Initial Prototype
The initial idea explored was a table that has a flap/cover attached on top, allowing users within the coffee shop to fold, hide and secure their personal belongings when leaving them unattended. This covering would put the user’s personal mark on their belongings whilst subtly hiding their things, creating a stash.
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The initial sketch table with covering prototype.
This prototype was a good start, however, the folding elements needed to be explored.
The folding system was then explored with the use of various materials:
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Using cardboard to create the folding mechanism cover.
Folded in this way, the cardboard seemed rigid and difficult to fold when it came to inserting objects inside.
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Experimenting with rolling the coardboard and then strapping.
Using a rolling technique allowed for the objects to be rolled up inside more easily. This was because the cardboard had been made far more agile and malleable. However, it did not allow for the storage of many items, deeming it impractical. The material was too thick for its intended use.
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Experimenting with a malleable plastic folding mechanisms.
A more flexible material needed to be tested, so a thin sheet plastic was experimented with. However, this was found to be problematic due to its ability to bounce back to its original shape. This meant that the material was always fighting back when attempting to fold it with the objects inside.
After several discussions with designers, this idea was deemed to be too impractical in terms of installing it into coffee shop environments. Asking a coffee shop owner to get rid of their original tables in order to implement this new table was unrealistic. This led to a modular, retrofitted table top cover to be explored.
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The first retrofitted table cover prototype.
The initial retrofitted prototype worked well but due to its mock-up aesthetic, it was hard to visualise this being used within a coffee shop.
Other ways to deploy the retrofitted covering mechanism were explored:
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Experimenting with a folded deployable mechanism.
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Experimenting with a rolling deployable mechanism.
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Deploying the folded mechanism from the side of the table.
The design was still very rough, but the exploration of these mechanisms allowed the design to identify the technical path that the idea was going to take. It was decided that the rolling mechanism would be most feasible because it allows the user to elegantly deploy the cover to any size they wish in order to feel most comfortable in their situation.
The next stage was to create a prototype that took the desired form in order to experiment with user testing.
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User playing with the next iteration of the retrofitted table cover.
Users observing the retrofitted table cover model (closed).
A cleaner, more realistic prototype was then created. This retrofitted model was beginning to look more sophisticated, however, it was not convincing. Users did not seem to have trust in the idea due to the function of the model. This user testing showed that the table covering did not provide enough security and was not enough of a deterrence to the thief. The design needed something extra.
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A prototype that used typography to deter the thief.
Graphics were added to the design in order to make the design more of a deterrence, meaning that the user will trust it. However, this was not successful due to many further negative user interactions.
Due to this lack of user trust, this idea was stopped here and considered a false start.
Starting over
The idea that has been explored from this point onwards is a pulley system that allows users to hoist their personal belongings to a height they feel most appropriate within the coffee shop. This puts the belongings within line of sight of the coffee shop community, therefore, allowing the coffee shop community to keep an eye on the user’s things. This provides security.
Initial CAD Prototype
SolidWorks has been used to create the initial CAD prototype created.
The initial prototype was mocked up using SolidWorks in order to play with the aesthetic, proportion and form of the pulley wheel.
The initial SolidWorks render, put into context in Photoshop.
The SolidWorks model was then rendered into a coffee shop environment in order to get a sense of what the initial pulley wheel would look like within it’s intended environment. This model allowed for the visualisation of the product’s intended function. Moving someone’s personal belongings off of the the floor and making them obvious to the coffee shop community was an interesting progression. The scale and aesthetic was also analysed and it was found that this idea was feasible and will be taken forward into development.
Initial Physical Prototyping
Using PVA glue and clamps created a strong bond to create the initial MDF pulley wheels.
Physical modelling allowed for the experimentation of the pulley wheel. This created a base level understanding of how pulleys work.
A physical prototype of the initial pulley wheel idea.
After CAD models were created, the pulley wheels were hand-made in order to explore how the pulley wheels would function. This involved sandwiching and bonding various sized circles with small, old nuts and bolts inside. The small nuts and bolts would then rotate inside the wheel, creating noise and acting as the alarm. This allowed for the alarming aspect to be played with. The alarm sounding mechanism was then erased because the obvious bodily action of using stash. acts as the alarm. Although this process proved to be helpful in learning the basics about pulleys, it seemed to be more efficient to play around with existing pulley wheels. Also, these models did not have the desired aesthetic that existing pulleys have.
Exploring the Aesthetic
Playing with a reclaimed pulley wheel, a natural hemp rope and a carabiner.
