SURVEYING: 100 coffee-drinkers about their coffee habits
TARGET AUDIENCE DEFINED:
COMPETITORS DEFINED:
PRODUCT DISASSEMBLY:
PRODUCT BENCHMARKING: Using the Keurig to benchmark the design of the Grounded Coffee machine allows a more organized approach for improvements. The target audience enjoys using the Keurig for efficiency, but wishes there was a more enviornmentally-friendly solution.
USER PROCESS: Keurig
USER PROCESS: Grounded Coffee Machine
DESIGN INTENT: To make the Grounded Coffee machine a successful, sustainable product, the process of brewing your coffee must be just as efficient as the product’s competitors. The user process of the Keurig and Grounded Coffee machine are exactly the same, except for where the coffee tablet ends up, making their efficiency levels equal.
INITIAL FORM DEVELOPMENT: How will the user interact with the product? How will the product look in the kitchen? Can it be disassembled with ease? Does it make the coffee-making process just as fast if not faster than product competitors?
INITIAL 3D Sketching: Used to scale 3D printed models of the Keurig inside components to create foam core prototypes.
REFINING DETAILS: Looking deeper at how the pieces fit together, how the inside components interact with each other and their internal structures, and types of snap closures and connection points.
3D PRINT PROTOTYPING: Print tests and refining.
PHYSICAL PROTOTYPE
MATERIAL STUDIES:
EGGSHELL BIO-MATERIAL: The Grounded Coffee Tablets
Eggshell bio-material is composed of eggshell, water, glycerol, salt, and agar agar that allows for the bio-material to be composted. The tablets can be tossed in the compost after each time the user brews their coffee. Since eggshells are basic and coffee grounds are acidic, the contrast helps keep your compost pH balanced.
BAMBOO-O: The Shell
Bamboo-O is an eco-friendly material made from bamboo fiber and plant starch. Bamboo-O can be injection molded, which is how the shell of the Grounded Coffee machine is constructed. At the products end of life (after roughly 5-10 years), the shell of the Grounded Coffee machine can be composted at home.
COFFEE GROUND BIO-MATERIAL: The Base
Coffee ground bio-material is composed of coffee grounds, starch, agar agar, vinegar, water, and glycerol. This bio-material is made from eco-friendly ingredients and allows for the base to be composted at the products end of life. The use of coffee grounds also helps the user reflect on coffee grounds as food waste and the amount of food waste they create.
COLORWAYS: Inspired by Earth and coffee tones
Ocean
Olive
Brick
Espresso