designed, engineered, prototyped, tested, manufactured and implemented.
Throughout the project I kept a detailed log of the work I put in each day. I brainstorm with group, reviewed the Kaboom Grant / limitations the client gave us, and made a list of group expectations and bonded with the team. We decided that I would be the team leader / liaison between our group and the client. I would proceed to communicate with the client over email throughout the process.
Our team had an initial client and mentor meeting, asked questions to understand the brief and expected outcomes. Chose a date for the next meeting. Our team planned and organized a general timeline / Gantt Chart. We planned to each sketch 3 ideas of the structure to show at next meeting. I created a Google Document with the brand standards I chose and shared with the team. We compiled all our sketches, moved forward with 3 ideas, and decided to each develop 1 prototype and 2 detailed prototype sketches by the next meeting. I delegated tasks for the team members to complete by our Milestones meeting with our client. One of the teammates surveyed and measured the space the product would live in so we could create a to-scale model. Throughout the process, I communicated regularly with team members over GroupMe to send reminders about deadlines and tasks.
We preformed Design Thinking exercises in which we did rapid prototyping . My teammate and I designed a Powerpoint presentation for our Milestones Meeting. I kept our team accountable for documenting our process using iPhone photos and uploading them to a Google Drive folder so we would stay organized.
My teammates and I presented our initial ideas to the client and received feedback which we recorded to review later with our mentor.
The team met to test the length of jump ropes using people of different heights and decided on a length for our target audience: K-12. We also discussed designs for the jumprope handle. We also created a Survey Monkey survey to gather data from parents of kids who would be using this product.
I got trained on the 3D printer at VCU so we could start 3D printing our jump rope handle design. I started designing and compiling body and images for the Executive Report . We met with several engineers to review our prototypes and designs. We adapted our handle design 4-5 times until we decided on the final design which would prevent the rope from tangling if a single person was jumping. We decided 3D printing would be the most practical and most durable material for the product and for the $2000 budget.
We planned our first user test with students which would be at a booth at the Richmond 10K. We tested colors, patterns, and the prototype to see whether kids would like the product. We created our first rough prototype and bought prizes for kids who tested it. I delegated tasks for the prototype we would bring to the 10K. We gathered the data from the 100+ students who tested our product and found that kids overwhelmingly enjoyed the product, the designing a handle that would allow for individual jumpers as well as two jumpers would be our biggest design challenge, and we gained some insights on colors as well.
One of our teammates contacted a manufacturer to help us build the product full scale. We had troubles securing a manufacturer who would be able to help us with our design, but to stay on budget, we decided to present the clients with a detailed prototype, detailed schematic, and detailed Executive Report which would contain everything the client would need to give a manufacturer to mass product this product.
Two teammates designed this schematic for the structure and the handle as well as a budget.
We performed our second user test at Fairfield Elementary school where we met with over 40 students and gathered data on how children jump rope. We found that the place students jumped affected their jumping experience, it needed to be heavy enough to need 2 people to pick it up, and we also tested individual jumping vs. two person jumping— we found that worked with our handle design.
We prototyped and tested an auto-retract system to fit inside the machine and developed a stopper to slow down the retraction to a safer speed for children.
I designed signage to be printed on vinyl and put the ground in front of the machine so that users would have a reference of where to stand while jumping. I designed and packaged and printed 3 copies of the Executive Report for our mentor and sponsors.
We researched colors and designs which would be best for the structure.
My teammates and I designed the powerpoint for our Final Presentation. Finally, we performed the Final Presentation to our clients who clarified a few things and within months, manufactured five products and launched our design to the streets of Richmond with hopes of distributing to major cities in the U.S. in the future.
UPSWING LOCATIONS
McCormick’s Progressive Barber Shop (100 E. Broad Street)
Main Branch of the Richmond Public Library (101 E. Franklin Street)
Image Enhancement Center (00 East Broad Street)
Silk Hair Studio (1657 W. Broad Street)
Moizelle’s Cleaners (401 N. First Street)
Throughout the project I kept a detailed log of the work I put in each day. On the first day we received our brief, I brainstorm with group, reviewed the Kaboom Grant / limitations the client gave us, and made a list of group expectations and bonded with the team. We decided that I would be the team leader / liaison between our group and the client. I would proceed to communicate with the client over email throughout the process.
