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Project 7 Rain Harvest Water is humanity’‘s most vital resource, essential for all life. As climate patterns shift between droughts and floods, designers must respond with innovative solutions. This speculative design project explores how wearable technology can transform rainfall into a directly usable resource, addressing a future where water access becomes increasingly scarce.

The project emerges from research into projected climate scenarios and their implications for water security. Climate models indicate disruptions to rainfall patterns and accelerating groundwater depletion globally. This crisis prompted exploration of adaptation strategies focused on immediate rainfall harvesting, examining evolutionary adaptations in water-scarce ecosystems.

Biomimetic Inspiration The design solution draws from the Namib desert beetle, which has evolved specialized adaptations for water collection in one of Earth’‘s most arid environments. The beetle‘’s carapace features hydrophilic bumps and hydrophobic channels that efficiently capture moisture from fog. This natural mechanism inspired the translation of similar principles to human scale, creating a wearable system for rainwater collection.

Materials and Fabrication Vegetable-tanned leather proved to be the ideal medium, combining water resistance, malleability and robustness. Both digital and handcrafted techniques were used to produce the leather garment. To determine the exact shape of the body, it was digitally scanned, then analyzed in CAD and a suitable shape was created. This was then produced using a CNC milling machine. The resulting mold was used to wet form the leather. The leather parts were then sewn together and the other parts joined.

Final Design: Form Follows Flow The final prototype embodies „form follows flow“ – a functional wearable system working harmoniously with rainwater. It features angled shoulder panels that maximize water collection area, while biomimetically optimized channel patterns efficiently direct  collected water to strategic collection points. Integrated funnel systems channel the collected water into two hydration bladders for storage.

Design Philosophy & Future Implications This project operates at the intersection of speculative design, biomimicry and functional wearable technology. Rather than merely aestheticizing biological forms, it uses profound biomimetic principles - the study, extraction and adaptation of evolutionary solutions from nature.
The work demonstrates how biomimetic approaches can produce tangible solutions to the challenges of resource management. By positioning the human body as a habitat and harvesting system, the project questions the boundaries between natural processes and technological interventions. It contributes to the discourse on adaptation strategies to the uncertainty of climate change and shows how designers can respond to resource scarcity through systems thinking - offering not only survival tools, but also new ways of conceptualizing our relationship to fundamental resources.



2024/2025, 3th Semster, OTH Regensburg
In Collaboration with Pauline Vogl
Supervision: Prof. Anja Lapatsch, 
M.Sc. David Meier

EatExtend Ritualistic Eating Utensil Since time immemorial, tools that are extensions of the fingers have been used to make eating easier. The shapes of these tools were often determined by the materials used. However, by replacing the materials with those not traditionally used for this purpose, a completely new design can be created. In this case, it is made of cardboard treated with a protective layer of beeswax and carnauba wax. This treatment has improved the material‘s resistance to moisture. It was important to be able to form a precise tip that would allow for the necessary fine motor skills. The utensil is attThe finished object, EatExtend, demonstrates a new, almost ritualistic way of eating.



2024, 3th Semster, 
OTH Regensburg
In Collaboration with Iris Bachinger
Supervision: Prof. Waleska Leifeld; Prof. Anja Lapatsch

Schneiderstuhl

Crossleged position for sitting 
This project explores how everyday seating can better accommodate natural sitting habits—specifically, the cross-legged position, which is rarely supported by standard office chairs.

Instead of designing a new chair from scratch, the approach focuses on a modular extension for existing office chairs. The design includes a 20° angled footrest and an optional chest support, allowing users to sit cross-legged more comfortably during desk work.

The footrest is constructed from four metal tubes connected by a corner and a T-joint, with a tilted multiplex panel mounted on top. The assembly is straightforward and designed for easy integration into typical office setups.

The result is a practical addition that encourages alternative sitting postures without requiring a complete change in furniture.



2024, 2th Semster, OTH Regensburg
In Collaboration with Dario Semprini
Supervision: Prof. Anja Lapatsch

Flowing Bowl

Forge Project The project is a forged steel piece created during my apprenticeship at a blacksmith workshop in the Allgäu region of Germany. It showcases rounded, flowing forms designed to demonstrate that metal isn't limited to rigid and harsh appearances. Through proper forging techniques, steel can exhibit dynamic and organic qualities. The surface has been burnished, which enhances the organic aesthetic while providing protection to the metal. This work challenges traditional perceptions of metalwork, revealing how a material commonly associated with industrial strength can be transformed through traditional craftsmanship into something that appears almost fluid and natural.



2017 
Internship at Kunstschmiede Markus Elhardt

Emily Elhardt is an industrial design student at Regensburg University of Applied Sciences.
Her design journey began with an apprenticeship in metalworking, where she developed a deep understanding of materials and craftsmanship. This hands-on experience continues to inform her approach, which balances functionality, aesthetics, and contextual awareness.

Through her academic work, she has expanded this foundation to include a critical engagement with the social and environmental dimensions of design. For Elhardt, design is not only about shaping objects, but also about questioning their impact and potential. Her work is inspired by her surroundings and personal experiences, driven by a curiosity about how design can influence the future and shift perspectives on the world.

Contact: mail@emilyelhardt.com

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