2. AlessKerrie Parkin
C o n t e n t sC o n t e n t s
3. History of Alessi
4. Consumer needs - Alessi Products
5. Alessi Products continued…
6. Alessi Products continued…
7. Product Analysis
8. Design Signatures
9. Project Brief And Specification
10. Consumer needs - Questionnaire
11. Analysis of information
12. Analysis of information
13. Analysis of information
14. Customer needs – Product disassembly
15. Product Objective
16. Specification
17. Initial Ideas
18. Initial Ideas
19. Initial Ideas
20. Initial Ideas
21. Final idea
22. Development
23. Development
24. Modelling
25. Modelling
25. Product analysis - Dyson
26. Product analysis - Dyson
27. Manufacturing methods
28. Manufacturing methods
29. Manufacturing methods
30. Plan of manufacture
31. Testing
32. Testing – Questionnaire
33. Evaluation
34. Evaluation
3. AlessKerrie Parkin
H i s t o r yH i s t o r y
The Italian company Alessi is made up of multiple
designers such as the famous Philippe Starck who are employed to create
retro, funky, unique designs, however they are all uniform.
Philippe Starck was born in 1949 in Paris he has been considered one of the
most original and creative designers of our time. The Grand Prix National de
la Création industrielle and the Honor Award of the American Institute of
Architects are just some of the awards he has achieved for his outstanding
performance in design. He considers himself as "a Japanese architect, an
American art director, a German industrial designer, a French artistic
director, an Italian furniture designer".
Starck is famous for many of his designs such as the lemon squeezer which
he designed for Alessi. He joined the business in 1986 and began working on
the French project.
Alessi use modern and expensive materials such as plastics and stainless
steal to create an individual design. Colour is very important to the designs
created by Alessi and usually bright, eye catching colours are used, such as
red, florescent green and yellows. In some cases pattern can also be used
however, the same pattern has become apparent in all products. It tends
to be made up of multiple small squares of colour.
The fun, outrageous designs and colours attract a wide audience as unlike
other designers who take a serious approach to their work, Alessi make
their products fun. A lot of the products also use geometric shapes and
curves an example would be the triangular kettles created.
Kerrie Parkin
4. AlessKerrie Parkin
C o n s u m e r N e e d s - A l e s s i P r o d u c t sC o n s u m e r N e e d s - A l e s s i P r o d u c t s
Kerrie Parkin
These are just some of the Alessi products I have included these pictures so the theme of the
company can be seen.
These are bottle stops which have been designed for
Alessi as you can see there are made from coloured
plastics and use a simple but effective design.
The shape which they have used is that of a bird.
These are Alessi finger nail clippers.
Again the bright colours have been
used and the material which they have
been manufactured in is plastic. The
designing is again simple yet effective.
The brightly used colours look very
retro and as if they are attracting the
audience of children. However
children will not be needing kitchen
appliances nor house hold objects as
they’re not expected to have their own
home.
This image is showing kitchen timers.
It has been manufactured by using
several materials such as plastic and
stainless steal. However once again
bright colours have been used along
with a modern design.
The product comes in a variety of
colours and I feel this is so it attracts
a wider target audience, as peoples
kitchens vary is colour and style,
therefore Alessi have catered for
every kitchen.
This style of
design which
resembles ears to
me can be seen a
lot of Alessi
products again
this is a design
signature to the
specific designer.
It also makes it
look very childish
and this is the
image they tend
to work with,
5. AlessKerrie Parkin
A l e s s i P r o d u c t s C o n t i n u eA l e s s i P r o d u c t s C o n t i n u e
d…d…
These are shaped in the form of
people. The women has been made
into a bottle opener and the man a
bottle top.
In comparison with the other products
seen these give the impression
although they look childish they are for
adults. This is because not just one
bright colour has been used but a
variety of coloured blobs have been put
onto the product to give it colour and
design, which look effective and
modern.
People happen to be used a lot throughout the company and this is
another design signatures. Other examples include the egg timer
created by the same designer Alessandro Harequin. I feel that
people are used a lot as the outline of a person can be altered and
manipulated into so many designs which will then make new
products. For example the bottle tops on the right.
Repetition of the form of the design is common throughout Alessi.
This is so they can bring out a range of products which are all
related.
The Coffee machine uses the same style of
colour this shows that it is in the same range
as the bottle people.
This is an egg timer designed
also by Alessandro Harlequin,
the same face of the person
made of stainless steal has
been used along with the
plastic base. However unlike
the other products only two
main colours have been used,
and again the child like
appearance has returned.
These are also part of
the Alessi range, and
you can see how the
same form has been
used but they have been
made to have a different
appearance.
Repetition of design
6. AlessKerrie Parkin
A l e s s i P r o d u c t s C o n t i n u e d…A l e s s i P r o d u c t s C o n t i n u e d…
Kerrie Parkin
Animals and nature are also used
throughout the Alessi range. This is
an example of a kitchen roll holder
which has been placed in the shape
of a carrot as the theme is rabbits
and a carrot can be linked to this
animal as its what its stereotyped to
eat. Also plastic rabbits have been
placed next to the huge carrot to
give it a childish look. This looks
effective as its making nature look
fun. Which will attract people.
The designing is very simple and like other designs
bright plastics have been used. I feel that plastic
has been used as it is very resistant, cheap to
manufacture and comes in a variety of colours.
These are examples of
flowers the plastic used
however on this product is
not transparent like seen
with the rabbits. Plastic
has been used as its strong
and can withstand vast
amounts of impact.
These are squirrel food bowls,
again the design has been based
upon nature however unlike the
other products, metal has along
with plastic been used. Metal will
have been used as it wont scratch
easy.
The squirrels have been made out of plastic as a mould
will have been designed then it can be used in mass
production and every product will be identical.
Rabbits have also been
used in this design
however instead of
linking it with food they
have put the rabbits in
top hats, this is linked
to magic and what
people would recognize.
7. AlessKerrie Parkin
P r o d u c t A n a l y s iP r o d u c t A n a l y s i
ss
Kerrie Parkin
These are Alessi cake stands. Plastic has been used to mould the people
who are holding the glass circular top. Metal possibly stainless steel has
been used as a base, this is because stainless steel is commonly used
within the kitchen as it doesn’t stain and is very resistant to impact.
Plastic has been used as its easy to manipulate and a its an easy method
of manufacture using injection moulding. Using injection moulding will
ensure that all the products are identical.
Glass will have been used as its easy to maintain and it looks effective.
Glass is also very strong therefore it’s a good material to use as if I were
to use plastic it perhaps wouldn’t have held the desired cake.
The product has been designed to hold cakes and biscuits, it can also
been used for show as it doesn’t look like your basic cake stand and this
will appeal to the Target audience.
The product has been made safe to use as the glass edges have been
rounded so they are not sharp. The stainless steal has also been used in
the same way unlike the plastic which will be smooth anyways as it has
been injection moulding and smooth curves have been used.
This cake stand has been designed to be in the kitchen, I imagine that
the house owner will use this stand to display there baked items, as its
fashionable and unique.
The style of the stand is very modern and fun to look at and yet it serves
its purpose. This is because it looks as though its been designed for a
child. Its modern due to the unique design and the inexpensive use of
plastic with glass and light weight metal. Its very simple and appeals to
a variety of people.
To make the plastic people injection moulding has been used this is
where a mould has been created and melted plastic is pushed into the it
and then left to solidify, this will have been used as its cheap and
guaranteed that all the products will be identical.
