DESIGN NAME: Toss
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Multifunctional Laundry System
INSPIRATION: Our group's inspiration came from wanting to create a product that would assist the elderly in living independently longer in a small living situation. After interviewing elderly individuals we realized that the laundry process is currently too complicated and dangerous, so we wanted to simplify the process for them.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This product is a two-in-one washer and dryer, that is also integrated into a storage unit for clothing that has a closet, drawers, and shelves. By combining these things into one system that can be placed in a bedroom, we are making doing laundry a simpler and more convenient process.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: The goal when designing this product was to make the laundry process as simple and intuitive as possible for the user. The two-in-one washer and dryer has a simple and intuitive user interface that uses large touchscreen buttons with high contrast to allow for optimum visibility. The washer/dryer was placed at counter height to allow the user to access clothing in the back of the machine without having bend or reach. The top shelf uses a spring loaded track so that it can be pulled down, and the bottom drawers use an appliance lift so that they are brought up to counter level for easier access.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: This was a student group project that went from October 2016 to December 2016.
FITS BEST INTO CATEGORY: Furniture Design
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PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: The laundry machine interface uses an OLED touch screen on frosted glass to allow for the screen to be transparent when not in use. The exterior of the storage unit is wood and has an ABS plastic counter top.
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: Width 2235 mm x Depth 762 mm x Height 1829mm
TAGS: Laundry, Furniture, Appliance, System
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: We gathered initial information for the product by interviewing and observing elderly individuals doing laundry. From this we broke the process down into the most important steps and created preliminary designs. We then took these designs to the elderly interviewees and got feedback on them. Next we determined what the most important features to consider were as we proceeded with creating a final laundry system for elderly individuals living independently.
CHALLENGE: The most difficult part of creating this laundry system was catering to a user with limited range of motion, while having to take advantage of every space available to create a design for a small space. We overcame this by taking advantage of mechanisms that allowed the user to bring the shelves and drawers to an easier height for accessing the contents of the shelves and drawers.
ADDED DATE: 2015-12-06 20:52:31
TEAM MEMBERS (3) : Danny Perry, Alyssa Bushhouse and Nicholas Gazzillo
IMAGE CREDITS: Toss Design Team, 2015.
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