Desk Tidy

Contents
• Problem and Design Brief
• Analysis of Task
• Initial Specification
• Research into Existing Products
• Research into Existing Products (2)
• Product Analysis of Primary Research
• Materials, Components and Adhesives
• Materials, Components and Adhesives (2)
• Ergonomics and Anthropometrics
• Materials Testing
• Material Testing (2)
• User Profile
• Analysis of Research
• Design Specification
• Initial Design
• Initial Design (2)
• Initial Design (3)
• Development of Design
• Development of Design (2)
• Development of Design (3)
• Modelling and Testing
• Modelling and Testing (2)
• Final Design
• Cutting List
• Evidence of CAD/CAM
• Plan of Making
• Plan of Making (2)
• Manufacturing Diary
• Manufacturing Diary (2)
• Evaluation
• Evaluation (2)
• Evaluation (3)
• Evaluation (4)

ProblemandDesignBrief
Problem:
Keeping the desk tidy and neat could be an issue that many people face in everyday life. Often small objects get damaged or get lost and may
find it hard to work on their desk when they need it to.
Design Brief:
I will design and make a storage device which will be compact and multi-functional to keep all my desk essentials in place and tidy preventing
damage to the items. I must create a design influenced by one of the design eras of the last 100 years (or designer). I could in fact, design a
storage unit which could change its size which makes it more versatile if possible. It must have a modern, simple and unique design with
aesthetically pleasing finish so that it would be attractive and stylish. I will incorporate different materials if possible. It must have rounded
edges for safety and be portable so that it is suitable and can be used in both desk and other places in the house. My product must be compact
and priced reasonably so that it could be easily manufactured, sold and that so it could be easily batch produced. It must also have a design
which will be suitable for manufacturing using CAD/CAM in the school workshop such as, using the laser cutter and vinyl plotter, making it more
suitable to mass produce. It will have separate different sized compartments to store different sized objects more securely and neatly.
Moreover, my storage would include ergonomic factors to make my product more easily accessible and to use. It would mainly be aimed for
students but can be also used for adults. It will need to have a large stable base to hold the weight of the items and the structure of the device.

AnalysisofTask
Who will use the product?
The product I am making will be mainly aimed at students of
both genders but can also be used for adults. However, it would
be more suitable for students as they use their desk more
frequently and they need to be kept tidy for several reasons such
as, for when studying. The storage would be designed to keep
the desks less cluttered and to keep it neat.
What will the product need to store/ how will it
function ?
Whole unit must be of a compact size, portable and each item of
the product must be easily accessible. It must be able to store
different sized objects neatly and efficiently. For example, paper
notes and other stationeries. It must be suitable for multi-
purpose jobs so that it could also be used in other places in the
children’s room other than on the desk. My storage will have
different size components with balanced base to ensure the
storage can hold enough weight and support the structure. It will
be multi-functional, small, aesthetically pleasing, modern design
and will have rounded edges for safety, also making sure all parts
must fit well to stop them from falling apart. Ergonomic factors
will also be considered to make the product efficient and suitable
for both children and students to use in everyday life and must
be a design which could be easily cleaned.
How can the product be batch/ mass produced?
I will ensure that my product can be batch produced easily using
CAD/CAM by…
-Making the design not too complex.
-Producing compact size storage device.
-Using material which can be designed and produced easily by
CAM/CAD.
What material will the product be made from/ any
environmental issue?
Materials I should be using for manufacturing the product should
be something that minimizes the environmental impact but gives
maximum impact on the client. Therefore using acrylic sheets
would be the best choice as they are durable, sturdy and
recyclable. Using acrylic sheets are beneficial for environment as
they can be recycled after use and reprocessed into new objects.
In addition, since they are adaptable and its shape can be easily
altered using machines it could be easily designed and
manufactured using CAM for batch productions when it comes to
the actual making. It will also be strong enough to hold weight,
and as it comes in different colours and thickness, it would be
suitable for making storage device.
How will the product be manufactured and
Assembled?
The storage will be manufactured using CAD and CAM. It will
have a design which can be easily assembled together without
needs of tools, machines and components. Different parts of
storage will be either slotted together using joints or glued
together using adhesives. Perhaps, I could include pieces that
have already been set to shapes by machines such as the strip
heater.
Are there any cost restrictions?
The product must be priced reasonably so that it could be easily
manufactured in school workshop, sold, and batch produced.

InitialSpecification
• Aimed mainly for students of both genders
• To store desk essentials neatly and to keep desk tidy
- strong
- small
- portable
• For indoor purpose
- compact
- portable
- multi-functional (to be efficiently used)
- smooth surface
• Must be durable and long lasting (effective for the client )
• Modern design
- pastel colour
- creative design and form
- aesthetically pleasing
- eye catching
- easy to assemble
• Use material which are
- waterproof (can withstand humidity and liquid spills)
- easy to clean and maintain (aesthetics)
- light weight (in case of injury, easy to carry and move, prevent damage to the other furniture and objects)
• Safety (to prevent injuries)
- rounded edges
- light weight
- smooth surface (to prevent damage on surrounding environment and furniture, to prevent injury)
• Reasonable price so it would be affordable (to both manufacture and sell)
• Environmental consideration
- recyclable (minimum impact on environment as it saves the use of oil and help to prevent emitting carbon dioxide and other harmful gases when corrodes in the landfill
and to make plastics)
• Produced using CAD/CAM (so it can be batch/mass produced)

ResearchintoExistingProducts
I chose this product as it is very simple and unique. It is portable and will fit in many places inside a house or an
office. Its small size means it can easily blend and fit onto a variety of surfaces and bring an aesthetic value to any
modern environment. It can be easily maintained and cleaned due to this shape and use of acrylic material. This
simplistic design appeals to a wide age that enjoy a modern highly finished and stylistic products. In addition, the
usability of this product is very wide and is convenient for storing many different types of stationary and
electronic devices ,however the product is weight restricted and requires objects stored to be similarly weighted .
Regarding the material use and colour, this product has very refreshing zesty green colour that It is made from
acrylic sheets designed and manufactured using CAD CAM and injection molded. They would be batch produced
in the industry. However, this product is not necessarily environmentally friendly as even after recycling, the
product is not bio-degradable (petroleum product). Ergonomics have been considered when designing this
product. The human hand may have been used to influence the design of the curved edges. Anthropometrics
have been applied ensuring that the suggested items to be stored have been accommodated for.
I like this desk tidy as it is very unique and humorous. It can store and organize different desk essentials such as
pens, post- it notes and tape efficiently, however the amount and types of objects which the product can hold is
very limited but they are portable and very small which means that they can fit comfortably onto the desk area
without taking large amounts of space. The material is silicon based with metal components for the tape
serration edge. It has a smooth surface with a quality finish along with a colorful theme making the product more
eye catching appealing to a wide range of ages. Moreover, due to the use of ceramic for the base ,this may not be
suitable for children under 10 years of age due to its fragility , increasing the chances of injury when not handled
correctly. Making the product out of silicon will be safer to use for younger children and be more
environmentally friendly as it can be recycled.
This product is a box shaped storage which will allow many different sized objects to be stored
neatly, such as books and small essentials. It has a plain white colour scheme, probably made out of
plastics or wood. Therefore, if it is made out from wood, it would be environmentally friendly as it
will bio-degradable. However, if it is manufactured suing plastics, it would not be as environment
friendly. In addition, this product design is related to architectural design, so in that sense it is
interesting. Nevertheless, it is too ordinary, bland and is not necessary an outstanding product. The
size is also quite big which means that it would not be suitable for desk storages. There are many
sharp corners which makes the product more unsafe. Moreover, this product would probably be
easy to manufacture in a facture setting using CAD/CAM due to its simplicity in design.

This is a storage designed by Philippe Starck. It has unique shape and has a plain green colour scheme. All
edges are have been rounded, therefore it is safe for wider range of people to use including small children
and elderies. However, this product would mainly be designed for children as the storage compartments are
quite big and the top of the storage could also be used as desk and other purposes. The surfaces are smooth
and polished. In addition, this product’s aesthetics are very similar to one of the design era called the
Blobjects. This is because due to the simplicity, distinctive smooth flowing curves, use of bright colours,
absence of sharp edges and the fact that they are designed for household use. Moreover, this product will
have been made using CAD/CAM in the factory as it is easy to manufacture. Furthermore, this product will
probably is light weight due to the use of plastic materials, making it easily transportable.
I chose this product as it is unique, very simple yet creative and interesting. It is made from thin bars of
metals and wood with wood finishes applied on along with baby blue paint. It will be good for storing
stationeries such as pens and pencil however, it would not be suitable for storing small objects like erasers
as it may fall out. There isn’t specific age range as everyone could use it. It would be manufactured in
industry using CAD/CAM due to its material use and shape/form. In addition, this product would be
environmentally friendly as it could be recycled as it is made out from wood and metal as I explained in
above. However, in some cases, they can be environmentally unfriendly as mining iron ore can be very
energy intensive and are not biodegradable in land fill.
This storage product is manufactured based on geometric shapes, like squares. The saturating colour of red
is eye-catching and is aesthetically pleasing. It is made out of wood with one tube of metal, which makes
this product environmentally friendly as woods are sustainable and bio-degradable. However, due to its use
of wood and metal, it could be costly and hard to transport. If this product could be made out from
petroleum products such as plastics, its manufacturing and purchasing cost will be lower. For example, as
plastics can have smooth and polished aesthetics without applying any finishes i.e wood finishes, the cost
would be cheaper. In addition, as plastics takes less processes and time than woods to be manufactured
into product it would be less expensive. It would also be light weight, meaning it would be more suitable for
wider age group including children and elderly as it is easier to handle. However, because the edges are
sharp, it makes the product not suitable for households with small children.

