Universal Design is important when coming up with orbringing new items to the market. It is key that we design something thatincludes as much people as possible. This means starting from the drawing boardand making sure that a product is “grown” with the idea that people withdifferent abilities will be using your product, instead of making a separateproduct for this person and another item for another person. A customer doesnot want to be turned away because a product doesn’t suit them or embarrassesbecause a product is so awkward that it highlights their different ability.
The idea that current irons on the market are pretty bulkyand heavy was the main driving force in the creating the DUO clothes iron. Mostirons available are heavy, big and awkward to maneuver if you have wrist orshoulder problems. Unless you are able bodied and have no problem working witha heavy object, the traditional clothes iron is difficult to operate. Trying tomake a wrinkled shirt nice and crisp is challenging enough without having toworry about the weight of an iron. If ironing was this strenuous than I couldonly imagine how difficult it would be for a wheelchair user or someone thatcannot stand for long periods of time.
The idea that current irons on the market are pretty bulkyand heavy was the main driving force in the creating the DUO clothes iron. Mostirons available are heavy, big and awkward to maneuver if you have wrist orshoulder problems. Unless you are able bodied and have no problem working witha heavy object, the traditional clothes iron is difficult to operate. Trying tomake a wrinkled shirt nice and crisp is challenging enough without having toworry about the weight of an iron. If ironing was this strenuous than I couldonly imagine how difficult it would be for a wheelchair user or someone thatcannot stand for long periods of time.
Inspiration
Universal design was an important design driver when it cameto the DUO. First I had to tackle how people of different wrist and mobilitysituations would iron then the aesthesis would follow. When it came tosketching different ideas, I took inspiration from many fields. Some initialsketches were inspired by jet skis; others were inspired by door knobs andmassage tools. But the final design was inspired by curves and their flowingnature; form to its most basic state was the jumping point.
Sketches
An open form was important to me when sketching multipleideas for DUO. Having a large cut away would give the impression that thisobject was lightweight and easy to maneuver. Wedge shapes and knobs were twoother ideas that I considered. A wedge would sit nicely in the hand and a knoblike form would be perfect to move around in your palm.
Universal design was an important design driver when it cameto the DUO. First I had to tackle how people of different wrist and mobilitysituations would iron then the aesthesis would follow. When it came tosketching different ideas, I took inspiration from many fields. Some initialsketches were inspired by jet skis; others were inspired by door knobs andmassage tools. But the final design was inspired by curves and their flowingnature; form to its most basic state was the jumping point.
Sketches
An open form was important to me when sketching multipleideas for DUO. Having a large cut away would give the impression that thisobject was lightweight and easy to maneuver. Wedge shapes and knobs were twoother ideas that I considered. A wedge would sit nicely in the hand and a knoblike form would be perfect to move around in your palm.
Prototype
In order to obtain the perfect shape, I began with cardboardand simply glued multiple pieces together to get the width and height that Iwanted. This posed a problem when it came to the curves that I wanted, thecardboard wasn’t the right material to showcase that. The next prototype wassculpted out of clay. This material was great to work with in order to achievethe curves that I wanted. I then took this design and formed it out of highdensity foam using power tools, hand tools and sandpaper.
In order to obtain the perfect shape, I began with cardboardand simply glued multiple pieces together to get the width and height that Iwanted. This posed a problem when it came to the curves that I wanted, thecardboard wasn’t the right material to showcase that. The next prototype wassculpted out of clay. This material was great to work with in order to achievethe curves that I wanted. I then took this design and formed it out of highdensity foam using power tools, hand tools and sandpaper.
Final Model
The final model was crafted out of high density foam usingpower tools, hand tools and sandpaper. To achieve the high gloss finish Isanded down the foam and then applied a joint compound to fill in the pores ofthe foam. Following this compound was a couple layers of filler primer. Then acouple coats of primer were applied followed by the final colors. I used agloss finish spray paint to make sure there was a shine.
The final model was crafted out of high density foam usingpower tools, hand tools and sandpaper. To achieve the high gloss finish Isanded down the foam and then applied a joint compound to fill in the pores ofthe foam. Following this compound was a couple layers of filler primer. Then acouple coats of primer were applied followed by the final colors. I used agloss finish spray paint to make sure there was a shine.
Principle of universal design the DUO meets
Equitable Use: The DUO allows people with different abilitiesto iron, from people that are able to use their wrist comfortably to wheelchairusers that need to approach the ironing board at a different height and thehold the iron at a different angle.
Flexibility in Use: The DUO provides two ways to grasp thehandles. The more traditional top one and the smaller grip at the back are bothaccessible.
Simple and Intuitive Use: The DUO, though a different shape and form compared to other iron, stillhas hints of the traditional iron on the market today. This helps peopleautomatically know that it is a clothes iron and approach it with safety atmind.
Low Physical Effort: The DUO gives the user a break from thetraditional heavy and bulky iron. This lightweight appliance requires littleactivity that might bring pain.
Size and Space for Approach and Use: The DUO’s small size isanother aspect that was taken into account, it is easy to maneuver compared toother irons. The multiple grips allow the user to choose how they would like tohandle the iron. The grips also allow a seated person and standing person tocomplete the same task.
Equitable Use: The DUO allows people with different abilitiesto iron, from people that are able to use their wrist comfortably to wheelchairusers that need to approach the ironing board at a different height and thehold the iron at a different angle.
Flexibility in Use: The DUO provides two ways to grasp thehandles. The more traditional top one and the smaller grip at the back are bothaccessible.
Simple and Intuitive Use: The DUO, though a different shape and form compared to other iron, stillhas hints of the traditional iron on the market today. This helps peopleautomatically know that it is a clothes iron and approach it with safety atmind.
Low Physical Effort: The DUO gives the user a break from thetraditional heavy and bulky iron. This lightweight appliance requires littleactivity that might bring pain.
Size and Space for Approach and Use: The DUO’s small size isanother aspect that was taken into account, it is easy to maneuver compared toother irons. The multiple grips allow the user to choose how they would like tohandle the iron. The grips also allow a seated person and standing person tocomplete the same task.
