Hardware Design & Product Detailing
Neha Mann | F&LA 5
Exercise 1: Perceived Value Objective
Select and object priced below `10 and increase its perceived value
Product #1: Matchbox
Actual Price: `1 ATTRIBUTES:
Dimensions: (3.5 X 5 X 1.2) cm Prominent colours: Yellow, red , green Materials: Cardboard, wood, chemical ingredients for match head Average 50 sticks COMPOSITION: Stick: White Alpine or Aspen Strong Straight grained Absorbing Match Head: Phosphorus sesquisulfide Potassium Chlorate- provides oxygen for combustion powdered Glass- increases friction Inert Fillers- control burning Animal Glue- binding ingredients PROBLEMS: Exhausted dimensions and designs Striking areas smoothens outs quickly Burns the finger when lit for longer
Proposed Changes
Unconventional colour/design
Sleeker size
#1 Change in appearance changes the first look
#2 Additional striking area on the back (as it smoothens out quickly, even before all sticks are used)
Learning
#3 Fire proofing the end Dipping the holding end in paraffin wax to prevent burns
How to add value to a product without actually affecting its production cost. Composition of matchstick Manufacturing process of matchstick and matchbox
Product #2: Clutch Bag Objective
Study an existing clutch bag and make minimum changes to create a different look.
Existing look: Formal ATTRIBUTES: Dimensions: (20 X 9 X2.5) cm Material: Leather Hardware: Zippers Card pockets Currency pocket Zip pocket Neutral colour Smooth surface CONTENTS: Money- notes and coins Cards Phone Hygiene Products Cosmetics- Lipstick, gloss, eye-liner (mostly thin cylindrical)
Look #1: Casual
Hand space
Sturdy leather
Irregular texture (less wear and tear)
Look #2: Evening event Bracelet Metal plate
Quilted texture
Metal zipper
Learning
How to develop varying looks of the same product by adding minute details
Exercise 2: Cookware Handles Objective: Select a cookware item and design a handle suitable to its function by studying the existing handles through market research.
Product: Milk Pan
MATERIALS: Vessel: Aluminium Bottom: Sandwiched aluminium Handle: Bakelite JOINERY: Stainless steel spot welded to vessel Handle screwed(single) to SS Angle: 30 degrees Dimensions: Diameter: 16cm Handle Length: 15cm Capacity: 1L Grip: Power grip with precision component- due to suggestive thumb space Problem area: Handle has nearly flat cross section and thumb space which hinders relaxed rotation for pouring
Material: Wood Very Strong 3 rivets Twice the diameter of vessel German Problem: Handle too long and heavy
Material: Cast Iron 3 rivets Powder coating on surface Oven, gas, electric, halogen safe French Problem: Gets heated after long usage Bad grip
Material: Bakelite + SS Detachable-easy to stack/clean Better for dishwasher American
Material: Bakelite + SS Thumb groove 2 screws German
Material: Stainless steel Polished exterior Non reactive French Problem: Slips because of very smooth surface
Criteria for designing Taken from: A Check-List for Handle Design, Michael Patkin
SIZE Length: 10-15 cm Diameter: 3-4 cm
Angled for normal wrist posture No uncomfortable arm separation
SHAPE(twisting) Cylindrical A little flattened (anti slip) Thickened centrally No sharp edges/high spots
STORAGE Hole, hook, loop
SURFACE Smooth (rotating) Deliberate roughness
SKILL NEEDED Minimise user skill Makes it obvious
SECURITY(against slip) Pommel- enlargement of butt end Hilt- against touching hot area Gentle finger grooving
VALIDATION Looks and feels right Hygienic
CLEANABILITY Crevices, reactivity
GRIPS Power grip- tools Power grip with precision component- Drumstick Internal Precision Grip- Pen External Precision Grip- Kadai Pinch CONNECTING HANDLE Hollow handle made of heat resistant sheet metal. Connected through welding, fastened to utensil without deforming utensil wall RIVET VS SPOT WELDING Rivet can be removed Rivet can join dissimilar materials In case of finished on metal- no good electric contact for welding
Proposed changes
ANGLE 30 degrees GRIP Power Grip DIMENSIONS Length: 15cm Front Cross section: 2cm(d) End Cross Section: 4cm(d) Broadening at end works as pommel to prevent slipping Also provides increased rotational inertia by balancing the load with a counter weight Usage lasts for about 10 minutes so silicon does not heat up The ends flaps open when pan needs to be suspended on a hook
Exercise 3: Collapsibility Objective: Design and develop a unit which maybe use to design/ create collapsible products.
DEFINITION The ability of a product to be folded in itself to a small surface area without losing its identity. NEED Easy storage Stacking Multi purpose Varying forms in one product Space Constraint Portability METHODS Barrelling Folding Puncture Winding Coiling Shrinking
PrincipleHoberman Sphere
Isokinetic sphere patented by Chuck Hoberman Resembles a geodesic dome, but folds down to a fraction of its dimensions Scissor like action of joints Six circles(2D) corresponding to the edges of an icosidodecahedron(3D)
PRODUCT Suspended lamp Table lamp CONCEPT Planned placement of units to create an expanding-collapsing structure REASON Using collapsibility to vary form of lamp to manage light intensity escaping the void.
CONCEPT #1 Umbrella Mechanism
Unit: Hexagonal umbrella Half the umbrellas close inwards using levers which can be manually handled externally. Material: Translucent fabric on metal spokes
CONCEPT #2 Origami Product: Table lamp Unit: Derived from cube System: 9 cubes connected with 3 belts that facilitate collapsing them onto each other to form a smaller lattice.
Open state
Maximum light escapes the voids
Connector to pull units of adjacent plane
Intermediate state
Locks at medium level to form different lattice
Collapsed state
Less light escapes the smaller voids
Learning Knowledge of the different methods of collapsing Need of collapsibility in products Joinery involved Product application of a collapsing system