• I believe this product will be targeted at he younger generation
and people who are starting their new home, this is because its
very modern and stylish which is what young people will want in
their new home, also they won’t mind spending a little extra
money on a designer cake stand as they will have the money to buy
everything new.
•The appearance of the product is stylish, simple, child like yet
modern. The materials used are not too expensive and they all
compliment one another. I say its childlike as bold, primary colours
have been used such as blue and red. These colours are usually
associated with children. Its been designed like that as young
adults which is the target audience will have just matured from
childhood and this design is something childish to keep them still
feeling like that however its modern and looks grown up. I think it
looks grown up because of the materials used as they isn’t much
colour which would be linked to a child.
•I believe that to manufacture this product it wouldn’t cost too
much money, however it wouldn’t be inexpensive either as there
are a lot of manufacturing methods which are needed to create it.
The stainless steel base will have
been press stamped this is where
the a sheet of steel has been
placed within a machine and its
stamped down onto it causing it to
bend and shape in the way which
they wish. The glass will have just
been cut however to keep it nice
and smooth and safe it will have
been sanded and treated.
8. AlessKerrie Parkin
D e s i g n S i g n a t u r e sD e s i g n S i g n a t u r e s
Design signatures are what the designer uses to allow the buyer to
know that all the work is uniform. It is used to identify the specific designer of the product.
An example would be Philippe Starck where he uses the curves and the known horn shape which can be seen
on his latest Japanese architecture. This is so that when people admire the building they can link it directly
with him. This technique is used commonly whilst designing.
Not only do designers have a design signatures but also companies can. I am researching into Alessi and
although its made up of multiple designers, its work can still be recognized as being one of the countless Alessi
products.
It can be recognized as Alessi tend to use modern materials such as brightly coloured plastics for products such
as egg cups and dental floss holders. Stainless steal has been used in the past for products such as Philippe
Starck’s lemon squeeze or the popular various kettles designed.
Kerrie Parkin
9. AlessKerrie Parkin
P r o j e c t B r i e f & D e s i g n S p e c i f i c aP r o j e c t B r i e f & D e s i g n S p e c i f i c a
t i o nt i o n
Kerrie Parkin
I intend to design a product in the style of the company Alessi,
using the design signatures and techniques of the various
designers.
The theme I am to use is the one of which I have to design a
product that can be used in the home. It also has to be
modern and fun like the examples I have illustrated.
I will target an audience of young people possibly in their early
twenties as Alessi’s designing methods are very modern and
will appeal to the younger market. The product that I design
and manufacture will target perhaps first time home buyers
this is because they will want their house to look modern and
they will have the sufficient money to spend on designer house
ware. Alessi product’s are known to be modern due to the
materials that are used of brightly coloured plastics, glass and
metal.
First time home buyers would be interested in them as they
will be designing their own home and will want to be up to
date with the latest house hold trends, also they will have the
money as majority of first time buyers do not have a family to
support. Perhaps the products will appeal to them as they are
buying everything new therefore they don’t mind spending the
extra money on the name, as it’s what will last them along
time whilst in the home.
Lupita – Dog BowlLupita – Dog Bowl
Specification -Specification -
• It needs to appeal to my target audience of young adults (18 –
25).
• It needs to be modern using a variety of materials.
• It needs to be manufactured using plastic.
• The colours need to be bright and use the style of retro.
• It needs to serve a purpose.
• It needs to use more than one colour.
• It has to look childish yet appeal to adults.
• It has to use the design signatures of Alessi so its uniform to
other Alessi products.
• It will contain all components in a box, so it can be
transported easily.
• I will compose a note so that it adds to the childish theme
telling them how to care for their product.
10. AlessKerrie Parkin
C o n s u m e r N e e d s - Q u e s t i o n n a i r eC o n s u m e r N e e d s - Q u e s t i o n n a i r e
Kerrie Parkin
Alessi Product Questionnaire
As part of my As Level product design course work I would be
grateful if you could find the time to answer a short
questionnaire. This will help me in designing a suitable product
in the style of Alessi. I intend to create a small child like product
and I am seeking the opinion of people to aid my designing.
What would you prefer the product to be in the style of?
• An animal 8
• A method of transport i.e a Boat 3
• People 1
• Nature 0
• Halloween 8
• Other (Please State) 0
What colour(s) would you prefer?
• Yellow 1
• Pink 3
• Green 1
• Blue 1
• Orange 2
• Red 1
• Aqua 2
• Purple 1
• Black 4
• White 4
• A range of colours (Please State colours) 0
• Other (Please State) 0
What material(s) would suite the product best?
• Acrylic 7
• Hardwood 4
• Softwood 0
• Man made wood i.e MDF 0
• Stainless steel 8
• Glass 1
• Other (Please State) 0
Where would you wish to have your product?
• Bedroom 1
• Bathroom 2
• Living room 0
• Kitchen 8
• Dining room 0
• Hall way 0
• Garden 8
• Other (Please State) 0
Would you want the product to be childlike?
• Yes 13
• No 7
Would you prefer the product to be modern or traditional?
• Modern 14
• Traditional 6
Thank you for time we will consider you opinions whilst designing and
manufacturing our Alessi Product.
11. AlessKerrie Parkin
A pie chart to show what theme people wanted
Animal
Transport
People
Nature
Halloween
Other (Please State)
A pie chart to show what colours people prefered
yellow
Pink
Green
Blue
Orange
Red
Aqua
Purple
Black
White
A range of colours (Please State)
Other (Please State)
A pie chart to show what room people wanted
products to be in
Bedroom
Bathroom
Living Room
Kitchen
Dining Room
Hall Way
Garden
Other (Please State)
A pie chart to show what materials people
prefered
Acrylic
Hardwood
Softwood
Man made Wood i.e
MDF
Stainless Steel
Glass
Other (Please State)
A n a l y s i s O f I n f o r m a t i o nA n a l y s i s O f I n f o r m a t i o n
Graph 2
Graph 3
Graph 4
Graph 1
12. AlessKerrie Parkin
A n a l y s i s O f I n f o r m a t i oA n a l y s i s O f I n f o r m a t i o
nn
A pie chart to show if people prefered their product to be childlike
similar to that of an Alessi product
Yes
No
A pie chart to show whether my target audience prefered my
product to be modern or traditional
Modern
Traditional
Graph 6Graph 5
I have conducted a survey of twenty people this is to ensure that I met all of the user needs.
It also gives me an idea of what my target audience of young adults wants out of a product. I
have had to take into considerations the likeness of Alessi products hence why the questions
are not open ended. If I were to use open ended questions I don’t feel I would benefit from
the primary research.
I have displayed my results in the form of pie charts as I feel that the information can be
easily read and understood.
13. AlessKerrie Parkin
A n a l y s i s O f I n f o r m a t i oA n a l y s i s O f I n f o r m a t i o
nn
Kerrie Parkin
After looking at the information which I have collected from my
questionnaire and by looking at my pie charts I am able to identify
what the popular options are for my target audience of younger adults.
Out of the twenty people questioned eight said they would like to see
the product in the form of an animal and eight said they would like to
see it in the theme of Halloween. Animals and people are common
amongst Alessi and are one of the many design signatures, so this is
beneficial to my studies. Nature is also a very popular throughout the
younger generation so I am surprised to find that none of the people
asked wished the product to be themed on this. I feel Halloween was
so popular due to the time of year in which I conducted this survey.
However it is typical of Alessi to create products based on a theme
throughout the year.
Graph 2 shows which colour people would prefer the results are show
that majority wanted black or white. I think that these colours
appeared to be popular as they are used quite a lot within industry
however Alessi tend to use bright colours such a green, yellow and
pinks. Although they have created a black and white magic bunny
(shown right). From looking a the pie chart you can see that although
black and white were the popular colours the tended to be spread out.
