John Koop / Industrial Designer

Define the problem.
Design what's better.

I start by defining the real problem, then develop products and solutions that make the world work a little better.

Portrait of John Koop — J. KoopAshburn, VA

Selected work

Case studies & builds

Sheet 01 · NASA lunar rover challenge

Lunar Wheels

My high school team was tasked with designing a wheel for a NASA lunar rover. We studied the wheels NASA uses today, identified where they fall short, and developed a foam-filled wheel built to last longer on the Moon.

RoleTeam lead

Team5 designers

ToolsSketching, Fusion 360, prototyping

Prototype wheel with a wire mesh shell over a foam fill and an MDF hub — Prototype with foam fill between the hub and the mesh shellFig. 1

01First idea

A wheel that wears down layer by layer

Our first concept was a multi-layered wheel. As the outer tread wore down, a fresh layer underneath would take its place.

After evaluating the concept, we found several serious drawbacks, so we set it aside and returned to research.

Pencil sketches of two wheel concepts with tread patterns and material notes — Early sketches: layered rubber treads, and a foam-filled wheel with an aluminum mesh shellFig. 2

02Research

Defining the problems with current rover wheels

We studied the wheels NASA currently uses on its rovers, then took a deep dive into their limitations to find the problems worth solving.

DeformationWheels deform easily under load.

LifespanShort service life before failure.

DamageEasily damaged in the field.

Load capacityLimited capacity to carry weight.

Traction vs. flotationA constant trade-off between the two.

03Solution

A foam mixture inside the wheel

Based on that research, we added a foam mixture between the wheel's core and its outer mesh. The foam gives the wheel more structure, increases its load capacity, and improves traction. If the wheel is damaged or deformed, the foam can simply be reapplied instead of replacing the entire wheel.

Designed for lunar dust Lunar dust is extremely fine, sharp, and electrostatically charged. The foam layer is meant to shield the core and trap most of that dust, so the foam can later be removed, cleaned out, and replaced.

Fusion 360 model of the wheel with hub, spokes and tire — CAD model in Fusion 360Fig. 3

Prototype wheel with a carved foam core and rubber tread held on with zip ties — Foam core prototype with rubber treadFig. 4

04Reflection

Building on what works, and knowing the limits

Our goal was to build on proven designs while solving their original limitations, and to create a solution that could be reused rather than thrown away.

The biggest obstacle is infrastructure. Once rovers are on the Moon, there are not yet bases or service stations where the foam could be cleaned and replaced. The concept depends on that support existing.

05Team

John Koop, team leadSyed SalehMark JonesDominic WhiteDavid Nolton

Sheet 02 · Personal concept

Hearing Device Concept

A small hearing device worn around the tragus or within the pinna, like a piercing. It never enters the ear canal and requires no implant in the bone.

RoleDesigner

TypePersonal concept

ToolsSketching, CAD, 3D printing

Two green 3D-printed prototype parts next to a ruler, each about 3 cm long — 3D-printed housing and cover, shown against a ruler for scaleFig. 1

01Inspiration

Why hearing matters to me

Both of my grandfathers served in the military, working around artillery and heavy machinery, and both eventually lost most of their hearing. Watching them struggle to communicate showed me how deeply hearing affects our connections with others.

More recently, my girlfriend has been learning sign language to communicate with a student who is hard of hearing. These experiences inspired me to explore hearing technology as an opportunity for meaningful design.

02Concept

A device that feels like part of everyday life

The concept is a smaller hearing device inspired by bone-anchored hearing aids (Baha) and cochlear implants. I imagined a tiny device positioned around the tragus or within the pinna, worn much like a piercing.

Unlike those products, it would not enter the ear canal or require surgical implantation into the bone. My goal was to create something that could become a natural part of everyday life.

Pencil sketches of small device forms and their placement on the ear — Form studies and placement options around the earFig. 2

03Process

From research to a printed part

I researched hearing technologies and Bluetooth capabilities and studied existing products. I then sketched forms, developed them in CAD, and 3D-printed prototypes.

Hand-drawn isometric sketch of the housing and cover with dimensions in centimeters — Dimensioned sketch of the housing and coverFig. 3

Wireframe CAD model of the two-part housing — Wireframe CAD modelFig. 4

04Prototype

What the screen didn't show

My first physical prototype taught me an important lesson. It looked appropriately sized on my computer, but it felt cumbersome in my hand.

The physical model revealed something the digital model could not, so I returned to CAD to reconsider its scale and form.

The green 3D-printed prototype held between two fingers — First printed prototype in handFig. 5

05Reflection

Beyond amplification

As the concept developed, I explored possibilities beyond hearing amplification:

BluetoothNoise reductionWater resistanceText-to-speech connection

My research showed that companies already make devices that are smaller and more advanced than my prototype. Rather than discouraging me, that discovery made me more interested in industrial design.

Innovation is not always about inventing something new. It is about understanding what already exists and finding ways to improve it.

