Postal Presents: Folding Dust Pan and Brush

This fold-up dustpan and brush set has a vast target market as budget products often do. Some likely people to buy this product include young people that have recently moved out of home, or into a new home; or anyone that would consider buying such a gift for said people (older relatives in particular). However because this would sell for less than a regular dustpan and brush it is also likely to be bought by anyone that performs the cleaning duties in their home or workplace. Ie. Independent people, therefore typically over 20)

If sent as a present there is a real sense of humor about receiving something so dry and boring; one can imagine sending this to their messy son or daughter when they have moved away from home. Also as the product comes flat it would be possible to print messages on the product to further complement the joke and give the product an endearing and personal dimension.

The Velcro tabbing is simple and effective to allow for ease of manufacture and assembly. Other stylistic elements were explored however they detracted from the functionality of the product

Video Reflection: The Story of Stuff

The Story of Stuff deals with the underpinning issues with the global economy. Unfortunately there are lots of issues, social and environmental. The story of stuff is nice and succinct and really should be seen by everyone because it really sums up what’s wrong with our economy!

Personally I would like to see a return to what I perceive the values of the 1950’s were; that is that one would still appreciate nice products, but there is not hyper-consumption, people would truly appreciate well designed and produced products and pay for them what they are worth. This would be more expensive but they would be built to last, their parts would be easily replaceable and one would appreciate that product for their lifetime, even pass it on through the generations, the product might even appreciate in value too! Also I would like to see, like most people, a large move to sustainable design.

One sobering factor about human consumption that she talked about was our constantly changing values and desire to consume which not only sustain our economy but unfortunately sustain most of the design profession.

Project 1: Hand Tool Design

Ball pegs are clothes pegs that give a new aspect to this previously limited market. While its only real function is, like all clothes pegs, to fasten clothes to a clothes line; the ball peg also has physiological, aesthetic, psychological and social benefits that other clothes pegs do not. The target market are homemakers; typically women between 30-50.

Physiologically the balls are significantly heavier and sturdier than a regular peg which signals their sturdiness to the user. They are nice to touch, as the polyurethane is soft and squeezable as well as easy to grip.

Aesthetically the ball peg is much more pleasant than a standard clothes peg. Its spherical shape catches the light and the bright colours are fun and uplifting. The ball peg is symmetrical about 3 axis' horizontally, and symmetrical vertically which creates a balanced product.

Psychological benefits arise from using the product because it is easy to use and the chore of hanging the washing will seem more appealing. The aesthetic benefits of the product will also mean that the clothes line is no longer an eye sore.

The social benefits of the ball peg are that friends and family will be intruiged as to what "those balls are on your line." Thus they become a talking point. Further the intruige and playfulness of the product will involve the family in the chore of hanging out the washing. Even the kids can play with them when they're bored!