Prototyping

Our forms are more organic than other groups and because of it we had to come up with a completely different way to prototype our cart. We creating everything out of newspaper and
tape, lots and lots of tape.



The first versions of our cart turned out a little elementary so we are now working towards growing them up.

The Chosen Color

We have chosen an accent color...Pantone 15-5519 Turquoise. It just so happens to also be Pantone's color of the year. The describe the color as "Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise inspires thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a comforting escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of well being." Basically everything we want to embody in our cart!


As this cart is being desiged for children it is important to appeal to them. With this we saw it important to not only create an entertainment cart but to create a companion for children that are stuck in a hospital. This companion has come to carry the theme of seafaring animals, with a few robotics and monsters through in.

Here are a few images I am looking at for inspiration right now:

Working on a Color Scheme

A really big part of our cart is going to be the color scheme. We are designing for kids so we have to appeal to them but we also want the cart to be sophisticated. The cart shouldn't be over the top kiddish, but designed for kids. We have to find the fine line between children teens and young adults.

Here is a few color schemes I have come up with thus far.
We are also trying to figure out a name for our cart. It should reflect as a kind of companion for the child and act as a way to stay connected to the outside world. Our best one so far is SPEE :D. Using the D and a : as an emoticon.

The Start of the Group: Kid Entertainment Cart

From the individual presentations we were grouped into carts that we would want to develop toward a final cart. I am in a group with Ruby and Diana and we are designing a kid entertainment rehabilitation cart. A happy kid is a healthy kid. Kids that are stuck in a hospital need entertainment and we want to give it to them.

We also found a great children charity called Child's Play Charity that work with hospitals to donate all sorts of games and dvds to hospitals.

Radiology Cart

For our individual presentations of a medical cart I focused on a radiology cart. This cart would provide a mechanism to easily move around a portable x-ray machine as well as provide a tablet to view the x-rays on.

Here is a very interesting article from Metropolis magazine about the Deign Council and the Department of Health partnering to combat the spread of infection in U.K. hospitals.

http://www.metropolismag.com/story/20100217/design-bugs-out

The Roundabout Tablet Cart

The next version of my tablet cart is a little more refined. I went changed from the previouse X shape to a rounded shape. Using a 5 star base, I built a round cabinet unit up with a foot bar at the base and a push bar at the back. This design also includes a retractable tablet as I feel it is the best way to solve the need for a flat surface as well as a tablet. The table glides up and down with the simple push of a button.




The circular shape cuts off at the back so that the tablet has a flat place to retract into without cutting off any drawer space. This also allows for the push bar to complete the top circle.

The Start of a New Term

A new term has started and this time we are designing medical carts to support a tablet PC. We are working with Modo http://www.modocarts.com/

My first version of a tablet cart had an X shaped base for strength as well as a multitude of storage. However, my favorite feature, is the retractable tablet. This allows the top surface to support a tablet or be flat for a writing surface.

Final Presentation!

Store Display









(You can click on any image to make it bigger)

Any Thoughts on Logos?

Bret, Brett, and Patrick .... that means you! Just Do It, Please : )





Also, here is campaign poster #2 (not the final version though)

Almost There

Since the joints are the problem I'm now trying another material for the hinges.

Trial 1: fiberglass window screening sandwiched between paper pulp

The window screening definitely worked as the hinges, the paper pulp just didn't pull out of the mold in one piece but its getting better. I am also now using cover stock as my paper, instead of printer paper and newspaper, for a stronger pulp.

Tell Your Friends!

Round 3

This is my 3rd paper pulp casting and I am still having issues. Better but not perfect. The folding joints are the problem.





I think I need some help!

If anyone has any ideas of another material to use that would work too.
What if i casted a flexible plastic, like silicone or something? What if the fruit protector was a plastic ball with a slit across the top so that you could fold back the plastic and get your apple out?

Paper Pulping It

This past week I have been experimenting with paper pulp...

1. Make a plaster mold of the prototype
2. Tear up paper to fill a blender, I am using a mixture of white paper and newspaper
3. Fill the blender half way with water
4. blend the mixture until you have an oatmeal like consistancy
5. Squeeze out as much extra water as you can
6. Coat the mold with some sort of lubricant like WD 40 or pam cooking spray
7. Place the pulp evenly over the surface of the mold and press into the shape
8. Let dry-the drying process can take 24 to 48 hours but putting the molds in front of a fan will speed it up
9. Once the pulp is dry, carefully wiggle the shape out of the mold






I have gotten better at creating an even thickness but I am still having trouble after I get the pulp out of the mold. The seams keep breaking when I try and bend them, so im working on getting the pulp even thinner.

If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!

Say what?!?

What would you even call this?
.......maybe a borange or an orange-a-ban
............... orange ya glad I didn't say banana

Prototype #1

My concept is protecting your fruit. Several measures are already taken to protect the fruit on the journey from the grower to the grocery store but what measures are taken to protect your fruit from the moment you buy it to the moment you eat? ...NONE.

That's where Fruit Armor (patent pending) comes in!

Right now, when you buy an apple at the grocery store you pick it from the shelf and put it directly into those little plastic bags that are conveniently located next to the fruit. That bag of fruit is then jostled around in your cart as you continue your grocery shopping, jostled on the way home and then jostled in your kitchen. At this point the apples don't seem to have suffered too much damage but that is because you have probably been pretty conscious of your fruit and its delicateness. However, when you decide to take a piece of fruit with you is when it is truly susceptible to the most damage. There are many objects in a backpack or purse that could damage an apple when it is just thrown in. Even if it is carefully placed in a pocket in a bag many things have the possibility of bumping into the apple and creating brown mushy spots.

If your apple was in a piece of Fruit Armor from the get go you wouldn't have to worry about any of this. The Fruit armor would be conveniently located next to the apples, instead of the small plastic bags, and you would put the fruit in the armor directly from the shelf before putting it into your cart. It wouldn't be until the exact moment you were ready to eat your apple that you would remove the armor. An apple could be thrown in any bag without the risk of bruising!

My first prototype is pretty MacGyvered together ( and I forgot my apples at home) but it gets the point across. I built it from existing paper pulp fruit trays and I am going to put an apple in it and carry it around this week and see how strong this paper pulp really is.



Wish me luck!