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Patricia Bell

Industrial design professor

Education

  • M.S., mechanical engineering, Kennesaw State University
  • B.S., industrial design, Georgia Institute of Technology

Credentials

  • Professor of industrial design, 2020–present, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
  • Product design consultant, 2018–present
    Human factors engineering; performing system design analysis, evaluating product usability, ergonomics reviews, and providing sustainable design recommendations. Mechanical engineering; CAD drawings, reverse engineering, manufacturing support and design consulting. Industrial design; product concepts, functional 3D printed prototypes, and color/material/finish specifications.
  • Graduate research assistant in mechanical engineering, 2018–19, Kansas State University
    Modeling in Solidworks and Ansys-based simulations. Analyzing aerodynamic performance for the design of flying aircrafts. Mentored other ME students in the design of fluid modeling simulations.
  • Research engineer II, 2017–18, Trauma F/X Solutions, Inc., Atlanta GA
    Primary responsibilities included working with co-located software and electrical engineers to design new user interfaces for mannequin control systems and the physical design aspects of circuit board test fixtures and enclosures. Also responsible for mechanical and material design improvements and additional controller enclosure designs for product line of trauma mannequins. Technical document writing and layout for software user guides and descriptive system diagrams for troubleshooting and process explanation.
  • Research engineer I, 2010–17, Kforce Government Solutions, Inc., Atlanta GA
    Mechanical design including CAD files and prototypes for new medical mannequin features and incremental improvements. Enclosure and user interface design for mannequin controller; brought this design from initial concept to prototype(s) to production and confirmed it maintained the integrity of our "rugged" product line and easy-to-use system. Project manager of sub-contracts for integrating simulated blood product delivery into mannequins and table-top trainers. Invented novel mannequin design features to improve customer experience within training sessions and ease-of-repair. Our department was moved to Trauma FIX branch of the company in early 2017. Supplied training and support to junior staff on mannequin repair and testing.

    Human factors intern, 2010, Kforce Government Solutions, Inc., Atlanta GA
    Researcher on military medical research contracts pertaining to blast injury simulations with robotic mannequins. Designed and built contract deliverable prototypes of new mannequin design features including a hemostatic wound design to help replace use of live-tissue skill training. Conducted two-week user-testing study at Ft. Irwin in Barstow, CA and helped format questionnaires and process quantitative and qualitative data. Only 1 of 3 interns hired on full-time at the conclusion of internship.

Publications and presentations

Exhibitions

  • Atlanta Makerfaire Exhibitor (as part of Oscar Eastwood), 2014–17
  • New Orleans Mini-Makerfaire Exhibitor, 2016
  • NYCxDesign Exhibitor as part of GroupHug Design/Tech Collective, 2014, 2015, 2018
  • Exhibit Designer for MODA 1Hade in Georgia Exhibit, 2009

Presentations

  • "Designing a Flying Ambulance," presented at ASTFE Conference, April 14, 2019.