Applications of Product Design





Design and testing of a Sudocrem application device for young children.



KEY SKILLS





User Centred Design



Coding and Electronics



Teamwork



CAD Rendering



CAD Modelling



OVERVIEW





BRIEF



This brief was set by design consultancy Sagentia: "A major customer frustration was that their current product packaging makes applications to difficult to reach places challenging if the consumer is alone. The task was to design an innovative packaging solution to enable them to market themselves as a consumer-centric company, however, the real driver for the company is to increase formulation sales."



DELIVERABLES



  • Concept Idea Generation
  • Initial Design Documents 15pgs
  • Prototype
  • Project Portfolio of Work
  • Final Report 45pgs
  • 1 X Poster
  • Group Presentation


SOLUTION



The solution was to design a modern and fun electronic application device for Sudocrem which heats formula and dispenses the correct volume which overall enhanced comfort for young children. This product was chosen through extensive research into areas of discomfort for user groups, which identified a clear gap in the market for this product.



SOFTWARE USED





Siemens NX11



Arduino IDE



Cura



Illustrator



Blender



RESEARCH METHODS





Consumer Survey



Consumer surveys were essential for this project as it provided a way of gathering primary research from consumers with this specific problem. This process allowed for a greater focus on the consumer requirements list and confirmed the need for the product chosen.



Market Analysis



With minimal product on the current market which related directly to this problem, it was necessary to find other avenues to research. This included areas related to makeup application and other pharmaceutical products. This allowed for a range of features to be considered for the final product.



Consumer Profiling



A number of consumer profiles were created to understand the problem in greater detail and get an insight into the thoughts of the consumer. Also, it was beneficial to identify the issues with the previous method of application and relate this to the customer needs.



Professional Insights



An interview was conducted with an associate specialist in Dermatology, in order to gain a broader insight into the application of skincare products to young children. This allowed for an unbiased opinion of the issue and provided invaluable information which could not be forced elsewhere.



DESIGN DEVELOPMENT





The design development process consisted of a number of initial ideas that were refined based on the customer needs and product design specifications. Shape modelling enabled the final product to be ergonomically designed for the user. Physical prototyping allowed for the design to be evaluated further and allowed for consideration of product dimensions and fixing methods. The final design consisted of a stepper motor that pushes the Sudocrem into a heating chamber (40 degrees) and dispenses the correct volume out of the product for efficient and safe use.



Initial Design Ideas



Initial Design Ideas 2



Developed Design Ideas



Ergonomic Shape Modelling



Prototype Manufacturing



3D Printed Shell Designs



3D Printed Prototype



Final Design Render



Final Design Render 2



ELECTRONICS





The Arduino coding logic uses a series of while loops that control the output of the Sudocrem. The formula is only dispensed using a thread mechanism when the optimum temperature is reached. The code was effective in producing a working prototype of the product and was demonstrated live during a presentation to design consultancy Sagentia.



Coding Flow Chart



Arduino Code 1



Arduino Code 2



Electronic Model



POSTER DESIGN







Faheem Aziz (MEng, DIS)



Product Design Engineer