This is a storage unit designed by Sato Oki. His design is inspiring and creative as it is very simple but
interesting. These products are made out from different coloured plastics and can store variety of goods and
objects. It would be good for accentuating interior as they have traditional colours, simple design and are yet
eye catching, as the shape and its storage is extraordinary and unique. In addition, this would be aimed for
customers of adults as they consists of mature design and are subtle colours. Moreover, even though they are
recyclable after life, they are not sustainable as much as wood storages as they are not environmentally
friendly. They are made out of plastics or acrylic sheets, which they are not bio-degradable and may lead to
release of other toxic gases and components when in the land fill. In addition, in relation to safety, it may not
have been considered much as this is an stationary ornament. Finally, this product would probably be
inexpensive because the processes of manufacturing is simple and uses a small number of parts and shapes.
This is a storage designed and created by Ron Arad. His design is inspiring as they are creative, eye catching, yet
still has a simple design. This product has wine-red colour scheme with malt finish, giving an idea of snail or shell.
This may not be suitable for children as it is not easy to store small objects in large quantities, such as toys. In
that sense, this would be more better for adults. In addition, even though this product has swirl shape, there are
still some sharp edges which would not be favorable for children as there is a higher risks and chances of them
from getting injured than adults. It would be probably manufactured using translucent plastic sheets as they are
easy to mass produce using CAD/CAM, such as the laser cutter. Furthermore, this product is using reduced
material for environmental considerations and plastics are chosen for this storage unit as they are recyclable,
therefore leaves minimum impact on the environment but gives maximum impact on the client as they
aesthetically pleasing. Furthermore, It would probably have reasonable price for purchasing as they can be batch
produced in the industry and also due to the use of material.
This is a storage device designed by George Nelson. This is environmentally friendly as it is made
out of wood. Wood are sustainable and is easy on the environment as they are bio-degradable
and perishable. This storages would likely to be preferred by adults and many older people as it
has more of traditional shape, colour and style. Wood varnish is being used here to give polished
and shiny finish to brighten and show the wood colour and wood grains for effect. The safety
factor within this products are quite low as there are no rounded edges and is not as durable
because it’s made of wood. The sizes are also quite large, meaning that it would not be suitable
for placing on desks and would not be easily transported. However, it will allow people to store
larger objects, such as the books, notes/papers, files and stationeries comfortably and neatly.
Moreover, it would probably be manufactured by machines but could also be manufactured by
hands.

I chose this product as it inspired me and I may be able to bring some features of these design into my own such
as, the organic shape and form. All three products have a plain white colour scheme with design theme of
nature/tree. It has high quality finish of smooth surface and rounded edges for safety features. They are very
modernistic, attractive and efficient and is suitable to use in both living area and in the room. It will store different
sized and weighed objects neatly. Woods are being used for this storage device which are raw but sustainable
resources and bio-degradable, meaning they are environmentally friendly as they could be formed into new
product after life using the scrap woods from the storage. Furthermore, this product would be best suitable for
adults as they consist mature and sophisticated design, which many adults prefer for interior design.
This product is an electrical socket with an electrical device holder and has been created to allow people to charge
their electronics without leaving them on the floor, reducing the chance of them getting damaged and being broken.
The holder is designed based on the shape of deer horns and has a plain white colour scheme. It can be easily
maintained and cleaned as they are made out of modern materials of silicon and plastic, meaning they are
waterproof, durable and flexible. Furthermore, due to the use of these materials, the product can also be reasonably
priced for manufacturing and purchasing as it would be batch produced using CAD/CAM in the industry. It has
rounded edges for safety to stop getting stored objects from being scratched and to prevent people from getting
injured. Moreover, this product will be environmentally friendly as it can be recycled after life. Overall, I have chosen
this product as it is creative, yet simple, appealing to both adults and children. I would like to incorporate some of
these similar features into my desk storage to make my product multi-functional and suitable to use it in everyday
life.
This is a picture of a storage device which I found in my house. Due to its red colour, it will be good for
interior design and will help to brighten the atmosphere. It saves floor space as it can be hanged on the
wall and is easily reachable when people are standing up. In addition, it is light weight, meaning that it is
easily transportable and is safe. Regarding the materials the cost will not be as high and would be
environmentally friendly. This is because it is made out of rattan which is a bio-degradable vine from the
tropical forests. However, there would be some disadvantages as well. The materials being not sturdy
enough makes it not suitable for holding heavy objects. The strings which hold the baskets are
aesthetically pleasing and provides flexibility and simplicity, but at a same time, it makes it less sturdy
and weak.

ProductAnalysisofPrimaryResearch
These are pictures of a desk storage which I took in a shop called IKEA in Hong Kong. It has a plain white colour
scheme, making it look more subtle and mature. It would be good for storing both large and small objects due to
its large capacity of storage space and compartment. However, it takes a large amount of space, meaning it will
not be suitable for people with limited amount room space. The device is made of man-made Blockboard. The
Blockboard is a type of plywood composed of strips of softwoods held together by adhesive glue. They are unlikely
to warp nor bend and are durable enough to support the structure and weight of objects, making it suitable for
desk storage uses. In addition, due to its use of adhesive glue, it is environmentally friendly to some extent. This is
because adhesive glue is not recyclable and is not bio-degradable. However, in contrast, wood is sustainable and
bio-degradable as they are natural resources. Moreover, the price of this product would not be as high due to the
quality of the materials used and because they can be mass produced in a factory.
This is another example of my primary research. It was again, sold at IKEA. It has a classic colour scheme of dark
brown with smooth finishes of paints along with some wood finish. It is designed and manufactured for storing
mainly large objects such as books and files, and therefore the size of this product is quite large. This product is
creative because the middle shelf is slanted allowing objects to be stored in a different angle compared to the
other two shelves. Moreover, this product has a simple and classic aesthetics which may not be popular among
small children. Therefore, the safety factor were considered only in limited places as it is aimed for older age
group, such as for the students and adults. It would be recyclable as they are made out of wood.
The final storage device I chose is this classic design box shaped storage which I found at IKEDA. I like this
storage because it is made out of wood and the wood grains make the device look natural. In addition, this
storage can be kept neat and compact even on small desk areas. It is portable and can store many different
small desk essentials and accessories in different sections of this product. Therefore, due to its compact size
and simple design it would be popular amongst people who lives in urban areas where they have limited
space in apartments. The manufacturing cost is probably low as it requires only limited processes and uses
relatively inexpensive and small parts. It will be environmentally friendly as they are made out of wood
which is a sustainable natural resource.

Materials,ComponentsandAdhesive
Materials, Components,
Adhesive and Finishes
Properties Use in my product
Acrylic sheet Acrylic (Perspex) sheet is thermoplastics composed of long chain monomers.
They are mouldable and reheating and shaping can be done many times. They
are recyclable and are strong enough to hold weight. (Same material as acrylic
rod and acrylic tube)
-Comes in different colours, size and thicknesses
-Recyclable
-Durable
-Versatile
-Easy to clean and maintain
-Can withstand humidity and liquid spills/water
-Resistant to most of the chemicals and weather conditions
For manufacturing my product.
Acrylic rod -Easy handling
-Durable
-Stiff
-Thermoplastic
-Easy to clean
-Can be easily machined (drills, sawing, cutting and shaping)
For supporting the structure, aesthetics or
as part of the storage design.
Acrylic tube -Resistant to ageing
-Light weight
-Easy handling
-impact resistance
-Thermoplastic
-Recyclable
For structure support, aesthetics or as part
of the storage design.
Polypropylene -Light weight
-Thermoplastics
-Durable
-Strong enough and has ability to withstand forces without bending, breaking,
shattering or deforming
-Recyclable
-Easy to clean and maintain
-Resistant to water
-Modern aesthetics
As main body of my product.

H.I.P.S -Light weight
-Thermoplastic
-Strong
-Comes in range of colours and is available in a transparent form
-Thinner H.I.P.S are flexible
-Can be relatively easily recycled
For main body of my storage design or as one of
the compartment.
Vinyl -Versatile
-Flexible
-Available in a range of colours
-Excellent adhesive properties
-Easy to handle
-Easy to manufacture and to design with
As part of my design for decorative purposes.
PVC -Available in a range of different colours
-Can be purchased as a hard material or can be purchased as in flexible form
-Can be welded and glued together by adhesives
-Has a range of uses (eg, water pipes, raincoats, and electrical casings)
For section of my product as design or even as
main body of my storage.
Foam -Thermal insulation
-Recyclable
-Bio-degradable
-Flexible
-Comes in variety of colours, sizes and thicknesses
Internal cover for different compartments/places
of my storage and for bottom of the storage to
protect objects and surrounding furniture from
getting scratched or damaged. (protective
purposes to prevent any damage)

Epoxy resin Epoxy resin is a type of adhesive used for constructing/putting different
product parts together i.e plastics. They are being used for both industrial uses
and for school workshops. Epoxy resin are created through a reaction between
catalyzing agent and resin.
•Very versatile
•Comes in different types:
-Resistant to heat
-Resistant to chemicals
-Electrical conductivity
-Electrical insulation
For assembling the product (to put different parts
together).
Araldite Araldite is a thermosetting plastic adhesive used for gluing two different type of
materials together. Araldite is composed of two tubes (one is resin and the
other a catalyst). When they are mixed, glue is formed.
•Durable adhesive
•Strong
•Waterproof
•Ideal for load bearing and exterior use
•Comes in plastic casing so it can be recycled
•Available in a syringe of handy tubes
To glue two different materials together (e.g.
wood and plastic).
Tensol (Liquid solvent
cement)
Tensol glue are used for permanently gluing two thermoplastic materials
(most commonly acrylic) together by solvent welding where two plastic
surfaces are dissolved to create a mixture of the two plastic surfaces. Dust mask
must be worn when using tensol to prevent inhalation of fumes.
•Low viscosity
•Liquid based
•Clear colour
•Easy to use/ apply
•Weld two thermoplastic surfaces together without any discolouration
To glue acrylic pieces together.

