Melanie Bland

Bio

work

  • Crafting Wellness
    2015

    Among mental health professionals, a metaphorical ‘wellness toolbox’ is often referred to as a collection of strategies for dealing with a mental health challenge. Because mental and emotional health is defined not by the absence of problems but rather with how we cope with them, having ‘tools’ to help us deal with life’s pressures in healthy ways is important. 
    The Crafting Wellness toolbox was developed in consultation with students and mental health professionals including...

  • Wanderlust
    2014

    The Wanderlust carry-on bag for was developed for Blurr, as an addition to their line of products for urban and outdoor enthusiasts. The bag transitions seamlessly from a practical piece of carry-on luggage, to a laptop bag, cosmetics bag, and day bag, as required once the traveler has reached their destination. Processes included, design, model making, specification drawing, pattern making, and prototyping. 

  • Skoodaleepoop
    2013

    A communication system that teaches math while providing a kinesthetic outlet for children with learning differences such as dyslexia.

    Inspired by a slinky used as a fidget tool and informed through participatory design research and material exploration, the Skoodaleepoop was born! By applying a mathematical system to the form, a user can learn addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. For example, working clockwise, a user simply selects two numbers to add....