Coursera Online Class:
University of Pennsylvania - Design: Creation of Artifacts
I took an online design course through Coursera, which included a course project focused on the design of a product that satisfies a user gap that I see in my everyday life. Below are the details of my work for that course project.
Brainstorming
Task: As you go through your day, make note of things that annoy you or cause you extra effort, time, money, or discomfort. In the language of this course, find some gaps in your user experience. Identify at least 10 of these gaps and some possible solutions.
1. A travel friendly yet comfortable air mattress - one that would be light enough to carry in a checked suitcase when traveling by plane.
2. An environmentally friendly and aesthetic way to keep animals away from your vegetable garden.
3. An alternative to the "cross-body bag" that is often used to carry personal belongings that would not interfere with or take away from one's outfit.
4. Something that could be placed in the refrigerator to keep fresh fruits and vegetables fresher longer.
5. A device that would automatically water plants and flowers and would signal to the user when the water level was getting low.
6. A hand cream that would keep your hands from getting sticky when cooking with things like garlic.
7. Eye drops to help keep your eyes from watering when chopping with onion.
8. A device that would prevent an outlet connected to a lightswitch from powering off both plugs when turned off (ie. so that the light could be turned off by the switch without the turning off the TV).
9. A rapid way to cool or heat the steering wheel so that driving is not impaired by discomfort due to the temperature of the wheel.
10. A device that could be attached to measuring spoons to capture excess when pouring ingredients so that it is not wasted without adding a lot of dishes to clean.
2. An environmentally friendly and aesthetic way to keep animals away from your vegetable garden.
3. An alternative to the "cross-body bag" that is often used to carry personal belongings that would not interfere with or take away from one's outfit.
4. Something that could be placed in the refrigerator to keep fresh fruits and vegetables fresher longer.
5. A device that would automatically water plants and flowers and would signal to the user when the water level was getting low.
6. A hand cream that would keep your hands from getting sticky when cooking with things like garlic.
7. Eye drops to help keep your eyes from watering when chopping with onion.
8. A device that would prevent an outlet connected to a lightswitch from powering off both plugs when turned off (ie. so that the light could be turned off by the switch without the turning off the TV).
9. A rapid way to cool or heat the steering wheel so that driving is not impaired by discomfort due to the temperature of the wheel.
10. A device that could be attached to measuring spoons to capture excess when pouring ingredients so that it is not wasted without adding a lot of dishes to clean.
My Selected Gap
"Cross-Body" bags are very popular accessories for a night out on the town or a summer BBQ with friends. Sometimes, this can disrupt the neckline a of a pretty dress or cause undesired tan lines across your neck. Over the shoulder bags can be annoying and clutches pose a risk for laying it down somewhere and forgetting it. My design addresses the need for a hands-free and wardrobe-friendly alternative to carrying your personal belongings.
The Magni-Purse is a small purse that can be attached to clothing via a high-strength magnet to avoid the need for a shoulder strap across your outfit.
Five Why's
- Develop a hands-free and lightweight alternative to a cross-body purse
- Create a bag that does not have straps that can take away from or clash with an outfit
- Prevent undesired tan lines from purse strap resulting after outdoor events
- Provide an unobtrusive means for carrying personal items to social events
- Eliminate the need for women to carry purses to social events
Refined Gap
Provide an unobtrusive means for carrying personal items to social events.
User Needs
The purse does not have a strap that cuts across the front of an outfit
The purse blends in with one's outfit.
The purse does not damage clothing
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The purse is easy to carry.
The purse is aesthetic.
The purse is easy to access
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Potential Designs
A. A purse with a pin on the back to attach to clothing. Internal divider provides sections for separating phone from ID and money.
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B. A purse with a high-strength magnet on the back for attaching to clothing. An additional magnet inside clothing holds purse. Internal divider provides sections for separating phone from ID and money.
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C. A purse with a clip on the back to attach to clothing. Internal divider provides sections for separating phone from ID and money.
E. A pin with high-strength adhesive that can be attached to any purse for attaching to clothing.
G. A clip with magnetic backing and a pin which can be attached to any purse and gives user flexibility on how to attach it.
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D. A purse with both a pin and a high-strength magnetic clip on the back for attaching to clothing. An additional magnet inside clothing holds purse in place Internal divider provides sections for separating phone from ID and money.
F. Velcro strip that can adhere to clothing, which can be attached to any purse.
H. A flower pin with hidden compartments for personal belongings.
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