Flower Delivery Box

Design research and proposal for a senior capstone project

by Justin Park

http://modiglify.wordpress.com

Designing a product from a cardboard waste stream

Industrial Design Program http://www.id-uarts.org

© 2012School for Design

College of Art, Media, and Design

University of the Arts320 South Broad StreetPhiladelphia PA 19102

http://uarts.edu

A final deliverable for IDES 431 Design Theory + Capstone Prep - Fall 2012

coordinated by Jason Lempieri and Jonas Milder

As a society we are running out of resources and the number of products discarded everyday is no longer sustainable.

Q: How can design facilitate a solution to this problem?

A: By repurposing.

Repurposing is taking a product that’s already in existence and lengthening its life by using it for something new.

Focus: Repurposed Design

Hack

Reuse/RepurposeInventUnconventionalDesign

AffordanceSimple

Experimental

Common Goods

ArtDIY

MultidisciplinaryRedesign

Upcycle

RecyclingThe series of activities - collection, separation, and processing, that recover waste materials and use them as raw materials in the manufacture of new products.

UpcyclingThe process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value.

ReDesignTo make a revision in the appearance or function of.To take a process or system designed for one task and use it for another.- usually in ways unforeseen by its creatorsCleaning or refurbishing a product to reuse it again in its current form and extends its useful life.

Repurposing Keywords:

Repurposing Research: Precedent

Necessity is the Mother of Invention

In many other low-income countries, waste represents an available resource. For these people, repurposing does not seem to arise out of

ecological awareness; nor does it represent a spontaneous act. Instead, it is the way they implement the things available to them to survive.

Repurposing Research: Precedent

Source: http://www.designforrepurposing.com/case-studies/

Design for Repurposing (Do It Yourself)Steps to get started

Design for Disassembly- Components can be separated effortlessly & safely through tools such as screwdrivers, pliers, hammers..etc. If there are parts that won’t be used in the repurposing process, they are suitable for recycling or reuse. These components are identified either by color, display tag or label.

Durable MaterialsIn products designed for repurposing, materials and components are durable and capable of functioning well in another role.It is ideal that materials are long lasting.For example, stainless steel is ideal because it is rust resistant.

Immediate FunctionalityConsider the possibility that some of the dismantled components might offer immediate functionality, such as containers, vessels, strainers, etc.

Strive to retain that potential in the newly configured design.The product invites the repurposer to transform it.The engagement is partly informed by it’s material quality. It might also be appealing in its formal qualities.

Repurposing Research: Checklist

AffordancesThe designer provides cues and clues through the inherent properties of an object.

Examples::- Symmetry - If a shape is symmetrical, it can be divided into two equal parts. It also means repetition in sub elements, like the pattern of veins in wood for instance.

- Holes - Perforations or openings that allow the repurposer to insert or pass things through them.

- Contours/edges - Guidelines or patterns that could indicate the repurposer many possibilities such as cutting, peeling, etc.

- Flanges - Flanges act as resting surfaces, as limits or attachments for other objects, and as structure strengtheners.

- Panels - Usually they refer to rectangular surfaces in an object.The repurposer can use them as raw material.

Not HazardousProducts designed for repurposing have to be safe. If perilous at any level, explanatory labels should be provided so that components could be easily removed.

Repurposing Research: Checklist

Capstone Narrower Focus: Flower Shop

Capstone Narrower Focus: Flower Shop

What is the average ammount of boxes ordered by florists?

Sam’s Flowers: Usually orders 2 times a week.About 5 boxes at a time. Jacqueline’s Flowers:Usually orders 3 times a week.About 6 boxes of flowers.

Identifying Waste Stream:

Identify waste material stream:Cardboard Flower Boxes are being thrown out and becoming landfill.

Can I change this waste stream by turning it into a useful material stream for a product?

Flattened Flower Box Dimensions

4.25 in.

29 in.9 in.

3’ 5 in.

Typical Flower Box:Identifying Waste Stream:

Delivery Process:

Loading:

Add soft cushion material to sides of box.

Lift Flowers by the base container and place into the correct size hole.

Observations:

Delivery Process:

Loading: Insert more cushion material in the areas left with gaps.

Lift by one end of box and place onto seat of car, then slide into place.

Observations:

Delivery Process:

Drive:Turns must be carefully made so the arrangement doesn’t spill water or fall over.

When destination is reached, the arrangement must carefully be taken out and the wooden box is pushed back into the vehicle.

Observations:

Precedent:

Sam’s Flowers: Wooden boxes were made using screws and wooden sheets to create arrangement holders.Can a secure and efficient flower arrangement container be made using the waste cardboard material?

Jacqueline’s Flowers: Problem: Excess of cardboard flower boxes and the instability of arrangements on deliveries.

As a quick fix to this problem, one method they use is to cut holes into their flower boxes and stick their vase arrangements in them.

A possible route for my capstone is for me to come up with a new flower box design with the cardboard box manufacturer that allows them to be reused.

Precedent:

Timeline:

December: Research how cardboard boxes are made.

January: Visit cardboard factory and interview workers & factory representatives.Ideate.

February: Ideate, prototype several flower boxes and test.Discuss idea with cardboard box manufacturer.

March: Ideate, prototype & test.Discuss idea with cardboard box manufacturer.

April: Ideate, prototype & test.Discuss idea with cardboard box manufacturer.

DFR - Design For Repurposinghttp://www.designforrepurposing.com/

The Green Schoolhouse Serieshttp://thegreenschoolhouseseries.wordpress.com/2012/03/08/upcycle-refurbish-repurpose-the-green-diy-project-guide/

Upcycling - LA TIMEhttp://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/05/upcycling-architecture-and-design-museum.html

Bibliography: