V E S S E L
V E S S E L
Process Book spring studio 2014
Brooke Keene multi-disciplinary design & psychology University of Utah
Contents design brief
1
research
2
ideation
3
prototyping
4
final product
5
marketing & manufacturing
6
Design Brief
VESSEL is a set of containers that fulfill the need for an authentic outdoor drinking experience, connecting us with our primitive nature and time honored human rituals. They have been formed with respect to the ergonomics of the hand, the human desire for tactile surfaces, and the connection between the rim of the cup and mouth. VESSEL is designed for the aesthetically and environmentally conscious consumer, who is willing to invest more in a natural and sustainable product that they will be proud to use, whether rising, reveling, or relaxing.
VESSE L / enhance your drinking experience
Research
observation problem statement history precedent study persona material exploration
Observation
what I drank
what I drank from
At the beginning of the semester, our studio went to the Valley of Fire, Nevada, to gain hands on experience in car camping. What stood out most to me was how much ritualistic drinking was such an integral part, yet I found my plastic messkit cup severely lacking for this purpose. It had an awkward hold, felt cheaply made, and overall, was not pleasurable to drink from.
Problem Statement There is a need for a drinking vessel that enhances, rather than detracts, from drinking experiences when camping. It will be inspired by “the original vessel� of two cupped hands drinking water from a stream, and in doing so, honor our primitive nature and human made rituals. This vessel, or set of vessels, must be ergonomic, aesthetically pleasing, and sustainably built. It should be able to hold hot and cold beverages and withstand reasonable outdoor use.
History timeline of material & form
natural vessels
precious metals
glass
steel
present day the original vessel
ceramic
porcelain
enamel
plastic
GSI Glacier cup 20 oz $11
GSI Backpacker Mug 12 oz. $10
Stainless steel with fold away handle
Recycled polypropylene, buoyant, insulated
“strong & durable”
“efficient & functional”
Stanley Camp Mug 18 oz. $25
MSR Mug 12.5 oz. $15
Double wall, stainless steel, with lid
Double wall, stainless steel, with lid
“burley & masculine”
“ergonomic & compact”
Coughlans Cup 12 oz $2.50
Sea to Summit Cup 16 oz. $7
Polypropylene
Plastic with ergonomic rim
“cheap & basic” “lightweight & simple”
Precedent Study
Persona Michelle 29, women’s outdoor apparel Michelle is a
DURABLE powder-coating
enameled steel
polypropylene wood-composite
aluminum leather/suede
silicone latex cork
UNSUSTAINABLE
bamboo wood cellulose-based plastic
felt
SUSTAINABLE glass ceramic borosilicate glass ceramic
FRAGILE
Material Exploration
Ideation
Prototyping
1. POPLAR WOOD
cut into blocks, turn on lathe to form
Slip-cast Ceramic & Silicone
2. POTTERY PLASTER mix together
PLASTER
3. WATER 4. PLASTIC CONTAINER
pour into container, insert form halfway, dry
5. MOLD SOAP
brush on a thin layer, wipe off excess, repeat step 4
6. PORCELAIN SLIP
PLASTER MOLD strain and pour to top, dry to desired wall thickness, pour excess
CERAMIC VESSEL
7. SPONGE
remove when leather hard, clean with sponge
8. SANDPAPER
sand when dry
9. SILICONE mix to desired viscosity 10. THIXOTROPIC ADDITIVE
brush on, letting each layer dry 6 hours in between, cut off excess
Final Product
Renderings
Marketing & Manufacturing
branding elements touchpoints packaging business model manufacturing & life cycle
rise revel relax
V E S S E L
Branding Elements Klinic Slab Light for all body text klinic slab light italic with no caps for all product names
FUTURA MEDIUM in all caps for vertical logo wordmark Futura Medium for touchpoint headers
Use black and white with variations on opacity to portray gray and translucency Always use white on photographs and black on vertical VESSEL
V E S S E L
Touchpoints
Packaging
Value Proposition Key Activities Key Partners
online marketing crowdsourced fundraising website/blogging/Instagram
ergonomics aesthetics brand/status uniqueness eco-friendly
Business Model
Customer Relations online networking giveaways/contests quick, easy, replacement parts
Customers
SEHSC Silvershell Ceramics UPS Etsy
Key Resources
silicone and ceramic suppliers manufacturing facilities start up costs
Costs
Channels Etsy/Blogging/botique stores local outdoors store/large retailers
Revenue
customers willing to pay more than current camping cups pay primarily with credit cards will pay for quality and innovative designs that are unique
Marketing & Lifecycle ceramic clay shipped from China slipcast at Silvershell Ceramics in Massachusettes
silica (beach sand/quartz) plentiful and easily sourced in Eastern US
heated in furnace copper catalyst + hydrochloric 99% reused SEHSC manufacturer in Virginia
shipped to VA for silicone sleeve fitting
combined with catalyst and injection molded
packaged and shipped to retailers/buyers 10+ year lifespan, made longer through replacing parts
Ceramic can be broken or ground up and recycled into new ceramics or composite materials
easily separated for replacement & recycling
Silicone can be ground up and added into new recycled silicone or depolymerized and downcycled into oil for industrial machines
Colophon