Mikel Arnao · Product Design Engineer
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Mikel Arnao

Industrial design and product development engineer. Objects that can be manufactured, interfaces that get used and the code that ties them together, from idea to part.

On the cover
Fig. 01
SEAT Ateca side mirror redesign, assembly view. Scroll to take it apart.
Project 01 · Automotivep. 02

SEAT Atecaside mirror

A mirror that folds itself before it hits something, and keeps the driver seeing when it does.

Approach

Ultrasonic folding, camera view on the central screen, blind-spot radar and a dynamic LED indicator, validated against ECE R46 and in SolidWorks Simulation.

My role
Regulatory analysis, circuit redesign, material specs, renders
Year
2025
Open case study ↗
Project 02 · Cyclingp. 03

Cycle DryOrbea rear rack

A simpler, cheaper bikepacking rack with a hanger to dry clothes on the move.

Approach

Material teardown of the original rack, a single bent aluminium frame and a hanger that lifts 90° and turns 180° out of the wind.

My role
Market and use analysis, ideation, specs, manufacturing
Year
2025
Open case study ↗
Project 03 · Product · IoTp. 04

Arduraself-sufficient pot

A plant pot that waters itself on indoor light, so the plant survives the holidays.

Approach

Organic photovoltaic film, a positive-displacement pump dosing 250 ml, a lift-out rPET tank and a recycled PP body with no glue or paint.

My role
Led the development phase and CAD, renders
Distinction
iF recognition
Open case study ↗
Project 04 · Sustainabilityp. 05

Self-sufficient housein Gudamendi

A home on a windy hill above Donostia that makes its own energy and reuses its rain.

Approach

Hybrid PV-thermal panels, a small wind turbine, a heat pump, rainwater harvesting and recycled cellulose insulation.

My role
Renewable energy systems
Distinction
UPV contest winner
Open case study ↗
Project 05 · Eco-design · LCAp. 06

Mercedes V-Classair vent

Taking a premium air vent apart to find where its footprint hides, then cutting it.

Approach

Cradle-to-grave LCA with the IHOBE calculator, hotspot analysis and nine redesign concepts. The final concept cuts the carbon footprint by about 85 %.

My role
LCA, improvement goals, environmental evaluation
Year
2025
Open case study ↗
01/ 05

Fig. 01 SEAT Ateca side mirror · exploded view 000 %

SolidWorksSiemens NXRevitBlenderKeyShot3ds MaxAdobe CCReactNext.js
p. 07Procedure

From sketch to part.

Five phases that repeat in every project, whether it is an injected housing, a robot or an app.

  1. Phase 1

    Research

    Users, context, regulations and competitors. Understand the problem before drawing anything.

  2. Phase 2

    Conceptualise

    Sketches, quick mock-ups and use scenarios. Many cheap ideas to pick a good one.

  3. Phase 3

    Model and validate

    CAD, calculation, manufacturability and rendering, to decide with data and with images.

  4. Phase 4

    Prototype

    3D printing, electronics and clickable interfaces. Test, break and fix.

  5. Phase 5

    Implement

    Drawings and documentation for production, automation or code ready to ship.