Wood dye •Aqueous solution
•Comes in different colours
•Easy to use
•For decorative and protective purpose
•The solution penetrates the wood without hiding the grain (often enhances the
wood grain)
•Chemical resistance
For my wood base to enhance the colour and wood
grain for attractive appearance.
Clear varnish •Long lasting, permanent and durable
•For interior and exterior uses
•Water based
•Transparent, hard and protective finish (mainly for wood)
•Gives satin appearance when applied (glossy and smooth)
•Resists water
•Can be applied with spray or brush
•The drying process could be sped up by exposure to an energy, such as sunlight
and ultraviolet light
For wood base to give glossy and smooth
appearance. It will be applied once the wood dye is
dried.
Round head screws •Comes in different sizes and length
•Type of faster
•Made of metal
•Domed like shape (hemisphere shape)
•Zinc plated steel round head screws:
-Coated with zinc, meaning that they are corrosion resistant
•Solid Brass round head screws:
-For decorative purpose
-Corrosion resistant
-Exact colour varies
For joining two materials together (e.g. wood and
plastic)

ErgonomicsandAnthropometrics
Ergonomics is the study of people and the relationship between human
and its surrounding environment. It is being designed by using
anthropometric data, which involves collecting statistics and
measurements of the human body and its movement. For example,
sizes and weights. These statistics are being used and considered in
many product to make it more efficient, comfortable and suitable for
the clients to use it in everyday life. For example, electronic devices,
such as the remote control, electric mixer, hair dryers and as well as
some furniture like chairs.
As I will be making desk tidy, I will apply some ergonomic features of
size and safety to make it more accessible to the users of all age range.
The functioning of my storage will need to be able to fit on desk area
comfortably. It will also have rounded edges for safety along with
different sized compartment to store different objects. It must have
large enough storage spaces to assure range of sized object can fit in.
Objects Length Width Depth
Pens 141mm, 141mm, 161mm 9mm, 11mm, 9mm 7mm, 10mm, 9mm
Pencil 175mm, 11mm 8mm, 6mm 8mm, 6mm
Ruler 189mm 25mm 1mm
Eraser 45mm 26mm 12mm
Post it notes 50mm, 50mm 37mm, 37mm 3mm, 10mm
Paper clips 3mm 9mm 1mm
Anthropometric data:

MaterialsTesting with Photographic Evidence
Material +
Image
Uses Properties Manufacturing Process Advantages/
Disadvantages when
using
How I can use it in
my project?
Acrylic Display signs, light
casings for cars,
school projects
Bath tubs
• Weather resistant
• Resistant to most acids
• Brittle
• Durable
• Hard to cut by hands
• Thermoplastic (easier to
recycle and can be re-
shaped, re-formed)
• Drilling: Pillar drill
• Sawing: Coping saw, band saw
• Sanding: Sanding machine (Belt and Disk
sander)
• Vinyl plotting
• Cutting: Coping saw, Scrawl saw, Laser
cutting, Band saw, Junior hack saw
• Filing: Adhesives and wood fillers
• Heating: Vacuum forming, Strip heating,
oven
• Finishes: wet and dry paper
It can be moulded, coloured, and
machined. It is hard, durable and
functional. Comes in different
colours and sizes that can be
opaque, translucent or
transparent.
It is stiff, brittle and is hard to cut
by hand. It is also difficult to
finish by hand.
Acrylic could be used for
the main body of my desk
storage design as they are
strong and durable and it
can be easily machined. It
is also available in variety
of sizes, colour and
thickness which makes it
suitable for my product. It
can be cut using laser
cutter. However, it may
not be suitable for my
project as it is very brittle.
H.I.P.S
(High Impact
Polystyrene)
Food packaging,
textiles, reusable
containers,
laboratory
equipment,
automotive
components, thermal
clothing
•Low flammability
•Does not corrode
•Durable
•Comes in range of colours
•Thermoplastic
•Inexpensive
•Can be recycled
•Thinner H.I.P.S are flexible
• Sawing: Band saw, Coping saw
• Cutting: Laser cutting
• Heating: Vacuum forming, Oven
• Sanding: Sanding machines (Belt and Disk
sander)
• Finishes: wet and dry paper
Can be vacuum formed and
heated using an oven. They are
mouldable, and are available in
wide range of colours, sizes and
thicknesses.
Releases toxic
chemicals when
heated.
This could be used for my
project as it can be
vacuum formed. It is
available in range of
colours and is light
weight, which makes it
suitable for my project.
Moreover, H.I.P.S are not
as brittle as acrylics,
therefore, it makes it
more suitable for wider
age range of people.
Poly -propylene Electrical casing,
packaging, trays
• Light weight
• Comes in range of
colours and is available
in a transparent form
• Thermoplastic
• Can be relatively easily
recycled
• Sawing: Band saw, coping saw
• Cutting: Laser cutting, by hand- scissors
It can be moulded accurately and
comes in range of different
colours and size.
Weaker than acrylic . They are
commonly used by small children
and does not have high quality
finish.
Due to its rough texture
and the fact that it cannot
be vacuum formed will
make it not suitable for
my project. Also,
Polypropylene is soft,
flexible and is not strong
enough to hold its shape
and weight, making it not
suitable for my storage
design.
Vinyl Stickers for products
and for any
flat/smooth surfaces,
e.g. walls, books,
windows etc.
•Versatile
•Flexible
•Available in a range of
colours
•Excellent adhesive
properties
• Cutting: Vinyl Plotter, by hand-Scissors,
Laser cut
Easy to handle, easy to
manufacture and to design with .
Requires few steps when putting
the vinyl stickers on the objects.
Vinyl could be used in my
project for decorative
purpose (stickers as part
of design) to appeal more
for wider age range.

Material +
Image
Uses Properties Manufacturing
Process
Advantages/
Disadvantages
when using
How I can use it in
my project?
MDF Good for modelling
and testing, used in
the buildings and
furniture
•Relatively cheap
•Composed of fine
wood dust and resin
•Can be machined,
worked and shaped
easily
•Can be painted
without needs of
undercoat
• Sawing: Band saw,
coping saw
• Painting/Coating
Easy to work with,
shape and machine.
Can come in different
sizes and thicknesses.
Can very easily
damaged when
exposed to water as it
is made out of wood
and paper fibres.
For testing
Plywood Chairs, construction
industry: walls, roofs
and floors and some
furniture
•Manmade boards
•Composite material
•Can be steam bent
into shape
•Strong enough to hold
weight
•Sustainable resources
•Less likely to split or
warp
•Supplied in a range of
sizes and thickness
•When treated/coated,
it can be water proof
• Sawing: Band saw,
coping saw
• Painting/Coating
Available in range of
thicknesses and sizes.
Can be steam bent into
shape and is strong
enough to hold weight
and withstand
pressure. Easy to work
with, versatile and is
durable.
Can easily be damaged
by the exposure of
water due to this
construction method
of plywood.
I will try to incorporate
plywood into my final
design for aesthetical
reason.
MaterialsTesting with Photographic Evidence

UserProfile
Name: William Royson
Age: 28
Occupation:
-Product designer
Interests:
-Designing and coming up with new
ideas, doing physical activities in free
time
Desired product outcome:
-Unique, functional, modern, simple,
portable and compact
Limitation:
-The table has a specific colour
scheme of white
-Likes modern design (form and
shape) but with subtle colour so it
won’t clash with other surrounding
furniture and objects colour
-Should not be big in size to minimize
the space taken in my room
Cost limitations:
-Cost efficient, around $150-$200
HKD
Name: Apsara Thaksin
Age: 18
Occupation:
-Student (University)
Interests:
-Sketching, Learning subjects that I
really enjoy, Social life and playing
with my siblings
-Artistic, large storage capacity,
portable and functional
Limitation:
-The table has specific colour scheme
of white
-Has to be sturdy and capable in
holding heavy objects i.e books
-Should not have bright colour as it
will clash with my other surroundings
Cost limitations:
-Around $100 HKD
Name: Kira Megshaine
Age: 15
Occupation:
-Student (High school/GCSEs)
Interests: Music/Media, modernism and
social life
-Radiant colours, simple, modern/quirky,
portable and functional
Limitation:
-Limited table top space with specific
colour scheme of brown
-Has to be compact (limited table space)
-Storage that has easy access and easy
handling
Cost limitations:
-Affordable price, around $50-$100 HKD
User profile is done to give me clearer idea on customers/ users desirable features and designs, also helping me to give clearer idea on current
market. I will use the information gathered in this section to further develop my design s to make it more appealing to the customers .

