Find here a collection of projects that give a quick look into the tools of my trade. As part of the engineering school, I had access to a full array of manufacturing tools and methods. These helped me prototype both rough and final versions of the projects I worked on while studying Product Design at Stanford University.

1. EMPATHIZE
IDEATE
DEFINE
PROTOTYPE
TEST
understanding the experience
in context to find new opportunities
ARIANA KOBLITZ
PRODUCT DESIGNER
august 2013
(photo taken in Punta Arenas, Chile in 2012)

2. What does design mean to me?
{
I strive to bridge the understanding of consumer insights and
the behaviors we want to encourage in our users.
Ultimately, I hope to encourage behaviors I believe bring out
the best (and new) in us. I value a team that supports each
other and believe with great diversity comes a great, if at
times challenging, process.
}

3. When I...
{
cast
turn
play
EMPATHIZE
IDEATE
DEFINE
PROTOTYPE
TEST
mill
sketch
sew
edit
CNC
CAD
print
“gibbs”
This skill-set helps me recognize and address challenges,
guided by a process that keeps me honest about who I
create for and how I intend to impact behaviors of others.

4. a student Presentool
... I create for
{
a patient PillPrimer
an amputee 4Arms
}
meaningfully.
examples of past projects reflect needs-oriented design
manufactured in Stanford’s Product Realization Lab

5. ?
Presentool
designing for
students
Today’s middle schoolers have new
frame of references when it comes to
presenting information. Technology
delivers an increasingly interactive
experience.
Our focus for our final project was the
long-term crutch user. to figure out
Logitech challenged us
what is next for the presentation
Although the disability lies in the lower
remote
extremities, crutches prevent the
instinctive and fluid use of your arms,
which meant a need in: rely on others
Logitech Challenge to Design
for help. We set out to give crutch
Methodology (course lead by:
users their independence back.
LUNAR Design’s John Edson)
1920s:
the pointer
2000s:
the digital remote
Logitech, along with the majority of remote
makers, offer a straight, sometimes hand
cupp-able stub, embedded with buttons
that parallel the music-players and tvremotes of the world.
What will come next?
How will presentation tools change to
reflect the wider range of demographics
making presentations?
And how can a tool keep up with the
broad range of media used?
2020s: ?

6. pain points
{
what do you
use at home?
“I’m used to
sharing cool things
with my laptop; a
presentation isn’t
the same”
{
revolutions in
digital
presentations
{
“I’m worried I’ll look
awkward”
(unnatural stance)
PREZI
“I can’t move like I
want to”
(impaired
movement)
new presentation tools
such as prezi allow for
expandable canvases
and increase control in
presentation flow, motion
and other visual cues
(newer presentation formats)
(impaired
interactions)
today’s middle schoolers have a different frame
of references than what I grew up with.
Technology delivers an increasingly interactive
experience.
Academica is notoriously slow to catch up to
these new behaviors.
(multiple sources)
(interactive elements)

7. After watching people talk in various
different contexts (ranging from
informal conversations, to class
communication, to more formal
presentations) I identified the freedom
of movement most dear to students.
I compared the motions I saw with
what was possible with existing
presentation remote controls, to help
iterate around possible new, and
currently untapped, ways to enable
movement.
Prototyping ranged from simple fimo to
more complicated spring-levers and
elastic bands.

8. The form factor hit close to visual markers that
relate Presentool with other gaming hardware
I hadn’t appreciated looks-like model until you try and paint a
porous surface... over and over and over again.