I am proud of this project because it pushed me to research, sketch, build, fail, and rethink. It taught me that good design is not about getting everything right the first time. It is about being curious and persistent enough to find better solutions.

Sheet 03 · Builds

Robotics

Robots I have built and worked on, from LEGO competition builds and VEX drivetrains to a wheel-legged robot. This hands-on work is where my interest in designing and fixing systems began.

LEGO Mindstorms robot with a roof frame on a competition mat — LEGO Mindstorms competition robotFig. 1

VEX metal chassis with four large green wheels and geared drive — VEX geared drivetrain chassisFig. 2

VEX robot with omni wheels, a geared arm and a front plate — VEX robot with omni-wheel drive and geared armFig. 3

Four-legged robot with wheels at the end of each leg — Wheel-legged quadruped robotFig. 4

Sheet 04 · Studio

Art

Sculpture, drawing, painting and digital work, made in art classes and just for fun. Working across materials, from cardboard and foam to ink and tape, keeps me thinking about form, light and how things are put together.

Digital drawing of a red spider lily over a sketched eye — Spider lily and eye, digital drawing

Cardboard sculpture of a large eye body on jointed legs — Cardboard creature sculpture

Black foam sculpture of a spiked eye flower in a pot — Eye flower, foam sculpture

Ink drawing of a spiked eye surrounded by stippling — Eye study in ink and stippling

Pencil perspective drawing of a loft kitchen and living room — One-point perspective interior

Pencil drawing of a figure in front of mountains under a starry sky — Night sky over mountains, pencil and marker

Two graphite still life drawings of spheres, cylinders and boxes — Still life studies in graphite

Two views of a black rose made from tape — Tape rose

Ink drawing of a hand and a dove above a brick tunnel — Hand and dove, ink perspective drawing

Painting of the ocean under a blue sky with clouds — Seascape painting

How I work

Process

Define

Find the real problem before reaching for a solution.

Imagine

Ask the magic-wand question and explore more than one answer.

Model

Sketch, CAD and prototype to test ideas in the real world.

Refine

Work with the team to iterate until it is truly better.

"What would I do if I had a magic wand?"The question that changed how I approach problems

About John

Background

I spent most of my childhood living overseas, where I was often dragged to historical sites, art exhibits, sports games, and diplomatic events. At the time, "dragged" is exactly how it felt. As I grew older, I came to appreciate the clever ways centuries-old cultures built things to make their lives easier with only the resources available to them. I learned how they constructed aqueducts, made furniture for small spaces, and built homes from local materials. I also lost count of the castles and gold-covered statues I saw.

Along the way, I started paying attention to art: classical, modern, and above all, street art. In Madrid, there is a church more than 500 years old, and across from it stands a wall covered in graffiti depicting religious experiences. That contrast left a lasting impression on me. Art is personal, and it is timeless.

After returning to the United States, I took specialized courses in robotics and engineering in high school, and my interest in designing and fixing broken systems began to grow. Every day, I identified engineering problems, worked with a team to design solutions, and used models to create something better. One teacher encouraged us not to settle on a single solution, but to ask, "What would I do if I had a magic wand?" That was a new mindset for my classmates and me, and it still shapes how I design today.

Experience

2021 – 2026

Hiring? Get my full resume as a one-page PDF.

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Work

Assistant, Superintendent Team

May – Aug 2026

HITT Contracting Inc.

Supported the superintendent team with subcontractors and materials tracking, and developed solutions to recover project schedule delays. Conducted site-condition certifications and safety inspections.

Assistant Project Manager

May – Aug 2025

HITT Contracting Inc.

Coordinated with subcontractors and suppliers, consulted with architects on materials, and drafted submittals, RFIs and change orders.

Education & leadership

Industrial Design

Current

James Madison University

Transferred from George Mason University, where I studied Civil Engineering.

Lunar Wheels Team Lead

High school

NASA competition

Cars & Coffee Club, Creator and Co-lead

2021 – 2024

Tools

Fusion 360RevitAutoCAD3D printingProcore

Contact

Have a problem worth defining?

I'm open to design projects, collaborations and internships. A call or text is the fastest way to reach me.

Call or text preferred
571-318-4779

Email
defineart@defineartstudio.com

Define the problem.Design what's better.

Selected work

Lunar Wheels

A wheel that wears down layer by layer

Defining the problems with current rover wheels

A foam mixture inside the wheel

Building on what works, and knowing the limits

Hearing Device Concept

Why hearing matters to me

A device that feels like part of everyday life

From research to a printed part

What the screen didn't show

Beyond amplification

Robotics

Art

How I work

Define

Imagine

Model

Refine

About John

Experience

Work

Assistant, Superintendent Team

Assistant Project Manager

Education & leadership

Industrial Design

Lunar Wheels Team Lead

Cars & Coffee Club, Creator and Co-lead

Tools

Have a problem worth defining?

Define the problem.
Design what's better.