AnalysisofResearch
User Profile
I have studied the different age groups peoples’ interests and their product outcome desire. I will incorporate these figures that I have collected to make my
product preferable, aesthetically pleasing, modern and functional.
Ergonomics and Anthropometrics
I researched the definition for ergonomics and anthropometrics and learnt how both will influence my final design. Creating a finished product that incorporates
how it will interact with us and our environment daily has helped me develop a deeper understanding of the design needed to assist with the functionality of my
product. Taking measurements of the objects I want to store in my product and testing the surfaces that the unit will be stored on has helped me in creating a
more visual and realistic design of my product design, which will fit comfortably in surrounding environment.
Material Testing
It helped me again a clearer prospective of how the materials will be used in the product production. It helped me to decide the material I will be using more clearly
based on how I will need my product to perform and function. I am going to use a variety of plastic and wood for the overall product as they are both modern and
contemporary, which will give it an attractive appearance. Also, wood is environmentally friendly and plastic does not need any additional finish, so is also good for
the environment in that respect.
Existing products
 Products researched such as desk tidies and shelves, were mainly made using either plastics or wood
 Most considered environmental issue when designing (e.g recycling)
 Simple yet creative designs such as Ron Arad and Philippe Starck’s design
 Individual compartments designs for storing a variety of materials such as for books, stationeries and files
 Marketed to specific target audiences based on the material and aesthetic nature of the design
 Cost according to target market
 Most products were ready assembled and requited no further assembling
 Desk storage cost between $50HKD and $500 HKD +
From looking at range of different storage products, it helped me to further expand on my ideas and inspiration by looking at many successful existing products. It
also helped to demonstrate how different materials can be used depending on storage type. I will consider these features when designing to make sure my product
can be used efficiently and comfortably by the client (maximum impact on the client). I will also make sure to include environmental consideration when designing
and recyclable materials to be more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Materials, Components and Adhesive
From the research, I found out that there are many possible choices of materials I can use for manufacturing to make prosperous product. And from the researches,
it helped me to come up with final material choice of acrylic sheets. This is because they have modern appearance/aesthetically pleasing (visual effect) and has
many positive properties which are suitable for my product and will help me make my project successful. For example, they are recyclable (environmental issues can
be considered), mouldable, versatile, durable, easy to handle and are easy to work with. In addition, I will use epoxy resin for adhesive glue as they are strong
enough, easy to use and is the most suitable glue to be used in this project.

DesignSpecification
My design must: Reason:
Be targeted at people between the ages of 13 -
30 years
For students and adults of both genders
Be functional and accessible It will have different compartments to store variety of objects neatly, such as the stationeries (e.g. pens, pencils and
rulers) to store desk essentials neatly and to keep desk less cluttered and tidy.
Be manufactured out of sustainable materials The storage must be manufactured out of material which minimises the environmental damage. Therefore, I will use
materials which can be recycled after their life to ensure sustainability. For example, acrylic and H.I.P.S as they can be
relatively easily recycled and can be reused when reformed into new product as they are a thermoplastic.
Be manufactured using suitable materials, to be
used for indoor purposes
Portable and compact: to make sure it will fit on desk surface comfortably without taking too much space and also,
portable means it can also be used in other places in the house
Light weight: so it is easier to move around and to minimise the chance of injury
Smooth surface: to prevent any damage on surrounding environment.
Strong and durable: to hold its weight and withstand force
Multifunctional : to store different desk essentials neatly
Water proof: to make sure it is easy to clean and maintain
Be durable and have aesthetically pleasing finish
(eye catching and attractive appearance)
My product's base and external parts will be made using either acrylics or H.I.P.S as they are durable, strong and will
allow sturdy base and will still give modern appearance and aesthetically pleasing finish.
It will have simple yet unique design which will give modern appearance with easy access to an objects when stored. It
must also include vinyl stickers for decorative purposes and interior design to make my product more preferable and
eye-catching for the costumers. (not including religious and inappropriate words or phrase to make sure customers
are not being offended)
Have reasonable price It must have a reasonable price to both manufacture and to appeal more to the targeted audience. I will make it for
under £10, so it can be sold for no more than £25. This will make it competitive with existing desk tidies.
Use different colour materials It must incorporate different colour materials for attractive appearance, to make it look modern and be attractive to
the intended user.
Be manufactured using CAD/CAM It will be manufactured using CAD/CAM such as: laser cutter and 2D design to ensure accuracy and high quality finish.
My product will be one of product but with the intension to mass produce if successful enough to be manufactured in
quantity.
It must have a design which is easy to assemble and does not require any additional components to assemble (cheaper
and easier to handle).
Be portable It must be lightweight so it will be easily transportable around the desk. It must also have smooth surfaces to prevent
surrounding furniture from being damaged/scratched. This can be done by using rubber or acrylic feet.

Different desk
essentials will be
placed either on
uniquely shaped
thermo plastic
sheets or inside the
round shape
compartment.
It will be
manufactured and
designed using CAD
and CAM to ensure
high quality.
Balanced base to ensure stability.
Modern design
and will have
smooth surfaces.
No finishes will
be required on
compartment
which are made
out of plastics.
It will be cheap
however, it will not be
durable as the other
storage designs due to
its shape and form of
the storage
compartment.
It will be aimed at student market
so it is cheap and can be used for
desk tidy.
Initial Design
It will be designed using CAD
(computer aided design) such as 2D
Designer and Google sketch up. It will
be manufactured using CAM to ensure
quality and to be more time efficient.
Plastic sheet
and plastic
rod will be
used to
manufacture
this product.
It can store
variety of
stationeries.
It has
balanced,
large base to
ensure
security, so it
is less likely to
topple over
when knocked
and items are
placed inside.
No finish will
be required as
it is made
using plastic.
The plastic rod will be heated using the oven and
then it will be shaped by hand.
The product
will have
smooth finish
and attractive
appearance.
This product is
environmentally friendly as
all product compartment can
be recycled after its life cycle.
This design is not suitable as
it doesn’t meet all the
specification points.
Made out of plastic tube (top)
and plastic rod (bottom) to
store pencils and pens.
Triangular shaped compartment
will clip on to the rod/tube to
allow small items to be placed.
The main body will be
bent using either the oven
or vacuum former. Either
flexible/ thermo plastic (so
it can be reheated and re
shaped) or plywood will
be used.
Large stable base to
support structure, which
means that it will not fall
over easily when knocked
or many items are placed.
Smooth curves gives stylish appearance
and aesthetically pleasing finish.
This product is simple yet it is
multi- functional and can store
range of items.
No finish will be required if
using plastics.
It will be put together by
using adhesives.
This storage is mainly aimed at
student market as it is not
expensive and so it can be used
to keep desk neat and less
cluttered when studying.
It will be designed using CAD
(computer aided design) such as 2D
Designer and Google sketch up.
This storage is
ergonomically designed.
The corners will be
rounded so it is safer to use
it in everyday life.
I like this design as it serves its purpose (due to many
storage spaces and unique design). However, the shape of
wave (the main compartment) will be difficult to make.
Simple design and is
easy to handle and
use.
It can be cleaned and
maintained very
easily.
Stored objects and items are easily accessible
and can store range of items including some
large objects such as, note books.
It will be designed
using CAD (Computer
Aided Design) and be
manufactured using
CAM (Computer Aided
Machine) to ensure
quality and to be more
energy and time
efficient.
No finishes will be required and all parts
will be joined using joints so it is
aesthetically pleasing than using adhesives.
This storage is not environmentally friendly as the
other storage designs because it require large amount
of material to manufacture.
This storage would not be
suitable as it is not compact
and takes too much space on
the desk. Also, it is because
requires large amount of
resources to manufacture.
This design is not be suitable as
stored items would fall out easily
due to this form and design.

