Prototype Process
Lindsey Heyd
The Problem: I was instructed to find two problems that I could fix by redesigning or completely making a new design for the issue. We then did a critique on our problems, narrowed down to one problem, create a prototype using paper, cardboard, or sketches, and then tested our prototypes. The first problem I chose to solve is the issue that arises when painting your nails. It's easy to loose track of the open bottle and accidentally knock it over, causing nail polish to spill. Another spill can be caused by dipping the brush in and out too fast when adding more polish to the brush. The second problem I chose to solve is finding a way to drink water, juice, or any other liquid from a cup that has ice in it without taking in a mouthful of ice. It's difficult to get a full mouthful of your drink when there's ice because the ice will block the flow. Usually a straw or lid would fix this problem, but what is there aren't any available?
Problem One (left) and Problem Two (right)
Research/ Solutions: By observing others and taking notes on my own experiences with these two problems, I was able to come up with some solutions. Some possible solutions to my first problem are as follows: creating a two-sided suction cup that suctions to the bottom of the nail polish bottle and the surface it sits on. This could hold the bottle securely in place, but one problem that may occur is the suction cup would have to be small, making the suction weak. The other possible solution I came up with is a design made of silicone that holds the bottle in place. The base would be flat with a small cup-like shape in the middle to hold the nail polish bottle. The silicone material would allow the design to stick to the surface, eliminating any sliding and could fit different sizes of bottles because it can stretch and bend. It would be difficult for the bottle to get pushed over, as it will be securely held in the silicone cup. Some possible solutions to my second problem are as follows: creating a retractable or foldable straw that can be easily transported and stored. A compact straw would be a lot easier to take places than a regular straw because it can stored properly and doesn't take up much room. One problem with this design is the straw would need to be washed after each use to prevent molding, and many people may not take the time to wash the straw with the proper tools. Another solution I came up with is design a piece big enough to fit onto the edge of an open cup that mimics the sipping part of a to-go coffee lid. This piece would clip onto the edge of the cup and leave enough space on the opening to get refills without removing the whole piece. This design would be small enough to make transportation and storage easy. Cleaning the piece would be less of a hassle than the straw idea.
The prototype: I chose to explore my first problem and second solution to that problem for my prototype. I decided to use cardboard for my prototype because I needed a material with a similar strength to silicone. A paper prototype or sketches would not hold up in testing and would not represent my idea well. I measured out a circle for the flat base and the circumference of the nail polish bottle for the cup-like feature. Then I cut the pieces out and hot glued them together. I made sure to place the cup piece in the center so it's balanced and able to hold itself securely from any direction that it might get knocked over from.
Testing: I had my roommate test my product because she wears nail polish and has the same problem when doing her nails. She was able to use the prototype as predicted with no problems. We testing bumping the bottle to see if it would fall over and it did not just like I planned! The bottle was being securely held by the sides of the cardboard and re-enforced by the flat base. We also tested taking the brush out of the bottle and putting pressure on the side to see if it would fall over and, again, it did not! The only issue I had with this prototype is that it slides around the surface. Because of this, I added some tape to the bottom to simulate the stickiness of the silicone. This made it less slippery, but it was not very strong.
Feedback: My roommate gave me feedback on making a variety of shapes and sizes so that it can used for many other things. This design is great for people who have clumsy tendencies and could be used for a lot of different items.
Findings: There isn't much I would change about my design if I were to further develop this design. My prototype worked out really well and was easy to use. I would like to test out my prototype with silicone and other materials similar to silicone to figure out which one would work best for the final product.