Using old, reclaimed pulley wheels and a natural hemp rope allowed for the exploration of the product aesthetic and the technical issues of using old, existing parts. The industrial aesthetic provided the durable look and feel that was desired. This pulley wheel easily surpassed the technical weight requirement.
Playing with Form and Tension
A prototype that incorporated multiple pulley wheels.
The next prototyping stage consisted of playing with the form of stash. Using the hemp rope, the old pulley wheel and four new small pulley wheels meant that the direction the rope would travel could be explored. The conclusion of this was that the more intricate the form, the more tension and friction was created. This meant that the pulley system had to take a simpler, more efficient form.
Using TWO Pulley Wheels
Inspiration: Heath Robinson Drawing
A Heath Robinson example drawing.
A prototype that was inspired by Heath Robinson’s drawings.
Two pulley wheels were then experimented with and the scale was increased. This contraption was inspired by Heath Robinson’s wacky drawings. This was an attempt to create a spectacle pulley system, using other salvaged parts. Technically, the bag hoisted easily and was attracting attention (acting as the alarm). It was interesting to experiment with hoisting the bag in a different way. However, this would be a customised piece, tailored towards the space that was provided within the coffee shop. This customised piece would prove hard to sell, meaning that the parts used needed to be reviewed in order to make the product simpler, allowing for easier installation and an easier, more effective business model.
A More Feasible Form
Installing the simplified pulley system in the studio.
The pulley system was then simplified to something that could be more easily installed within coffee shops. This involved two small single pulley wheels, a length of hemp rope, two ceiling brackets and a carabiner. This was found to be easy to install, meaning that customers (coffee shop owners) could install it themselves.
Rope Selection
Playing with 4mm Nylon Flag rope.
Experimenting with the choice of rope was important throughout the development process. For example, playing with this 4mm Nylon Flag rope showed that using thinner, smoother rope created less friction passing through the pulley wheels than a thicker rope. However, the rope is a major contact point in the product because this is what users are going to be physically pulling on to hoist their bags. This means that the rope needs to feel comfortable and grippy when pulling. The thinner, smoother rope is too thin for the hand and does not have ribs to provide a secure grip, deeming it useless for the product. So a thicker hemp rope was the rope of choice.
COVID-19 LOCKDOWN OCCURED
Reducing the Scale and Defining a Location
An Adobe Photoshop render of stash. installed within a coffee shop.
For the final idea, the pulley system will be installed above individual coffee tables within the interior. This means that the product has a defined space. Also, the product becomes more functional due to the simple form, meaning that it becomes more realistic. Each table within the coffee shop will now have the opportunity to use stash. The product is able to hold up to 4 bags, considering they do not weigh more than 25KG each.
These Photoshop renders allow stash. to be visually installed within the coffee shop and has allowed for impactful prototyping. However, they do not create the true physical functionality that the real-life installation would achieve. Due to the impact of COVID-19, stash. could not be properly installed into a coffee shop environment.
Using Adobe Photoshop
An Adobe Photoshop collage.
During lockdown, using Photoshop has been crucial in allowing stash. to be installed within coffee shop environments. Although these models cannot physically be handled, they do provide a great sense of atmosphere and visual function. Creating these scenes has allowed for the visualisation of what stash. would look like in its intended environment. Also, Photoshop has allowed for the quick mock-up of the installation, providing an effective, efficient prototyping medium.
Creating a Package
The interior of the initial cardboard packaging mock-up.
The simplified version of stash. then allowed for product packaging to become a reality. This stage began by creating MDF, and later, cardboard laser-cut mock-ups in order to make a package (containing one pulley system) that the customer is able to purchase. This package provides everything that the customer needs to install stash. themselves. Consequently, this package allows for stash. to be sold more easily and more effectively.
Final Packaging
Single stash. Packaging
stash. final packaging (closed).
stash. final packaging (open).
Photoshop has been used to create the final packaging, allowing for a professional, memorable packaged product to be resolved. This package expresses the stash. brand colour scheme and expresses the product’s intention. In addition, the packaging is 100% recycled and recyclable, meaning that stash. as a company is not producing any waste in the packaging used. This is attractive to modern day coffee shop owners because they already produce a lot of waste, so minimising waste produced is crucial in creating a desirable package in this market.
Large Shipping Packaging
stash. large shipping packaging.
For orders of 5 or 10 stash. products, single stash. package boxes will be placed into a larger shipping box that will be sent to the customer. This box is branded and has the shipping icons required to ship correctly.
Final Product
Final stash. product.
This is the final stash. product installed into a room that has been altered in order to achieve the desired aesthetic. To view the detailed product installation process, see ‘Communication Assets’ page.
