Result of the week six is alpha version of the artifact. It is covenient shelf for kids, it occupies a little space, kid can move it without parents' assistance. Shelf can be turned into table and has containers for storage. Lefot or right side of the shelf has hooks for backpack or anything else.
Top of the table can be turned into table top.
Shelf has small wheels to make move easier and it has a small chair that is part of the shelf and can be used for storage as well.
Funny containners are easy to take out using cut out.
Concept which I'm pursuing: creation of universal, multifunctional and mobile shelf which can be transformed into table.
As a concept test I decided to use “purchase intent” approach with five-point intention scale table, the following prototypes were reviewed:
User 1 feedback:
Concept D:
+ Easy to turn into table
+ Kids can easily move the shelf
- In table mode, knees touches shelf potentially
Concept G:
+ Convenient, can be used as a table
- Kid sits not at the center of table
Concept J:
+ Shelf looks good
- Not very convenient to use as a table
User 2 feedback:
Concept D:
+ A lot of free space, big enough
+ Suitable for wide objects
+ Quickly can be turned into table
+ Easy to move
- Perhaps, it is better to have rear side covered (not open)
Concept G:
+ Simple construction, more robust
+ Plenty of space for big boxes or toys
- Need a rear side covered
Concept I:
- Hard to move
- Table cannot be opened if shelf is near a wall
Concept J:
+ Very easy to make any configuration for shelf
+ Can be moved and used piece by piece
+ Rear side protects object from falling off
+ One piece of shelf can be used as a chair
- Table cannot be used if shelf is near a wall, inconvenient
- Kids, perhaps, will not be able to move it alone
User 3 feedback:
Concept D:
+ It is convenient for room with not much free space
+ It occupies a little space
Concept G:
+ Ready to use as a table
+ There is a space for knees under the table
- Table top is not very deep
As a result, concept D won. Based on users feedback there were made some improvement in initial design of D:
1. Added space for knees to make seating comfortable
2. Added chair into shelf that cab be hidden in original shelf
4.2 PROTOTYPING
My gap one-sentence: convenient shelf with table top.
Concept G:
Concept D:
Concept I:
Concept J:
4.1 CONCEPT SELECTION - 3 CONCEPTS
Here is Selection Matrix for ten concepts:
To select only 4 concepts to explore with prototypes I added Scoring Matrix, lets take top 4 of them:
As a result the following concepts were chosen: G, I, J and D.
EXPLORATION - 10 CONCEPTS
After week two I did gap refinement: make a convenient shelf with table top.
I took the following decomposition of design problem to guide my exploration: set of user needs.
- Shelf can be transformed into table top
- Shelf easily movable
Ten concepts were sketched.
VISUAL EXPRESSION III - 2 POINT PERSPECTIVE
Sketch of a chair in 2 point perspective (three quarter view).
Practice drawing cubes at 1) eye level/horizon view, 2) worm’s eye view and 3) bird’s eye view.
VISUAL EXPRESSION II - 2D SKETCHES
For this assgnment I'm going to use the following dining chair.
Top, front and side view sketches.
The sketch of one cross section.
USER NEEDS
A refinement of my gap after week two, it was "extending function of shelf", it is now "convenient shelf with table top".
User needs, latent needs marked with exclamation point (!):
Shelf stores kids' stuff
Shelf allows sort\rearrange items
Shelf has containers of different size and volume
Shelf has containers with lids
Shelf reduces mess in the room
Shelf can store books
Shelf easily movable
Shelf keeps items in place during movement
! Shelf can be transformed into table top
Shelf can be turned into table top and back to shelf when it is needed
Table surface is suitable for markers usage
Shelf is for all family members
Shelf occupies minimal space
Shelf easily can be assembled and disassembled
! Shelf has hooks for something (like toys or bags)
Shelf has kids friendly colors
Shelf, containers and table top has durable\washable surface
Shelf has low cost maintenance (no complex repair required)
Shelf has parts that can be replaced with compatible parts (like another type of containers)
Shelf is steady
Shelf makes kids to keep room clean
Shelf is not expensive (for average family)
Shelf is convenient for kids
Shelf has small and lightweight containers (so kids can carry them)
Shelf is safe for kids (no sharp edges of corners)
! Shelf allow to handle container by one hand
Shelf provides easy access to all kids' items
Shelf has containers with replaceable marks (e.g., text notes or pictures) to simplify search
Shelf has containers with different colors for kids who doesn't read yet
Shelf has height which is suitable for kids
DESIGN PROBLEM DEFINITION
I decided to leave the same gap as I presented on the last week: extending functions of the shelf.
Let me refine the definition of the design problem using the five-whys methodology.
In what way might I...
keep my family happier and joyous
make happen to invite kids friends to home to play together
make small apartment comfortable
get more free space in the room
play and do more kids activities with no additional furniture
*make usual storage shelf as multifunctional one
add one more function, e.g. table top
leverage existing shelf construction just adding foldable surface
DESIGN FOR YOU
For this assignment I decided to make a simple prototype for My Gap. It includes sketch and prototype made out of paper.
Let's try to add more functionality to children's shelf - table. Back side of shelf becomes a table. This is how I did sketch.
Here is paper prototype.