Graph 3 shows what materials people would want to see my
product to be manufactured from. Acrylic and stainless steel tend
to be the materials which Alessi use and from my results people
said that these two materials would be most suitable for the
manufacturing of my product. I feel that these were the most
popular as they are modern materials and are used a lot in
today's society, therefore people are use to seeing them.
Products change depending on their environment therefore I have
to take into consideration where people would be wanting to
place the finished product. An example would be if they want to
put it outside in the garden than perhaps a waterproof finish will
be needed, to protect and preserve it. As people won’t be
wanting to buy my product if it isn’t going to last a long period of
time. To give me an idea of where people will be positioning my
Alessi product I composed a question, the results from this
question had two clear places. They were the garden and the
kitchen, each has more votes than the others, the least likely
areas where the living room and dining room. I feel this was
because Alessi products can be quite childish therefore they need
to be put somewhere where they compliment the environment for
example the Bathroom, or garden. Also Alessi design and create a
lot of products such as condiments and there is a lot of ideas that
can be generated from this. From Graph 5 I am able to identify
that people want to see the childlike theme continue from Alessi
products onto mine. Therefore it needs to be in a room where it
will blend in however not ruin the room. Along with its childlike
appearance people also wanted it to have a modern theme rather
than a traditional which could be seen in other designers, for
example Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Out of the twenty people
questioned 70% said they would prefer for the product to be
modern.
14. AlessKerrie Parkin
P r o d u c t D i s a s s e m b lP r o d u c t D i s a s s e m b l
yy
Kerrie Parkin
I have dissembled an Alessi product to see what
methods of manufacture have been used also to
see how the company have assembled the product.
I am also able to see if the product works and
meets all of its specification.
I am composing a product disassembly on an Alessi
salt and pepper pot.
The product has been injection moulded using blue
acrylic. Blue is a good colour to use as it appeals to
both genders therefore your market audience is
wider, also it’s a neutral colour and
will attract a variety of people as it blue tends to compliment most colours
within the home.
Along with blue acrylic stainless steel has been used. This makes the
product look modern and from my questionnaire I was able to see that this
is what the target market are wanting. The stainless steel not only gives a
good appearance but it also gives the product strength. There were a
stainless steel base of about 8mm in thickness and a thin, bendable rod. The
rod has been put into place as it gives it the characteristics of a typical salt
and pepper stand. Also to make the product a little more fun and childlike
magnets have been put onto the feet on the men therefore you can attach
them. However this is a disadvantage as whilst on their sides, the salt and
pepper fall from the eyes of the men, therefore it isn’t meeting its criteria.
On the other hand the steel base catches the wasted materials, so this could
be seen as an advantage. The base also has the disadvantage that it gets
dirty very easily, this can’t be helped as its due to the material which it has
been made out of. As you can see from the image it collects fingerprints
easily.
So the base doesn’t scratch and doesn’t slip a plastic base has also been
added. This looks effective as it isn’t the typical base. Its simple put makes
the product fun.
The salt and pepper men are made
up of two pieces of plastic, a top
and the main section. These screw
together to make a complete
pepper pot. I think this looks good
and is a good design as you can then
use two different forms of plastic,
like Alessi have. The two blues
compliment one another and make
the men look interesting.
A disadvantage is the size of the men this is because there are
very small and not a lot of salt or pepper can be placed within
them. This isn’t good as it doesn’t appear practical within the
home.
15. AlessKerrie Parkin
D e s i g n O b j e c t i v eD e s i g n O b j e c t i v e
I aim to design a salt and pepper pot which are identical in shape and size,
however I am going to use various colours to allow customers to identify which is
which whilst using the products.
I want the product to look similar to an Alessi product and I will be using several
techniques to do this such as, lack of detail, making the product look simple and
childlike. I will use bright colours which will not only attract the audience but
also give it an Alessi feel.
I will also be designing and manufacturing a stand which the salt and pepper pots
can fit on. I will use several materials as this will give the product a professional
feel to it and will also make it look appealing and aesthetically pleasing as other
materials such as acrylic come in multiply colours.
16. AlessKerrie Parkin
S p e c i f i c a t i o nS p e c i f i c a t i o n
Appearance –
The product needs to be based on a
theme like all Alessi products therefore I
have decided upon the theme
Halloween.
I am going to make the product fun and
use bright, vibrant colours, however
these colours much compliment one
another.
Materials –
I am going to use acrylic and stainless
steel to continue the Alessi trade mark
however I am unable to manufacture
these materials within school therefore I
am going to create a prototype using the
3D printer and paint the product
according to the material which will be
used. An example would be metallic
silver will be used to make a particular
section look metal.
Processes –
I will be using CAD CAM in order to
manufacture my prototype. In order to
do this I will have to design my product
on pro-desktop and then manufacture it
using the 3D Printer. Once manufactured
I will have to then paint the product to
give it the appearance that it has been
made out of my desired materials.
Product Life –
I will want my product to last a long
length of time however I want the
newness to fade so that people will go
out and purchase another product.
Standards –
My product will have to meet the legal
requirements, such as the British
standards and as Alessi world wide it will
have to meet European standards.
Competition –
In industry there are a lot of
competition. I am going to make my
product stand out and attract the
potential audience which is about. In
order to do this I am going to create a
funky, retro and childlike product.
Packaging & transport –
Once manufactured you may want to
package the product this is to protect it
whilst transporting it internationally to
and from the retailers. The packaging
needs to protect the product, therefore
bubble wrap can be used as its cheap
and readily available. I am not designing
nor manufacturing the packaging due to
insufficient amounts of time, however it
could be an idea for a later project.
Quality –
The quality of the product is going to
have to be high, as Alessi products
are sold for a lot of money. People
aren’t willing to pay the amount of
money I’m selling it for if the quality is
not up to standard.
Testing –
I am going to test my product by
allowing people to use it once made and
then I will evaluate what they think of it.
I will then be able to make
improvements if necessary.
Environment –
I am aiming to use a products which are
friendly to the environment as this
appeals to people in today’s society. In
order to do this I am going to try and use
a minimal amount of material and
recycle the material wasted.
Maintenance –
When the final Alessi product is created
a small cleaning cloth could be included
similar to that that you receive when
buying jewellery, this is because it will
allow the product to continue to shine
however eventually it will wear off and
the customer will be forced to purchase
another. It will need to be cleaned as
stainless steel scratches easily.
17. AlessKerrie Parkin
I n i t i a l I d e a sI n i t i a l I d e a s
Rating Rating
I have rated this idea at level four. I like this idea
as although its simple it still has design to it. I
didn’t want the sides to be straight down as I feel
it wouldn’t appeal to the target audience as it
would be boring and not fun like Alessi aim there
products to be. The grey sections will be made
out of stainless steel this is because its commonly
seen not only in Alessi products but also within
kitchens; as its easy to maintain. However I
wouldn’t consider manufacturing this product as
not many kitchens are purple. The purple sections
will be made of plastic, as the combination of
stainless steel and plastic is a design signature of
the company. The idea shown is just one of three
as they will be used as tea, coffee and sugar tins,
however I don’t have the machinery to create this
idea so I will be making a prototype, using the 3D
printer and I will then paint it according to the
material I am wanting to use.
I have rated this idea at level two this is because
its too complex for that of an Alessi product.
Although it is based on the Halloween theme
There is too much detail within the hat of the
witch and also on the facial features of the two.
