Interviews with Sophia Neill

This concept came about when in lockdown as Covid-19 entered New Zealand for the first time. I sat in my room puzzling how I could change behaviours to reduce the spread of the virus through our interactions with ourselves and other people.

My goal what to create a device that is something people want to wear rather than feel they have to. This concept is meant to look like any other piece of jewellery, however have the function like no other. The function of the ring is quite the opposite, it changes behaviours and tracks the health of the user, reducing the spread of viral infections.

I think this design has a huge potential for impact, especially with the virus not going away anytime soon. However, I am still studying my Masters and do not intend to produce this product for market unless a unique opportunity arrises.

From start to finish, this concept took me around 3 months part time.

This was a University assignment, where I was asked to change ones interactions or behaviours. I took the opportunity to focus this on the pandemic to make the assignment more worthwhile.

I would be interested in selling the concept to be produced as it would be a shame to waste the opportunity, especially when it surrounds a very topical issue being the global pandemic.

I was mentored by my lecturer, Prof. Edgar Rodriguez as this was a university assignment.

The people who have the privilege of traveling during a pandemic.

Technology in rings has been done before but only for the purpose to track fitness. This ring changes behaviours and prevents a virus from spreading.

Czero. 'C' meaning Covid/Corona. 'zero' meaning none of it. So 'No Covid'.

I created this concept on a CAD program, Fusion 360.

The Czero ring has the power to save lives if you look at the larger impact of the function. The spread of viruses will always be a relevant issue when traveling which means this tiny device holds exponential power.

Victoria University of Wellington, a design school that encourages design innovation.

The technology in this design offers the ability to collect information from the ring and transfer that to a phone which calculates ones health.

All I researched for this design, was the capabilities of technology on this scale.

It is a shame that I never made the concept in real life as this is a crucial part of design development. However, ironically I could not do this while in lockdown.

I entered this award after receiving a nomination ticket from being a winner of the 'War on Virus' Design category, by A'Design. As a student, entering awards of such value like A'Design, is typically not within the student budget, so I am extremely grateful to have received this opportunity.

I have always had a strong interest in creative subjects, ever since I was in pre-school. I attended boarding school in Christchurch, New Zealand from the age of 12. Here I learnt that my creative interests went beyond the subjects taught at school, i.e visual arts and graphic design. When I was looking at university studies, I was instantly drawn to the work that was completed at Victoria University of Wellington for its quality of innovation. Naturally, I proceeded to study my Bachelor of Design Innovation there and have thoroughly enjoyed the challenges they set for me in the three years of the degree. I am 21 now and have begun studying my Masters of Design Innovation, where I wish to continue in a more specific area of 3D printing for customizable products.

As I am still studying, I find motivation in the projects we are assigned. The projects tend to provoke thought around how existing designs or systems could be further advanced using the latest technology. As to why I became a designer? It just happened. There was never a point at which I decided I wanted to become a designer, it happened naturally as the opportunities became available to me as I grew older.

I have completed small projects that are of all kinds. As a young designer, I do not feel I should have one area that I want to design for yet. I am wanting to get involved with projects of all kinds, to explore properly the capabilities of my skill set. In doing this I will gain knowledge that can be mixed with new areas of design, broadening my scope of the products or innovations that I may design in the future.

I think the really good designs tend to prove themselves. A really good design will tell its own story and take itself places once it has passed initial recognition. Good design is not decided by one person, it is decided by the population that gets the opportunity to experience it.

Good design may require a slight shift in system which might come at a cost, however if it is good it would prove itself to be worthwhile.

Prof Nari Oxman of MIT is someone I would aspire to work for or alongside, to work on a project with advanced 4D printing in relationship to biomimicry.

To never underestimate those crazy initial concepts. However, I would not say I have had enough success stories to base this opinion off.

I find inspiration in the works of Philip Stark and Zaha Hadid, for their work takes some of the most ordinary objects or architecture and makes them beautiful in simplification and organic form.

I do not have a specific design in mind, however I enjoy design that is thought provoking or has a behavioural influence simply from the form of the object.

Find passion in the area you design, as this is where I become the most creative and explorative. Not only this, it is a motive to create work that goes beyond the normal design parameters.

