TECHNICAL ILLUSTRATOR + EXPLAINER
About the Project
Tenka Labs develops LEGO-compatible Circuit Cubes that allow the seamless integration of electronics to control LEDs and automate mechanisms that bring life to your builds.
My role was to develop step-by-step instructions to make the builds straightforward and visually intuitive. I also created the STEM content for the instruction manuals for the Monster Mech and Gears Go! product lines; think of it as a “how does that work?” guide that introduces users to the mechanical and electronic principles at play. The explanations break down the builds to focus on a key STEM concept in order to develop a deeper understanding that can be applied to later builds. In addition, I performed user product testing and incorporated feedback to improve the product line.
Monster Mech and Gears Go! released in Summer 2018
"Anne was able to take our ideas for explaining some important concepts and design beautiful and engaging illustrations. I immediately thought of Leonardo da Vinci’s works as I studied the sketches Anne created for us. Anne’s gift is not only her ability to sketch beautifully but she also understands how to bring the viewer into the mechanics of the design."
—John Schuster, Chief Design Officer, Tenka Labs
Select photos from Monster Mech and Gears Go! manuals
CO-FOUNDER, TOY DESIGNER
About the Project
Artbots are a line of educational robotic kits that create art! Each kit assembles with zipties and rubber bands and can be easily reconfigured to create different patterns.
ArtBot Toys was founded in 2012. It began as after school classes for kids, as a way to reuse and repurpose components harvested from old electronics. Over the years and after many iterations, we developed a tripod chassis design that serves as a versatile and an open platform to mount just about anything onto a "robot." Today, the chassis serves as the basis for a graduated line of drawing robots, from introductory to advanced.
Editors Choice Award, BAMF 2012
Editors Choice Award, BAMF 2014
Editors Choice Award, NYMF 2015
PROJECT MANAGEMENT, DESIGNER, BUSINESS PLAN & GRAPHICS
About the Project
Urban Putt is San Francisco's first and only indoor miniature golf course, restaurant and bar. Each hole is a one-of-a-kind interactive moving sculpture, designed to captivate the imagination, awaken the mind and create a truly immersive experience.
As project manager, I oversaw every aspect of the design, prototyping and fabrication of the golf holes as well as coordinating the many moving parts that go into bringing a venue of this scale online. I served as the hub between the owner, mini golf design crew, architect, general contractor, and outside artists, fabricators and contractors. Working with a tight budget, ambitious schedule and limited space, it was my role to seamlessly mesh the overall project needs with crew availability, task sequencing, and space juggling. In addition, I created the design and layout of the business plan, developed a color palette and style guide and original menus.
Urban Putt opened May 2014
"If it were not for Anne Mayoral’s work as project manager, Urban Putt as we know it would not exist today."
—Steve Fox, CEO and Chief Greenskeeper, Urban Putt
Photos by Cesar Rubio
MOVIE PROP DESIGNER
About the Project
"Collisions" is a film about a bright 12 year old girl, Itan, and her 6 year old brother, Neto, who come home from school to find their furniture up-ended and no trace of her mother Yoana. Placed with their estranged uncle Evencio, a big rig truck driver, Itan begins a desperate search for their mother only to find Yoana in an immigration detention center. The film is about her journey to reunite her family despite all obstacles.
The opening scene provides insight into Itan—her drive, her fearless perseverance and her intelligence. She tinkers with a robot arm she has designed and built for a science project, one fashioned from found parts, to pick up and handle an egg without breaking.
I designed this prop to capture all that Itan embodies, while being fully functional to support whatever the scene calls for. It is a six degree of freedom robotic arm controlled with an Arduino and DIY controller that I made (shown in the film). The guts of the arm were taken from a discarded (literally, it was found in the trash!) and non-working arm. After a bit of troubleshooting, it was as good as new. Check out the trailer to get a glimpse of the robot arm in action.
LEARNING EXPERT
About the Project
AltSchool has a network of lab schools in the Bay Area and New York focused on transforming educational experiences for all students. As a Learning Expert I develop hands-on curriculum that aligns with their learning arc. Students are encouraged to follow their curiosity, ask big questions and test their ideas, iterate and push past their challenges.