This product has also been given a low rating due
to the ergonomics. This is because it will be very
hard to hold the cat in the hand due to its tail,
also this feature will be brittle and perhaps could
fall off. The hat of the witch would also be too
heavy to stay on the head, therefore it wouldn’t
fit the needs of the audience as the salt and
pepper wouldn’t stay in the product. Also the
broom will be very brittle and could fall off, as
Alessi products tend to be expensive the customer
will not want this to happen. I would indent the
plastic to create the facial features, as then the
salt wouldn’t fall out unintentionally. I plan to
have the salt coming from the top of the witches
hat and also from the cats ears. I would use
stainless steel for the base so that the pots could
stick to the base using magnetic. This is typically
seen in the designing of Alessi.
Rating
I have rated this idea at level four as I feel that it
has similar characteristics as those products from
Alessi. This is a container it can be used to store
sweets or other small items. I have designed it in
the form of a pumpkin as pumpkins tend to be
large in size and the design is fairly round,
enabling more space. Also I am able to use the
stork on the top as a lid. I will use orange paint as
this is typical of a pumpkin. I have used bold
colouring so the design is simple, yet effective,
also this was seen with existing Alessi products. I
will use plastic, this is because it is readily
available, its resistant and comes in a variety of
colours. I have chosen the ellipse shaping as Alessi
tend to use simple shapes. I like this design as its
simple and sticks to my specification.
18. AlessKerrie Parkin
I n i t i a l I d e a sI n i t i a l I d e a s
Rating Rating Rating
I have rated this idea at level three as although I
like the idea I feel that the colouring isn’t one
which is seen within a kitchen. Kitchens tend to
use natural colours such as greens and reds. If I
were to create this idea I would change the
colouring to suit the needs of the audience. I
would use plastic to manufacture this idea, I
would use opaque plastic for the lid and
transparent for the base. This is because it
separates the biscuit tin and also sticks to the
design signatures of Alessi. I have included small
circles on the side which will be indented into the
product. I am unable to cut these out as the aim
of the product is to preserve the biscuit and if air
is to get to them it will make the food go moulding
therefore not stick to its purpose. In order to stick
to the Halloween theme I have turned the top of
the lid into the form of a cats head, this is simple
yet effective. I have not included any facial
features as I feel that the detail of the circles adds
the fun, retro aspect of Alessi however it still
keeps it simple.
I have rated this idea at level four this is because I
feel that the idea is appealing and aesthetically
pleasing to my audience. Again it uses the
combination of stainless steel and plastic. I have
used the mixture of two materials as there is a
lack of detail and the use of the two gives it
simple yet attractive appearance and also links
into the Alessi and Halloween theme. Again to
keep it with my Halloween theme I have used the
image of a bat. The idea could be used to store
small items such as sweets or perhaps biscuits.
However I wouldn’t consider this to be my final
design as the shape looks outdated and doesn’t
really have a retro or modern feel to it. I
particularly like the colouring as blue is a popular
colour, however you wouldn’t find any food which
is blue and this could hinder its popularity within a
kitchen.
In order to take off the lid I will include finger
grips which are shown on the bat wings, this is so
it doesn’t spoil the design nor obstruct its
ergonomic aspects.
I feel that this design doesn’t completely stick
with my theme of Halloween hence why I have
only given it a level two rating. Although the lid
has been shaped in the form of devil horns it is
hard to recognize and I believe that it could be
mistaken for something astrological. Like the
other idea I don’t like its shape and its appears to
be outdated. I particularly like the red colouring
as this is a colour which you would typically find in
the kitchen. I would manufacture a prototype if I
were to create this idea as I don’t have the
sufficient machinery to manufacture the idea. I
have used a rounded shape as this provides the
highest amount of space and if it is used as a
biscuit tin these tend to take up a lot of space.
I think that too much stainless steel has been used
as Alessi tend to use it in proportion with the
plastic and this could put off customers as steel
tends to get finger marks on it easily.
19. AlessKerrie Parkin
I n i t i a l I d e a sI n i t i a l I d e a s
Rating Rating Rating
I particularly like this idea and am considering it for
my final hence why I have given it a level five.
I have given it a level five as I feel that its
appearance is one which you will see in the Alessi
range. Although its still linked to Halloween it still
has the fun, childlike theme to it which Alessi use
often in their designs. The base will be made from
stainless steel and the witch figurines of plastic. In
order to get the salt and pepper into the figures I
am going to allow people to remove the heads this
will also be the way in which salt can be poured out
of them. This makes the design fun and is also
practical. I don’t want my product to
be the same as others on the market as it won’t
appeal to my audience. I have used the colours of
blue and red as these are the typical colours of
opposites. However I don’t favour the bat as this is
too complex for Alessi design, yet I will need for
something to separate the figures and also it can be
used as a handle to hold the stand.
This design is similar to that of the witch stand
however the two are identical and this could
become a problem when identifying from the salt
and pepper. To identify between the two I will
include one hole for salt and several for pepper,
this is commonly found in the kitchen. I have given
this a rating of four as although the design is good
and appealing towards the Alessi target market it
wouldn’t fit into the kitchen like I feel the witch
design would. This is because the red is very bold
and stands out. I have altered the base from the
ellipse shape to a bean shape. I have done this as
the bat top wouldn’t have looked right therefore I
included a sphere which made the design look
simple and bland. Therefore the bean shape gives
the design a more appealing approach. In order to
insert salt and pepper into these figures I will
include a bung on the base similar to that found on
a piggy bank. A stainless steel rod has been placed
on the base so that the salt and pepper can be
carried about, it also splits the two pots up. Unlike
the design I used for my product disassembly the
rod will not bend as the pots will be very heavy and
need the strength to support their weight.
This idea uses the typical design of a cake stand. I
have included a two tier system as then the
customer has more space and also it’s the
standard design for companies. The tiers will be
made of glass as although not often used by Alessi
some designs do include it. The rod to hold
everything together will be made of a strong
stainless steel and the bat of plastic. I have chose
to bend the rod as then it makes look a little more
like something you expect to find at Halloween. I
have chosen the bat as the top as due to its wings
it can be picked up and balanced between the
fingers. The glass sections will be laser machined
out as this will be expensive I will use a prototype
of clear acrylic however I will still use the laser
machine. I particularly like the design therefore I
have given it a level four rating.
20. AlessKerrie Parkin
I n i t i a l I d e a sI n i t i a l I d e a s
Rating Rating Rating Rating
This has been based on the timer from
Alessi however I have altered it to form a
cat although it looks simple I think its
effective. I have used the colour
yellow/orange as it looks appealing and
they are typical colours found within a
kitchen. Although I like this design I have
not given it a level five rating as I feel
that they may be a problem with the
timer standing up and this could be
discussed in development. I would have
to manufacture two individual sections
and then using research find a way to
allow the top to move to pull on the
timer. However due to insufficient time
and also lack of technology I would have
to make a prototype which could then be
presented to Alessi. By using a prototype I
wouldn’t have to include all the
mechanics of it. I mainly like the lack of
detail as I believe this looks similar to an
Alessi product. Although the design is
based on a Halloween theme I feel that
this isn’t as strong as perhaps with other
designs.
This design has been based on the Alessi
egg cup, however I have slightly changed
the design so it fits with my theme of
Halloween I have given this idea a rating
of level three as although I think its
good. It isn’t my own work. I could base
my idea on the design of an eggcup
however Alessi have designed a lot
throughout the years and I’m aiming to
do something completely different. I
like the use of colours in this design. I
have chosen to use the colouring of
green as its found in a lot of foods
therefore used in the kitchen. The two
shades of green have been used so that
the design can be split up into two this
makes it appealing. I have given it a
level three rating as it is very childlike
and this is what I am aiming my product
to be like. I predominantly like the way
in which the spoon is also with the
product and it can be stored in the hand
of the man., this makes the product fun.
