Gendered Product design
This project is a re-design project, which involves improving and adapting an existing design. The Dieter Rams philosophy of "Look but don't copy" is key in this project work. Using the design process you will analyse one of the products below from
- a manufacture point of view,
- a user point of view and
- an aesthetic point of view.
You are required to select a suitable company as a brand name for the product at the beginning of the project. Choose one of the following:
- Babies bottle
- LEGO ME: redesign a Lego character as you for the Lego city range, including one hobby or interest (unit must be under £5.00 so check level of detail on such a purchase)
- A contemporary designed, versitile posture, computer seat
- Toddler's potty
You must analyse the product by a process of reverse engineering and in respect to its perceived gender. From this research produce a new product which is better in its function and has a definite gender (male or female).
Deliverable 1 Design Context:
This stage of the design process includes the following deliverables using sketches and a 5 min power point presentation .
- Its manufacture details- how is it made? Which materials? Cut it in two- look at its section.
- Its functional elements and features
- Its gender with respect to its aesthetics and its tactility
- Its strengths
- Its weaknesses
- What are its measurements? Use vernier calipers (see Billy Scampton) and document using CAD
- Then start to create a 3D model using Alias Automotive*
Stages 2-5 of the process deal with the re-design
How can you make it better?, What additional market niche can it compete in?, What extra functionality should it have?, How should it look? How can you change its gender? What's its personality/ attitude?
Deliverable 2: Design Concept
- Mood Board showing the styling direction and brand identity
- Concept generation sketch pad (30 pages)- every idea counts!
- 5x Experimental renderings using markers and pastels or Alias Automotive sketch / Photoshop of best ideas
- Finish 3D CAD model of Existing product
Deliverable 3: Design Development
- Concept development Sketch pad (20 pages)
- Package drawings/ space envelopes of new idea in respect to ergonomic considerations (2D CAD)
- Experimental 3D modlling using Alias Automotive
- Sketch models either in Foam and/ or 3D CAD model (block model)
- 3 x A3 colour renderings using marker and pastel or photoshop
Deliverable 4: Design Resolution
- Development sketch pad (10-20 pages), exploring the product details. for example manufacture, or its functions
- 3D CAD developed
- Experiential renderings either by marker and pastel, Photoshop or CAD
Deliverable 5: Design Implementation
- 2x A3 colour renderings promoting your product (marker and pastel, Photoshop and 3D Alias)
- 5min Power point presentation describing a summary of your new product design and features compared and contrasted with the original design.
- All sketch work created as a PDF document.
* Ashlar Graphite is available in MF116 (V6.2) for CAD drafting. To work across different versions of the software, always export as version 6 of Graphite. Please also see the following tutorials . It is recommended that you practice as much as possible with the tutorials. They are be submitted as evidence of your development during assessment. Alias Automotive 2010 is in MQ219 and support provided in the links above.
