Linette Brown is an industrial designer currently interning at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa. She studied industrial design at Carleton University and enjoys traveling, sci-fi, video games, music, and Halloween costumes. Some of her past projects include a renovation of a pedestrian street to make it more inviting day and night, musical blocks to encourage inclusive play for children, and a theoretical multi-material stud finder. She created an exhibition stand design and furniture prototype as student projects. She also participated in a redesign of Ottawa's public bus transportation system focused on improving the user experience.
2. Linette Brown
Sci-fi Lover
tel:
1-613-299-7587
email:
linette_brown@carleton.ca
post: 1542 Bourcier Dr.
Ottawa, Ontario
K1E 3J2
Hi there!
Since I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you yet, I thought I'd let you get to know me
a little.
I got into the Industrial Design program at Carleton straight out of high school. As soon
as I discovered that this was an actual job, I knew that industrial design was what I wanted
Adventurer
to do with my life. It's not work if you love it right?
At the moment I am currently exploring the possibilities in exhibition design by way of an
internship at the Canadian Museum of Nature located in Ottawa. This was driven by my
interest in user interaction and I am loving it. Trying to understand how someone uses
an object, and what they are drawn to is pretty fascinating. I love learning new things,
so the variety of exhibits provides me with so much exciting information.
I am an aspiring traveller, having been on exchange to Australia and visited several other
places, but there are still so many places I want to go. I like to stay active when my busy
schedule allows; until a recent injury, this usually meant a good game of soccer. I'm a
little bit of a geek and a lover of sci-fi. Vid games and baking are pretty awesome, and
eo
I like music of the indie-alt variety though I'll listen to just about anything. I also take my
Halloween costumes pretty seriously.
I'm a down to earth girl with practical sensibilities. I try to avoid conflicts whenever
possible and I do pretty well with a group of willing teammates. I would classify myself Industrial Designer
as a reality based optimist and I'd love for a chance to show you what I can do.
3. Renovation of
Clarendon Lane
May-August 2011
Ottawa Urban Design Awards Contest Entry
In collaboration with 2 coworkers
Side table A renovation of a pedestrian street
located in downtown Ottawa.
Updated public seating and lighting are
used to transform the space and invite
Seat more use and traffic during both daylight
an evening hours.
Child's seat/ Filled with passing traffic during the day,
baggage space bench space went unused. The new design
assigns each person a personal circle so
that others may use the remaining seats
without encroaching on another person's
space.
Relatively abandoned at night, the
ped estrian street was outfitted with a
greater number of lights to increase safety
and visibility.
Inviting for all, day or night
4. Traffic Flow
Spaces in bench
clusters allow
for free flow of
traffic
Safe Environment
Divide and illuminate
5. Musical Blocks
September-December 2011
Inclusive toy design project
The goal of this project was to design
a toy with the focus on inclusivity of
children with mental and physical
challenges.
Interviews and visits with children's
care facilities aided in the focus of this
project.
The key objective within the project:
Design a toy that INCLUDES the child
in normal play, not a toy that is geared
specifically towards challenged play.
Play LED light colour inside translucent block indicates note
Change C D E F G A B C
note/colour
Battery
access
6. Research and Guidelines
Inclusive Design:
Maximizing the usability for ALL users
Appeal to multiple ages
Facilitate individual and
cooperative play
Have graduated stages
of play/difficulty
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Auditory and visual
feedback
Personas
Keegan Emily Taylor The Burkes
7. Fabrication
Ways to Play
Single
stimulation
of light and
sound Advanced
Building song and
blocks pattern
building
Multiple levels of play
8. Stud Finder
February-June 2012
Theoretical student project based on user
testing
A theoretical multi-material
sensing stud finder for personal
use.
The project was dictated by
a set technical package. The
arrangement of electronics and
use of sensors were directed
through several user trials
using foam models and simple
electronic mock ups.
Designed for the first time
user, this stud finder clearly
separates each step as a simple
function so that the procedure
can be easily followed by an
inexperienced user.
What’s really behind my walls?
Water Metal
Metal wall pipes wires
studs
Wood wall
studs
9. Guided use Models
Colour coded
steps guide
user
WATER
METAL
WOOD
READY
Subtle arrows
to direct user
Left to right, top CALIBRATE
to bottom natural
sequencing
Storyboard
CALIBRATE. MARK EDGE. REPEAT.
WATER
WATER
WATER
METAL
WOOD
METAL
METAL
WOOD
WOOD
READY
READY READY
CALIBRATE
CALIBRATE CALIBRATE
10. Exhibition Stand
March 2011
A one-time use, single student display
Requirements:
- maximum 4'x4' footprint
- use Octanorm technology
Constructed based on the Octanorm
system, this exhibit design boasts bright
colours and unique shapes to grab the
attention of passers-by. A built in lighting
system ensures clear views of the student's
projects, and the header means that
exhibitioners can always find their way back
to the booth. This design is fun, unique and
the perfect way to draw a crowd.
Stand out in a crowd
11. Nerus Stool
May-June 2011
Student furniture prototype project
Fitting the requirements of a 50x50 cm
footprint, this stool prototype is made of
plywood and MDF that has been veneered.
A self imposed flatpack restriction was
used to keep potential shipping and
storage costs to a minimum.
The final product consists of 3 pieces
and 10 screws, and is easily assembled
by customers at home using only a
screwdriver.
This low stool functions as a seat for one
adult, or 2 children, and can also be used
as a ottoman.
Flatpack Furniture
13. OC Transpo
Redesign
September-December 2011
In collaboration with 4 partners
Navigation Lines
The exploration of a user centered
redesign of the public bus transportation
system in Ottawa, Canada.
Research and observation of the station
were the main focus. Analysis of the
information, combined with brainstorming,
and focus groups led to a series of
concepts that addressed several aspects
of users' needs.
Interviews and user testing were
cond ucted to validate and refine concepts.
Proposed solutions
Bus arrival
countdown
Visual bus
tracker
Public Game Live Entertainment Route Tracking
14. nogra phic
Eth
study
Concep
t
Genera
ti on
Process of events
Analys Va l i d a t
is & ion
Insight