Simple Product Design - Clutch drop

SPD

2022

Dinu Prasanna K

“To family, friends, fellow product designers, Spotify and all the bun maskas that kept me awake throughout this project.”

Design Project I

Simple Product Design 6 weeks

Project by

Special thanks to

Dinu Prasanna K

Md. Naim Seikh Sahil Thappa

Guided by Dr. Vikam Mitra

Contents Simple Product Design

01

The Clutch drop

05

Why is there a need for intervention?

13

Pressing is the only way to dispense drops It is not that big of a problem There is no alternative It does not look cool The curious case of Naveen Kaka

Design brief formulation

33

The birth of Clutch drop

35

Ideation Final concept Giving the concept life The Clutch drop Giving form to Clutch drop

Final prototype

63

Making the final form The Evolution

Acknowledgement

75

SPD

Tubelight set installation Water dispenser

Package for snacks

Mobile holder

Lemon squeezer

01

Simple Product Design

Lotion bottle

Bottle cap holder

Simple Product Design “ I chose eyedrops for this module because I found them challenging to use when prescribed. I didn’t have a great experience using it during my course of medication. So I believed that I could bring in significant interventions in terms of design.”

02

SPD

03

Simple Product Design

A general overview.

27 users from various age groups tested over-the-counter lubricant eyedrops with conventional containers. The groups included an optimum number of regular, occasional and first-time users. The purpose is to get a consensus regarding eyedrops and its problems

Results First time users (34%)

Occasional users (34%)

Attempts

Difficulty

1st attempt (49%)

Difficult (38%)

>1 attempt (42%)

Very diificult (33%)

can never do it (9%)

Not difficult (33%)

Regular users (24%)

04

SPD

the

05

The Clutch drop

Good experiences are never to be compromised.

Clutch drop is the outcome of this module. It is an eyedrop bottle that can dispense a quantized number of drops within the user’s control. Its unconventional design and functionality aid the users for a better experience with ease. Also, the uber-cool image that the brand creates attracts users from all walks of life.

06

SPD

One press.

One drop.

The clutch drop is designed in a way that it dispenses one drop per press, Thus making it an essential feature in this domain of products. No other eyedrops bottle in the industry has ever tried to quantize the dispensing methods.

07

The Clutch drop

08

SPD

This unconventional aesthetic for an eyedrop makes it look more friendly and goes with everyday objects.

09

The Clutch drop

Pocket-friendly design makes it easier to carry it to places with ease.

10

SPD

It is 200% Faster The results are derived from the user testing done before and after developing the prototype.

Clutch drop (2s)

Others (6s)

11

The Clutch drop

Convert activities to experiences

12

Why is there a need for intervention?

Research Analysis Synthesis

SPD

Pressing is the only way to dispense the drops and it is a problem.

15

Need for intervention

All the eye drops available on the market can be dispensed only by pressing them. Since using our finger pressure is not a constant value, it becomes unpredictable when the drops will be out of the nozzle. Sometimes, Users tend to dispense more drops than intended. Also, the liquid inside the bottle keeps decreasing, which would require the user to put in more pressure as time passes. This insight is backed by a few user studies conducted for this project. The study combined both regular and occasional users who have used eyedrops at least in the past two months at the time of the study.

16

SPD

Neelesh,

who took 8 seconds to dispense one drop

17

Age: 22, Ocassional user His occasional experience of using eyedrops did not help him judge the pressure required for dispensing the required number of drops. Hence, he found the idea of pressing the bottle uncomfortable.

Need for intervention

Aditya

found the material of hard to press.

Age: 26, Ocassional user Since he found the hard plastic challenging to press, he was also tested with a softer material, but the time elapsed with that one was more than the harder one.

18

SPD

Sampada,

the most experienced user in the list

19

Age: 18 , Regular user Despite being a regular user, dispensing the right amount of drops at a specific time was still a problem for her. It was also observed that she dispensed two drops at one during the observation.

Need for intervention

Shreya

is scared of undesired splashes near the eye

Age: 29 , Ocassional user She found squeezing the bottle very difficult because it is impossible to figure out how much to squeeze without using it for once at least. Also, It is possible to apply too much pressure sometimes, which leads to undesired splashes of eyedrops in or near the eye.

20

SPD

“It is not that big of a problem” -Ophthalmologists

But it still is!

