Design Project I (June 24 & 25, 2020)
Shreyas Bal,
2nd Year Industrial Design,
National Institute of Design Andhra Pradesh.
Course- Simple Product Design
Guide- Kuntal De
Sketch Models
In the previous blog I made some iterations for a concept, and narrowed down to one form. This is the form-
Concept #1
In order to understand the concept in a better way, I resorted to making sketch models.
Sketch model, proved to be of great help to me. I very roughly made a sketch model based on my concept, and tried using it as the final product, just for the sake of testing it. Also, I asked certain questions based upon my inference from the observations.
Here are some of the questions that I asked to the sketch model-
- How will my user handle the product? Isn’t this a bit too big?
- If I make it small, will it be comfortable for someone with larger hands?
- Can the user handle it in a way which suits him/her, while fulfilling all the steps?
- How compelling is the product in terms of fulfilling the steps instructed?
I observed the process of washing hands again and again. Washing hands is a very natural, organic process which consists of twisting of your hands. Hence, there’s no way for the product I’m making to be a rigid block! The sketch model made it very clear that a rigid form was uncomfortable while the act of washing hands.
I also realized that I had forgotten to consider the impact my user group is going to have on the product. The user group of 10–15 years consists of school going students, and a good way to help them develop a habit of washing hands would be to engage them in the process as I mentioned earlier.
Important Observation
As I’ve mentioned in the clip above, I discovered a loophole in the concept. The fact that it dispenses soaps only through one source, if and only if you press at rubber top, makes it easy for someone to totally avoid the rest of the procedure!
Concept #2
I very quickly and roughly made another sketch model just to test whether changing the outlet of the soap, by not restricting it to just one, but create the entire surface as an outlet of soap.
This sketch model was also intended so as to check, whether a soft spongy material would make the product more comforting and relaxing.
It worked really good, the squeezing was de-stressing, and can work well for training people to wash hands.
Forcing Functions-
A Forcing Function is any task, activity or event that forces you to take action and produce a result. By putting a Forcing Function in place, you create motivation for taking action.
Adding some functionality which only allows the user to dispense liquid soap only when he/she will do the required actions.
Concept#3