This is something which I will consider
with my final idea.
This is a salt shaker in the form of a
cats head, it is one of two. I have
given the head feet as due to its
rounded base it can not stand without
them another alternative would have
been to flatten the base however this
would look boring therefore
unappealing towards my audience. It
would also take away the fun aspect
of Alessi designs. I have chosen to
use stainless steel for this product
and use no plastic which makes this
idea different from others. I have
chosen to do this as its different from
other ideas although it could still be
linked to Alessi. I would create a
cylinder within the product which
would hold all the salt, in order to
insert the salt into the pot I would
unscrew one of the feet. Although
this makes the idea fun it could be
likely that it could become fragile
therefore be prone to breaking.
These are storage devices in the form of
two cats. I have used two different sizes
as they could then be used as perhaps
pasta and spaghetti containers. I have
slightly altered the shape from my first
idea as I felt that this shape was
aesthetically pleasing and designed
according to ergonomics. This is as it fits
snug into the hand. I need to take into
consideration the fact that peoples hands
maybe wet when picking it up so the
shape improves the grip. I have given it a
level four as it is I feel that it can be
adapted easily to create a fun and
enjoyable Alessi product. I have combined
stainless steel with plastic which is
common amongst Alessi designs. I have
used blue and green as these look good
together.
21. AlessKerrie Parkin
F i n a l I d e aF i n a l I d e a
I have chosen to design and manufacture my idea of the
witches this is because it incorporates Halloween and also
looks childlike. I will also be able to include several
materials as the idea is made up of several components
such as a base and two pepper pots.
Base
I am designing this on pro-desktop which is CAD
software this will allow me to decide upon the height
and width of each section. It will also allow me create
the bat top accurately and professionally. I am going to
machine the bat, zig-zag stick and base all individually
as it will be very fragile if it is made up of one piece
and this could cause damage to the piece. Also it will be
very hard to sand down in the shape that it is and this
could also cause damages.
Once machined out I will need to remove all the access
power from the product and sanding seal it, this will
harden the surface and prevent it from breaking.
Other materials?
Instead of using the 3D printer I could also take into consideration the
use of acrylic. This would be a good material to use, as it comes in a
variety of colours and is traditionally used in Alessi designs.
Unlike when designing the design in pro-desktop to be manufactured on
the 3Dprinter, when dealing with acrylic you must use coral draw. Again
this is CAD software however it is compatible with the laser machine and
uses different coloured lines to do various things. I will need to make all
the lines red, this will mean that the laser machine will recognise the
lines to cut them out. Unlike black lines which the laser uses to etch out
the design.
However I wouldn’t be able to create the 3D stick and bat on the top of
the stand. This is because the laser machine uses 3mm thick acrylic, if I
were to make a ball I would have to stick several acrylic pieces together
22. AlessKerrie Parkin
D e v e l o p m e n tD e v e l o p m e n t
This is a pro-desktop image of the head of the salt shaker. I
am unable to draw it directly onto the bottom section as its
an individual component. Originally the head and body were
going to be attached together and the salt was going to be
inserted into the product via a bung similar to that found on
a child’s piggy bank. I chose to do this as it was childlike.
However I want for my design to be fun like Alessi intend all
there designs to be. In order to do this I have decided to allow
the head to be removed. Not only is this different but its easier
to design and use.
I found it difficult to design, as I was unable to find a radius for
the top of head, therefore i would have to use trial and error
this isn’t very reliable and would cost a company a lot of money.
This is showing my final design of the cone which I
will be using as the salt and pepper pot. I have
developed the design by inserting a straight
cylinder extrusion on the top of the cone. I have
done this not only so the manufacturing is easier
but also the head will fit on correctly. If I have
time I could insert a clicking device which will
ensure that the head doesn’t fall off from the
cone.
The idea is that the cylinder section will be
placed inside of the head section. I have
chosen to do this as then the salt is secure
Within the pot until the head is removed.
This is fun yet practical to use in the kitchen,
creating a modern addition to your kitchen utensils.
I have used the material
of glass to demonstrate
where the cylinder will
be. Although I won’t be
using glass on the real
product but in fact
plastic I felt that it
allows you to see the
length of the cylinder in
which the salt or pepper
will be stored.
I have re-designed the head and I am
now able to know that it will fit the top
of the cone perfectly. I know this as I
have extruded the circle to remove
material. I have only extruding in by
5mm as this is the height on the cylinder
on the top of the cone.
This is demonstrating the 5mm extrusion where the cylinder of the cone will fit.
This is also 5mm in height so that it doesn’t fall off.
This is showing the stand which my salt and pepper pots
will stand on. I have chosen to create this out of
stainless steel, this is so it breaks up the use of plastic,
as too much plastic could make my product look cheap
which would mean it wouldn’t fit my specification of
Alessi work.
Although my idea shows that the to of the base has a bat
rather than a ball I have chosen to simplify the idea as
this gives it the characteristics of an Alessi product. I
have chosen to extrude the base rather than keep it flat
as this gives the idea stability.
Rather than have a straight bar joining the
ball to the base I have chosen to create kinks
in it which emphasise its shape and design.
The kinks also remove all the straight line
which I have used in the shape of my pots.
This makes it more appealing towards the
eye.
23. AlessKerrie Parkin
D e v e l o p m e n tD e v e l o p m e n t
This is one of my original designs. As you can see I have stuck to the original idea that I will
insert a rod between the two pots to separate them. However I have altered my first idea to
suit the needs of not only the consumer but also Alessi. I have chosen to simplify the design so
that it fits to the Alessi ways of designing. Also the broom would have been very fragile once
manufactured and I wouldn’t have wanted it to break. Therefore I have changed the design to
that of a stainless steel bat, as this is resistant and durable. Although I have since then
changed my design again, in the sense that the wings of the bat have been removed to leave a
ball. I have done this as I don’t want the audiences eye to be taken away from the design of
the pots.
I have considered inserting
the letter P onto the
pepper pot and S onto the
salt as this will not only
allow people to identify the
individual pots but it will
also split up the large
blocks of colour, which are
to be used.
I have not only simplified the design
by removing the design of the
broom, I have also removed the
detail from the characters such as
there eyes, tail of the cat and
stitching on the witches hat. This
makes it look a lot like a product
sold by Alessi.
This is a pro-desktop image of
my designed head for the top
of the pot.
Again this will be made out of
plastic like the other sections
of the product. I have chosen
plastic as it is resistant and
also easy to maintain, and
used a lot with Alessi
designers.
I have altered the hat of the witch, this is
because I didn’t want for the pots to be so
tall. Therefore I had to remove some height
from the hat as the cone shaped body as
been designed using ergonomics to fit snug
in the hand.
This is showing the hat on top of the
head. I particularly like this smaller hat
as I feel that it makes the design look
childlike. I am able to change this bit of
the design as originally I was going to
allow the salt to be placed in this
section however I have developed the
idea sothat the salt is now placed within a
cylinder sector of the cone which is
shown on the previous slide.
There is no link here, like
in the original as there is
no need for it no more
due to the salt being
stored in the main body.
I have intruded the circle
to 5mm this is the length
of the cylinder on the
cone. This is so it fits
snug on the top and can
be removed when salt is
needed. This will prevent the spillage of salt or pepper and it will stop other
items falling into the salt. The hole has a diameter of 1cm identical to that found
on the top of the cone.
