For this assignment I chose to create a pet-grooming device, influenced by OXO's design process. Of the three options, this I thought this one would test my prototyping approach as it seemed to have the most design requirements. Once I felt sure of this choice, I started sketching and gathering my materials.
Sketching
The most challenging part of designing this prototype was trying to include all the required features into one device. But after looking at OXO's designs I realized the grip factor for each tool varied, so I grouped attachments by grip shape
and functionality.
After several
sketching iterations I
ended up with a detachable L-shaped tool. I chose
this shape to allow for
more customizable utility
since the device needed
to achieve a varying
amount of tasks.
Prototype
The prototype and its components laid out by attachment point.
I used clay, a toilet paper roll, screws, and drywall anchors to construct my prototype. With my sketch as a guide, I molded the handle solely out of clay while the motorized top arm utilized the roll. The screws and drywall anchors were the most pivotal resources, as they allowed me to attach and detach the varying components.
Prototype Components and Features
Brush
I used a clipper razor to portray a simple pet brush.
Pet Nail Clippers
The shorter tip is the clipper part itself while the
longer section acts as a
squeezable handle.
Comb
This is a comb attachment model made out of clay.
Nail file
The nail file is encased for safety with a hole to allow for accuracy. This attaches to the motorized cylinder.
Massage Ball
Modeled out of clay the massage ball attaches to the motorized cylinder.
Music Button
When pressed, the music note plays five different ambient sounds for pets. Each press cycles through the five sounds and turns off on the sixth press.
Speed Setting
The speed setting for the motorized functions is determined by pressing one of the three bars. From left to right it's set fastest to slowest.
On/Off Button
This button, located on the handle, turns the motorized part On/Off when attached.
Attachment Function
All attachments work the same way: Screw tips slide into the anchor. However, the handle and motorized cylinder require screwing for attachment.
After building my prototype I conducted two informal usability test to understand what worked well and what didn't. During the first test I realized I didn't wait long enough for the clay to dry, so after letting it sit a little longer I conducted the test again.
The second test showed me that the attachment of all the tools were easy to accomplish, but having so many components made it difficult to comprehend at first glance. However, solving this issue was easy, as I started color coding the components to match with their correlated
anchor point.
Analysis
After reiterating my prototype from the usability testing
I gained some feedback from my peers in class. They appreciated the approach to the design, but were concerned about the screw attachments. They noted that the screws were too sharp, which could possibly harm the user or damage the device. They also noted that the design could be more streamlined, as the motorized cylinder felt a little bulky. This would help the balance between the cylinder and handle when attached. On the other hand, they enjoyed the customization features the device had, as it allowed for ease of use with each tool component.
In the next iteration I would mainly focus on how the varying components connect, as with limited resources the screws were my best option at the time. I would then focus on streamlining the device shape and create bigger and
more detailed components to better represent the
varying attachments.
All work created under the guidance of Professor Brock F. Craft