The ridges on the edge of the paddle and the facets carved into the surface reduce drag around the paddle by creating an artificial turbulence around the paddle as it moves through the water, similar to the way that dimples in a golf ball allows it to fly more easily through the air.

Carved from cedar and coated in graphite for additional water resistance, this design was tested in the ocean, rivers, and lakes with a variety of crafts.

The paddle’s tubercles and the pocketed surface created a much easier handling of the paddle while steering compared to a standard paddle.

The form factor, reminiscent of the humpback’s fins, hopes to bring the user closer to the story of the whales and the great journeys we all take navigating through the currents of life.

Paddlesports enthusiasts need a paddle that can be easily articulated underwater in order to steer their crafts more effectively when it matters. By reducing drag, this design increases the performance of the paddles’ steering ability allowing outdoor enthusiasts to push their limits further.

-Split toe design to find smaller footholds and conform to holds.

-Denser rubber shell outside the rand allows for more effective edging.

-Sole projecting lower than the outer shell for increased traction.

This shoe design has the potential to increase the performance of any climber’s capabilities.

By using mountain goat’s adaptations, this design hopes to build empathy between the climber’s experience and their animal co-habitants.

This project reimagines public seating as smart wildlife corridors to support urban wildlife migration and engage the public in a conversation about what it means to invite wilderness back into our cities.

Research and Development

It’s estimated that in the next 50 years, 70% of the world’s population will be living in cities. Now the questions is: how can we make these urban environments more inclusive of biodiversity in order to form more resilient urban environments?

Indicator species are useful because their presence tells us the relative health of the ecosystem. Carnivorous mammals are indicator species because they are higher up on the food chain and so represent the entire umbrella of animal species underneath them. These foxes reside on the fringes of urban development. They are territorial, elusive, nocturnal, and prefer to move under the cover of trees and brush. They are also very adaptable and can successfully navigate the challenging city landscape to find food. Their populations are at risk because of habitat fragmentation, and so they need corridor linkages so they can keep their populations healthy.

Greenbelts connect communities to resources like public transportation and local businesses. They also provide an accessible link to nature which has been shown to have direct impact on mental and physical well being

Greenbelts are known as ecotones, which are where two overlapping ecosystems intersect. These transitional ecosystems usually have a higher concentration of wildlife because they form natural corridors for wildlife in each ecosystem to pass through. This is known as the Edge Effect.

This site was chosen because of its large field of grass which provides little cover for wildlife to take shelter in. By placing the benches here, the space is activated for people during the day and provides useful cover for animals migrating at night.

The Ohlone Greenway connects two partially exposed watersheds that connect Tilden Regional Park in the hills and the bayshore wetlands. Based on this information and animal sightings pulled from iNaturalist.org, the Ohlone Greenway became a clear choice to site this design.

This project was a selected finalist for the 2019 CCA Impact Award. It is currently in a fundraising phase.