Epicenter Lite Seismic Alert Device by Alfredo Mendez

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DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?

AM : The seismic waves

DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?

AM : To create an inner structure that fits to the engineering team, at the time that we develop a functional aesthetics

DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?

AM : Integrate a larger screen module

DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?

AM : It was intended to simplify the assembly process, and give a design identity to the phisycal products of the company

DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?

AM : No, the design belongs to the client

DI: What made you design this particular type of work?

AM : My experience with electronic devices and the fact that I have experienced several earthquakes in the city

DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?

AM : We use everything we see not as inspiration, but as a reference.

DI: Who is the target customer for his design?

AM : Companies that have large offices and factories

DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?

AM : First of all, it integrates in its core a bunch of new technologies developed by the client. The approach intends to establish a connection with the people to feel safe about a device that will warn you, instead of feel fear.

DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?

AM : Epicenter is the point where the earthquake occurs. In these case "Epicenter" is the point where the alarm spreads

DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?

AM : paper, lot of cardboard, glue, CAD modelling, 3D printing

DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?

AM : The resemblance of the orange part to an earthquake

DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?

AM : Skyalerts' engineering team

DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?

AM : Technology makes possible to detect an earthquake 500 kilometers away in order to give a waarn with almost 2 minutes in advance

DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?

AM : The biggest challenge was to understand the engineering requirements and how they can be modified under specific circumstances, so the physical product had to adapt to the most of changes without changing at all

DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?

AM : I feel pleased about the work and its result. I want to aim the team to show their work

DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?

AM : I discovered a new way to abstract concepts and how they relate to objects