I learn so much from students. Rarely do activities unfold as I anticipate. I embrace and trust this process because more often than not, something much better happens.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCT DESIGN
About the Project
The LectroKit product line is a line of paper notebooks that serves as a platform for learning about the digital world. The concept is simple: Develop an understanding of electronics by creating working circuits that exist inside your notebook using copper tape, a power supply, surface-mount components, microcontrollers, and sensors. The line is designed to scaffold the learning process, mesh traditional note booking practices with craft and technology while cultivating curiosity and confidence. Each notebook focuses on a set of skills, functionality, or capability and provides all the necessary hardware to bring ideas to life.
As product designer, I developed the product vision, outlined the educational learning suite, and designed the look and feel for the line of notebooks.
This work is in collaboration with David Cole of CV2, NEXMAP, and makers from MIT Media Lab's High-Low Tech group, including Jie Qi (the innovator behind circuit stickers) and Natalie Freed (innovator of the tidal notebook prototype).
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Anne on our paper engineering project Hack Your Notebook. From concept work with prototypes and packaging to artful interfaces and designs for activity templates to leadership roles in workshops for kids and teachers, Anne is a wonderful designer and teacher. The breadth of her skill and experience is matched only by her curiosity, versatility and generosity as a collaborator. It is enormously rewarding -- personally and professionally -- to work with her.”
— David Cole, Program Director, NEXMAP
Photos by Adriel Olmos
LEARNING FACILITATOR
About the Project
Tiny tinkering is a hands-on, child-led class for 3-6 year olds and a caregiver. Little makers explore the hackerspace, learn how to use real tools and technology, and create useful and fun projects. This class offers a combination of guided skills and child-led exploration.
As a learning facilitator, I present open-ended explorables and structured activities that allow kids an opportunity to play openly, discover in their own time, try ideas, and come up with their own answers. Classes are loosely based on the Emilio-Reggio philosophy.
"My children enjoyed the varied experiences from our Tiny Tinkering class—taking apart small appliances to learning about the Archimedes screw. The teacher, Anne, was patient and created an environment that allowed the kids to participate in ways that they were comfortable." —Rory, mother of two, ages 2 and 6.
ENVIRONMENT DESIGN, LAYOUT, FULL-SCALE MOCKUP
About the Project
ArtReach is a non-profit mobile arts organization that is reinventing the artist residency. ArtReach Studio's residency program focuses on artists who are parents and helps build community around project-based art works that link artist-families to the people in their neighborhood. Artists-in-residence are provided with the time, space, and resources they need to bring art education programs to the community for free.
My role was to repurpose The Milk Truck to become a versatile, modular creative space that could transform to fit the needs of each artist-in-residency. I worked closely with my clients to identify their key objectives, schedule, and budget and delivered concept sketches and walked them through 3D models of the space prior to creating a full-scale mockup in the truck. Once the design had been finalized, I worked with our fabricator to ensure the successful build-out of the design.
HANDS-ON STEAM EDUCATOR
About the Project
Scientific Adventures for Girls offers hands-on after school and summer STEAM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs to kids, especially girls and disadvantaged youth. Classes are aimed at K-5th grade.
In this role, I developed an immersive-learning curriculum that straddled many subjects. Each class included open-ended activities and structured projects to create a full sensory experience! As an educator, my goal is to demystify STEM by introducing subjects in an approachable, interactive, and enjoyable way and to cultivate a supportive learning environment that fosters sharing, confident exploration, and building intuition.
VISUAL DESIGNER
About the Project
NGINX is an open source web server for high-traffic sites. NGINX Plus adds enterprise-ready features such as HTTP and TCP load balancing, session persistence, health checks, advanced monitoring, and management.
As a visual designer for Nginx, I designed print material, conference collateral and web banner ads that spoke to their brand, a look of modern elegance. The key to this design was a clean, simple layout with a clear call to action.
GRAPHIC DESIGN
About the Project
Printrbot provides affordable high resolution 3D printers to makers, DIYers, and educators worldwide. Designed as a simple, affordable, all-in-one 3D printer kits that can be assembled under an hour, the Printrbot brand embodies clean, approachable design.
My role was to design packaging graphics that were inviting, illustrative, and simple. The silhouette style shows the product as if it were in front of the viewer and highlights the key features with just enough detail.
AUTHOR, CONTENT CONTRIBUTOR
About the Project
Make: magazine is a one-stop-shop for all types of DIY projects, hacks, and garage-tech. It puts the know-how at the fingertips of the masses.
I contribute content to the magazine, from articles to fun circuit designs to library activity kits.
