MIAD Final
Portable Laundry Basket (for cross country)
completion: january 2021 size: base (12in x 9in) sides(2) (10in x 6in) sides (2) (9in x 6in) medium: mixed media exhibition text: The portable laundry basket is designed for cross country meets to carry necessary items and warm-up clothes. I wanted to make it easier for my team and not have to carry a regular laundry basket back and forth from the tent to the start line. The wheels are designed to be durable and easy to clean. This design can be used for daily life, but the main intention was for cross country and outdoor activity. |
Prototype 1: Portable Laundry Basket (for cross country)/Low Fidelity Prototype
For my first prototype, I wanted to make a basic visual for what I wanted it to look like. For the basket, I used poster board and made different dimensions, I used 3 rectangles (4x2) and 2 squares (2x2). I took a part a hotwheels car and used the wheels for my laundry basket. I didn't like the idea of the wheels only on the back, but I'm hoping to have 3 wheels with one in the front middle. The handle was hard to figure out, but I thought one thing that would get the job done would be a bendy straw to picture what the handle is meant to do. To demonstrate that the handle moves so that you can carry it or roll it around. However, this isn't the exact demonstration for what I want it to be, but it started the thinking process.
Inspiration
We met: I met with my cross country coach and the English/ Film teacher at Ronald Reagan High School.
We were amazed to learn: I was amazed to learn that he needed a new basket to carry warm ups and other equipment for meets. He originally had a laundry basket and then switched to a container that would be used for Christmas decorations. It Would Make a Real Difference If We Could: create a laundry basket that would have wheels and a handle and would be durable for clothes and equipment as well as handle tough ground. Empathy Map I was inspired by my cross country team and my coaches need for a new laundry basket for warm ups and equipment. I chose to do a portable laundry basket because I realized that our tent can be far away from where we get dropped off or the starting line is far away from our tent. Having a laundry basket with wheels would create an efficient way to carry our stuff without dropping it or losing something. I solved the problem of using a storage container by using a durable basket that would hold everything we would need for cross country. I thought of all the problems such as having injured kids carrying warm ups back to the tent or that the laundry basket would need to fit on the bus. I also needed to create a solution to have a durable laundry basket that would handle tough ground. Artistic Inspiration: My artistic inspiration for this piece is Larry Murphy "Murf". Murf has worked with GE Medical Systems in Waukesha, WI. Over 40 years, he has worked and designed products for GE healthcare businesses. He has patents in MR, X-ray, NUC med, U/S, Patient monitoring/IT/CT, and GE energy. Since September 2019, Murf has worked with us in the design process for our MIAD industrial design pieces. He has guided us in the empathy map, visual mind map, and our mindset of "we met...we were amazed to learn...it would make a real difference if we could..." |
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Planning sketches
For my planning sketches, I chose to draw four different versions of my product. The first picture demonstrates how the liner is able to be removed from the basket and how it is able to carry clothes places. Such as to keep a pile of clothes together for cross country or at a laundry place and keeping everything organized. The second picture shows that it is still a normal laundry basket and can be carried around if necessary. In the third picture, I chose to show how the laundry basket can be rolled around and how durable the wheels are to handle tough ground such as grass, dirt and mud. The fourth picture shows how the wheels detach from the basket and that they can be cleaned separately. These sketches helped me come up with an idea of what I wanted to make my final prototype to look like. Throughout the process, the planning sketches have stayed similar. Adding another idea, senior year, the fifth picture shows a comparison of a rubbermaid laundry basket compared to what I had in mind.
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Process
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Experimentation
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The first part of my experimentation was testing how I want the wheels. I had four wheels to use, however, I still currently (as of December 2020) am deciding if I want to use four or three wheels for the final product. In my first low-fidelity prototype, I only had 2 wheels, but I used a set of wheels from a hot wheels car. While creating my final product, I thought using gorilla glue would be the most beneficial. However, I didn't realize that the foam would melt from the gorilla glue from a chemical reaction. I had to start over, luckily, I had more guidance from my Dad who showed me a better way to cut the foam, and sand it. In picture 4, we tested two pieces of extra foam with the wood glue to make sure it would hold. This is something I failed to do in my previous attempt. The fifth picture shows the final product of the box, but before the glue dries. I also had to fix the dimensions and fix the placement of the sides on the base. I made an error with the first attempt and didn't think it through. The dimensions were fixed in order to set the sides onto the base, instead of the outside of the base.
The second part of my experimentation dealt with the wheels. With the wheels, I bought screws that were an inch and a quarter from what I measured, with the exception of giving extra space. When I tested it out on the styrofoam, I needed an inch and a half to properly attach the wheels and the handle to the styrofoam. With the second part of my experimentation, there wasn't much besides the wheel and testing out different things I would be able to use as a handle. |
Reflection
Overall, I'm very satisfied with my final product. I had a couple of setbacks, first with the styrofoam and gorilla glue incident, along with other things that made me doubt the progress of this piece. This was my first time ever using a drill and actually building something that didn't need a special glue for the whole piece. I did have some help along the way from my dad and a family friend to help me complete this and move towards the final piece. I did have a chance to test it out with rolling it around, and the wheels are smooth riding and can get through just about anything. During the process, I was dreading about the handle and how I would approach making it. Luckily, I was able to find something that would work well and was much more durable compared to a pvc pipe. In my opinion, I didn't have high hopes in the beginning for the final product, but eventually, I started to find some hope that it would start to turn out good.
Compare and Contrast
(I chose to compare my final from my original sketch and inspiration)
Similarities
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ACT Responses
1.). Clearly explain and describe how you are able to identify the cause-effect relationships between your inspiration and it’s effect upon you artwork.
My coaches need for a new laundry basket helped me realize that I should put the whole team in mind as to what kind of laundry basket it should be and what it needs to make it accessible to everyone and easy to use.
2.)What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The authors approach for my topic was the cross country teams lack of a good laundry basket for warm ups and equipment.
3.) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
The main generalization I made from this was that whether you’re in cross country or not, laundry baskets are useful for everyday life and can be used in different situations.
4.) What was the central idea or them around your inspirational research?
The central idea around my research was specifically to design a laundry basket that is durable for cross country or for everyday use.
5.) What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
An inference I made while reading my research was that I needed a laundry basket that’s durable and easy to use
My coaches need for a new laundry basket helped me realize that I should put the whole team in mind as to what kind of laundry basket it should be and what it needs to make it accessible to everyone and easy to use.
2.)What is the overall approach (point of view) the author (from your research) has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The authors approach for my topic was the cross country teams lack of a good laundry basket for warm ups and equipment.
3.) What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, cultures, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
The main generalization I made from this was that whether you’re in cross country or not, laundry baskets are useful for everyday life and can be used in different situations.
4.) What was the central idea or them around your inspirational research?
The central idea around my research was specifically to design a laundry basket that is durable for cross country or for everyday use.
5.) What kind of inferences (conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning) did you make while reading your research?
An inference I made while reading my research was that I needed a laundry basket that’s durable and easy to use
Bibliography
"Larry Murphy." Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. 27 Feb. 2020. Web. 10 Dec. 2020.