MICHAEL O'BRIEN


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bio.



ABOUT ME





“If necessity is the mother of invention then we should design for people's needs, not wants”​


I was born, raised and educated in Sydney, Australia. As a designer I believe in democratic design and sustainability in design. My design approach is largely influenced by my international experience, with several years spent living, studying and working in Barcelona-Spain, Mexico City -Mexico ,Ciudad Del Este -Paraguay and Hanoi-Vietnam.


2010


Graduated with honours from the University Technology Sydney with a BA of Industrial Design and International Studies.


2011


After formal education, I practiced as a freelance designer in Tasmania, Australia, as a member of the design cooperative “DOT”.


2013


For 5 years I worked in Hanoi Vietnam, designing medical equipment for hospitals across Asia and Africa.

Working in a small international team of electronic engineers and bio medical engineers we were tasked with designing a new version of their Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine to help newborns with respiratory distress and other equipment for neonatal wards.


http://www.mtts-asia.com/


2017


Currently I work as a private design consultant for an Australian inventor and engineer, getting a conceptual product through the design and manufacturing stages to market.



bio.



CV.





University

2010 Bachelor of Industrial Design and Bachelor International Studies UTS - University of Technology Sydney.


2009 International Exchange UNAM Mexico - Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City.


2008 International Exchange UPF Spain - Univeristat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona

Awards

2011 Bricolage Design Prize
2011 The India Future of Change Competition Shortlisted Finalist
2011 Big Green Idea: The British Council and LRQA scholarship
2011 The ABC New Inventors Season Finale ‘Les is More’ Award
2010 Jack Greenland Travelling Scholarship
2010 Casey Hyun Industrial Design Graduate Award

Recognition


2011 November ‘Indialogues’ Conference; Invited Speaker New Delhi, India
2011 September TEDx Talks; Invited Speaker “Universitas Indonesia” Jakarta, Indonesia
2011 August Workshopped Design Exhibition: Alluviya Hanging Pendant Lamp Exhibited
2011 August SRD –Society for Responsible Design Exhibit; Minor Prize Winner and Exhibitor
2011 August
EPSM-ABEC Conference; Invited Speaker, Darwin, Australia



Articles


Fast Co. Design

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1671480/10-of-the-years-best-designs-for-social-good#1


Gizmag

Battery-powered surgical lamp designed for developing nations


DESIGNBOOM

INDIA future of change: InDialogues 2011


Urban Mining

http://www.urbanmining.at/low-cost-surgical-lamp/3301


Fast Co. Design

https://www.fastcodesign.com/1668939/a-surgical-light-for-the-developing-world


Ligature Journal

http://www.ligaturejournal.com/issues/issue-2/​


Core77

http://www.core77.com/posts/69172/Design-Experience-That-Matters-Equipping-A-Local-Social-Enterprise-to-Communicate-Ideas-Using-Prototypes



Selected Awards



Selected press



Employers / Partners



Design Process





My design practice relies heavily upon a participatory method by employing; ethnographic research techniques, Human Centered Design strategies, inclusive design and Voice Of Customer interviews. Understanding the background of the user and they daily difficulties helps the designer direct the solution towards a contextually appropriate design.

Paper printouts of various User Interface panels help hospital staff decide what symbols they understand and prefer for each function in a CPAP medical device. Making initial mock-ups is an essential step for conducting interactive interviews, then, in later rounds of user research rapid prototyping is fundamental for putting a realistic object in the users hands and understanding their interaction and developing the ritual of use. Finally extensive "bench top" testing and lab testing prepares the device for introduction to hospitals and patients.


The slideshow and the link below give an visual overview of such a design process.



http://www.core77.com/posts/69172/Design-Experience-That-Matters-Equipping-A-Local-Social-Enterprise-to-Communicate-Ideas-Using-Prototypes



michaelobriendesign@gmail.com