I have extruded the ring around the hat so that it has
the characteristics of a witch. I also believe that it
improves the products appearance as it splits up the
simple lines of design which I have used.
Without this I feel that the design
would look boring and this may
make it look unappealing towards
the target market.
24. AlessKerrie Parkin
M o d e l l i n gM o d e l l i n g
This is my first attempt at manufacturing my salt and pepper pots.
However I have found faults within the design.
I have used the 3D printer as I am creating a prototype which I will paint
in order to give it a professional appearance.
Once manufactured the brim
of the witches hat became
very fragile which caused it to
brake and fall off, as you can
see from the image. This isn’t
the professional approach that
I am aiming for, and it
wouldn’t be aesthetically
pleasing.
It broke off as it was only
1mm wide, therefore I have
made it bigger to ensure that
this doesn’t happen again.
This is the hole which the
salt or pepper will be stored,
from my modelling I realised
that it was too long in length
which would cause a lot of
salt to pour out when not
needed.
This is again showing
how unprofessional the
hat looks due to it
falling away.
I feel that the head
is too small in size as
after researching
into other Alessi
products it has come
to my attention that
in order to make the
product look
childlike and cute
they use proportions
such as making the
head bigger than the
body.
Although Alessi keep there
products looking plain and
simple and this is one of
their design signatures. My
idea looks boring and
unappealing, which isn’t
what my specification says
it will be like. It needs to
be fun therefore I am going
to include the letter S on
the Salt pot and the letter P
on the Pepper. This will
also make it easier to
identify which pot is which.
This is another paper based model, each are the same height of
80mm, however i have made the cone smaller in width, this is to test
to see which feels better in the hand.
I have also used a smaller beaded ball, this was to see which looked
better against the main body. After these tests I have chosen to go
for a larger head as it looks more in proportion.
25. AlessKerrie Parkin
M o d e l l i n gM o d e l l i n g
This is another paper based model example of a
tested pepper pot, however unlike with the others I
have gone with a smaller, wider approach. This was
just to see which felt and looked better in the hand.
This felt to small, and would easily brake. I could
also not put any detail onto it which I have decided
the product needs as it doesn’t look fun.
Also not a lot of salt of pepper would fit inside this
product and this may put consumers off, as they
keep having to refill it.
This is my paper based modelling. I
used paper along with a ping pong
ball to judge the sizing of the
pepper pot. I needed to use
ergonomics so that it was practical
and would fit into the hand of the
consumer.
I also didn’t know what sizing to
use on the witches head therefore
I used a ping pong ball, as this was
30mm in diameter and looked
adequate with the main body.
This image demonstrates how the larger
pepper pot, looks and feels better in the
hand.
Due to its size the people felt more
comfortable having it in their hand. Also
in kitchens water is present and if the
consumers hands are wet then the larger
size will enable it to be easier to hold.
26. AlessKerrie Parkin
P r o d u c t a n a l y s i s - D y sP r o d u c t a n a l y s i s - D y s
o no n
The vacuum cleaner Dyson was designed and created
by James Dyson. He doesn’t believe in the product
looking good but in it working. However after looking
into the product he’s made it look fun and interesting
this is by the use of various components, colours and
materials.
I will be analysing the Dyson DC08, this vacuum has
been designed to fit in cupboard.
Appearance
Although Dyson don’t believe in the products looking
good they must take it into consideration, this is as its
what catches the consumers eye.
Dyson have used clear acrylic plastic, this makes the
design look fun and appealing. As the plastic is clear it
allows the consumer to see if it is working correctly
and if it isn’t what the problem is. The way in which
the plastic emphasises the technology and also makes
the design fun and interesting.
Rubber wheels have been used, rather than the usual
plastic wheels, although this is more expensive it
allows the vacuum to be taken on all surfaces and it
won’t scratch them. This makes the product practical
and also appealing, which are Dyson’s aims.
As Dyson aimed to fit the vacuum in a cupboard
therefore they introduced an adjustable wand. This
was because the smaller vacuum was designed to save
space and after research, due to the wand it was the
same size as the stand up vacuum cleaners. It was
based on the tripod method however they didn’t want
to have to click the joints into place, so it expands and
fixes into place itself.
I like the use of clear acrylic as I think it benefits the
consumer as well as the company, this is because it
allows the customer to see the insides of the vacuum
therefore the technical side which Dyson want.
Materials
Mainly a variety of plastics have been used, this is
because it comes in multiple colours, is resistant,
cheap and easy to manufacture.
Processes
The machine has been injection moulded, this is
because it allows products to be manufactured easily
and cheaply. Another advantage is that all the
products are identical. This is something which Dyson
will want as if the designs were altered each time,
then if something broke on the vacuum there wouldn’t
be able to fit another piece. Also they know that the
particular design works well, therefore each will need
to be the same as faults may occur.
Injection moulding also ensures that there is less
waste, which is beneficial to Dyson. This is because
money isn’t being wasted as all the materials are being
used.
Joints
Dyson rarely have no joints, this is so if the vacuum
breaks down then the consumer is able to open it up
and find the problem, and this prevents them from
ringing the helpline. Also due to all the components
being with the machine it can be easily put back
together. The clear plastic also helps with locating
the problem. I like the use of joints as it allows the
vacuum to move about easily, this is demonstrated
with the head attachment.
Flexible tubing
Joint,
allowing
head to
move
Rubber wheels
This is so it doesn't have to
be lifted from the floor, which
could cause damage. It also
allows the head to reach
harder places which other
vacuums haven’t been able
to reach.
The use of joints also allows
the machine to be made
small as all the attachments
come off, this is shown in the
picture. This was Dysons
aims so that it can fit into
small areas.
27. AlessKerrie Parkin
A fan has also has also been put into place which
cleans the dirty brushes, this prevents the machine
from breaking down. On standard vacuums the fans
are cleaned by the suction of air from the carpets,
however Dyson realised that this was dirty air and
reduced suction and power, due to the dirt getting
clogged within the vacuum. Therefore they have
inserted another hole which air passes through, this
also adds power and uses clean air. To prevent
damage to hard floors it can be closed off.
Design
The design is simple as Dyson don’t believe in what
they look like but how the technology works. Another
reason is that if the design was complex then it would
be costly, as the company would have to design
complex moulds for the injection moulding process.
Also the moulds would take longer to make and they
are more likely to go wrong. I particularly like the
Dyson design as I feel the simple design gives it a
modern feel and this will entice customers to purchase
the products along with its well known technology
aspects. Another reason why I feel the simple design
is the right route to go down is because in today’s
society people want good technology but at a cheap
price, therefore money shouldn’t be wasted on making
the design complex, if the simple design works best.
P r o d u c t a n a l y s i s – D y s o nP r o d u c t a n a l y s i s – D y s o n
Energy efficiency
I feel the Dyson DCO8 TW Animal is energy efficient.
This is due to the technological aspects such as the
shape and design of the product. The way in which the
fans has been used, so that new air is placed into
vacuum helps suction which means people aren’t using
the product for as long and this reduces the electricity
used etc.
Top view
Front facing view
When assembled
28. AlessKerrie Parkin
When the paint is dry then the product is sanded down this removes the
lines which have been created from the 3D printer. The paint needs to be
sanded off. Once this has been done then another layer of primer is
sprayed. The process is repeated three or four times to ensure that all the
cracks and holes have been removed.