Initial Design
This storage will be made using single
plastic sheet. By doing this, it will reduce
the amount of material being used
therefore, it it more environmentally
friendly.
Unique and
interesting design
gives modern
appearance.
Thermo plastic will be used so it can be re heated and re shaped during the manufacturing
process make sure the product is set to correct shape.
It will be bright in colour
and will require no finish
as it will be made
using plastic.
This storage will be designed using
CAD (Computer Aided Design) such
as the 2D designer and will be
manufactured using CAM
(Computer Aided Machine) such as
the laser cutter to ensure quality
and to be energy/time efficient. It
will then be bent using the strip
heater.
It will be put together using
joints for aesthetical reason
instead of using adhesives to
glue the plastic together.
It will be aimed at
both adults and
students to keep
desk tidy.
This storage will be tall in height to
make sure it will not topple over
when pens, pencils and ruler are
placed.
This product
will be cheap
in cost.
Simple design
and consists
of interesting
shape.
This design is not suitable because it doesn’t meet
all the specification points and is not multi-
functional as it can only store limited items.
It is smooth and has no sharp edges.
Therefore, it is safe and easy to use it
in everyday life.
It is light weight meaning, it
is easily transportable.
Each parts are
designed for
different functions.
For example, the
vertical swirl on the
side serves as a
pencil holder and
the dome shaped
compartment will
be mainly used for
storing small items
such as, erasers and
paper clips.
Since it will be made out of plastic, it will not be expensive. Therefore, it is suitable for
student market.
Large stable base to ensure stability.
CAD and CAM will be
used during
designing and
manufacturing
processes to ensure
quality and to be
time/ energy
efficient.
The bright colour will make this
storage appealing and look
modern.
I like this design due to this
distinct flowing curves.
This storage will be made out of plastic sheets.
Plastic sheets will be bent into unique shapes and
form using the oven to allow the items to be placed
on.
CAD and CAM
will be involved
during
manufacturing
and designing
process to
ensure quality.
It is aimed at both
students and adults
for purpose of keeping
desk neat.
It will have smooth
and attractive finish
making the product
look modern and
more appearing to
the customers.
It will not be as durable compared to other
storage designs due to its shape. It will be mainly
designed for storing items which are light in
weight.
It will be easy to
maintain and clean due
to the use of material.
It may be hard to manufacture this product due to its
complex shape compared to the other designs.
I like this design as it is unique. However, it will not be suitable as it will be
hard to manufacture due to its complicated shape and form.
This storage will be manufactured using
transparent plastic sheets and rod. CAD
and CAM will be used when designing
and manufacturing to ensure quality.
It has stable base to support
structure and reduce the
chance of falling over when
items are placed.
The curved part of storage will
be bent into shape using the
vacuum former and the rod
will be heated using the oven
and then will be shaped by
hand.
Simple yet functional design. It
will be able to store large
amount of objects.
It will be aimed at student market.
Different
compartments
will be placed
together using
adhesives which
are water proof
so it can be used
on the desk and
withstand any
liquid spills.
The material will
help the user to
clean this desk
storage device
easily.
I like this design as it looks
modern. However, it will
not be suitable as it doesn’t
meet all the specification
point as eges won’t be
rounded for aesthetical
reason.

This is a design inspired by
the shape of piano. It has a
smooth curve (Philippe
Starck style) which gives
stylish appearance.
It will store small objects
such as erasers and post it
notes.
CAD and CAM will be
used during the
designing and
manufacturing process
to ensure quality and to
be more time efficient
(also to save electricity).
This storage will be
made using
sustainable material
such as plastic sheets.
Therefore, not finish
will be required.
It will be
waterproof and
corners will be
rounded for
safety.
Different parts will be
put together by
adhesive.
It will be targeted to
mainly student market
as it will be cheap and so
it can be used for desk
tidy.
This is my favorite
design because it is
simple, unique and
serves its purpose.
Simplest design compared to other
storage designs. Therefore, it will be
manageable and also helps to
reduce the amount of resources
being used (environmentally
friendly).
Due to its simplicity
and compact size, it will
be easy to use and
transport yet it will be
aesthetically pleasing.
Do to its use of material
(plastic) and the form, it
will be easy to clean and
maintain.
This design would not be suitable as it requires
large amount of resources to manufacture and also,
it is because edges will not be rounded for
aesthetical reason.
CAD and CAM will be used during
designing and manufacturing process to
ensure quality and to save time
(energy/electricity).
It serves its purpose as
variety of objects and
different sized desk
essentials can be stored
efficiently.
Existence of different sized
compartment makes this
storage multi-functional.
It will be targeted to
the student market.
It will not be suitable as this
storage is not compact and
doesn’t meet all the
specification points.
It will be
waterproof and will
be light weight.
Sustainable material
that can be recycled
after its life (such as,
plastics) will be used to
manufacture this
product.
Transparent plastic
sheets and tube will
be used to give
modern
appearance so it is
more eye catching.
Initial Design
Ranking: Design: Reasons:
1
I will develop this design as I think this has the most potential to meet all the specification points and to look most creative and funky in a
style of Memphis. It has the ability to store variety of different objects and I really like the smooth wave shape compartment and acrylic
tube pen storage.
Other people’s opinion:
-Unique and looks aesthetically pleasing
2
-It is very simple and I really like the smooth curves which reminds me of the piano shape.
-Very unique (I’ve never seen a design like this before) and I think it will sit comfortably on the desk.
3
-I like this design because it is aesthetically pleasing and very unique. I think it will look nice on the desk.
Initial Design Conclusion

Developing of Designs
 These are the Memphis
patterns, which I will be using
for making vinyl stickers for
my desk tidy.

Modelling and Testing
I used Art card to construct my final model. I decided to cut this out by hand as it gave me more freedom to modify my design. This allowed me to have a
clearer idea of what my product will look like. This allowed me to make various modifications to improve the functionality of my product. My first initial
changes were based on aesthetics and ergonomics and how the original shape did not work for the purpose intended. I found that the holes made for the
acrylic tube to house pens and pencils were not suitable as they took up too much space and stopped the acrylic tube from attaching to the main body of the
desk tidy. In addition to this the pencils fell out easily and were not balanced well.
This is the final design for
the pencil storage, still
inspired by the kerplunk
game design. It is now more
easily accessible, functional
and aesthetically pleasing.
However, if I leave the
design like this pencils could
easily move and will not look
unified. Therefore, I will add
the same design/panel on
the bottom layer to allow
pencils to be stored more
securely.
During the modeling, I have decided to
change the thickness of the acrylic sheet to
5mm for the main body as I realised that
3mm acrylic sheet would not be strong
enough to hold/ support the weight of all
objects as it would be too flexible.
After I finished making my card model, I decided to change the
measurements so it would be easier to design when using 2D design.
Initial measurements and changed measurements after modelling:
•112mm  110mm
•45mm  40mm
•112mm  110mm
•137mm  135mm
•40mm  30mm
•137mm  135mm
I added a side panel to clip pens.
By doing this, now the storage is
more compact and multi-
functional.
Hooks to hang
objects such as
rubber bands.
I will still drill a 8mm hole using the Pillar
drill like I intended to do in my original
design. However, after making
modifications to the design, I decided to
make holes to slot different lengths of
acrylic bubble rods to hook objects such as
rubber bands and USBs. I think this will
enhance the overall appearance.
Initial design inspired by
kerplunk game.
The acrylic tube and the main
body will be joined using
acrylic bubble rods.
Tray to
store post-
it notes.
The wood base and the acrylic
storage will be joined together
using either aerodite or screw.

(further modification)
First card model (cut out by hand) in action.
I chose to use art card model as they are cheap,
easy to use and make by hands.
I will change this design to stop dust
from collecting in. The top will be
covered with circular shaped acrylic
sheet.
I’ve now changed the size of
the rods/holes on the acrylic
tube to 6mm because there
was no 8mm thick bubble rods
available. I also decided to use
some light gathering acrylic
rods so it is more aesthetically
pleasing.
The scissor will be hooked
here instead.
Instead of finger joining this side
panel, I will engrave surfaces of both
bottom and top acrylic sheet to allow
side panel to slide in.
Each stored items can be easily
accessed.
Overall, I think my card model is successful as
it function in the way it was intended to. This
product is very easy to use, portable and is
easily accessible which meets my
specification points. It follows the style of the
Memphis and due to its geometric shape,
large number of desk essentials and objects
can be stored, yet still looks modern and
aesthetically pleasing. However, I will have to
make some alterations to the measurements
and make few modifications before start
manufacturing as I decided to change some
storage parts designs and didn’t include the
thicknesses of material into the
measurements when making this card model.

I decided to make three additional
acrylic rings to be glued underneath
the splatter shape hook, for extra
support and to increase the strength
of the joint where the splatter will be
glued to the acrylic tube.
All the storage parts drawn close as
possible to reduce the amount of
waste and material being used.
When I was making the first art card
model, I didn’t include the material
thicknesses to my measurements,
because the art card is so thin it
didn’t need the additional thickness.
So I have included the additional
3mm and 5mm thicknesses of
materials when designing on 2D
design.
The first storage net designed on 2D
design for the second card
modeling/testing.
5mm thick engrave line added to slot
side panel for drawer.
Making second art card
model using laser cutter
with new
measurements and
storage parts.
I will cut out the side panels separately when it
comes to the final making. I will join the side
panel together using comb joint instead of
bending 5mm thick clear acrylic sheet of the
main body using the strip heater. This is
because, 5mm thick acrylic sheet was too thick
for the pens to hook/clip on easily and
comfortably. Therefore, I will use 3mm thick
light gathering green acrylic sheet instead for
the final desk storage manufacture.
3mm thick acrylic sheet. The pens fits more
comfortably and have less chance of
snapping.
5mm thick acrylic sheet, which is too thick for
the pens to clip on properly without causing
damage or them snapping.

Tenol used to glue acrylic rings
and sheet together.
Strip heater used
to bend the
acrylic hooks.
Testing on acrylic tube
to see if it fits perfectly.
Storage in action. By hanging actual objects,
I can see how it works in real life, meaning that I can adjusts
the sizes/measurements if needed considering ergonomic
factors, aesthetics and its function.
Acrylic housing rings
glued together on
the splatter sheet for
additional support to
provide more gluing
area for the splatter
and the acrylic tube.
Hooks bent into 90
degree angles.
Dust mask must be worn to
prevent inhalation of the
tensol glue fumes.
Acrylic pieces cut out
using laser cutter.
Applicator used to glue
acrylic parts using tesol.
Acrylic has splited,
therefore I will
increase the speed of
the laser from
2.2 % to 4.0 %.
Testing finger joint
being cut using laser
cutter.
5mm thick clear
acrylic being bent
using the strip
heater for testing
finger joint.
Heating 5mm thick acrylic sheet for
15 minutes was too long. The plastic
around the engrave line have
melted and has changed its shape,
therefore I will heat it for shorter
time.
A perfect finger joint.
The side panel wasn’t in the
correct size so it created a gap in
between. Therefore, I made
changes the measurements.
-Expanded both top and bottom
by 5mm.
-Moved the two joint at side by
5mm towards right.

