The purpose of this blog is to document my journey through product and business development. I will be bringing research and development, manufacturing, and marketing to realization.
Week 1
Week 1 Agenda: Introduction to process; setting choosing a concept to pursue and setting a schedule
Week 2 Agenda: Material and user research
Initial Concepts
Concept 1
Further development of sväva jacket. This jacket is designed to be a versatile commuter solution. Good for all types of weather, including sunshine, the jacket converts into a backpack. Development would include improving the pattern and setting different sizes. Challenges include creating a clothing company vs. selling the product to an existing one.
Concept 2
Further development of traverse sunglasses. Improving design and creating a new model for the women's market. Design should embrace a tangent of trendy retro frames. The incorporation of metal and wood should use a different kind of metal, or less of it, for a lighter frame that can be better suited for the women's market. Exploration of colors and types of wood.
Concept 3
Using the traverse sunglasses as a basis, but changing major components of design. Making the sunglasses modular and creating unique hinges. Creating a story about the materials and making a pair of sustainable frames.
Gantt Chart
Week #
I have a fundamental start to this project; the steps in research are crucial to determining if past assumptions are true as well as design opportunities going into development.
Week 2
Week 2 Agenda: Ethnographic research and ideation
Week 3 Agenda: Compiling research
This week I began my ethnographic research. Observations and interviews took place to get to know users. The aim of the study was not as much about what people are doing with there sunglasses but why and how. I got to understand the users much better and a direction for materials studies.
I began studying each user by observing their favorite things whether physical or not. This was done to get a better understanding of the types of products and influences that the person surrounds themselves with.
The interview consided of many questions as to the users' experience with sunglasses and why. The following questions were asked and expanded on in additional questioning:
How many sunglasses do you own?
What is the purchase price for each pair?
What are the colors/materials of each pair?
Favorite and least favorite? Why?
How do you decide which pair to wear on a given day (color/materials/style/quality/location/other)?
Any issues with durability? What model and part?
Any notes on comfort or discomfort?
Where is each pair of sunglasses currently stored?
When you are out and about, where do you place your sunglasses when taking them off temporarily?
Do you have any sunglass cases? How often are they used? Where are they currently located?
What do you think makes sunglasses "high end" ?
Week 3
Week 3 Agenda: Compiling reasearch and analyzing
Week 4 Agenda: Market and material research, ideation sketches
I reflected on the research already done, and moved forward on more targeted research.
Week 4
Week 4 Agenda: Market and material research, ideation sketches, prototyping
Week 5 Agenda: Material research, ideation sketches, prototyping, branding
I researched for whom the sunglasses will be designed for and why. This lead me into further research with market and material understanding. My design direction was solidified this week with research coming to fruition.
According to Dan Schwable's arcticle on Forbes.com, 80 million Americans make up the millennial group that has an annual purchasing power of $200 billion.
David Arabov, CEO Co-founder Elite Daily, is quoted in an interview on Forbes.com saying “Our findings confirmed that millennials are highly educated, career-driven, politically progressive and–despite popular belief–do indeed develop strong brand loyalty when presented with quality products and actively engaged by brands,” says David Arabov, CEO Co-founder Elite Daily.
Millennials are drawn to products that make a difference in the world.
They are not influenced as much by advertising, seeking authenticity in products through research and reviews in blogs.
62% of millennials say that they engage with brands on a variety of social media platforms.
75% say that it is important for companies they support to give back to the community. It is important that the local communities are being supported and that there is evidence for caring about more than just corporate greed.
Precedent research shows that there is a wide variety of colors, styles, and materials in the $3.5 billion market. Trending styles are retro frames, with the most iconic being the wayfarer style.
Sustainability can be achieved by choice of materials. This will be done for the sake of sustainability, limiting as much pollution as possible in this large and wasteful sunglass industry. The target user millennial pays attention to sustainability in purchase decisions.