21

Need for intervention

“95% of the eyedrops are sold are conventional bottles, which does not give feedback to the users in any way” Dr. Parth Rana Netralay eye hospital

“It is not a big problem, but redesign can make user’s life easier”

Dr. Sejal Desai Sejal eye hospital

“Most patients have not reported about this difficulty, so its hard to determine the scale of the problem” Dr. Falguni Pandya Cure Sight hospital

I have visited four eye clinics in the city, which allowed me to meet three ophthalmologists with different experiences; I have collected insights from their perspectives. Although all the doctors think it is not a big problem, they still agree that intervention in this problem will benefit the users. Another common insight from the doctors is that regular users get to adapt to it in the long run.

22

SPD

There is only one type of bottle in the market and, there’s no alternative All the medical shops that I visited have more than twenty types of eyedrops for various conditions. But all of them are sold in the same type of container.

23

Need for intervention

The most common type of eyedrop bottle

24

SPD

25

Need for intervention

No other product to aid the use of eyedrops were available in the medical stores.

Conventional eyedrops are required to be pressed by two finger to build pressure inside to dispense the eye drops.

Using these bottles would require the target eye to be held open with the other hand while using by self or by the one who is handling the drops

26

SPD

Vidit says it does not look cool to carry it around!

27

Need for intervention

He is a student who is also an occasional eyedrop user and has used it throughout his life since he has high eye power. Despite the usual problems like orientation and hard to press, He also felt that the bottle looks outdated and does not go well with other daily products we usually carry.

Vidit Jain, 20 Student

28

SPD

The curious case of Naveen Kaka

29

Need for intervention

In the observation, I found that the Naveen has built a specific pressure memory for pressing the bottle. In the video that I recorded, It was found that when the person pressed the eyedrops, the drop reached the tip, and when he released the pressure after seeing the drops, it went back to the bottle instead of falling to his eye due to pressure difference. The important part is that the user was not aware of it.

Naveen, 55 Security guard

30

SPD

Pressing does not let users have control over the drops

There is a need for intervention because, 31

Threre is a scope of experience enhancement

Need for intervention

It does not look cool

There is no alternative for this problem Older people rely on pressure memory

32

SPD

Design Brief formulation

Essentials Users should be able to dispense quantized number of drops.

The form should be easy cognitively when brought close the eyes.

Should give feedback to the users if the drops are ready to dispense.

Should let the uers orient the product to the eyes easily.

Desirables Should be airtight to keep the medicine preservative free.

33

Should show how much drops are left inside.

Need for intervention

Brief

To design a product which dispenses eyedrops in a quantized number of drops for self applicating adult users.

34

The birth of

Ideation Mockups Prototype

SPD

“If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write sketch” After setting the brief, concept ideation started in which many concepts were generated and proceeded for mockups. It was a back and forth process, where some ideas were generated while making mockups.

37

The birth of Clutch drop

Concept

Load & shoot

This concept is inspired by gun and clutch pencil. This concept aims to dispense one drop every time the user presses the trigger.

38

SPD

Concept

Rotodrop

This eyedrop is controlled by rotating the dial. It dispenses one drop every time the user turns the dial. It seemed very alien to the users in the context of eyedrops. Directionality was also missing in the form.

39

The birth of Clutch drop

Concept

Finger grip

Using the finger grip seemed to add more stability and directionality to the user while using it. However, users felt it was hard to use the sides of the fingers while testing with the mockup.

40

SPD

Concept

Ergo drops

This concept focuses on how the ergonomics can be improved and keeping the orientational scope intact.

41

The birth of Clutch drop

Concept

Bino drops

Inspired by binoculars, like how people like to move their eyes closer to it. Users liked the approach; however, orienting the drops to the eye became a problem for all the users tested with the mockup.

42

SPD

Concept

Dropper

This concept brings back the traditional dropper and marries it with eyedrops to attain easy dispensing and directionality while using it.

43

The birth of Clutch drop

Ideation for dispensing mechanism All the ideas have a main tank and a sub-tank, and the liquid in the sub-tank is always ready to dispense, and once it gets dispensed, The liquid in the main tank flows and fills the void.

44

SPD

45

The birth of Clutch drop

Other concepts

46

SPD

The final concept The final concept was decided after testing the mockups and getting consensus from users.