9. laser comes out straight from back of tool,
mimicking a natural hand motion
top layer changes functionality of tool [laser
pointer] [pen tool] [cursor]
controls mirror those of traditional presentation tools |
[pause] [forwards] [backwards]
Grip provides a comfortable, secure hold while
also allowing presenter to have full use of hands in
the event of props and engaging motions
USB connection means a wireless link to a laptop

10. PillPrimer
4Arms
designing for longterm patients
My challenge: How do you help
people adhere to their pill regimen?
Especially ones with busy schedules
tend to easily walk out of the door
without taking their requisite dose.
The objective: to end with an injection
molded product.
Final project in course:
Design for Manufacturing [ME318]

11. I looked at the contents of people’s purses, of
the objects closest to them, trying to find
something to connect habits to.
I drew out possible scenarios

12. 1)
2)
3)
Foam is a fantastic medium to prototype in
So is paper
All prototyping led from carry-on to clip-on finally to:
1. Discovering that morning routines are consistent, regardless of
where you are
2. That the one travel companion is the toothbrush, which acts as a
mechanical, tangible reminder to take pills before or after eating
a meal
3. Pills fit into a watertight pocket inside a plastic sleeve for your
toothbrush.

13. CAD was much harder to master, but a great
tool once I felt comfortable with it
PillPrimer was an learning opportunity for me to understand what it takes to create a
functional mold for an injection molding machine. Although ultimately I do not have a final
product to showcase here, I can’t help but celebrate a product that that I know I will finish
one of these days, and the work that went into creating the molds.

15. 4Arms
designing for
amputees
Our focus for our final project was the
long-term crutch user.
Although the disability lies in the lower
extremities, crutches prevent the
instinctive and fluid use of your arms,
which meant a need to rely on others
for help. We set out to give crutch
users their independence back.
Capstone Project for Product
Design studies program [with
Stephanie Tomasetta]

16. Wayne Koniuk
has been
making leg
prosthetics for
decades,
prototyping with
new materials
and technology
Bespoke Innovation has set out
to “bring more humanity to
people who have congenital
or traumatic limb loss “.
After walking around in crutches for
days, alongside extensive user
interviews, we pinpointed the moments
that undermined a sense of
independence.
It’s the simple things that build up over
time; stairs and uneven terrain we
expected to be hardships, but the fact
that we could not hug or reach out for
someone’s hand spontaneously
without fearing complications were
painful moments we hadn’t
anticipated.
• we spoke to the target
audience
• we conducted ethnographic
research
• we surveyed current offerings
The Department of Veterans
Affairs was a great source of
inspiration, as well as concrete
examples of what postamputation rehabilitation looks
like.
Our solution needed to incorporate an understanding of the
whole system of an amputees experience. This means it starts
from the first conversation say a veteran has with his physician at
the Veterans Association, to when he receives his crutches and
begins the process of learning how to walk with them, all the way
through the time his cuffs, and his grip, wear out.
Sunrise senior living provides
care for both long-term, as well
as temporary residents.
Stumps R Us is a community for
amputees, with monthly
athletic outings and brunches.

17. the Shoot presents a more sophisticated solution for
long-term crutch uses, using more luxurious, high-end
materials and referencing a more refined environment
the TENDON
the Tendon is more than an accessory-- the support of the crutch plus the addition of
the suspended “tendons” gives the long-term crutch user a more comfortable
experience throughout the day, regardless of the activity planned.
the Twist
this playful rendition of our forearm crutch is meant to
augment your personal style
aluminum tubing creates a support around the
elbow and upper arm
bent wood creates a support for the forearm
malleable cushion molds to your arm
matte rubber grip
aluminum tubing provides support underneath
the forearm
matte rubber grip
matte rubber grip
malleable cushion molds to your arm
FOUR ARMS
Stephanie Tomasetta
Ariana Koblitz
!"#$
Stephanie Tomasetta
We initially developed a concept
around luxury crutches, to give
“personality” back to crutch users,
but quickly moved on to more
functional aspirations.
We recognized that changing the skin
would only do so much for a product
that is not directly looked at by the user
much.
A life-sized prototype helped us
recognize what impacts users momentto-moment.
Ariana Koblitz
!
Stephanie Tomasetta
Ariana Koblitz

