“Lazy Bub”, (from still to stellar)
An additional product that would be sold as an aftermarket attachment to the existing Ikea chair. The target consumer is expecting parents. The product would contain two parts:
removable rocking casters and 2. A wider supportive back rest.
With these attachments, the simple Ikea dining chair would transform from still to stellar in any new parents mind. A no-stress fix for the need for a rocker in a world with no sleep.
· How will the proposed solution improve the emotional attachment of the user to the chair?
The proposed solution would improve the emotional attachment of the user to the chair because it would add sentimental value. A rocking chair has potential to add emotional memories to the product including moments such as: nursing a newborn, or reading to a youngster.
· What are the proposed materials?
The proposed materials are laminated plywood (rocking casters) and a recyclable padding (back rest).
· How do you expect the consumer to use it?
With our target audience being expecting parents, we expect the consumer to use the ‘Lazy Bub’ as a nursing, calming, or rocking while reading chair.
· What stimulus will encourage the user to modify the chair or buy the aftermarket attachments for the chair (eg, change in life circumstances, etc)?
We felt that an expected family addition would encourage the user to buy the aftermarket attachments for the chair.
Charette design process reflection:
· How has this task challenged your design thinking about promoting long-term satisfaction, product attachment and product endurance?
This challenge has challenged my design thinking about long-term satisfaction in many ways in which I will take into account into future designs. I now see how promoting product attachment and endurance would be helpful to the consumer and the environment. When products can be up-cycled they are worth more to the consumer in their potential output and can in essence be more meaningful to the user.
· How do you feel about designing beyond the original product?
Originally I thought designing beyond the original product was practically a no-brainer, but incorporating long term meaning to the addition can be quite a challenge. I think that in the heart of recycling products to save the environment, designing for an extended life of a product would be a wise place to start.
· How did you feel about the collaborative problem-solving activity?
The collaborative problem solving-activity was a good challenge for practice in designing beyond the original product because it forced us to think in a specific way that would work for all ends of the spectrum.
· If you were to design a piece of furniture from scratch, how would you do it differently? (Sketches not required, I just wanted to know if you have a design philosophy that you’d like to follow).
If I was to design a piece of furniture from scratch I would probably chose a dresser, like the one that sits in my room at home. My reason being is that I find dressers to be extremely cumbersome. I prefer to see the clothes stacked or folded in a open-shelf experience. I would focus the design on the hanging mechanism for the slats of wood that would become a shelving unit. This not only saves on floor space, but you can create wall art with your clothing! It also encourages oneself to stay neat and tidy, or if you prefer a messy look then that works as well. A simple hanging curtain can also be useful for those who enjoy the ‘out of sight out of mind’ appeal of a closed dresser. Also, you can easily find wood scraps from resale stores or use wood being thrown out on the street. Repaint it if you like. If you move to another apartment, the shelf system can be disassembled and transported without movers: all and all it saves money and the earth’s resources! I think I’ll call it “the anti-dresser”.
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