Studienprojekt: TOOL TASK

1. Semester, Fundamentals in Design 1,  WS 2024/25

Lecturers: Prof. Dipl.- Des. Medugorac, AM Dipl.-Des. Hannah Steinmetz

This project should schematically depict all aspects of a design process.

The further development or new development and design of a tool formed the basis of the semester project. The tool is regarded as an object that is operated manually and improves, supports, facilitates and/or enhances enjoyment. Consideration should be given to handling and ergonomics, function and suitable materials, as well as an aesthetically pleasing design with attention to joints, surfaces, colour and details. The aspects of well-being, assistance and/or improvement should be taken into account.

Projekte der Studierenden:

OIO

Student: Lisa Auhofer, 1. Semester, WS 2024/25

The oio design project is dedicated to developing a gripping aid that enables people with limited grip strength to eat with dignity and independence. The target group is primarily people affected by rheumatism, osteoarthritis, Parkinson's disease, disabilities or people who have suffered a stroke. The project was inspired by people who rely on special aids but do not want to compromise on aesthetics. 

Research and market analysis were used to examine the needs of the target group and existing products. The concept developed offers an ergonomic, adaptable and aesthetically appealing solution that is easy to use and hygienic. 

The design was finalised using sketches and CAD models and tested and further developed using prototypes made from various materials such as TPU and silicone. The aim of the universal design is to meet both aesthetic and functional requirements without being stigmatising and to give users a sense of dignity and ease.

The name oio is short and memorable, underlining the simplicity of the design. oio gives those affected a piece of their quality of life back – through a design that combines flexibility and elegance while breaking down barriers.

MILLIGRAM

Student: Gabriel Tippel, 1. Semester, WS 2024/25

After the discovery phase and defining what was expected and feasible, I focused my attention on a problem that, in my opinion, is socially taboo, stigmatising those affected and ultimately pushing the core problem into the background.
Studies show that more and more tablets are being prescribed and consumed. However, this has not yet been reflected in the product category: tablet boxes still look as if you would have to be ashamed of an illness even in 2025. 
Based on the two principles: "Being ill is bad enough, it doesn't have to look bad too" and "Bringing the illness to the table", I developed initial designs for a pill box that would be practical to use and look good enough to be placed on the table in front of you, with the ultimate aim of destigmatising conversations about illness and bringing them "to the table", into the centre of society.

The "milligram" design looks like a large tablet. Thanks to its round shape and practical size, it fits in jackets, trouser pockets, handbags and any fanny pack.

The two-part design makes ‘milligram’ customisable, both in terms of different tablet compartments and different upper shell designs. Not only can the colour be adapted to suit any target group, but different materials such as plastic, ceramic or metal are also possible.

Study projects: ALL ABOUT BIRDS

1. Semester, Fundamentals in Design, WS 2022/2023

This project should schematically depict all aspects of a design process.

Through research on the different bird species, the peculiarities and necessities of nesting aids, feeders, etc., the final design of the product with a final model should be completed at the end of the semester.

Lecturers: Prof. Dipl.-Des. Medugorac, AM Dipl.-Des. Hannah Steinmetz

Results from students:

FLYING PUB

Student: Kathrin Weindler, 1. Semester, WS 2023/24

This project has several milestones, one of which was research. Right at the start of the project, we identified products that are already available on the market. It quickly became clear that hygiene is not a particularly relevant issue – wrongly so. Birds are losing more and more of their habitat and have to share the small space they have left with other birds, which is leading to an increasing number of birds becoming infected with various diseases. The sources of infection here are feeding stations and bird baths. Especially in bird baths, where birds also bathe, the transmission of parasites, bacteria and viruses is inevitable. So there are two problems here. On the one hand, there is the risk of infection and, on the other hand, there is the need for regular cleaning. These problems needed to be addressed in a simple product. 

This led to the development of the ‘Flying Pub’ product, a hygienic water trough for humans and animals.

The product basically consists of two parts:

The centrepiece, a stylised branch. This is inserted into the bottle opening, and two sealing rings seal the bottle. A metal ball is integrated into the element, as is common in commercially available small animal drinking troughs. The design is such that it provides a safe landing place for birds. The mouthpiece can be pulled out at the end of the stem to prevent contact with diseases. The landing place was designed as an abstract branch.

A water-repellent fabric strap is used for hanging. With a simple hand movement, the glass bottle is wrapped around the end of the bottle and closed with the sewn-on Velcro fastener. Two sewn-in loops are used for hanging, through which a ribbon can be threaded to ensure secure fastening. The product can be attached to a branch, beam or similar.

BIRD LOOP

Cities are getting bigger and bigger, greenery in cities less and less. But where can our native birds still find habitats and food? The bird feeder must evolve to cope with the modern and fast-moving environment of the city. And that is exactly the goal of our project!

