So, it's been a while.
But! An update is in order!
I went through an intensive few weeks to do some cardboard prototypes: three different geometries and a few mechanism studies. Ultimately, I wanted to go through an exercise to better understand and appreciate the process for product development. I also wanted to try applying my engineering skills and design thinking to solve a problem on a scale that was not architectural. Plus, sometime last year my headphones were trampled. I felt indignant and did not want the same thing to happen again. (Bitter I was! Ha.) So, with my curiosity towards product design and my desire to prevent another headphone catastrophe, I set off on my side project #3.
Below are some story boards from my in-progress portfolio to illustrate my process. Farther below include a transcript of the first page text for easier reading on mobile devices and some reflective thoughts.
"Design Problem Identified: Too often, large headphones can get damaged by getting knocked off of desks Headphones are generally preferred over earbuds for their audio quality and comfort. However, too often, headphones are too large and can get damaged by get knocked over on desks.
As the work environment becomes more flexible, professionals are moving more often to spaces that are redefining the work space. Whether commuting between home and the office or between coffee shop to collaborative makerspace, with a laptop and a few supplies, including headphones, work can be conducted almost anywhere.
The idea behind Deskmate is to make using headphones more mobile by providing a space for them. Clamping headphones to the side of a table prevents them from being knocked over. Coiling the chord of the headphones controls the clutter of the chord, but also keeps the cord from getting caught on a passerby, whose movement can accidentally pull the head phones off the desk.
This was a self-initialized project outside of my work as a facade engineer to begin to understand the process of product design and how to apply my technical thinking and knowledge to a new problem for a different target audience. This project also gave me a new appreciation for articles from design journals and publications that explore the process of interactive product design and development in general."
My previous post and survey (click here for more) was a call for folks to complete the survey above. The positive correlation, between folks who use headphones in a work environment and those who move their headphones often, helped bolster my idea in a small way that the problem I was designing for myself could benefit other people.
I also tried using the amazon sweepstakes option to incentivize my survey. My giveaway was a tea diffuser chosen to be given away at survey participant number 25 as that was the number of participants I had hoped for. By sharing on facebook and asking friends and family to spread the word, I received more than 60 responses.
All in all, it was a refreshing change in perspective. And, I learned quite a bit about self-discipline and how resourcefulness can stretch time and materials.