Eleni's Design Canvas

This was the last, yet very important step, before I start designing my own product.  I wanted my table to provide enough space for the user to use it comfortably. I decided to carry out a test in order to clearly visualise how big I want my desk to be.  I taped the desired measurements on my desk to see how many things fit inside.  Ideally, I wanted a laptop and an open textbook to fit next to each other in order for the user to have maximum space to work freely. The measurements were: Length: 75cm and Height: 60 cm I found this to be an ideal measurement as the users will not feel cramped using this space. They will be able to fit many books and stationery on it which makes the design very effective.  Additionally, the hinges that will be included will take up a small fraction of that area, so I had to make sure that there will be sufficient space.  I proceeded on sketching out and creating more accurate measurements for my whole design.  These were the m...

 I decided to ask the same five people their opinion on how my design has changed and if it has improved.  This will help me understand if my product will be effective in the market.  INITIAL IDEAS: FINAL DESIGN: In my opinion, even though there were slight changes made to the design, the overall image changed drastically. It does not resemble an electrical box and the shelves made it more interesting. I am very satisfied with the overall result and I think it will suit my target market well. Person #1: This is exactly what I wanted to see. I was expecting you to develop your idea and combine both of the initial ideas to create an even better result. I really like how you included shelves with more space inside to place books but also considered the decoration aspect by including more shelves on the outside. Additionally, adjusting the shelves is a brilliant idea as it is now more personal. I love the end result!! Person #2: Thank you for taking into consideration the por...

As my development process was now complete, it was time to review my design and see if it meets most of my requirements. I added everything onto a table in PowerPoint and inserted a screenshot. It is evident that the desk fits all of my criteria. I am very happy with the overall result and it is now time to finalise my measurements and start working on SketchUp.

 After receiving feedback on my initial designs, it was time to develop my idea as a means of improving it and satisfying my target market.  Some of their comments included: 1. It resembles an electrical box a lot. 2. They mostly prefer the portrait orientation. 3. One of them said that she likes more intricate furniture pieces. 4. Person number 5 suggested to add things to the sides of it to alter the image of the electrical box. 5. Perhaps make my design more square. This feedback was very helpful and it definitely gave me insights on how to improve my design and what my target market is looking for.  After some research, these were the two designs that inspired me the most.  Mid- century streamline waterfall desk This design was one of my inspirations as it helped me develop my own design. The smooth edges make the table very aesthetically pleasing and prevent any injuries from happening. This table reminds me of Marc Newson's style I previously looked at as he be...

The next step of the process was to decided what my components would be. In order to achieve this, I decided to roughly sketch out the different parts of the desk separately. This would make me more aware of how many and what components I need to use to assemble everything together.  These were the different pieces needed for my design. Regarding the basic structure of the desk, I need to include stainless steel screws. I will add eight screws to ensure that the four sides of my skeleton are well assembled together. Each side will consist of two screws that will be used to stabilise everything together.  Additionally, for extra support of the skeleton, I will include four metal corner joints for woods. I will place one in each corner to ensure maximum safety and stability. Moving on to the dividers, I will need eight more stainless steel metal screws to place them and stabilize them onto the main skeleton. Each divider will need four screws, two placed on the top and two on th...

  A specification list is a detailed document providing a list of points regarding the development of a product. Creating a specification list was very beneficial as it helped me gather my thoughts in one single document and focus on the important aspects of the project. I decided to create a specification list before my development stage as a means of noting down the important things I need to consider during my development. I created this table on power point and uploaded a screenshot of it. Concluding, to the purpose of creating my specification document was to summarise the main points that I have to focus on when developing my idea. It was useful and beneficial as it helped me stay focused and on track with my work and ensure that I am heading in the right direction.

  After researching potential materials I could use for my design, it was time to research the colour for my desk. I decided to look at three colour schemes to see which one will suit my target market and look more aesthetically pleasing. Blue Lacquered Birignao Side Table by Feruccio Laviani The first design I looked at had a striking blue colour throughout. I find this to be a very bold piece which makes a statement when placed in a space. The primary purpose of this table is to appeal and stand out. I like how eye catching it is and how it can act as the main focus in a room.  However, I do not think that this colour fits my criteria and specific target market. My target market includes students that will be utilising my product to study and do everyday tasks. Including bold colours can distract them and they may not be able to concentrate. Additionally, including bold colours in my design can restrict the number of potential buyers as it might not blend in with the rest ...

After looking at different folding mechanisms, I wanted to look at different possible materials for my own design. I will be focusing on wood and trying to find the most environmentally and cost-effective material possible. Researching various products made from different materials and their properties, will allow me to figure out which one is more suitable for my own design. Overall, I want the properties of my material to include durability, inexpensive as my target market is students, strength, resistant to weather conditions. Made out of oak Looking at the table at first, I really liked the finish of the material. I really like the colour of oak and how smooth the surface looks. It has different stripes of colour which create a unique texture. Oak is a very durable wood. It comes with endurance that makes it high resistant to wrapping. Durability can be a very valuable property as it will not need replacing. It naturally offers a clear and smooth finish and adheres well with varn...

The photograph I used for my website wasn't very professionally taken. To access my last blog post regarding the 'about me page', click here .  After our previous lesson, I decided to retake my picture and focus on making it look very professional.  I decided to take a look at some photographs other product designers include in their website as inspiration The product designer I looked at was Philippe Starck. He had multiple portraits of himself on his website so I decided to select a few and comment on them.  Philippe Starck There are common elements in all three pictures. They are all a head ad shoulders shot. There isn't too much headroom and they are in portrait form which makes them look very professional. The background of all the images is plain so that it does not distract the viewer. I like the white background the most as it creates a really nice contrast and keeps the image very bright. In all three pictures, his facial expressions are very simple which I lik...

After looking at initial ideas, it was time to look further into mechanisms, components, materials and aesthetics in order to start developing my product. In this blog I will describe the different folding mechanisms that I consider can be incorporated in my own design and satisfy my requirements I consider the folding mechanism as one of the most important parts of my design, as it is key to ensuring maximum functionality and durability for my product.  Gagosian Exhibition (2008)- Marc Newson     I had looked at this table in the past and was really inspired by it. This design by Marc Newson inspired me to look at a folding functionality that is created by bending a single plank. This made me think that by implementing this technique my design would not contain any components since it would consist of the bending of one continuous plank. However, this will not work out as the material used will be wood. Bending wood will not allow the flexibility of folding and u...