"Bird Loop" brings the bird back to the city and makes it easier for them to find food there.

Inspired by the suspension of garlands and the elegance of a tightrope walker, this simple design was created.

The combination of ceramic, cotton rope and cork makes this product sustainable, robust and easy to clean.

The design focuses on functionality. Because the bird feeder with its hidden silo inside allows easy handling. The food is filled in at the top and can be picked out of the lower opening. Afterwards, the opening at the top can be closed with the cork and the food can be protected from wind and weather.

The feature that makes the bird feeder stand out is its adaptability to small crevices and spaces, which are common in urban areas. The reason for this is a variety of hanging options. These variations are made possible by the tabs on the sides. For example, several silos can be combined individually in different colours. The shape additionally draws a parallel to the name "Bird Loop".

Students: Lena Hauzenberger, Feline Zintarra, 1. Semester, WS 2022/2023

Schwalbenschwanz: The bird house to put together.

First of all, we dealt with the problems of birds, bird feeders and nesting boxes, and the problem of cleaning nesting boxes quickly came to our attention. In principle, this should be done once a year. However, cleaning often turns out to be difficult.
Our solution is the craft as well as linguistically appropriate swallowtail principle. We have applied this principle to our entire bird house. Thus, the bird house can be assembled and disassembled in a short time. During assembly, the back plate is first screwed down, either to the tree or to a wall.
Then the side and front parts are put on and fastened with safety pins. During cleaning, the locking pins are removed and the front part is taken off, leaving the back plate mounted. Sustainability must also not be neglected in such a nature-oriented project.
Thus, the front is made of Corian, a solid surface material that is characterised by recyclability and durability. The rest is made of ecological European spruce wood. Thanks to the dovetail principle, our bird house does not require the use of adhesives or screws during assembly.
This makes the bird house more degradable and therefore more ecological.
Keeping a possible industrial production in mind was also a concern for us when designing our bird house. The parts made of wood can thus be efficiently manufactures from board materials completely with a CNC milling machine.

Students: Nik Seibold, Benjamin Zimmermann, 1. Semester WS 2022/2023

Project: Ruff Cycles Cargobike

4. Semester, Summer semester 2025

Lecturers: Prof. Dipl.- Des. Medugorac, AM Dipl.-Des. Hannah Steinmetz

Cooperation partner: Ruff Cycles 

Ruff Cycles occupies a niche in the e-bike market, characterised by its highly distinctive appearance and the company's associated attitude – sicker than your average. The design task for this project was to expand Ruff's segment to include a cargo bike without integrating it into the existing appearance of cargo bikes and embodying the company's mentality 100%. 

The framework conditions were defined by existing design elements from Ruff that were to be adopted and requirements for the use cases.

For the project, the students were allowed to ride all of Ruff's e-bikes and, during their visit to the company, see and understand the company philosophy first-hand.

The implementation of the design in a 1:1 model was part of the task.

Results from students:

URBY

Students: Kathrin Weindler, Elias Schichtl, 4. Semester/ SoSe 2025

After an extensive phase of brainstorming and research, the

concept was defined: ‘Urby – the SUV among cargo bikes’. The cargo bike is a modern

interpretation of a Jeep off-road vehicle, which is the ideal replacement for a car thanks to its versatile and flexible uses. 

The resulting design takes over the existing frame of the Lil Buddy and is extended by a 90 cm wide, two-track front section.

The front section consists of a sturdy, lockable and theft-proof plastic lower box on the one hand, and an upward-opening volume on the other. This volume widens over the two front wheels, providing splash protection in wet weather. The mesh, a flexible and air-permeable fabric, contrasts with the closed lower box and adds lightness to the design. The mesh is used at the front and rear. Metal tubes stabilise the mesh and create a formal reference to the bicycle frame. The front of the structure can be opened with a simple hand movement, making it easier to load goods and/or allow up to two children to get in. The aforementioned widening to cover the wheels forms two benches for transporting children, which are upholstered and each equipped with a 3-point seat belt. A recess in the loading area gives the children enough legroom.

Optionally, the basket can be fitted with a rain cover that can be quickly and easily attached to the underside of the loading area.

True to the motto ‘Grow up cool’, Urby stands for relaxed travel – a smart companion for anyone who wants to remain flexible in everyday life and get around town with ease.

Project: BMW Worker TAG

5. Semester, WS 2023/24

Lecturers: Prof. Dipl.- Des. Medugorac, AM Dipl.-Des. Hannah Steinmetz

Cooperation partner: BMW Group 

For the construction of a new production line at a BMW Group production site, a worker tag had to be implemented as part of the mobile process line.