My family and friends at university are my greatest support. My brother specifically is my biggest motivator as he always rings me to find out what my latest venture is and always shows the utter most excitement. I hope there is never a day that I disappoint him with an idea when he calls.

4D printing for customization in unique footwear. I wish I could share more, so ask me again in 14 months.

To go to sleep at night knowing I have used my set of skills to improve the big problems that the world is facing currently or might in the future.

I am currently working on my Masters degree which is by far the most exciting project I have ever worked on. The project is 4D customized printing combined with a design area which I have a strong passion for.

I find it very satisfying when I have an idea and theory in my head that is successful when I go to make it. An example of this was a project I did using the Stratasys J750 3D printer and I worked out you could use coloured light to cancel hide colours within the 3D print. This project is on my online portfolio.

I have always found myself wanting to be creative, making and modeling by hand and with technology. Throughout my studies, I have always felt inspired and passionate for the projects I am working on, especially when innovating sustainably or for the benefit of the public. I believe that creative people like myself are crucial for design during a time of crisis like today to create products that are of benefit for the future.

“The Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation is a leading provider of innovative education in design and the built environment. Our central location in the heart of creative Wellington sees us placed to be a hub for the local creative industry, and we regularly host international and high profile conferences, exhibitions and events.” - Victoria University of Wellington

To me, design is finding the opportunities for innovation in all aspects of life and problem solving to create a better living environment. This includes the system design around a product and the entire life cycle of it. Considering the long term effects as well as short term is always important for a successful outcome.

As a young designer, I am still finding new areas of design that interest me. However, I have found passion in designing products that are for the greater good of the community or with sustainable/eco friendly values.

The c-zero ring project is one of which I would continue to develop in the future as I believe it has the most potential in the market. Utilising the latest micro technology and smart phone accessories has been a great learning experience as it seems to be the way of the future for product design. The relevance to the global pandemic has been a motivation to use my skills to help reduce the spread of the virus.

Computer Aided Manufacturing software, such as 3D printing, is a design tool that has endless capabilities which I wish to explore for many years to come.

When I am surrounded by motivated and passionate people I feel most inspired to be creative.

Embodied energy is a term used to describe the total energy required for the production of an individual product. This term recognises all of the impacts a product has in its full life cycle, which is commonly overlooked by the customer. I think it is incredibly important for designers to consider this creating a product that may be mass produced.

Nature is my main source of design inspiration as looking at the incredible evolution is a design development in itself. I find applying the natural behaviours the most successful route in achieving a good design.

I was born and raised on a farm in rural Marlborough, New Zealand where my family often had to improvise when a job needed to be done, due to the distance we lived from the nearest town. Both my parents are creative and innovative people, who are somewhat ‘designing’ on a day to day basis as a result of the lifestyle. As a child in this environment, I was hands on with making glasses out of leaves and sticks or art work from dying flowers. New Zealand itself is well known for the DIY, (Do It Yourself), attitude. As I now live in the capital city, I am almost overwhelmed by the opportunity which makes me think, am I better designing when there are limited resources?

As a young designer myself, I find the most passion when designing around a topic that interests me or has personal value. This is one of the best places to start when beginning a project as you will have prior knowledge in the area.

Is it necessary?

Understanding what the target market wants while taking into account processes involved in producing the product. This includes the afterlife of the product also.

My design ideas come to me better when I am under pressure, although I will stop and take a step back when it is not working out. I find this productive and less time consuming than forcing myself to work within the typical working hours.

As I am restricted with a time frame for University projects I find my best designs have taken the longest, three months on average. However, my most recognised designs, I feel, will never be complete as there is always opportunity to improve or update a product.

I find my passion when I am designing products that have significant meaning or impact. This may include tackling sustainability issues as well as value in the design's purpose. Problem solving the many aspects in a design is challenging, however the outcome is always the most rewarding.

In 2021, I intend to begin my Masters of Design Innovation where I’ll continue research into 3D/4D printing to find where this technology can be most beneficial in terms of customisable design.

At the end of 2020, I completed a project that offers another system to help prevent the spread of airborne viruses when traveling on a plane. Within this project, I focused largely on utilising organic materials scoured from New Zealand, my home county. This project can be found on my website/online portfolio.

Website/online portfolio: https://www.sophianeilldesign.com/

Email: sophianeill8@gmail.com