Engr
ave
Spe
ed
Power PPI Time Depth Rate
1 80% 60% x 1:00 0.5mm
2 25% 100% x 1:15 1mm
3 15% 100% x 1:30 3mm
Testing engrave
lines to find the
best depth.
Practice engrave
lines drawn on 2D
design, each with
different properties
of power and speed.
Red cut line with speed of 4% was too
fast and didn’t cut out the shape fully .
Therefore, I will change the speed to
3.8% for the final piece.
The top panel wasn’t
bent into 90 degree
angle.
Engraved line for the
housing joint for the
side panel.
Finger joints for the side
panel .
Due to the thickness of the material (5mm acrylic
sheet), unfortunately I couldn’t bend each corners into
90 degree angle as it would of snapped. In addition,
since the material is so thick, it created curve finish
when bended into shape. This is why the slot for the
ruler warped.
Because of these things I will not be able to have high
quality finish therefore, I will have to change the
design. Instead of having engrave lines and bending
using the strip heater I will have each compartments
finer jointed. By changing it to finger joint, I will be able
to have perfect 90 degree angle and will be easier to
match the side panels with the main body.
The slot for ruler has
warped.
The mould for the vac form tray was too
big so I made the base 5mm smaller on
both sides using the sander and carbon
paper. By doing this, the tray will fit
more comfortably inside. In addition,
during the forming process the H.I.P.S
didn’t fully shape around the mould so I
will make sure that it will not happen
again by pressing the H.I.P.S sheet
against the mould (wear gloves). I made
sure that all corners were rounded
before using vacuum former to prevent
H.I.P.S from ripping.
It didn’t fully shape around the mould. The angle is not at 90
degrees.

Final Design H.I.P.S tray and the Frame (Part 3):
This vacuum formed tray will be used for storing post it notes. It
will require no finish as it will be made out of 2mm thick white
H.I.P.S sheet, which will already be smooth and clean enough
even after being vacuum formed into shape. However, I will have
to be wiped the tray with wet tissue to remove the parting
powder off. In order to make the tray, I will first start off by
cutting sheet off MDF in to block of 92mm by 92mm to make a
vacuum form mould.
The frame to hide the edges of the vacuum formed tray will be
drawn on 2D design and will be made from both white and green
light gathering acrylic sheet. It will be cut out on the laser cutter
to save time and to have accurate and high quality finish. After
cutting the frames out, I will clean all surfaces of the frames
using methylated spirits with some tissue to remove any marks.
Two frames will then be glued together using liquid solvent
cement (Tensol). I will be sticking black vinyl sticker for
decorative purpose, which the design is inspired by the Memphis
pattern.
Part Material Thickness Colour
1 •Plywood
•Acrylic
•17mm
•3mm
•N/A
•Light gathering green and white
2 •Acrylic sheet •5mm and 3mm •Clear and light gathering green
3 •H.I.P.S.
•Acrylic sheet
•Vinyl Sticker
•2mm
•3mm
•N/A
•White
•White and Green
•Black
4 •Acrylic tube
Sheet
•Rods
•0 40mm
•3mm
•0 6mm
•Clear
•Light gathering green
•Light gathering green and clear (bubble)
Main body (Part 2):
This angular/ geometric shaped main body
is designed in a style of Memphis.
Drawer and panels will be added to make
this desk storage more multi-functional and
suitable for the users to use in everyday
life. Drawer will be used for storing small
stationeries and other desk essentials, such
as paper clips, erasers. The panel will be
attached to the right side of the top
compartments to hook pens, which will be
easily accessed and therefore, user friendly.
To match the white cap fitted inside the
holes for the tube to hide the drill mark,
one of the housing ring on the tube will be
made out of white 3mm acrylic sheet. By
adding colour of white, it makes my
product more stylish and aesthetically
pleasing.
Plywood base (Part 1):
The base for the desk tidy unit will be made out of 17mm thick plywood. I chose to use plywood as it will
look nice with the acrylic compartments and will have aesthetically pleasing finish once the varnish is
applied. In addition, since the plywood isn’t hard to work with, it will be time effective and will be
suitable for mass production in industry. Water based varnish will be used as a finish as it is
environmentally friendly and easy to use. It will enhance and bring out the wood grains, which will
improve the quality of finish. Four legs will be attached into the holes underneath the base (glued with
araldite), which will be drilled using pillar drill and 10mm drill bit to raise the storage off from the table
surfaces to give breathing space.
Acrylic tube and the Splatter hooks (Part 4):
The acrylic tube will be used to slot acrylic rods in to hook
objects such as, rubber bands and USB’s. The splatter top will be
cut out on 3mm thick green light gathering acrylic sheet, also for
hanging purposes. However, this time for a larger objects such
as scissors.
Total size of the storage:
Length: 280mm
Width: 140mm
Height: 256mm
 Memphis pattern which I will be
using for my sticker design.

Cutting List
Part Material Thickness Length x Width Colour Quantity Price
Tray H.I.P.S 2mm 92mm, 92mm Clear 1 £0.15
Main body Acrylic sheet 5mm 590mm, 140mm Clear 1 £2.50
Pen hook Acrylic sheet 3mm 135mm, 50mm Light gathering green 1 £0.20
Side panels Acrylic sheet 112mm, 44mm Clear 2 £0.30
Drawer Acrylic sheet 3mm 500mm, 190mm Light gathering green 1 £2.85
Tall storage tube Acrylic tube 0 40mm 200mm (length) Clear 1 £1.31
Splatter hook Acrylic sheet 3mm 158mm, 128mm Light gathering green 1 £0.60
Rings Acrylic sheet 0 46mm
0 46 mm
0 20mm
3mm (length/height)
3mm
3mm
Light gathering green
White
Light gathering green
4
1
2
£0.34
Tube top cover Acrylic sheet 0 46 mm 3mm
(length/height)
Light gathering green 1 £0.06
Hook Acrylic rod 0 6mm 25mm Light gathering green 3 £0.12
Hook Acrylic rod 0 6mm 35mm Clear (Bubble) 3 £0.11
Stickers Vinyl stickers NA 200mm, 147mm
0 46mm
Black
White
1
1
£0.12
Base Plywood 17mm 220mm, 130mm N/A 1 £1.13
Mould for the
vacuum former tray
MDF 15mm 92mm, 92mm N/A 1 N/A
White Caps H.I.P.S
Acrylic
0 46mm
0 20 mm
3mm
3mm
White 1
4
£0.09
These are all the materials and measurements needed for manufacturing a successful desk tidy, which also includes estimate total cost of materials
needed. If this product was to be mass produced in industry, the prices for each product will be lower as the manufacturer will bulk buy the materials,
therefore the cost will decrease with higher profit.
5mm
=£9.98

Evidence of CAD/CAM
Template of the first and
second wood base drawn on
2D design. (Red cut line:
Speed- 45%, Power- 100% )
Screenshot of tessellation/
nesting of all the light
gathering green acrylic parts
on 2D. (Red cut line: Speed-
5.2%, Power- 100% )
Screenshot of tessellation/
nesting of all the white acrylic
and H.I.P.S on 2D design. (Red
cut line: Speed- 5.2%, Power-
100%)
Line colour: Speed Power PPI
Red (cut) 3.8% 100% x
Black (engrave) 100% 10% 600
Green (engrave) 15% 100% x
Blue (engrave) 100% 25% x
Laser cutter properties for the main body (5mm):
CAD (Computer Aided Design) and CAM (Computer Aided Manufacture) is commonly used in both industry (large scale
production) and school workshops. They are used in industry to batch/ mass produce products as they are time efficient (fast)
and offers consistent high quality finish and accuracy. They are also used amongst the school workshops as they are fast (time
effective) and reduces human error in addition to minimising waste materials (designs can be nested on CAD), making it also
cost efficient. However, there are also some disadvantages as well. Both CAD and CAM can lead to loss of traditional methods
of production. It also demand high initial costs and requires a use of certain program such as Window 7.
In this project, I used both CAD and CAM machines. If my product was to be mass produced in large quantities in industry,
both CAD and CAM will be used in a larger scale but in a similar way.
CAD:
In this project I used 2D design as CAD to draw each of my plastic compartments that will be made (Acrylic and H.I.P.S). By
using CAD, it has allowed me to visualise the final product that will be made, which has helped me to further make precise
modifications, improving the quality and accuracy of my product. I made sure that all compartments were drawn closely
together (tessellation/ nesting). This reduces the waste and material being used therefore making my product more
environmentally friendly and cost effective.
CAM: Computer Aided Manufacture
I used laser cutter as CAM machine, which has allowed me to have accurate and aesthetically pleasing finish for all my plastic
compartments. I used laser cutter to cut all my plastic parts because it is time effective and accuracy and quality finish are
guaranteed. Vinyl plotter was also used to cut vinyl stickers for decorative purposes for my desk storage.
Shapes cut
out on the
laser cutter.
 Laser
cutter
White vinyl sticker for the splatter top to hide the
glue mark.
Vinyl
sticker
design
drawn on
2D design.
Vinyl
plotter 
Final design of the main body and a drawer drawn on 2D design.

