Summary
The Project:
To become familiar with the whole design process, including Discover, Define, Conceptualize, Design, and Implement, with an industrial design team over a 10 week period. The goal was to progress from a problem to an idea, and from an idea to a possible solution that could be realized through industrial production.
My Role:
I was responsible for time and team management, making the research plan, and completing design research to narrow down the concept. Additionally, I designed and tested several concepts with potential users.
What I Learned:
I learned an important industrial design concept called ABCD to Q. This concept addresses how one can combine several different concepts to solve design problems; which will help to improve the product’s final design. I also became familiar with the industrial design process and gained experience in working with designers from other fields.
THE TEAM
INTRODUCTION
Appoint, a company has been a pioneer in home-based sales and adept in networking of market. They have assigned us a napkin holder as the first product in their proposal of Sears. Appoint desires the proposal has an impact that allow them to introduce other products throughout various section into Sears. Moreover, since they are lack of retail experience of design and marketing strategy. Establishing an integrated marketing plan and strategy for future new products are necessary. Therefore, the napkin holder would be greatly important for Appoint and further business with us.
- Research Plan
- BRAINSTORMING
We begin with brainstorming in order to enhance design thinking and ideas. In search of directions of napkin holder, we review the client’s brief again, then set up home-use as a starting point.
SECONDARY RESEARCH
PRIMARY RESEARCH
- SURVEY
We produce 24 questions in a questionnaire , which contain preference,
experience and anticipation. This would enhance our design thinking and seek out the user’s’ focus.
ANALYSIS
Fortunately, we have an instructor, Jim Gilmore, to help us to provoke our design process. He suggests us that we shouldn’t struggle with the data or survey results.
Making ideas flexible in designing product is more important.
- Idea Sorting
After brainstorming, we categorized ideas through similar concepts, then we have five groups of design ideas. A is adding games for interaction purpose. B is sound producing. C is multi-functions. D is electronic devices. E is exceptional thinking.
- Idea diagram
We find out that interactive and emotional are two majorities of developing and establishing long-term relationship with users. We use idea diagram to further enrich visibility of unfocused areas.
SKETCHING
PROTOTYPES
We make many paper prototypes for showing our individual ideas. From these prototypes, it helps us to understand more details of structural and functional issues.
REFINED SKETCHES
ABCD TO Q
This napkin holder, “UFO”, mainly facilitates using experience while users have chance to interact with napkins. The concept of UFO is “upheaval.” There are some problems occurred in existing napkin holders, which only provide certain spaces for napkins to stay. However, the problems deteriorate the use of taking the napkins out. In order to find out a solution to help users, we create a bottom-up structure on the bottom of the holder. While napkins lay on the structure, it becomes mountain-like shape which make users have a tendency to draw the napkins easily.
- TO Q
This is not only about a napkin holder providing division of spaces, but it is about a collection of napkin holders strengthening integrated user experience and interaction. We have developed many design ideas that have its own specific direction, it is quite difficult to target one from another’s. During the process of filtering ideas, we found out that why we don’t combine all ideas together and create a new idea. We review throughout entire idea library that we worked before, and then ” Sketchbook” emerges. In this product, you can experience the happiness of “Do it by yourself”, moreover, you can make some graffiti on it and bring to your friends as a gift. We also use recycled paper to put this idea into real.
