MIAD
Portable Laundry Basket
Size: 76.2cm x 50.8cm 170 resolution
Medium: Photoshop print mounted on foam core
Completion: December 2019
Exhibition Text:
The portable laundry basket is meant for cross country meets but can be used for everyday use. The design of the laundry basket has wheels and a handle to be rolled around. There is also a liner that can keep clothes in place and can be cleaned after use.
Size: 76.2cm x 50.8cm 170 resolution
Medium: Photoshop print mounted on foam core
Completion: December 2019
Exhibition Text:
The portable laundry basket is meant for cross country meets but can be used for everyday use. The design of the laundry basket has wheels and a handle to be rolled around. There is also a liner that can keep clothes in place and can be cleaned after use.
Planning
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.
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..." |
Visual Mind Map
The idea with the visual mind map was to map out our ideas and make them better. This was an effective part of the process and helped me specify my ideas. First, it started out with the basic concept, for me it was the portable laundry basket, then it moved onto some design specs, I wanted to include wheels, a handle, and I wanted it to be easy to use. After those design specs were put in place, then I specified what I wanted those wheels to do, how I might go about with the handle. I was surprised how well the visual mind map helped me plan out my ideas and advocated my project in the right direction.
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 final picture shows how the wheels detach from the basket and that they can be cleaned separately.
Process
- The first step I took after I figured out what problem I wanted to solve, I sketched out my design to get the look of it. I did this so that I knew what I would continue drawing for how it can be rolled around or carried.
- After I sketched the design, I created an empathy map and did the process of we met with, we discussed, this would make it easier if we could.
- After I had the basic concept of my design, I added more design specs to make the laundry basket more advanced in unique. I did this by creating a visual mindmap and talked with Murf and classmates to expand on the laundry basket.
- After the visual mind map was created, I went more in depth with planning sketches and showing the liner, detachable wheels, and the different uses of the laundry basket.
- Soon after I started working on my photoshop.
- to get started with my photoshop document, I had to scan my sketches and my inspiration pieces such as my empathy map and visual mind map
- After creating my photoshop document on Photopea, I presented it to designers
- After discussing with the designers and fixing my document, I saved it as a JPG so that it could be printed
- Using the printer my teacher has to print a large piece, I plugged my flash drive in and printed my piece
- After it printed, I mounted it onto foam core with adhesive glue to keep it neat and keep it on the board.
Experimentation
While working on my MIAD project, I ran into a problem with my sketches, and I wasn’t pleased with them. I also didn’t know how to use photoshop so I experimented a bit before I made the final piece. I first used Photoshop on a laptop, but wasn’t convenient , I chose to work on Photopea because it was more accessible and was available to me at home. This way, I didn’t have to be rushed and could take my time on my photoshop document. When I created my first photoshop document, the first picture above, I didn’t like the sketches that much, and that was my first time creating a photoshop document. I wanted it to be better, and I also left out my Point of View statement and my empathy map and visual mind map. I made a second photoshop document on Photopea, like the first one but I wanted to add more to it. When I finished my final photoshop document, I knew what I was doing with Photopea and I was able to make the drawings better and make it more professional looking.
Critique
Similarities
- Both laundry baskets are for everyday use.
- Both are lightweight and easy to carry.
- Both carry items that are essential for living.
Differences
-My laundry basket will be easier to transport than the regular laundry basket.
-My laundry basket will have a removable liner and keeps everything organized.
-My basket will be made out of stainless steel, not plastic.
- Both laundry baskets are for everyday use.
- Both are lightweight and easy to carry.
- Both carry items that are essential for living.
Differences
-My laundry basket will be easier to transport than the regular laundry basket.
-My laundry basket will have a removable liner and keeps everything organized.
-My basket will be made out of stainless steel, not plastic.
Reflection:
Overall, I’m happy with my finished product and I think for my first time doing industrial design it turned out really well. I think that I really went deep into the exploration of creating a durable laundry basket. I wanted to get my idea out right away because I felt that if I didn’t do that, I would lose the idea. I was wrong because everyday I worked on it, or thought about it, I would think of new ways to improve the laundry basket and make it better than the previous version. Some of my thought processes were making the wheels detachable or having several liners to keep clothes organized if needed. I enjoyed the people I worked with, if it was classmates, or Murf or the designers, and they helped me with the design process and thinking and helped me improve my product as well. I wouldn’t mind trying out industrial design again and doing photoshop to improve on my skills, but having it be my first time, I’m proud of the effort put in and the thinking process.
Overall, I’m happy with my finished product and I think for my first time doing industrial design it turned out really well. I think that I really went deep into the exploration of creating a durable laundry basket. I wanted to get my idea out right away because I felt that if I didn’t do that, I would lose the idea. I was wrong because everyday I worked on it, or thought about it, I would think of new ways to improve the laundry basket and make it better than the previous version. Some of my thought processes were making the wheels detachable or having several liners to keep clothes organized if needed. I enjoyed the people I worked with, if it was classmates, or Murf or the designers, and they helped me with the design process and thinking and helped me improve my product as well. I wouldn’t mind trying out industrial design again and doing photoshop to improve on my skills, but having it be my first time, I’m proud of the effort put in and the thinking process.
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 clean
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 clean
Bibliography
"Larry Murphy." Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. 27 Feb. 2020. Web. 10 Dec. 2020.