Plan of Making
START
Gather 5mm thick clear acrylic
sheet for making main desk
storage. L-590mm, W-185mm.
(5 min)
Is the
material the
correct size
and colour?
Yes
Yes
No
No
Place in laser cutter, open 2D
Design file, send to print: Red
Cut= Speed 5.2%, Power 100%,
Black Engrave= Speed 100%,
Power 10% (12 mins)
Is the surface
clean?
Has it cut out
properly and
engraved
correctly?
Clean the surface of acrylic to
get all marks off using
methylated spirits and tissue or
similar cleaner. (5 mins)
Repeat steps 2 and 3 for all
other light gathering 3mm green
acrylic pieces for the drawer,
rings, pen hook & the splatter
hook (20 mins)
Switch on the strip heater and
leave it for few minutes until it is
hot enough to bend. Place the
acrylic sheet over the wire (main
body). (8 mins)
Have all the
storage
pieces been
cut out
correctly?
No
Is the acrylic
sheet
bendable?
Bend each engraved line into a
90 degree angle. Wait for few
minutes to cool down to set into
shape. (60 mins)
Has it bent
correctly? Is
it the correct
angle?
Place the green light gathering
splatter hook over the strip
heater to bend the hooks.
Repeat step 5. (15 mins)
Are the
hooks bent
at a 90
degree
angle?
Create 2 sets of 3 x green light
gathering acrylic rings. Glue with
tensol using the applicator.
(10mins)
Glue the tube top cover and the
1 set of housing rings to the
splatter hook with tensol using
applicator. (3 mins)
Are they
glued inline
with each
other?
Is everything
inline with
each other?
Cut 3mm thick, 0 40mm clear
acrylic tube into length of
200mm using junior hack saw.
Smooth the surface using wet
carbon paper (P180).(45 mins)
Using junior hack saw, cut out
3 x green light gathering acrylic
rod (L- 25mm) and 4 x clear
acrylic bubble rod (L-35mm). (15
mins)
Using pillar drill with 6mm wide
drill bit, drill 6 holes on the
surface of the acrylic tube
randomly but evenly spread. (5
mins)
Are the holes
evenly
drilled?
Does it fit perfectly
with the acrylic
splatter hook?
No
No
No
No No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

Plan of Making
Does all rods
fits perfectly
into the tube
holes?
Cut 10mm thick MDF into a
block of L- 92mm, W- 92mm
using a tenon saw.
Use sand paper to smoothen
any rough edges. (45 Mins)
Place the former in a vacuum
former. Place a clear 2mm thick
H.I.P.S above the mould. (1
mins)
Turn on the heater and leave it
until the plastic is ready for
forming.(5 mins)
Has the
H.I.P.S
became soft
and pliable?
Is the mould for
vacuum former in
correct size?
Turn the heater off. Allow the
H.I.P.S sheet to be vac formed
and cooled sufficiently. Remove
the plastic from the vacuum
former. ( 5 mins)
Trim the excess plastic off from
the vacuumed shape using
coping saw, sander and
smoothen any rough edges
using wet carbon paper. (25
mins)
Drill a hole using forstner bit (0
41mm). Sand the edges and
smoothen the corners using
sand paper. (?mins)
Has it been
shaped
correctly?
Has the plastic sheet
being clamped to
the correct position?
Does the tray
fits into the
slot of the
main body?
Cut 10mm thick plywood into a
sheet of L- 230mm, W- 140mm,
using jig saw and cut into shape
of wood base using template.
(60 mins)
Is the
material in
the correct
size?
Does the
acrylic rod fit
inside the
hole?
Apply clear water based varnish
using a brush. Make sure to
clean brush with soft bristles.
(60 mins)
Screw or glue the main storage
to the plywood using araldite in
to the correct place. (15 mins)
Does all
storage units
look
proportional
to each
other?
Has both wood dye
and the varnish
covered all surfaces?
Place the correct coloured
sticker inside the vinyl plotter.
Open Photoshop, press print.
(5 mins)
Stuck the
stickers into
the correct
places?
FINISH
Glue rest of the housing rings at
the bottom of the acrylic tube
using tensol after placing inside
the base hole.
(15 mins)
Using wood filler, fill all the gaps
between the acrylic tube and
the plywood base. (15 mins)
Has all the
gaps been
filled?
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No

Manufacturing Diary
This is a screenshot of my
first and second template
of the wood base drawn
on 2D design (CAD). The
laser cutter was used to
cut the template out.
(Speed- 45%, Power-
100%)
Marking out the final design on
the wood using the template. It
was very useful to mark out all
lines accurately. A sharp pencil
was used to go over the outline of
the card template.
All corners and edges were
smoothened using sad paper
after being cut out using jig
saw. Apron was worn for all
time. Tri-square, metal rule,
eraser and a sharp pencil
was used to mark out the
point for the holes to be
drilled for the legs.
Grey card was used to
create the template. I
moved the hole in by 5mm
towards the main body for
the second template as it
was too close to the edge.
Holes were drilled on each
corners using pillar drill and
10mm drill bit for the legs. I
also drilled a hole for the
tube using 0 41mm forstner
bit. Safety goggles and apron
were worn during this
process. My hair was tied at
back to prevent accident.
4 holes was
drilled
accurately into
correct places
and have made
sure that
0 10mm clear
acrylic rods
fitted inside all
holes tightly.
All surfaces were
smoothened using carbon
paper. G-clamp was used
to hold the work in place.
The scrap wood was placed
between my work and the
clap to prevent the base
from getting scratches and
getting dent marks. Apron
was worn for all time.
Screenshot of the net of
splatter top, 0 46mm
green housing rings and 0
20mm green rings for the
legs which were drawn on
the 2D design. Each parts
were laid closely to each
other to minimize the
amount of material being
used, therefore I was able
to minimize waste
produced.
Splatter top and rings
were cut out on 3mm
thick light gathering
green acrylic sheet
using laser cutter.
Speed- 5.2%
Power- 100%
All white compartment
needed for the legs and
tube are drawn/ laid
closely to each other on
the 2D design and was
cut out using laser
cutter.
Arcylic 3mm:
Speed- 5.2 %
Power- 100%
H.I.P.S 2mm:
Speed- 5.5%
Power- 100%
3mm white acrylic and
2mm H.I.P.S caps and
rings were cut out on
laser cutter for the legs,
tube and to cover the
drill mark on the wood
base. For the drill cover,
I used 2mm H.I.P.S as
3mm acrylic was too
thick.
Using liquid solvent cement,
the splatter hook, rings and
legs for the base were all
glued together using the
applicator. Dusk mask and
apron were worn for whole
time. Scrap paper were
placed underneath the work
to prevent table from
getting damaged.

Manufacturing Diary
Using a junior hack saw,
acrylic tube was cut into
length of 200mm (0
40mm). Both ends of tube
were smoothened using
wet carbon paper (P180).
An apron was worn
throughout this process.
Set of housing rings were glued on to
each side of tube. Places for the
holes for the rods were marked on
with permanent marker. Tube was
clamped to prevent from moving
when drilling the holes with 6mm
drill bit. Tissue paper was placed
between the tube and the clamp to
stop the surfaces from being
scratched and to minimize the
pressure to the tube to prevent from
cracking. Safety goggles and an
apron were worn at all times.
After drilling the holes with
a pillar drill, all holes were
filed to down using needle
file to make them bigger
and making it easier for the
rod to fit in them. I made
sure that I didn’t file off too
much to ensure the hole
didn’t become too tight and
that the rod could no longer
fit into the hole as it is
supposed to.
After cutting the
rods into the
correct sizes
using a coping
saw (25mm and
35mm) each end
was smoothened
using wet carbon
paper (P180 and
P1000).
Here I am testing out and
adjusting the lengths of the
rods that are poking out of
the acrylic tube. I tried a
variety of different lengths
until I was 100% satisfied
with how far the rod was
poking out of the tube. The
surface of the acrylic tube
were cleaned to get all marks
off using menthylated spirits
and a tissue. Then, all rods
were glued to the tube using
tensol.
Water based wood varnish was used
as they are environmentally friendly
(can be washed down the sink) and
is easy to use (easy to apply, fast
drying and can be removed). When
applying the varnish, I used a clean
brush with soft bristles to spread
the varnish evenly and neatly.
Apron was worn all time during this
process. Another coat of varnish
was applied on each surfaces and
sides once the first coat fully dried
(3 coats all together).
MDF was cut into a block
using tenon saw for vac
forming mould. Using sharp
pencil, metal rule and tri-
square, lines were drawn
on each four sides (4 mm in
from the sides) accurately.
Belt sander was used
to sand the edges off.
Carbon paper (P180)
was used afterwards to
smoothen all surfaces
and round each
corners/ sharp edges.
Safety goggles and
apron was worn when
using the machine.
Baby powder was put on to the MDF
mould as parting powder so it will be
easier to take the mould out from the
vac formed shape. MDF block was
placed inside the vacuum former.
Heater was turned on for 10 minutes
and were put over the H.I.P.S for 1
minute. After making sure that the
plastic sheet is pliable and flexible
enough, heater was removed.
Four sets of legs were
glued together (4 light
gathering green acrylic
rings and 1 white
acrylic cap for each
leg) using tensol. I
then cut acrylic into
length of 18mm to
hold each of the rings
in place.
After gluing cap on the
splatter hook, all three
hooks were bent into
90 degree angles using
the strip heater. An
apron was worn and
my hair was tied back
throughout this
process. This took
about 15 minutes in
total.