47

The birth of Clutch drop

The product dispenses one drop everytime you press it.

Why? Users will be able to dispense quantized number of drops.

The form looks closer to the existing eyedrops.

The design is very minimal and pocket friendly.

It is ambidextrous and very simple to use in all aspects.

48

SPD

Proof of concept development

Giving the concept life PVC pipes and rods

Attempt one using PVC pipe and rod, Steel

spoon. The idea is to apply pressure from the base of the bottle to see the drop intervals and pressure difference.

Stainless steel spoon 49

The birth of Clutch drop

Exploded view

50

SPD

Users felt they had to put too much pressure to dispense a drop. The width of the bottle was more than 30 mm to fit a bottle and test, which was uncomfortable for the users to test so expected results were not derived after testing.

The hemispherical base did not allow to users to direct to the eyes.

The bottle was too big for the hands Meher, 20

(from the test) 51

The birth of Clutch drop

“At this point, 4 of 6 weeks were down. Mockups and proof of concept were failing. I was a bit exhausted and nervous about the project. But things got interesting when I found an old clutch pencil in my stationery pouch...”

52

SPD

The Clutch drop.

An old clutch pencil was disassembled using the bottle’s spring and tube for dispensing eyedrops.

53

The birth of Clutch drop

Vaccum cap

Trigger

Spring

Plastic pipe

The pipe with a spring allows the system only to reach the base of the bottle and not more than that. That way, even pressure is applied throughout the bottle every time when it is pressed. Thus, generating

one drop for every press.

54

SPD

Samapada, the most experienced user liked the solution.

She was also a part of primary user research. She was very excited to see the solution I developed and agreed it was a better experience using the clutch drop.

55

The birth of Clutch drop

The clutch drop which dispenses only one drop per press became the proof of concept.

56

SPD

57

Need for intervention

Giving form to clutch drop

58

SPD

59

Need for intervention

This form with a holder on the top enables more interesting interaction with the product and makes it easier for users to comprehend the pressing mechanism.

60

SPD

Testing with After form sketches, the mockups were made using thermacol to get users’ feedback. It was tested with an array of regular and first-time users. There were two mockups, one with a holder and one with just a pressing clutch.

61

Need for intervention

mockups Users preference Users liked the one without the holder more because of its size, making it pocket-friendly. Also, the form is intuitive enough to direct the users to use the product.

62

SPD

63

Making the

final prototype

64

SPD

65

Final prototype

Thermal formed polystyrene cap

Thermal formed polystyrene nozzle

LDPE 5ml container

Acrlyic tube

Stainless steel spring LDPE tube 8 mm Acrlyic sheet

Exploded view

66

SPD

Dimentions 24 mm

60 mm

16 mm

25 mm (dia)

67

100 mm

Final prototype

One press.

One drop.

The final prototype was also tested with users, and all of them agreed that it increased their experience at an impressive rate. Also, they could dispense a quantized number of drops in their control.

68

5ml Sodium dinozinova

“Too much screen is not cool bruh!”

SPD

69

The brand and graphics.

The name clutch drop is derived from the idea that sparked with a clutch pencil. It is a uber-cool brand redefining how everyday medical products are sold and perceived by people. Bottle graphics are also tactically placed with the government’s mandatory conventions and information without spoiling the brand aesthetics.

Final prototype

70

SPD

71

the evolution

Final prototype

72

73

and will continue to evolve...

74

Product design faculties at NID for providing us insights and facilities for the timely submission of this project.

Acknowledgements

All Kakas and staff in the workshop without whom it would have been impossible to finish the prototype on time.

Piyush Bhai for coordinating the discipline and material procuration.

Sharvin Sawant, whose insights have been very helpful in this project.

The chicken burger in Delight Bakery was my fuel whenever I was down during the course.

Netralaya clinic, Cure sight hospital Egg counter in NID mess every and Sejal Desai eye clinic for sparing morning, which makes the day. the time for research.

PDUG20 never failed to give love All medical shops in and around and support.

Paldi, Ahmedabad, for letting me wander around the shops.

And the whole NID Communtity.

Sampada Kokane for supporting the research with her presence whenever needed.

Soni Bhai, who supports laser cutting services anytime without any hesitation, is a live saver even on most packed days.