This project was done for the Global Innovation Awards student home-ware design competition.
Over the summer, I visited my friend in Germany and noticed that the drying rack he uses for his clothes causes his room to feel more cluttered, taking up a lot of space even when not in use.
My goal was to design a drying rack that could integrate seamlessly into a space as an object one can be proud displaying. I chose to do that by giving it the double function of a chair.
How can we design an elegant, useful laundry drying rack with a double function when not in use?
DIVERGENT IDEATION
IDEA ONE
IDEA TWO
iDEA THREE
1/5th SCALE MODEL- CHAIR FORM
DRYING RACK FORM
Observations
- Connections don’t work well
- Complicated to take apart and put together
- The tension holding it together is interesting but not implemented well
- Plywood might work better
- Design is overly complicated
- Works better as a chair than a dryer rack- should be the opposite
- Complicated to take apart and put together
- The tension holding it together is interesting but not implemented well
- Plywood might work better
- Design is overly complicated
- Works better as a chair than a dryer rack- should be the opposite
Second Concept
SIDEVIEW CARDBOARD PROTOTYPE MECHANISM- DRYING RACK
SIDEVIEW
DRYING RACK FORM
CHAIR FORM WITH CUSHION
1/5th SCALE MODEL- DRYING RACK FORM
CHAIR FORM
Observations
- Many moving pieces make it complicated for the user to understand.
- How can I make the seat comfortable but still functional for hanging clothes?
- The changing angles make it much more dynamic than the last prototype.
- Maybe some pieces could be removed or replaced with smaller pieces that serve the same function.
- How can I make the seat comfortable but still functional for hanging clothes?
- The changing angles make it much more dynamic than the last prototype.
- Maybe some pieces could be removed or replaced with smaller pieces that serve the same function.
Reworking for a Third Concept
Cardboard Prototype
- Extra piece bends in opposite direction as the frame and locks in place when in chair mode, preventing collapse.
- shorter X beams, eliminating unnecessary material.
- shorter X beams, eliminating unnecessary material.
Findings
- Still maybe unnecessarily complex.
- Posts on the right are potentially dangerous and poorly integrated.
- Posts on the right are potentially dangerous and poorly integrated.
- Extra piece prevents any possibilty of the rack folding fully flat (not a design necessity, but would be a bonus that consumers may expect from something with this form language.)
Final Concept
- Realized right post could be removed and the X beams could fulfill its structural purpose
- Security now comes from a cross beam attached to the upper X beam resting in grooves on the lower one while the upper holds up the rack.
MEASURING AND MAPPING OUT PARTS
CUT LIST FOR FULL SIZE VERSION
Final 1/4th Scale Model
FINAL DRYING RACK FORM
FINAL CHAIR FORM
FINAL CHAIR FORM WITH CUSHION
Future Changes and Considerations
- Current angle of the chair needs to be adjusted to make sure it won’t tip backwards and to be a more comfortable height off the floor.
- A different version of this design out of cheaper materials would be a lot better for a wider audience, and could potentially sell more americans on the idea of drying racks.
- Wood was probably the worst choice for this as a consumer product, considering the cost and difficulty to manufacture, and that it comes in contact with wet clothes.
- Finding a way to add more drying space would be very important to improve functionality.
- Cushion design and implementation is poorly thought out and not very elegant.