Oonagh O'Regan
BA Product Design
As a designer, I am passionate about the well-being and emotional needs of individuals and groups. From a conceptual standpoint, I enjoy developing ideas that have a direct impact as well as others that are more passive, aiming to spark conversation as an aid to nurturing individuals' development.
Moksha
The inspiration for this project stemmed from how, in Western culture, we gain comfort from the use of chairs. After a deep dive into this, I became aware of how damaging chairs are for the body, especially when sitting for long periods of time. As this habit is so ingrained into our comfort culture, moving forward, I wanted to design a product that safely supports relaxation using gentle self-care movements while still capturing the perception of comfort that we get from lounge chairs and sofas. Yoga, originating in India, is an effective way to help the body realign. Moksha means the moment of pure satisfaction where you release a sigh 'ahhh' in the final process of reincarnation. This product aims to capture this moment as you gently stretch the body. This is why Moksha comes with a padded cover, allowing the cushion to provide comfort, and tactile satisfaction comes from the soft, Fluffy fabric. The feature of the back bend, with ribbed foam, allows for a massage-like sensation along the back, ranging in intensity depending on the level you choose. Moksha is intended to be used every day from as little as 5 minutes up to 30 minutes, depending on need.
Us
The inspiration for this light stemmed from looking into comfort. Since the pandemic people have been deprived of simple interactions we have between our loved ones especially the simple act of hugging. This light acts as a symbol to remind us of the importance of human interaction. The aesthetics are based on the body language and forms created when hugging each other, but from a sculptural abstract point of view. The light is hidden in a timber base, when switched on it illuminates the 2 complimenting forms and the light bounces off the curves, and through the slits casting intriguing shapes on the environment around it, enabling the light to transform a room into a cozy and intimate oasis.