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Houston-Centered Design

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    • Spring 2016
      • Sp16 Grit Grocery
      • Sp16 Koko the Koala
    • Fall 2016
      • Fa16 Aquaponics
      • Fa16 Compact Dressing Station
      • Fa16 Hermann Park Kiosk
      • Fa16 HexIO
      • Fa16 West U Backpacks
    • Spring 2017
      • Sp17 Houston Food Security
    • Fall 2017
      • Fa17 Access Rice
      • Fa17 Fiat Chrysler Auto. Self-Driving Cars
      • Fa17 Harvey Relief
      • Fa17 Sodexo College Preparedness and Resilience
    • Spring 2018
      • Sp18 Chapstick
      • Sp18 Design Journal
      • Sp18 Dish Drop
      • Sp18 Hermann Park
      • Sp18 Homelessness
      • Sp18 Montrose Center
      • Sp18 Solar Studios
      • Sp18 Writing Utensil
    • Fall 2018
      • Fa18 Arms Wide Adoption Services
      • Fa18 Open Arch Wayfinding
      • Fa18 ScootAASS
      • Fa18 Thread Together
      • Fa18 Montrose Grace Place
    • Spring 2019
      • Sp19 YMCA
      • Sp19 Compass
      • Sp19 KTRU
      • Sp19 Urban Harvest
      • Sp19 Mi Familia Vota
      • Sp19 Rice Bikes
    • Fall 2019
      • Fa19 Chaus
      • Fa19 New Hope Housing
      • Fa19 TIRR
      • Fa19 Period
    • Spring 2020
    • Fall 2023
      • Fa23 Baker Ripley
      • Fa23 HASSE
      • Fa23 Restoring Justice
      • Fa23 RMA
      • Fa23 The Walk
      • Fa23 Tony’s Place
    • Spring 2024
      • Sp24 ADDA
      • Sp24 Air Alliance
      • Sp24 BEAR
      • Sp24 Council on Recovery
      • Sp24 Rice Recreation Center
      • Sp24 The Arc of Harris County
  • Current Projects

Category: Fall 2016

Fa16 West U Backpacks

West U Backpacks: BUILD/TEST

November 5, 2016July 5, 2018 Maheen Khizar

What did you initially build / test? What does your prototype look like and how will you improve on it? We built a very low-fidelity prototype of the entire backpack, with a foldable rigid bottom and a detachable accordion folder. … Continue reading West U Backpacks: BUILD/TEST

Fa16 Aquaponics, Fall 2016

Aquaponics: BUILD/TEST

November 5, 2016July 6, 2018 Maheen Khizar

What did you initially build / test? What does your prototype look like and how will you improve on it? We initially built an ebb-and-flow aquaponics system. We will be planting and adding fish to this system soon. Our prototype … Continue reading Aquaponics: BUILD/TEST

Fa16 Hermann Park Kiosk, Fall 2016

Hermann Park Kiosk: BUILD/TEST

November 5, 2016July 6, 2018 Maheen Khizar

What did you initially build / test? What does your prototype look like and how will you improve on it? We have started drawing and making a prototype of the “frame” idea. We are playing with the structure and what … Continue reading Hermann Park Kiosk: BUILD/TEST

Fa16 Compact Dressing Station, Fall 2016

Compact Dressing Station: BUILD/TEST

November 1, 2016July 6, 2018 Maheen Khizar

What did you initially build / test? What does your prototype look like and how will you improve on it? We initially built our rigid frame prototype by using a v-belt and making it rigid with sticks attached to the … Continue reading Compact Dressing Station: BUILD/TEST

Fa16 Hermann Park Kiosk, Fall 2016

Hermann Park Kiosk: IDEATE

October 29, 2016July 6, 2018 Maheen Khizar

What ideas did you present? We presented on one idea in each category of solutions: observe to understand the story, move to understand the story, create to understand the story. What feedback did you receive from Mid-Semester Review? We received … Continue reading Hermann Park Kiosk: IDEATE

Fa16 West U Backpacks

West U Backpacks: IDEATE

October 29, 2016July 5, 2018 Maheen Khizar

What feedback did you receive from Mid-Semester Review? Feasibility to complete project in semester Whether students will actually use our solution Define costs more clearly Talk to parents Which idea have you decided to focus on? Standing upright  Organizability with … Continue reading West U Backpacks: IDEATE

