2025
SHIFT
SOLIDWORKS - TWINMOTION - ADOBE PHOTOSHOP - 3D PRINTING
DESIGN INTENT
I intend to change the way that people experience showering, through experimentation with form and interaction.
WHAT IS SHIFT?
This was a design completed in conjunction with Austworld, an Australian Plumbing Wholesaler. Austworld presented the challenge of building on and improving the plumbing industry, which has been static for the past century. Asked to design a product to enter the market in 15-20 years, I created Shift.
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Shift is a showerhead designed for user experience. By rotating the shower head 90 degrees, the user is able to completely alter the flow of water from a standard shower head to a more directed flow of water. This is done using a custom valve that shifts the flow of water from one pipe to another when the head is rotated.
Shift is designed to be SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) printed using nylon. To be suitable for use, it would need to be coated in a waterproof sealant, or alternatively, for a much higher cost, could be printed using DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering).
DEVELOPMENT
The focus for this project was to design a unique and adaptable user experience. Beginning with the idea of a motion sensor showerhead, this project went through a rollercoaster of twists and turns to achieve the final product. In the initial stages of development, the main focus was on form, and as the form evolved, so did the plans for making the product move as desired. I learnt a lot through these processes, with my main takeaway being that complex movements aren’t always the best approach.
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Designing for SLS printing opened up a world of opportunities and really helped to push past the standard views of plumbing and fixtures. SLS is a form of manufacturing that is rapidly growing with endless possibilities, and is a process that I would love to continue to explore in my work.
*Technical documentation available on request