The design of this ‘smart wearable’, including the presentation of the ‘use case’ with a specified worker tag, was the students' semester assignment.

The project began with an excursion to the BMW plant in Dingolfingen to see and understand the production process and all the procedures behind it.

Results from students:

SAFE TAG

Student: Nicolas Schmeding, 5. Semester WS23/24 

The approach to the design was to create a product that would interfere with employees as little as possible, while also incorporating familiarity and simplicity into the design so that the TAG would be perceived as a support. Comfort and well-being were the top priorities.

This focus had a direct impact on the final design: leather was chosen as the material and the attachment was made as simple as possible. In addition to its pleasant feel, the leather also has an emotional impact, reminiscent of traditional tool bags. A press stud allows the strap to be attached to any loop on clothing, primarily the belt loop. The button is responsible for safety, as it provides haptic and acoustic feedback if it is accidentally released. Thanks to the simple attachment and low-tech fastening principle, no additional elements had to be produced. 

The product is laser-cut or punched during manufacture. 

The material used is BMW's own leather scraps from production. The shaped leather is glued to the front of the TAG. The use of scrap material makes the design cost-effective and keeps the ecological footprint low.

Project: HORSCH

3.-7. Semester, WS 2022/2023

For and with the project partner Horsch Landmaschinen, based in Schwandorf, the lighting unit of the various agricultural machines used worldwide was redesigned.

The difficulty here was to develop an independent design language within a strict set of guidelines for the safety and durability of the product.

In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the machines, an excursion to Horsch was organised at the start of the project.

Lecturers: Prof. Dipl.-Des. Medugorac, AM Dipl.-Des. Hannah Steinmetz

Student projects: 

Students: Samuel Kügler, Florian Putz, 5. Semester, WS 2022/2023

This design takes lighting design and the integration of safety-relevant components in agricultural machinery to a new level. The originally straight profile, to which the lighting and signal unit is attached, is bent to the left and right to create enough space for the signal foul above the profile. In this way, legal requirements and installation space restrictions are complied with, which are caused by various folding mechanism on the machines. Above all, the fold offers aesthetic added value and helps to distinguish Horsch machines from the competition at first glance. To enhance the dynamic effect, the signal foil is also kinked, which contributes to a striking overall look.
Tail, btake and indicator lights are elegantly inserted into a recess in the profile. The strip-shaped all-in-one solution, which is available as a prefabricated part, ensures a simple and stylish appearance. It also provides the opportunity to attach the side reflector to the open end of the profile. Normally, the cables would come out here, which go to the three chamber lamp mounted on the outside. The side reflector thus forms a clever end to the profile. To ensure adaptability to different legal requirements, the licence plate holder and speed sign are designed as independent modules. They can be mounted independently of the lighting and signalling unit according to need and requirement. Deliberate care has been taken to ensure that the metal plates that are attached to the profile are of a different colour. This makes the elegantly curved red profile stand out more.

Students: Stephanie Meier, 7. semester, Michael Welser, 3. semester, WS 2022/2023

"This semester's project was to re-satlte signage for agricultural machinery, which is subject to many standards, which in turn vary depending on the exporting country.

A difficult task, which we first approached in a rather free and abstract way. 

At first, we spent some time thinking about what we associate with the current signage in the context of the machine. Pretty soon we got stuck on butterfly wings. 

These, thought of as an approach to signage, led us to the idea that we worked on throughout the semester: to create signage with spatiality, planes and contrast by "folding" or materially using edges of metal sheets.

In the next step, we worked a lot on the right shape by folding paper to create surfaces for the reflective foil, lighting unit, reflector components and number or speed sign. We stopped at the shape of the equilateral triangle, as this can already be found in the reflector triangle and also in road traffic with a signalling effect. 

Now followed an intensive examination of the relevant standards and requirements. After several iteration cycles, we had to make a few compromises in order to meet these requirements in their entirety. However, this was just as much our demand, as it reflects our understanding of good design. 

Now CAD models and photorealistic renderings were created in parallel, which were continuously updated depending on the degree of implementation.  In addition, we included production-related topics such as the edging and punching of sheet metal.

As a conclusion of the project, we implemented our design as a 1:1 model, which consisted of lasered and subsequently painted plastic and wooden parts as well as original attachments (lighting unit, reflector foil, etc.)."

Study project: ETERNIt

3.-5. semester, WS 2021/2022

This project with the project partner Swiss-Pearl revolves around the cosmos of Eternit in connection with urban gardening. The material Eternit can do many things, contrary to the well-known and persistent image of the one-dimensional fibre cement panel. The harmlessness for health, the possibilities of form and thus the application of Eternit will be clarified through the connection to nature and food.

A workshop at the beginning of the project enabled the students to develop their own approach to the material.

