My design gap: a system to provide quick and easy access to earbuds during everyday activities
Key user needs:
I spent some time considering the two designs I prototyped last week and decided to move ahead with the Peace Sign/Donut hybrid. It shares the advantages of the Peace Sign but with no moving parts, and it does a better job of protecting the entire cable. I like that it is a more simple design functionally and aesthetically. I think it would also be cheaper to manufacture this design, perhaps using an injection molding process.
Key user needs:
- Makes earbuds easier to deploy or store (fewer tangles)
- Makes the earbuds last longer
- Has a compact design
- Protects earbuds from harsh environments
- Makes it easier to locate earbuds
- Is well-made and durable
- Has attractive aesthetic characteristics
I spent some time considering the two designs I prototyped last week and decided to move ahead with the Peace Sign/Donut hybrid. It shares the advantages of the Peace Sign but with no moving parts, and it does a better job of protecting the entire cable. I like that it is a more simple design functionally and aesthetically. I think it would also be cheaper to manufacture this design, perhaps using an injection molding process.
Introducing ... The PinchPod!
I worked on improving my silicone casting process from last week. I smoothed the mold, cast the parts using less material to make them thinner, and tried joining the parts with silicone. All of this worked pretty well. Here is the refined prototype:
Product Naming
I'm calling this design the PinchPod because I discovered that by squeezing the hubs slightly, the form opens up to allow access to the interior - very functional when inserting the earbuds.
To me it also looks like a cute little face, which should help generate positive impressions as Dr. Ulrich discussed in his lecture on Theory of Aesthetics.
To me it also looks like a cute little face, which should help generate positive impressions as Dr. Ulrich discussed in his lecture on Theory of Aesthetics.
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I used the design process outlined in the lecture on product naming to develop a variety of other name possibilities. I focused on words that described the function of the object (tunes, wrap, coil, hub), words that conveyed positive images about the shape of the design (pod, cocoon, form, capsule). I also tried words that evoked abstract ideas I thought would be positive to potential users (city, metro, hip, tech).
Although I developed a list of maybe 20 names I liked, relatively few of them had available dot-com domains that were available. This seems to be a real challenge in good naming design!
Although I developed a list of maybe 20 names I liked, relatively few of them had available dot-com domains that were available. This seems to be a real challenge in good naming design!
Beta Testing
The refined version of the prototype works better than the last version. Making the parts thinner provided more interior room for the earbuds. The spacing handles the mic/remote well. A little more space overall might be better, especially for earbuds with larger earpieces.
By joining the parts together into a single solid form, I was able to better test the functionality of the design. The wrapping and unwrapping is easy, and fairly quick. It does a good job of preventing wire tangles. The rubbery material does a good job of protecting the earbuds. It is flexible and slightly grippy so that it holds the wires in place very well and is easy to grasp in the hand. In a future prototype, I might like to try a smoother outer surface to make it easier to slip in and out of a pocket.
By joining the parts together into a single solid form, I was able to better test the functionality of the design. The wrapping and unwrapping is easy, and fairly quick. It does a good job of preventing wire tangles. The rubbery material does a good job of protecting the earbuds. It is flexible and slightly grippy so that it holds the wires in place very well and is easy to grasp in the hand. In a future prototype, I might like to try a smoother outer surface to make it easier to slip in and out of a pocket.
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Next Steps
An additional need I would like to address with the design is to make it easier for the user to locate the earbuds. Some ideas for this are adding a clip or loop so that it can be attached to a bag or keyring. I'd also like to provide a way for the user to personalize the product in order to differentiate multiple sets of earbuds. Simply making the PinchPod in multiple colors may be a good solution.
Thank you!
Thank you for reviewing my work, and thanks very much to Dr. Ulrich and Amy for offering the course! I have truly enjoyed it!
Thank You!
