IH01-RoyaPakzad

From IEOR 170 Spring 2007

[edit] Good and Bad Designs

[edit] Good Designs

1. Desktop Stapler

This is a great example of how even the most mundane, commonplace commodity can be improved. Staplers look pretty simple and their design has not changed much. There have been times, when I have had to redo a staple, pulling out the original, bad staple, and trying to do it right: push straight down hard, but neither too slow nor too fast. This particular design has completely rethought the operation. On the outside, the stapler looks just like the old-fashioned kind. Pushing down on the top cocks a spring. Then, the spring releases, all the energy at once, and the staple shoots into the paper. Effortless and from what users had to say, never a single failure. It can do up to 25 or even more pages. This is a great example of looking at old things in a new light. On top of all there are no batteries, no electronics involved. Just simple mechanics. What makes this stapler so unique is the fact that it is very convenient to use, since you don’t need to worry about how much you need to push down the curved surface of the stapler. Just one slight touch on the stapler and it will work without leaving any broken staples on the paper.

2. Vanishing Point Fountain Pen

This is another example of a cleverly designed product. This vanishing point fountain pen is beautiful to look at and very smooth writing. The unique quality of this pen is the fact that it never leaks, not even on airplanes. Note that it is a retractable point, the only such fountain pen. Also note the design features. When closed and put into a pocket, the point is upwards, reducing the chance of leaking. There is a tiny door (invisible, because it is inside the pen, just below the mouth) that shuts when the pen is retracted, preventing the tip from drying out. And the clip both prevents the round pen from rolling when placed on a flat surface and also guides the fingers to hold the pen in the correct writing position when the pen is in use.

[edit] Bad Designs

1. More coffee or less

This example showcases how ill-designed controls on a simple product can cause confusion for the user. In the case of this coffee maker shown in the figure above, each switch has a light on it. The top switch turns the coffee maker on and off. When it is on, its light goes on. No light appears when the coffee maker is off. The bottom switch selects the quantity of coffee desired, either a) the smaller quantity of 3 or fewer cups or b) the larger quantity of 4 or more cups. The problem is with the light on this bottom switch. The quantity light ONLY goes on for the smaller quantity, three cups or less. It does NOT go on for the larger quantity, 4 or more cups. Why is this confusing? People naturally expect more coffee to be associated with more light (light on) and less coffee to be associated with less light (light off).

Design Suggestions

•Change the operation of the coffee quantity switch so that the light goes on when the coffee quantity is set to make more cups of coffee, not fewer cups. This change would involve switching the positions of the "min...3" and "4...max" labels. Or to switch the position of the light as shown in the sketch above.

•Remove the light from the coffee quantity switch.

•Consider removing the coffee quantity switch entirely. Most coffee makers don't have one.

2. Cheek Music

Here is a cordless phone. (See the photo on the left.) The problem is that when users talk on it, the buttons press against the users’ cheek (See Photo on the right) This either turns the phone off altogether or gives the user and the other caller an annoying earful of keypad beeps. It happens a lot more often when the user holds the phone against his shoulder to jot down a note while talking.

Design suggestion

One idea would be to recess the buttons somehow or make them stiffer so they can still be easily pressed by your thumb or finger but not accidentally pressed by your cheek. Increasing the curve of the phone just like the sketch shown above might help. For instance, flip-style cell phones do not seem to have this problem because their angle, when opened, leaves more space between the phone and your cheek.

Homework 1 - Roya Pakzad