Research is central to the culture of Emily Carr University of Art + Design. Along with Practice and Pedagogy, it forms the foundation of the work we do. Current is a multi platform design journal that showcases creative, practice-based and applied research. It functions as a site for design researchers, design academics, students, professional designers, […]

Pulse™ Energy On Re-Educating Your Market Interviewer: Haig Armen, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Design + Dynamic Media Interviewees: Kara Pecknold, MAA 2009 graduate from the design stream, & Chris Stone, principal of SeaStone Designs. The Back Story What does energy consumption look like? Or, for that matter, what does energy conservation look like? If you’ve […]

This paper documents the development of an oxygen (O2) tank carrier for adults dependent on medical oxygen, addressing the users need for comfort and safety while promoting active lifestyle choices. O2 Moba integrates two ergonomic functions: a comfortable backpack for a d-type cylinder and an adjustable rolling system ensuring improved mobility and product longevity. Usability […]

Deb Shackleton, a colleague at Emily Carr University recently made the observation that the associative understandings we have of the world around us are a result of our innate tendencies: to socialize, to conceptualize before speaking and to co-evolve with tools. During the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver a collaborative project between Emily Carr University […]

This morning, I spent two dollars on a coffee and put 834 grams of carbon into the atmosphere. That’s 417 grams per dollar, according to us carbon intensity data (us Energy). In our resource-based economy, it should come as no surprise that this can be measured, and certainly no surprise that our spending habits have […]

Abstract This paper examines the generative design process of a “smart” vest embedded with sensor technologies for air quality analysis and data visualization. By reframing our knowledge of air safety in industrial and agrarian contexts, my co-designer and I generated human-centered design relevant to everyday air quality issues. Pairing contemporary themes of reality mediation with […]

This article discusses the key methods utilized in the creation of a children’s toy: the “Anatomy Vacuum”, a three-dimensional puzzle designed for three-year-old children. Research on behavior, fear, toys, and mental development of three-year-old children was conducted to understand the needs, capabilities, and desires of this specific user-group. Direct user research through observation and testing […]

Rest + Recharge is a collaboration between Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECUAD) students Amanda Klassen, Ada Chiu and Kevin Tsuyuki Tomlinson, and Powertech®, a company specializing in clean energy consulting, testing, and solutions. Electric vehicles (EV) can be recharged from a standard wall socket (12o Volt); they are generally viewed as a […]

The Ubuntu project attempted to re-contextualize the sound and aesthetic of the ancient African tongue drum within the twenty-first century by creating a piece of non-electronic sound resonating furniture that enables creative expression and communal interaction. The framework and development of this piece relates to the African philosophy Ubuntu: The essence of being human and […]