18. Current crutches address major issues:
quality of style, usability, and comfort.
From our ethnographic research, we recognized
a fourth issue: quality of social interactions
Product
Our competitive analysis included a
wide range of current product
presentations, including accessories,
luxury goods, and replacements.
• we spoke to the target
audience
• we conducted ethnographic
research
• we surveyed current offerings
FourArms
IZI Magnetic Sheath
Sunrise Tube Crutch
Holder for wheelchairs
Cane Holder
Paddings/Grip
Forearm Crutch Bag
Grip cover for pediatric
crutches
Forearm Crutch Pads
Ortho-Medic Crutch
Cane Bag
iWalk Free Hands Free
Crutch
Forearm Crutch
In motion forearm crutch
Walk Easy Platform
Forearm Crutches
Versa Crutch Pack
Crutch Tote
EuroStyle Aluminum
Forearm Crutch
Gel Ovations Forearm
Crutch Pad GelRaps
Ramm TLC OnlyOne Ultra
Light Crutch
Strong Arm Forearm
Crutch Comfort Cuff
Comfort Grip Adjustable
Crutches
Magic Soft Anatomic
Crutch Grey Ergonomic
Handles
Manufacturer
FourArms
Fetterman
Price
$57.00
$29
Prevent
Crutch
Falling
Hands
Free
Bag
Cap.
Comfort Carrying Style
Walking Where
Aid
sold
online
quickie wheelchairs
Nova
elastogel
WalkEasy
$65
$9.99
$20
$24.95
online
store
online
online
WalkEasy
Crutcheze
NOVA
NOVA
$14.95
$29
$89.90
$14.95
online
online
online
online
$394
$119.95
$89.95
online
online
online
Walk Easy
Adaptable Designs
EZ Access
$139
$23.95
$19.95
online
online
online
EuroStyle
$39.95
online
Gel Ovations
$29.95
online
With that in mind, we took a look at the relationship
between value proposition and the type of
purchases of current products on the market:
JustWalkers
Smart Crunch
Millennial
Ramm TLC
148.95
add to existing
service offered
provide
physical
comfort
provide
emotiona
l support
online
Strong Arm
The DeMay Med
$49.95
$235
online
online
Comfort Grip
$41.69
online
$70
online
Magic Soft
open market
niche
buy new
type of purchase

19. We found our groove iterating
around the cuffs, finding ways for
them to connect temporarily.
And then figured out how we
could create a feasible model for
mass manufacturing
4Arms is a set of forearm crutch cuffs
that users can purchase to replace
the standard crutch cuffs that are
issued through basic health
insurance. The two injection molded
cuffs are shaped to allow you to
comfortably bring them together
through embedded magnets. The
shape of the crutch allows the user to
temporarily attach one crutch to the
other. This function enables the user
to easily extract one arm.

20. with 4Arms:
temporarily stow away,
greet friends,
pick up,
hang,
and be on your way.
Crutches make it
easier to walk.
4Arms makes it
easier to live.
watch a short video of 4Arms in use here

21. Thank you for taking a look at my past experiences! Please
feel free to contact me with any additional questions at
akoblitz@alumni.stanford.edu

22. Appendix
Ariana’s credentials, at a glance

23. ARIANA TAE KOBLITZ
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EDUCATION
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COMPETENCIES
Stanford University - STANFORD, CA
B.S. in Product Design - December 2012
RELEVANT COURSES:
• Cultural Maps | Ethnographic insight as it relates to
design; course at design institute (d.school)
• Design Methods | Core in product design program;
design process
• Design & Manufacturing | CNC, lathe, mill, casting,
woodworking
Kolding School of Design - KOLDING, DENMARK
Masters-Level course certificate - November 2012
RELEVANT COURSES:
• Nudge: Designing Positive Behavior | design sprint with
local corporate clients
Internat’l School of Beijing - BEIJING, CHINA
Internat’l Baccalaureate Certificate - 2009
Urawa Lutheran School - SAITAMA, JAPAN
Independently organized year abroad - 2005 – 2006
John-F-Kennedy School - BERLIN, GERMANY
Deutsche Mittlere Reife - 2005
Language
English (native)
German (native)
Chinese (proficient)
Japanese (JLPT Level 2 certified)
French (4 yrs high school proficiency)
Software
CAD:
Solid Works
CATIA
Adobe Suite:
Photoshop
Illustrator
InDesign
HONORS & AWARDS
EARNEST CHILTON AWARD (June 2012)
given to the outstanding Product Design student
of the graduating class
MEMBER, Cap & Gown Women’s Honors Society
(November 2010-present)
FELLOW, Stanford Haas Center Public Service
Leadership Program (November 2009-September 2010)