You know when the product is ready for its first coat of paint as the surface
will be very smooth and no lines will be present. Once at this stage a layer
of primer is sprayed on so the product was one colour, it was then left to
dry.
M a n u f a c t u r i n g M e t h o d sM a n u f a c t u r i n g M e t h o d s
Once sanded down a primer of grey
spray paint is used. This is to give it a
smooth and professional finish which
would be found on the real product. A
thin layer is needed because if the
paint is put on too thick then it can
take a long amount of time to dry. Also
the paint can soak into the powder and
cause the product to become fragile
and brittle.
When the product had dried then the design is to be sanded down,
although its been harden its still very fragile therefore you must
handle it gently. Wet and dry sand paper is used as this isn’t as rough
as others, therefore it won’t damage the design. If rougher paper
were to be used then this may result in the loss of detail.
Once my design has been printed off it is very fragile and delicate
therefore to prevent it from breaking I used sanding sealer which
seals and hardens the product. The product is so delicate as it is
made up of powder therefore the resin helps to harden it and
reduce breakage.
With primer
Once sanded
When it was dry, then layers of your desired paint must be applied
to the product, this was done by the means of spraying it onto the
surface. However I did not spray a thick layer on first I built it up.
This gave the product a nice finish.
3D Printing
Laser machine - Base
To make my product look similar to Alessi I have designed a base for
my salt and pepper stands. I have created the design in coral draw
and then used the laser cutter to produce an acrylic shape. I have
designed it as a eclipse shape as I feel that there are a lot of
straight lines in the design of the salt and pepper pots, therefore it
makes it look appealing. I have chosen the colour black simply
because my theme is Halloween and my salt and pepper pots are
very colourful and I didn’t want the attention from them to go onto
the base. Although the base colour of black doesn’t fit into a
kitchen environment from my questionnaire you can see that black
was on of the top choices I feel this is because it is a modern colour,
along with white. Also the colour black won’t show dirt and perhaps
this could appeal to a customer, as it won’t require a lot of
maintenance.
This is my first attempt with the base as you
can see the pepper pot only just fits on it. I
want it bigger than this because I want the
user to be able to carry the salt and pepper
about and I feel it could fall off this easily.
Therefore I have made it slightly bigger
however still kept the hole in the centre the
same size.
The hole needs to be the same size as a
aluminium bar is to be place through the
centre of it. This is so it can be carried
about. Although my original idea was to
produce the stand on the 3D printer, it came
to my attention that this would take too
much time and also not meet the Alessi
design of using multiple materials.
29. AlessKerrie Parkin
M a n u f a c t u r i n g M e t h o d sM a n u f a c t u r i n g M e t h o d s
This is my second attempt at the base and as
you can see the pepper pot fits on
comfortable with space to spare. This is
what I was hoping for as I don’t want the
pots to get broken due to insufficient space.
Laser machine - Cat
Originally I was to have a cat designed on the bottom of my design
however due to my design breaking I had to fill in the hole which I
had made. Whilst trying to sand down the filler I noticed that
cracks were appearing around the fault and I didn’t want the hole
to get any bigger therefore I decided to create some acrylic pieces
which were to be placed on the base of the witch pot.
This will not only hide my fault but also incorporate the plastic
material of acrylic which Alessi tend to use a lot.
This is the original design of the salt
and pepper pots.
Originally I was going to machine out
the same cat design and slot it into the
intruded cat. However the filler
wouldn’t sand down enough for me to
do this and left it to stick out therefore
I needed to think of another way to insert the acrylic pieces
therefore I decided on creating a new base, design from acrylic.
Due to using the laser machine I could machine out the cat and
the outer circle on two different coloured and acrylic pieces
however they’d slot together perfectly.
In order to get the same sized cat design I exported my pro
desktop design on my pepper pot and used it as a guide to draw
the new design in coral draw. Once I had drawn it I did a tester
to see if the pieces fit, before machining my final design.
This is showing my testing of the cat
base. You can see that the cat fits
perfectly within the outer circle. This is
what I am wanting to do however I
want to use multiple colours so make it
look more effective.
The line you can see on this image is where the
laser machine has cut out the cat design. I have
made the outer circle to have a diameter of 60mm
this is the same size as the base of the salt and
pepper pots.
I have machined out just the cat for the black
section this is because I didn’t need the outer
circle however with the clear plastic I had to
include the cat design within the circle so that it
could be removed to leave the cat shape and
wasn’t a whole circle. I had to make sure that
the cat was central so that once glued to the
pepper pot the fault couldn’t be seen.
Due to the acrylic being clear it will
show the glue therefore I have designed
and machined out a whole red and blue
circle. I have chosen these colours as
these are the colours which the salt and
pepper pots have been coloured in
therefore it will still look apart of the
design. From the picture you can that
that I have then glue them together this
is to give the design stability.
30. AlessKerrie Parkin
M a n u f a c t u r i n g M e t h o d sM a n u f a c t u r i n g M e t h o d s
Bolts
In order to make my product look professional I have designed my
own bolt which is to be placed on top of my threaded bar and
aluminium tubing. This is combining both metal and plastic which is
similarly found with Alessi products. In order to do this I have used
the Lathe CAM Designer - 1214.LCD. This is the machine which will
create my bolt once designed.
I have made my bolt, to have an insert of 5mm and a diameter of
6mm this is because my threaded bar needs to fit comfortably
within the bolt and that also has a diameter of 6mm. I have
designed the bolt to look simple yet still have some design to it as it
was replacing the originally designed bat which was to be made
there.
A normal M6 bolt has been placed on the bottom of the threaded bar
therefore when the base was put into place it wobbled to prevent
this from happening I have used the same designed and machined
out four other knobs which will act as feet and make the base stable
for the salt and pepper stands. I have glued these onto the acrylic
using araldite, I am able to do this as the acrylic I have used is black
and not transparent so the glue won’t be shown.
This is the Lathe CAM Designer - 1214.LCDand
what I manufactured my knob on.
This is my bolt getting
machined out.
Aluminium tubing and threaded bar
I have used threaded bar for the bar of the stand because it is very
strong and I didn’t have sufficient time to manufacture it with the
3D printer. As the threaded bar is already made it needed to be cut
down to size, therefore I measured the length of the base which was
180mm and cut the threaded bar down to this size. However I need
to leave a 5mm gap at the top as this is where the knob would screw
on. I needed to take into consideration the gap for the base and also
the bolt on which will hold everything in place.
I wrapped the threaded bar in material so it wouldn’t
scratch and placed it in the vice, I then used a hatch saw to
saw it down to my desired length. I used the same
processed on the aluminium tubing however it needn’t be as
long as it weren’t going in the bolt no below the base.
Matching Bolts
Aluminium tubing
and threaded bar
Acrylic
base
31. AlessKerrie Parkin
P l a n o f m a n u f a c t u r eP l a n o f m a n u f a c t u r e
START
FINISH
Does the design fit the
final design?
Create the design on
Prodesktop CAD
softwareNo
Yes
No
Are all the materials
available?
Go & collect
materials
Is all machinery
.working ?
Yes
No
Check
..machinery
Are you taking safety
precautions?
Yes
Has the design
machined out well?
Yes
No
Go back and redo the
product
Yes
Have you put sanding
sealer on the product?
Yes
Have you sanded down
the product?
Yes
Is the product smooth?
Yes
No
Add another layer of
sanding sealer
Have you added a layer
of primer?
Have you sanded off the
layer of primer?
Yes
Is the product smooth
without dimples?
Yes
Have sprayed a coat of
primer?
Add another layer of
primer
No
Yes
Add a layer of primer
No
Have you sprayed your
first coat of paint?