Manufacturing Diary
H.I.P.S sheet successfully
vac formed around the
mould. The tray was left
inside the vacuum former
until it cooled down
sufficiently and was then
removed. Gloves and
apron was worn all time.
All the excess plastic were
trimmed off using coping saw
and the belt sander. I made
sure that the tray fits
perfectly inside the main
body slot (using the body
from modelling and testing).
Each sides were smoothened
using wet carbon paper (P
180).
Frames to
cover the
edges of the
vac formed
tray were
drawn on the
2D design.
The frames didn’t
require methylated
spirits to clean the
surfaces after being cut
out because it was done
by the laser cutter,
therefore had a quality
finish and did not need
cleaning.
Testing to see if the
frame fits perfectly and
comfortably around the
tray.
Two frames was then glued
together using tensol. I made
sure each frames were in line
with each other by gluing it
on the flat and smooth
surface area. Apron was
worn to protect clothing
during this process and dust
musk was also worn to
prevent inhalation of tensol
fumes.
Using araldite, all four legs were glued into
each of the holes underneath the base of my
design. I used a thin strip of acrylic from the
recycle bin to mix the resin and catalyst
together. An apron was worn throughout
the whole gluing process as I didn’t want any
of the glue to get onto my clothing.
White H.I.P.S cap was
also glued into the holes
to hide the drill mark
from the forstner bit
using araldite.
After the four legs were
glued into place, the
base was left on the flat
surface enabling the glue
to fit properly. I waited
about 24 hours to ensure
the glue had fully dried
and that my work was
not at risk of falling
apart.
Vinyl sticker was printed
out using a vinyl plotter
(CAM). I designed my
design on 2D design
(CAD).
Unwanted vinyl sticker parts were
removed using craft knife and
scissors. It was then transferred onto
transfer tape using squeegy and was
then decorated/ placed on to the
white acrylic frame for the vac
formed tray.

Manufacturing Diary
After sticking the vinyl sticker
into place, the frame and the
vac formed tray were glued
together using araldite. I made
sure the frame and the tray was
in line with each other by
working on the flat surface.
Side view of tray after
being glued together
with the frames. All
corners and sides are in
line with each other.
White vinyl sticker was made
for the splatter top to hide the
glue marks. In order to get
sticker placed perfectly in place,
I was standing up to allow me
to see from above to be more
accurate.
Both side panels for the very bottom
compartment was remade. They were
both shortened by 5mm as the panels
were too big and were on the way of
the back panel to fit in. In addition,
one of the panel cracked as the joint
was too tight and big to fit into the
groove, therefore I had to also remake
this panel and file of the sides more
using a needle file. Apron was worn
during the filing process.
All acrylic sheets were cleaned with
methylated spirits and tissue before
gluing together. I made sure to glue
firmly all parts together in correct
angles/ places. I also made sure that
there wasn’t any glue on my fingers
not to leave my finger marks on. Clean
paper was placed underneath the work
to prevent acrylics from getting
scratched and to prevent table from
getting damaged from glue spill.
Apron was worn all time during this
process.
Llight gathering acrylic sheet were
used to make the drawer. This time,
all finger joints were made bigger
by 0.12mm as 0.25mm was too big.
As a result, I didn’t have to file off
the joints as all finger fitted
perfectly. 0 6mm acrylic rod and
rings were used to make to holder
to pull the drawer out. Methylated
spirits and some tissue were used
to clean the acrylic and were glued
together using liquid solvent
cement. Apron was worn whole
time.
Memphis style black
sticker for the front
of the drawer were
designed on 2D
design. It was then
decorated/ placed
on to the drawer
using scissors, craft
knife, transfer tape
and squeegy.
All the compartments
including the vac formed
tray, the main body, tube
and the plywood base
were glued together using
araldite. I made sure not to
put too much araldite to
prevent glue from oozing
out. All compartments are
glued perfectly in place.

Evaluation
Here are some photographs of my final completed desk tidy taken from many different angles. I am happy and satisfied with the overall outcome of this product. I
will be discussing about the possible improvements which could be made in the modification section.

Evaluation
Here is my final desk tidy in action on my desktop. Range of stationeries and other objects are placed in/on.

Evaluation
The purpose of this project was to make a storage
device which is compact and multi-functional to keep
desk essentials/ objects neatly in place. I was required
to design a storage unit in either one of the design era
or a designer. I chose the style of Memphis as it
inspired me the most and liked its geometric shape
and colourful designs. Overall, I think I have done well
following a style of Memphis. After referring back to
my design specification, my product doesn’t meet all
the criteria on the specification. However, the product
is easy to use and functions the way it was intended
to.
What went well:
1) All compartments/ sections can be easily accessed
and is aesthetically pleasing. The smooth surfaces and
contrast between the colours green, black and
white/clear gives a modern appearance, which
appeals to both genders and the ages between 13 –
30 years.
2) The storage uses various materials. However, it is
mostly made out of acrylic. Reusable plastics from the
eco/recycle bin were used for small parts along with
other sustainable materials and finishes (non toxic/
harmful chemicals and materials). All designs were
drawn closely to each other (tessellation) when
designing on CAD to minimize the waste as much as
possible.
3) In addition, since it is made using CAD/CAM, it can
be mass produced in industry. By using CAD/CAM it
allowed the product to have high quality, finish and
accuracy.
4) Due to the reasonable price, it appeals more to the
target customers, which makes it competitive with
other existing products. The fact that the storage is
portable and is appropriately sized for desktops also
makes it more appealing to customers.
Ways of preventing the same problems from occurring in the future product:
One of the main problem I had when manufacturing this product was getting the finger joints and
housing joints perfectly and firmly fitting in place for the main body. I had to remake the finger joints
several times to get a perfect fit. After testing several times, I found out that in order to have a
perfectly matching finger joint, I need to expand both sides of the joint by 0.12mm. In addition, getting
the groove sizes (depth and width) right was also a challenge I faced during manufacturing. To get the
housing joint right, testing also had to be done a few times. This increased the material usage
unnecessarily, which resulted in inefficient use of money and puts unnecessary pressure on the
environment. Therefore, I will ensure to use the data collected from this project and reduce the need
to conduct multiple tests next time. By doing this, it will help to prevent the same problems occurring
in the future, also helping to minimize the environmental impact.
Testing against design specification:

Evaluation
Consumers: What do think of the style of the product: Any like/ dislike features? Would you want to
purchase? How much
would you be willing to
pay for the product?
Any advantages/
disadvantages compared
with similar products?
Person 1
(age 25)
•Modern.
•Unique unlike any other storage device I have seen
or used.
•It almost looks like a small rainforest, which helps
to create a refreshing atmosphere on my desk.
•I like it because its bright, modern
and it will lighten up my desktop.
•Because it is transparent, I can see
what is stored inside.
•It looks professional.
Yes, definitely.
At least £26
•I like the fact that it
looks very functional at
the same time
aesthetically pleasing.
Person 2
(age 40)
•It is very unique
•Multi-functional
•Eye-catching
•Bright colour creates happy
atmosphere
•I think the combination of shapes
(squares and round shapes) is very
balanced.
Yes.
£25-£30
•I think it is very eye-
catching so I think many
people will be interested
in buying amongst other
desk stages.
Person 3
(age 15)
•Eye catching
•Quirky design
•Very modern with an interesting twist
• Great use of space and very
compact when on a desk
• Funky colour scheme used with
appealing stickers in a Memphis
style
Yes I would definitely
purchase one if in need
of a stationary storage
device
£25- £30
Unique use of materials
and has a very
professional finish. Again
compact and great
hanging device for USB’s
and elastic bands.
Opinions of others:
Modifications made to the product:
I made a few changes to my design through the manufacturing process. To support
the weight and structure of the main body, I made four small pillars out of the 5mm
thick clear acrylic sheet using the laser cutter. It was then glued on to the edges of
the first and second compartments as it didn’t have any support structure unlike the
bottom compartment where it has two side panels. By adding these pillars, it has
made my product look more structured and stylish.
Additionally, I decided not to join the tube and the main body together as it looked
nicer to keep them independent.
Furthermore, I made a white vinyl sticker for splatter top to hide the glue marks
which I didn’t initially plan to do for the final design. I also made a black vinyl sticker
in a style of Memphis pattern for the front of the drawer, and also for the splatter
top.
Further modifications for the future product after testing:
Although I am satisfied with my overall outcome of the product, if I was to make my
product again I would want to make some modifications to my design. I would want
to increase the height of the second compartment to make it much more easier to
access and store objects. This is because the current height of the second
compartment is 27mm, which may not be wide enough for some people (aged 13-30
years) to put hands through when placing objects.
I would also want to try making this storage with different materials in different
ways. I could perhaps use wood instead of plastics and make it more classical and
traditional, which may also appeal to older people.
Here are some impressions I received from people surveyed.

Desk Tidy

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