Product Design

Course Co-ordinator: Siddhesh Kadam

Ananya Khandagale, Lohitha Rao

Our objective was to make an organiser that is mechanism driven, choosing any one from the cycle and then attaching it back, hence the organiser had to be tailored specifically for the end user.

We spent the first week thoroughly going through the possibility of each mechanism of the cycle in terms of movement and mass. This exercise helped in understanding the positive outcomes of the cycle’s form and structure and its shortcomings when it came to cater specific end users. The mechanisms we chose led to the selection of an end user that each group wanted to design the organiser for.

Studying each end user and their ways of doing their work, the ergonomics of their body with respect to their essential contents was a way to look at adding to its efficiency. This also led to design decisions and its justification, whether it be the customization of the tools and content, or the interpretation of the scope of work that the user will engage with. One important step in the course had been to narrow down the mechanisms and its complexity.This is because our conceptual and creative process had us overwhelming the product with a number of mechanisms and then figuring out its translation to one another.This helped us get clarity about the time frame, and to think of practical ways of achieving the desired aspects of the product and its physical manifestation.

The process involved learning about the ergonomics, joineries, and fabrication methods. We built prototypes, tested materials, and interacted with welders and fabricators to refine our ideas. These interactions were extremely insightful about the knowledge that exists and helped us think of the products’ economic feasibility as well. Techniques like welding, CNC cutting, laser cutting, and 3D printing were explored across groups. 

The goal wasn’t a finished product, but to understand mechanisms, material behavior, and customisation for real users. In a market that has seen continuous and repetitive production, it was an opportunity to see what and how one makes a product that is durable, feasible and flexible to change .This hands-on, iterative process highlighted the importance of detail and adaptability in product design.

Urban Sketcher's organiser

Mechanic's organiser