Uma Hallea- MA/MSc Product Design
My work exists in the gaps between engineering, product design, and craft, resulting in thoughtful and balanced design. Inspired by natural materials, folk art, and the intimate relationship formed between people and their beloved objects, my work asks to be touched and felt.
I decentralize our sense of sight and design to include all our sense, in particular touch and hearing. Through this practice, my design is more inclusive and accessible, meaning that it can be enjoyed and experienced by all.
A bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Victoria, Canada, provides the foundation for my design choices and thought pattern while the recent transition into product design adds an element of humanity. I try to challenge the dependence on technology and create designs that bolster a less stimulating and slower lifestyle.
Attigo is a centre piece in the home that is intended to foster a stronger relationship between the user and their environment. With the increased presence of screens, smooth glossy surfaces, and unused objects acting as statuses of wealth, society has begun to lose their sense of touch and consequently has become out of touch with their environment. Attigo uses textured light pieces, a reusable memo piece, and a playful stacking element to encourage touch and interaction.