Yes
Does your finish look
professional?
Yes
Sand down and add
another layer of paint
No
Does your finish product
need components
adding?
Yes
Yes
Add components
No
32. AlessKerrie Parkin
T e s t i n gT e s t i n g
Once I had created my product I had to test it
to see if it met its specification.
In order to do this I had to give it to the
customer and use their opinions to judge
whether the product could be used like I
hoped.
From the image 1 you can see that it fits in the
hand of an adult hand snug and this was want I
wanted, as these are the people that would be
using the product. The shape of the product
was an advantage, this was because is easy to
grip which meant that it didn’t slip out of the
users hand. It didn’t slip as the base is wider
than the top not only did it improve the
handling of the product but it also meant that
the product would stand up and can support
the weight of the large head (shown in image
2).
It also came to the attention from testing my
product that by enlarging the head it meant it
was a lot easier to hold and remove from the
base. Originally the head was enlarge in order
to make the design look more childlike as this
was a design signature of Alessi. When
questioned people said the idea of a stand was
useful to the design of the product as it meant
Image 2
Image 1
Image 3
that the product could be moved from
one room to another and also they felt
that it took away some of the childlike
aspects of the product and made it look
modern with the combination of metal
and black acrylic which worked well,
this was because it didn’t take the
vibrant colours away from the salt and
pepper pots.
The base also looked good when placed
within its designed environment of a
kitchen. The base meant that the salt
and pepper pots couldn’t go a stray and
could be placed together, it is also
aesthetically pleasing.
33. AlessKerrie Parkin
T e s t i n g – q u e s t i o n n a i r eT e s t i n g – q u e s t i o n n a i r e
I asked twenty people to give their opinion on
my final product, this was to see if it met my
specifications. I asked my target audience of
young couples.
Does it feel comfortable when held in the
hand?
Yes 15
No 5
Does it look like an Alessi product?
Yes 17
No 3
Does the product fit comfortably on the base?
Yes 13
No 7
In your opinion do you think the colours fit in
the kitchen environment?
Yes 15
No 5
The 5 people who said that the product didn’t fit
comfortably in the hand where men who had large hands. I
had to take into consideration the majority of my target
audience and I feel that with 60% people agreeing that it
was comfortable that it was.
68% of people agreed that the product when compared
against an original Alessi product had similarities, this met
my specification.
Majority of the people asked said it fit on the base
comfortable however 7 people disagreed with this. When
questioned they said that the salt and pepper could fall
off of the base as it was acrylic and slippery. Perhaps an
improvement could be that I could make the pots
magnetic when being manufactured in industry, this
attract them to the base and keep them in place.
60% agreed that the colours which I have chosen fit in with
the kitchen environment this was what I wanted and I
carefully chose the colours I were to use this was so it
would be useful and appealing for my target audience.
34. AlessKerrie Parkin
E v a l u a t i o nE v a l u a t i o n
How the project went? And problems encountered
I feel that the project went very well and I am pleased with my
final outcome. Although the product isn’t what I first hoped it
would be I think that the changes have made it an appealing
piece of work and also improved its appearance and uses within
the kitchen. The changes were made possible by the
organisation of time, and the research of similar products.
Although I experience several problems such as the bottom of
my salt pot collapsing and my finished product being misplaced.
The ways in which I dealt with the problem have proven to be
successful and the whole project has turned out well. I used
filler on the base of the pot to hide the cracks and make it one
level rather than have the cat design on show. However this
looked unsightly and was causing the pot to collapse more,
therefore I came up with the idea of designing acrylic pieces
which were to replace the original cat design. This looked
effective and hide the problem.
I was unable to find my finished pot top as it had been moved
within the college holidays. Therefore I had to manufacture the
head again., within the short time period I had. This lead to the
head not having a professional finish, like the original however
all the other components are finished to the highest standard.
Strengths
The strengths of the product are that I have used a constant
theme of Halloween throughout the project. Also my product
can be recognized as a witch, which was the intention after
testing my product on my target audience. They also said that
it had a childlike theme to the design which was in my
specification. The product looks similar to that of an Alessi product
and I feel this was down to changes that I made. I combined the
plastic with metal along with my prototype of a childlike design. If I
were to stick with the original idea of basing the whole project on the
3D printer I feel it wouldn’t have the same effect.
The idea of creating my own bolt makes the stand look unique and
people will pay vast amounts of money to have something which no-
one else has. This will appeal to customers. Not only did I design a
bolt for the top of the stand I also manufactured matching metal feet
which are glued to the acrylic base, the combination of black acrylic
with metal feet look effective and modern which is another Alessi
theme.
I like the fact that I have combined acrylic with my 3D printer pots
this looks effective and again is sticking with the Alessi theme. I have
used two layers of acrylic at the bottom, this was so I could include
the cat design so the pots resembled Halloween. I used the colours
similar to pots so that they look effective and not out of place.
Not only do the acrylic pieces look good but they will also improve the
maintenance of the product as it is less likely to scratch and the
bottom won’t fall away.
The technique from the use of primer and sanding the product down
with wet and dry has left a smooth finish with hardly any dimples this
gives the prototype the plastic look I was hoping for. The use of the
letter S & P have finished of the design and made the pots easier to
recognize and also given it a childlike appearance.
35. AlessKerrie Parkin
E v a l u a t i o nE v a l u a t i o n
From the questionnaire that I carried out I was able to see that
people wanted to use the colour black therefore I created a
stand with metal feet this was so the salt and pepper pot could
be situated on something and also be carried about from one
room and another. The combination of dark acrylic and metal
looks modern and this will appeal to my target audience of
young couples. The use of metal is also very strong therefore it
will be very resistant.
Weaknesses
The weaknesses of my product include an indent which can be
found on the hat of the witch, this was created due to too much
sanding and once done I couldn’t smooth it out, this could have
been prevented if I had sanded lightly and not continuously in
the same area for long periods of time. The paint which I have
used has made the error become not as noticeable.
Along with the indent of the hat the salt pot has been sanded
too much about the neck where it joins with the head, again this
was due to sanded hard upon the product. However this doesn’t
effect the product once the head has been placed upon it.
Although the acrylic bases hide the filler which I used to hide
the crack, I feel that the design and product would have looked
better and more professional without them. Also it took vast
amounts of time to incorporate the head of a cat on the base
and this wasn’t shown in the final outcome. Although I only
broke one of the pots I needed to make both the identical
therefore what I did to one I had to do to the other. I feel that
it was a good idea and works well but it hides the better design
beneath it.
What I would improve
If I were to do this project again I would improve the finishes of
my products. This would include being gentle whilst sanding
the product so I can keep the original design and not have to
cover it up with acrylic pieces.
I would also manage my time more wisely and create
components or mask off sections so they can be another colour
although this is not typical when designing Alessi products I feel
that one component won’t take away the design signature of
Alessi perhaps this could have been the original bat on the top
of the stand, or perhaps a broom for the witch to hold.
Does the match the original specification?
I have used vibrant colours and stuck to the Alessi/Halloween
theme which I said I would. I have done this by designing the
pots in the theme of a witch and also used blues and reds.
I have also used a combination of metal and acrylic which is
found within Alessi designs once researched. This makes the
product look similar to my chosen design company and also uses
a variety of materials which will make it fit in other areas of the
house not just my chosen area of the kitchen.
In order to compete against other companies I said I were to
keep my product looking childlike, I feel I have done this well.
By developing my idea to make the head larger than the body.
This is found in a lot of cartoons which appeal to children. This
makes the idea look cute.
