Outcome

1. Intention

I want to solve a common every day concern which many people suffer as I do. People tend to check before/after they leave their house if they did not forget anything for the day. Although a couple of moments ago they checked, they forget or they tend to doubt themselves. I am a person who prioritize safety and destressing. When I started to live alone in a country where I do not have enough information and experience, this ‘disease of checking everything when I leave my house’ had developed even further. I want to make sure I brought everything, but I do not want to get stress from it. I want to make a holder which ‘holds’ my back.

2. Research & Content

I searched for key words such as ‘physical reminder’ or ‘physical checklist’. Unfortunately, they remained in the field where they remind the owner the quality that they value in their life. Or they are limited to digital form instead.

The disease that I describe in the previous section is called ‘Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder‘. It also includes other symptoms such as mysophobia. Currently, they are treated with meditation and psychotherapy.

3. Aesthetics

I think the design is highly influenced by minimalism and functionalism. It should be small and compact and focus only its purpose, such as the tool cards (Wallet Ninja, PocketMonkey). But since each part should be distinguished easily the color and shapes are important and it remind me of the children’s toys. The idea of getting inspirations from  children's toys comes from the recent social phenomenon that we can observe. Recently, people from young adults to old adults, started to seek for the joys that they had when they were children. Fidget spinner and  coloring books for adult became a huge trend throughout the world. Another interesting example is in Japan, where young adults sign up for home-study materials for teenagers to feel satisfactions from small achievements.

4. Sketches

5. Process & Procedure

1. Create CAD model in Autodesk Fusion360
   
2. Laser cut the base of the model in thick paper for testing and for adjusting minor problems
   
3. Laser cut the base after all adjustments in plywood and acrylics (black and white) layer by layer
   
4. Send STL file to Stratasys to 3D print the tips and the rings
   
5. Create the  movable pieces by assembling and gluing the 3D printed tips to the binder post
   
6. Check the mechanism and adjust by adding small adjustment pieces
   
7. Glue the layers of the base with the posts of the binder post in their position
   
8. Screw the binder post after the base is completely dried
   

Constraints:

It will be an object which the user will carry around all the time. Therefore, compact is a very important value. From card size to pocket size seems the reasonable parameter for the design. Plus, a certain thickness to assure the grip may seem necessary.

6. Reflection

Relation to Reading materials:

Since the object that I designed is an object which materialized an idea with no physical form, the object may be interpret differently from each individual. The object itself is very simple and seems very abstract. And this cause the relation between the user and the object affects the value of the object given by the user. The ‘interplay between man and the thing’ may vary from one individual to another and it will create unique experience for each. If the user finds a meaning of using this object, it justifies the 'thingness of the object'. Moreover, if the user has a unique and distinguish experience from others with the object, then the object can even reach the level of having an ‘aura’.

Throughout the project, I had some unexpected challenges when I was checking the mechanism. Since I had to adjust my model to the available materials, I had to modify the CAD model a little by little. I realized that trial and error process still exist although the laser cutting technology seems very modern and precise.

In addition to the laser cutting, I had some problems with the 3D printing. 2 identical pieces were printed but one piece clearly seemed to have an issue. The quality was remarkable different and it broke during the removal of support material.

Plus, I realized that I am not comfortable using the acrylic cement yet. Due to my lack of experience, I had made many mistakes and the final quality of the products was highly decreased.

Overall, I do not think the product that I created cannot solve the problem that I issued at the beginning due to the built quality and the lack of research. However, I learned something about my 'disease' during the research and I definitely learned the influence of manufacturing techniques to my design thinking. Plus, at the end of the project, I figured out that although the product that I made can be mass produced, I do have a strong attachment which creates my personal aura towards this object.

By clicking this link, you will be redirected to my final presentation:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1kTq95VzAU8eMJYn53ExkaPciElB3rlPQHIIv3xhhNyM/edit?usp=sharing

And the following is the identical presentation in PDF format.