Innovation Design Engineering (MA/MSc)
Frederick Phua
Coming from an Industrial design background and a lead vehicle designer by profession, Frederick is an all-rounded designer who understands beauty and functionality. With the ability to think widely and beyond, he creates unique designs that give new meaning and values to consumers.
Growing up in multicultural, multilingual Singapore and living in Japan for 7 years before joining the IDE program in London. He always had respect for others and developed a deep appreciation for and ability in Japanese and European design. Living in very different countries led him to highly value the importance of a multicultural design sense.
From production to speculative conceptual designs, Frederick has worked on projects covering subjects such as well-being, sustainability, furniture, vehicle, future mobility and many more.
Awards:
2020 - InnovationRCA Patent Award Winner
2020 - K Design Award FInalist (Ongoing)
2019 - RCA X CERN Grand Challenge Winner (Digital Disruption)
2013 - Japan Industrial Design Association Award
2013 - James Dyson Award 1st (Japan)
2013 - Nagoya University of Art President’s Award
2013 - Nagoya University of Art Graduation “Best in Show”
2012 - James Dyson Award 2nd Runner-up (Japan)
2011 - Axis Roppongi Golden Egg Award
2010 - Opus Design Winning Award
2008 - Polygon International Bicycle Award 2nd Runner-up
2007 - Temasek Polytechnic Design School, Honours List
2007 - Nominated for Philips Design Excellence Award
My goal is to synthesize art and technology for innovative creation. My interests are in the future of mobility – not just limited to products with wheels – to provoke emotions not by mimicry of nature but through calculated study and research to explore possibilities that will stimulate human instinct, mind and imagination. As a chameleon that adapts to any kind of projects, my broad spectrum of experiences and inquisitiveness will challenge the status quo offering radical new perspectives to projects I work with.
PROJECT CITY GLIDER:
Every journey begins and ends with a walk - It is a tool we use to connect the dots on a daily basis. Walking has the ability to take people off crowded public transports and lower motor vehicle usage. Reducing congestion, accidents and carbon emissions while increasing spaces for social activities. A crucial role for our quest towards an efficient, sustainable mobility future.
City Glider explores design and technologies that augments and extend the functions of walking for able-bodied people. It uses pneumatic mechanical systems within the shoe, coupled with energy expended from the body (during the heel strike) when walking, to propel the user forward when in the mid-stance position (stationary moment) of the gait cycle. Increasing the user's distance coverage by up to 10%. Empowering people to go further with less time. It also provides a therapeutic experience to walking.
Compact, lightweight and does not rely on external power sources, City Glider requires little to no effort from the user and does not weaken them over extended use.
This project challenges and disrupts perceptions towards walking as a mode of transport.
Aesthetics with Functionality
Motion Cycle
City Glider 01
City Glider 02
Exploded View
Pneumatic System
The force from the heel strike compresses the fluids, which stretches the spring. When disengaged, the spring contracts, propelling the person forward.
Heel Strike - Force Generated
City Glider + Gait Cycle
Gliding to a better Future
Extensive online surveys, live interviews and real life testing has shown, City Glider holds great potential in influencing people to walk more, reducing the chances of using motor vehicles, congestion and carbon emissions.
Hand Brain 01
Hand Brain 02
Prototypes
Building prototypes to experiment and test out hypothesis for deeper understanding and development.