In this project I worked with two other students and we were given the brief to redesign the hair dryer, having previously thoroughly analysed the product. Our first steps were to determine who we were going to aim the product at, the task that the product needed to carry out, and the environment it would be used in. We researched the market and saw an opportunity to target an area of the market that hasn't really been explored - male users! Typically hair dryers are considered feminine products so had to make sure that we would make the form attractive to males. We explored existing form that attracted males and extracted shapes and features that we knew would appeal to them. We designed the hair dryer in an angular dominate style to give the product as sense of power and ruggedness; removing any feminine feel to the form.
In addition to this we developed the product to create a more pleasant user experience. We carried out interviews and ethnography and found that many users suffered aching pains from prolonged use, and that the weight of the product was an issue. To improve this we reduced the size of the fan, and heating component in the head of the product which reduced the weight. The fact that it was aimed at males meant that the reduced power would not be an issue because they generally have shorted hair than females. We also changed the position and angle of the handle so that it was more central, resulting in the user holding the product nearer its centre of gravity, reducing the chances of aching pains. Furthermore the angle of the handle meant the users wrist was much straighter during use, making it more comfortable to use and less awkward.