Fa16 Hermann Park Kiosk, Fall 2016

Hermann Park Kiosk: REFRAME

October 15, 2016July 6, 2018 Maheen Khizar

What are the biggest key insights you’ve gained for your project? We gained insights into the efforts and dedication that people put into the park and grew to appreciate the park as a whole more. We have communicated with the … Continue reading Hermann Park Kiosk: REFRAME

Fa16 West U Backpacks

West U Backpacks: REFRAME

October 15, 2016July 5, 2018 Maheen Khizar

What are the biggest key insights you’ve gained for your project? About half of the students walk, bike, or scooter home Kids carry around more than 1 bag Kids move from class to class without backpacks, but with bags or … Continue reading West U Backpacks: REFRAME

Fa16 Compact Dressing Station, Fall 2016

Compact Dressing Station: REFRAME

October 15, 2016July 6, 2018 Maheen Khizar

What are the biggest key insights you’ve gained for your project? Yes, we interviewed a physical therapist in the Houston medical center called Sarah Snyder! We learned from Sarah that the most common body motion issues for independent dressing include … Continue reading Compact Dressing Station: REFRAME

Fa16 Aquaponics, Fall 2016

Aquaponics: REFRAME

October 15, 2016July 6, 2018 Maheen Khizar

What are the biggest key insights you’ve gained for your project? We started building our prototype this week to determine the feasibility/ease of creating a system.  So far, we have only completed about 10% of the work but so far … Continue reading Aquaponics: REFRAME

Fa16 Hermann Park Kiosk, Fall 2016

Hermann Park Kiosk: IMMERSE

October 1, 2016July 6, 2018 Maheen Khizar

Did you conduct user interviews this week? If so what insight did you gain? Yes, we did conduct interviews to find out why people go to the park, where they enter, if they’re local, how often they go to the … Continue reading Hermann Park Kiosk: IMMERSE

Fa16 Aquaponics, Fall 2016

Aquaponics: IMMERSE

October 1, 2016July 6, 2018 Maheen Khizar

Did you conduct user interviews this week? If so what insight did you gain? We have reached out to experts and potential users but have not conducted any formal interviews yet. Describe related projects that have been done to address … Continue reading Aquaponics: IMMERSE

Fa16 West U Backpacks

West U Backpacks: IMMERSE

October 1, 2016July 5, 2018 Maheen Khizar

Did you conduct user interviews this week? If so what insight did you gain? We visited West U Elementary School twice this week. By talking to teachers and students, we were able to narrow down our problem space and assess … Continue reading West U Backpacks: IMMERSE

Fa16 Compact Dressing Station, Fall 2016

Meet Team Compact Dressing Station

September 24, 2016July 6, 2018 Maheen Khizar

Tell us about your team. We rock What are you looking forward to most as a team this year? Emma: I’m looking forward to working with my team to solve a problem that I’ve familiarizing myself with the design process … Continue reading Meet Team Compact Dressing Station

Fa16 Aquaponics, Fall 2016

Meet Team Aquaponics

September 24, 2016July 6, 2018 Maheen Khizar

Tell us about your team. We have a diverse array of academic disciplines and skillsets, as well as matching neck tattoos. Christina Hahn (POLI/HIST), Manlin Yao (CSCI/ANTH), Coby Kaskel (BIOC), Mike Hua (MECH), Cesar Soto (CHBE). Continue reading Meet Team Aquaponics

Fa16 West U Backpacks

Meet Team West U Backpacks

September 24, 2016July 5, 2018 Maheen Khizar

Tell us about your team. We are team Got Your Back,  a group of Rice University students representing different years, majors, and interests. However, collectively, we are driven to use human-centered design to help young students. What are you looking … Continue reading Meet Team West U Backpacks

Fa16 Hermann Park Kiosk, Fall 2016

Meet Team Hermann Park Kiosk

September 24, 2016July 6, 2018 Maheen Khizar

Tell us about your team. Our team is composed of four people: Michael Moran: Comp Sci & Sociology Claire Peng: Cognitive Sciences and Policy Studies Phil Hedayatnia: Cognitive Sciences (but who knows) Maddie Bowen: Urban Sociology What are you looking … Continue reading Meet Team Hermann Park Kiosk

Fa16 HexIO, Fall 2016

Meet Team HexIO

September 24, 2016July 6, 2018 Maheen Khizar

Tell us about your team. We’re an interdisciplinary team made up of electrical engineering, computer science, and political science students. We are dedicated to working with teachers in order to create a great product that will expose middle school students … Continue reading Meet Team HexIO

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