Lecturers: Prof. Dipl.- Des. Medugorac, Dipl.- Des. Alexander Rybol

Green partitions

Students: Valentin Kasparov, Lucas Widera, 5. semester, WS 2021/2022

"With our room divider "Eternit Linie" we wanted to reinterpret the well-known flower pot Balconia by Eternit and use it to bring nature closer into the human sphere.

By taking the Balconia pot as a base element, we were able to design multifunctional, modular & fluid constructions for our frames from some simple rules and several iterations. Our two designs, Line 6 and Line 12, have different use cases. Line 12 can hold three pots and Line 6 can hold one pot. Line 6 is a multifunctional rack that also functions as a clothes rail, clothes rack and pinboard. Line 12, on the other hand, is a heavier frame that is used purely as an indoor garden.

We present our designs as an answer for the private customer who wants a little more green in the home, as well as companies who want an elegant, easily convertible room divider. Designing the interior to be lighter, healthier and more sustainable is a topic that will be around for a long time. "

Bachelor thesis by Jessica Gross, SoSe 2024

Lecturers: Dipl.-Des. Kostas Medugorac

This work was awarded the 2024 IHK Prize by the Lower Bavarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) for its outstanding scientific quality and high practical relevance to business reality.

Birth aid – Design and development of an anatomically correct product to support upright birth

Although more and more women today are becoming aware of their autonomy during childbirth, most of the aids made available to them do not reflect freedom of choice. The happiest day of a couple's life can become a traumatic experience due to the experience of violence in the delivery room.

Inspired by the Roses Revolution awareness movement, this project aims to contribute to raising awareness of the right to physical integrity for women in labour.

Research and market analyses show that birthing stools have fixed seat heights and can rarely be adjusted to suit individual needs.

For this reason, a product was to be designed and developed that is based on midwifery knowledge and meets the needs of women in labour.

During the idea generation phase, the impulse arose to harmoniously and sensibly combine modularity, height adjustability and ergonomics in one product.

The design process resulted in a modular birthing stool with an adjustable, ergonomic seat modelled on a water lily leaf. The concept allows for a variety of upright positions that can be adopted regardless of the space available.

This design represents a decisive step towards more self-determined obstetrics by focusing on the right to physical integrity and the autonomy of women during childbirth.

Bachelor thesis by Lukas Haslinger, Summer semester 2024

Lecturers: Dipl.-Des. Kostas Medugorac

This work was awarded the 2024 IHK Prize by the Lower Bavaria Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) for its outstanding scientific quality and high practical relevance to business reality.

Tiny House – Space concept for the efficient use of less than twenty square metres of floor space

Tiny houses have managed to gain a foothold in Europe as an alternative form of living and have triggered a veritable movement. This movement sees these small dwellings not only as a current living trend, but also as a contribution to a more sustainable and happier life.

The aim of this work is to design a spatial concept for a tiny house with a floor space of less than twenty square metres that offers two young residents a permanent home. The focus is on particularly efficient use of space.

In addition to the basics and methods of interior design, the design is also based on an in-depth analysis of the target group and a comprehensive examination of the tiny house market.

The resulting design is characterised by its high degree of versatility, as all areas are designed to serve multiple functions. For example, the work area can also serve as a cloakroom or staircase as required. The bathroom, wardrobe, washing machine and kitchen are also integrated into a multifunctional cube, which combines the most important areas in a minimal space, thus maximising the efficiency of the room concept.

Practical semester project by Jessica Gross and Lukas Haslinger, summer semester 2023

Lecturer: Prof. Dipl.-Des. Kostas Medugorac

1:1 modelling of a part of a light rail carriage of the Regensburg light rail system 

The aim of the practical semester was to build a life-size model of the multifunctional area of the Regensburg light rail system based on a preliminary design study of the Regensburg light rail system. The multifunctional area is part of the first or last carriage of the railway and offers its passengers with mobility aids, such as pushchairs, wheelchairs and rollators, a barrier-free mobility solution. By building the area, using given dimensions and CAD files, the usability of the railway was to be tested and any need for changes to the design identified and implemented. The most important requirement for the model was a modular structure in order to be able to guarantee transport to another room. It was also necessary to use building materials that were available on the DIY market, which is why creativity and the ability to improvise were required in some places. After completion, the passenger compartment was tested by the Inclusion Advisory Board and problem areas were documented. The model was presented to the public at a light rail exhibition in October 2023 and citizens were able to walk through it. 

"The collaboration with the technical design students from Deggendorf was an enrichment for the entire project and made the construction of the mock-up possible in the first place. The combination of technical expertise and design skills provided important impetus."

Frank Steinwede, Head of Strategic Public Transport Planning, Stadtwerk Regensburg.Mobilität GmbH