing)

5)Deep plush cushions

communicate long term comfort

(appealing to the end user)

6)Potential ability to ship KD and

save money on shipping costs.

(appealing to operations)



Canoe – Utility Post

Aesthetics

The Canoe Utility Post is a

product designed to facilitate the

convenient transfer of power and

data termination from the floor to

the work surface. My aesthetic

goals were to take a product

associated with utility support and

give it a character completely

consistent with the most beautiful

of contemporary furniture. The

product needed to be simple and

elegant while still highly

functional. The solution is an

obelisk. On the seminar table

version, a single corner sweeps

away to allow routing of wires

inside for access to termination.

On the larger conference table

version, all four corners are swept

away to allow access on four

sides. The outer skin uses dark

tones to contribute a sense of

mystery regarding what lies within

the column. The bright yellow

inner surface peeks out at the

corner, suggesting the power

contained within.



The product is used in

conjunction with thin, raised

flooring, which allows horizontal

routing of power and data, and a

mobile table with a top contoured

to nest around it. It is constructed

of a series of aluminum

extrusions that slide together in

an interlocking fashion.



Canoe – Information

Management Cart

Aesthetics

My aesthetic goals in this line

were to create a series of products

that were a bit playful while still

fully compatible with most office

interiors. The gentle curves and

bright yellow colors of the carrier

brackets are employed as a

whimsical visual thread

connecting one accessory to the

next. The cart acts as a muted

backdrop allowing the accessories

to draw the eye.



The products needed to be

lightweight and easy to use while

still being strong enough to

support considerable weight in

paper, magazines, books and the

like. Accessory construction is

stamped aluminum plate snapped

to an injection molded plastic

carrier. Cart construction is a

welded steel frame with cast

aluminum feet, all of which are

powder coated.



Wine

General Description

Wine is a metaphorical seating

study using the form of a wine

glass as the basis for thematic

seating targeted at the hospitality

market. The chair pivots at the

base of the stem to allow the

occupant to turn as desired.

Material would be an engineering

plastic reinforced with a steel

substructure.

Upholstery can be complete or

partial. Partial upholstery in

particular extends the metaphor if

the fabric is coordinated with a

custom carpet as shown.



Healthy Armrest

Aesthetics

This project required the

development of a set of armrests

to work with two lines of

Steelcase seating. Aesthetics

were driven by the need for

compatibility with the visual

characteristics of both seating

lines.



The arm was to be offered in

three levels: Fixed Height, Height

Adjustable, and Height and Width

Adjustable. Cost efficiency was a

prime consideration, so it was

important to share as many parts

as possible between levels

regardless of the chair to which it

was mounted. The solution allows

the top cap and the structural

support tube to be used on all

three models. The Height

Adjustable and the Height and

Width Adjustable models share

the top cap, structural support

tube, telebell and the height

adjustment mechanism.

Height adjustment is achieved by

depressing the lever on the front

of the telebell and raising or

lowering the armrest. To adjust

width, the user grasps the

armrest and slides it from side to

side. The armrest is held in

position by a series of rubber ball

bearings that apply internal

friction.



Reno - Lounge Seating

Project Description

Reno is a line of lounge seating

developed for “National”, Kimball

International’s mid-price brand of

office furniture.

Project Goal

The goal of this project was to

develop a

transitional/contemporary look

and feel in a line of lounge

seating intended to work well in a

range of applications from

reception and teaming areas to

private office break-out/sitting

areas. In recognition of the

increasing presence of

technology in most venues and

the growing importance of

teaming as an operational

necessity, the product line offers

optional pivoting laptop support

surfaces, casters, and handles

mounted to the back to aid in

repositioning the chairs.

The line also offers ottoman and

two seat models designed with

generous proportions to ensure

comfort for users of all statures.

This makes it particularly well

adapted to waiting areas in

medical venues.



Lounge Concept 11

This concept combines several

themes. The backrest recalls the

classicism of traditional wing-back

designs while the armrests draw on

the generous proportions of an

Adirondack chair.

The weight of the seat, arms, back,

and seat are balanced by the

lightness of the legs, which can be

either metal or wood. The contrast

of mass and materials lend a

contemporary feel to the whole.

This statement of line for this design

could include three seat versions

(couches) as well as an ottoman

and associated occasional table

offerings.

Opportunities:

Excellence in craftsmanship and

judicious material selection will

combine to allow this design to

achieve a high degree of

contemporary elegance.