24. ARIANA TAE KOBLITZ
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DESIGN EXPERIENCE
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CORPORATE PROJECTS
RESEARCHER DESIGN CONCEPTS
MADISON, WISCONSIN
April 2012 - (expected July 2012)
Conducted field research for both physical products and medications. Analyzed qualitative data for
needfinding, including facilitating analysis settings with our clients. Presented a strategic path borne
out of the needs analysis.
INTERN (MechEng) LUNAR DESIGN
SAN FRANCISCO
June 2012-September 2012
Generated concepts in mechanism, human factors, and user experience/usability design. Conveyed
complex ideas of our prototyped products (medical, toy, household) to our clients in presentations.
INTERN (PD) LITE ON MOBILE
BEIJING, CHINA
June 2011-August 2011
Designed injection mold tooling of cell phones during the latter stages of manufacturing. Aided the
communication with their client’s American counterparts, clarifying needed changes.
PROJECT LEAD
STANFORD & BERLIN
September 2009-August 2010
Designed & implemented qualitative research project on designer & user relationship, analyzing
decisions and workflows. Received ME Summer Undergraduate Research Institute grant to pursue
project, which included developing independent coursework to prepare for ethnographic research &
case study in Berlin on designer-to-user relationship, analyzing decisions and workflows of Ursula
Wunsch, a designer specializing in wooden toys for disabled children in Berlin

25. ARIANA TAE KOBLITZ
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MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE
SECTION LEADER
ME216a: Needfinding September - November 2012
Teaching staff to a course taught by Dev Patnaik of the
design consultancy Jump Associates, Inc. Led weekly
discussions on readings, graded weekly assignments
VICE PRESIDENT | STANFORD PRODUCT
DESIGN STUDENT ASSOCIATION (PDSA)
May 2011- August 2012
Oversaw all development of PDSA programs (created a
mentorship program, recurring community development
events and initiated a closer communication between
department faculty and students)
Led directorship training (collaboration methods, event
organization, management skills training)
RESIDENT ASSISTANT
ROBINSON DORM (September 2010 - June 2012)
Main contact concerning residents as a staff of
Stanford’s Residential Education program. Developed
dorm programming to introduce residents to my
academic pursuits as well as interests
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LEADERSHIP NOTES
Stanford University - STANFORD, CA:
• Negotiation | Stan Christensen | Tactics and methods
based on Harvard Business Review
• Associated Stanford Student Body Leadership Program
Meyer Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
last taken: July 2012
ENTP -Extravert
-Intuition
-Thinking
-Judging
STRENGTHS QUEST:
Communication
Activator
Individualization
Arranger
Adaptability
REFERENCES
Stefanie Norvaisas (stefanie.norvaisas@design-concepts.com)
Director of Strategy & Research, Design Concepts, Inc
Jonathan Downing (jonathan@lunar.com)
Lead Mechanical Engineer, LUNAR Design
David Kelley (kelley@stanford.edu)
Professor, Stanford University & co-founder of IDEO

26. ARIANA TAE KOBLITZ
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ENJOYS SPENDING TIME
creating Mixed-media art pieces (check out arianakoblitz.squarespace.com/arts)
trekking (Tibet, Cambodia, Torres del Paine (Patagonia) ... )
swimming, and at one time playing rugby
jamming on the flute
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