The key to longevity in sunglasses, aside from materials, is facilitating user car by being attached to sentiment. This will also allow the frames to be a conversation piece, which is essential as millennials use word-of-mouth and blogs to research a product's story.
SImpy put, the frames must have aesthetic appeal to be worn as frames are a fashion statement.
The sentimental traveler. The tea drinker. The explorer. The target user reminisces in the past but does not let it consume them; they are adventurous and hopeful for the future. College educated and purpose driven; product purchases include sustainable items that have a story and responsible production.
Sentimental items can bring transcend us to a different place. Bridges are the physical manifestation of facilitation people to different places, and many people care dearly about bridges that have led them to memorable experiences in hometowns or while traveling. The sunglass product line can have a range of styles inspired by different bridges to connect people to memories and provide sentiment. As a Portland resident, and being knowledgeable to the large millennial population, Portland is a great place to start for inspiration. The Hawthorne Bridge is a truss bridge over the Willamette River. As Portland's oldest bridge, Hawthorne was built in 1901 with a steel frame and wood grating. The wood grating was replaced with steel in 1945. The bridge has been painted and renovated many times since, yet remains in tact.. A wheel and pulley system of steel cables lifts the center portion of the structure when large ferries and boats pass below. The bridge was added to the US Register of Historic Places in 2012..
Reflecting the inspiration of the Hawthorne bridge in design can be done by using metal as a material. To achieve the objective of sustainability, the steel can come from Schnitzer Steel. This steel company takes auto scrap and melts it down in a foundry to be cast into new forms. This material source will not only be sustainable, but echo the bridge and traveling inspiration by using recycled car parts. Schnitzer Steel is located in 12 states and 3 other countries. A long term relationship can be attained where parts from the states of specific bridges can be utilized; this will not only support local business for the area of inspiration, but improve the sunglasses' story as most of the car parts cast into frame have traveled over the specific bridge numerous times.
Week 5
Week 5 Agenda: Prototyping and Refining Research
Week 6 Agenda: Developing CAD Model, developing logo
This week I explored my prototypes, adjusted measurements, and developed a plan for bringing the concept together.
Week 6
Week 6 Agenda: Developing CAD Model, developing logo
Week 7 Agenda: Create one-liner, refine CAD model
After establishing brand identity and target user, twas time to create a logo. This week was mostly consumed by creating a CAD model to move towards investment casting the metal part of the frames.
The final logo uses the negative spass of the truss design to create the illusion of a bridge with a sunset behind it. The truss structure is also made of of the T and V letters of TRAVERSE.
I took notes on the prototypes made and applied adjustments to a CAD model to transition to investment casting the metal as opposed to water-jet cutting sheet metal.
Week 7
Week 7 Agenda: Create one-liner, refine CAD Model
Week 8 Agenda: Finish CAD model, design T-shirt
I focused in on the user by establishing a one liner. This week continued to be busy refining and detailing the CAD model.
The wanderer can now connect to a piece of their history by wearing autoparts reforged into artifacts with Traverse's line of bridge inspired sunglasses.
Reforged artifacts in view.
The model was 3D printed; I learned that some wall thicknesses were .5 mm too slim and that the curvature of the arms had to be adjusted slightly.
Week 8
Week 8 Agenda: Design T shirts, complete CAD model
Week 9 Agenda: Print T shirts, create storage containers, refine business model
I designed T shirts this week to use as gifts in a crowdfunding campaign. The image depicts a sun setting behind the Traverse logo. The CAD model was completed and the stainless steel prototypes were ordered.
Week 9
Week 9 Agenda: Print T shirts, refine business model
Week 10 Agenda: Assemble prototypes, finish business plan, create presentation
I started the week by refining the tag line just a tad. I screen printed T shirts with the logo and created renderings of the sunglasses. It has been a pretty productive week so far!
artifacts in view
Week 10
Week 10 Agenda: Assemble prototypes, finish business plan + pitch