Taper lock leg mount allows the

chair to ship in semi disassembled

state. Legs would be mounted to the

chair on-site without tools. This

provides the following benefits:

- More chairs shipped per trailer

- Lower material cost in cartons

- Lower manufacturing labor

costs

- Easy replacement of legs

damaged in the field

- Reduction in replacement costs

associated with legs damaged

in shipping



Neo Guest Seating

Neo is a line of guest seating with a

French Moderne flavor. The frame

is simple and strong, providing a

powerful visual foundation for the

clean lines of the side, seat, and

back cushions.

The line is intended to include

single, double, and triple seat units

along with accompanying end and

coffee tables.

The images on the following pages

document the chair and a range of

table aesthetics that might work in

combination with the chair.



Modular Lounge

Challenge

Develop a contemporary modular

lounge collection with high-end

aesthetics and a very low cost to

allow extreme price flexibility

Solution

The collection shown here uses a

simple foam cushion over a plywood

deck as platform architecture and

visual backdrop. Against this a

variety of aesthetics can be

showcased, expressed through a

range of leg and back options,

(some shown at right), attached via

common fasteners components.

The seat cushion employs a slot cut

completely through the foam near

its rear edge and upholstered to

allow back options to pass through.

The red cushions shown are

coupled with a backrest shell slit

vertically to create a contemporary

take on traditional slat-back

construction. The back could be

fabricated as molded plywood or

plastic. The legs could be cast

aluminum or, bent aluminum or

plywood. Tables are simply a thin

layer of Corian fixed to the top of a

standard seat cushion.



Club Moderne Lounge

This lounge is intended to provide a

crisp, edgy, contemporary aesthetic

with a bit of French Moderne

influence.

The wooden structure emerges from

the corners to draw the eye and

function as a transition from one

side to the next. At the front of the

chair the arms flare gently outward

creating a more inviting stance.

The statement of line currently

consists of single and two-seat units

but could include a three-seat and

an accompanying table line. Time

will tell.



Ballet Chair

Description

This stool height chair was designed

as a show piece to be used by the

receptionist at the entry to the

Steelcase showroom during

Neocon, an annual industry trade

show. During conceptualization I

drew on my knowledge of dance

and human form. My goal was to

communicate a connection between

the artifact and the occupant.



Leap Task Seating

Description

Leap is a cutting edge line of

ergonomic task seating providing a

broad range of adjustability and

ergonomic support second to none.

At the time of introduction it truly

delivered on the promise inherent in

its name. The chair provided a

major leap forward in the state of

the art of ergonomic task seating.

Central to the range of innovations

is a synchrotilt mechanism that

slides the seat forward as the

occupant reclines.

Also key is a feature called the “Live

Back” that provides a dynamically

flexing lumbar support. Tension or

pressure from this feature can be

adjusted to the user’s preference via

a rotating knob prominently featured

on the side of the back’s support

structure.

Finally, armrests provide generous

ranges of adjustability via arm

height, width, and angular

adjustment. .

Contribution

This project took 5 years to

complete and my involvement with it

took place early in its development

process. My principal contribution is

the three point mounting premise for

supporting the backrest and the

associated structural arch shown

prominently in polished aluminum in

the image at right.



Koi Pond

General Description

Koi Pond is a metaphorical

exploration for a bathroom vanity.

The idea was to develop a

contemporary basin and faucet

set that evoked natural forms

found in or near bodies of water

such as river washed stones and

intersecting depressions that form

small ponds.

Solution

In this case the faucet uses

simple forms to suggest a

collection of stones adjacent to a

pond. A larger stone forms the

base while two smaller stones

form the spigot and faucet

handle. Two spigot concepts are

shown, the first employing a

channel that allows the water to

emerge from a spring-like

opening and flow uncovered until

it creates a small waterfall into the

basin. Both spigots pivot between

the basins. Drain closure is

engaged by picking up the small

“pebble” situated near the larger

collection of stones.

Two overlapping basins appear

cut from a slab of synthetic stone.

Its crisp edges create an

appealing tension with the natural

forms of the basins and faucet.

The smaller basin can be used for

tasks that take less water like

brushing teeth. The smaller basin

also overflows into the larger

basin reinforcing the pond and

waterfall metaphor.



Iron Work

General Description

This page highlights my work as a

blacksmith/sculptor. This is an

interest I have been nurturing for

several years and ideas I explore

here often inform the products I

develop for industry.

michael deimen portfolio sample.general.07.6

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