IH01-ShilpiVerma
From IEOR 170 Spring 2007
Good Design: Straightener The straightener is designed very well because it is so easy to use and also follows its purpose. The purpose of a straightener is to straighten the hair when it is dry. Many girls use straighteners all the time, and the fact that any straightener brand works so well proves that product is very well designed. The on and off switch is very easy to find, and the different temperature settings are simple to understand. The temperature settings are straightforward to alter because it is just a dial that can effortlessly be changed. The temperature ranges from 140 to 450. This wide range allows different users to easily adjust the temperature settings according their own personal preferences. It is extremely convenient for users to be able to straighten their hair without being confused about the design. This is why the straightener has a good design because using it is very self explanatory. With the straightener it is the simplicity that makes this product a good design.
Bad Design: Hair Dryer The hair dryer that I use is not convenient for me at all times. The purpose of the hair dryer is to dry hair, and the design of my hair dryer can makes the process really very arduous. I can only control the high and low pressure for the hot air. For the cold air the only setting is a drastically lower pressure that comes by continuously holding a blue “snowflake” button. This is really inconvenient because sometimes I want to blow dry my hair with cold hair, but would like a higher pressure of cold air. The design of this hair dryer does not give me a choice, instead I have to blow dry with hot hair under high pressure. Also since the blue “snowflake” button has to be pushed continuously, it is very difficult to get a constant and consistent stream of air, without hurting my thumb. With this product the simple design does not provide greater convenience for the user. The way to improve this design while still keeping it simple is to have two buttons, one for hot and one for cold. The user should be able to choose what temperature and at what pressure they want to blow dry their hair at. If the user wants air that is “warm,” then they can turn on both switches at the same time. I believe this set up gives the user a variety of options while making it very easy to switch between hot and cold air. This new design is also simple, but now it satisfies the customer needs in an easier and more convenient fashion.
Original Design:
Improved Design:
