This is Part 1 of a 3-part design project.

This is Part 1 of a 3-part design project. You’ll pick a product that you use every day, evaluate it using tools you’ve learned in this course, and propose a new design that makes the product better.

The first step is to pick a product and identify its function. Here’s how you’ll do it:

Step 1: Pick a product

Choose a product to evaluate and redesign. It should…

…be something you use every day, or at least 4 times per week (so you’re very familiar with it).

…have a clear and simple job (instead of doing several jobs at once, like a smartphone or a workstation.)

…have room for improvement. If it already does its job perfectly, it’s not a good choice for this assignment.

Here are a few examples:

An uncomfortable desk chair

A backpack that doesn’t hold everything you need to carry

An alarm clock that doesn’t get you up in time

Step 2: Tell us about the product

Create a document in your favorite word processor and tell us about the product. Please include this information:

What is it?

How do you use it? When? How often? How long do you use it each time?

Where do you use it?

Describe 3 or more products and designs that it interacts with. What other products and designs? How do they interact with each other? For example, a desk chair may interact with a floor, a desk, and anything that’s on the floor (like power cords, or throw rugs). When it interacts with the floor, it may need to roll or slide without damaging itself or the floor. It may also interact with things that you set on it, clothes that you wear, or other objects that move in and out of its space (like a bike that you maneuver past it every time you leave for campus).

Be specific and detailed when you write your description. The more you know about this specific product, its environment and the way you use it, the better your redesign will be.

Step 3: Identify the product’s function

This is the product’s primary job. For example, a desk chair provides a place for you to sit while you’re working at your desk. It may have smaller jobs too, like giving you a place to hang your backpack or a temporary shelf to store books. But let’s focus on its primary job for this assignment.

Describe the products function. Include this information:

What is its primary function?

In order to perform its function, what else does it need to do. For example, the desk chair needs to be the right size for your desk. It needs to slide under the desk, with room for your legs. Be the right height, so you’re not too high or too low when you work. Be comfortable enough for you to use it for long work sessions, etc.

Step 4: Submit your work

Your final document should be 500-750 words. Save it as a PDF and upload it to Canvas.