INDUSTRY
Technology, Sustainable Design
TOOLS
Bamboo mat, paper, scissors, seam ripper
ROLE
Product Designer
BRIEF
For the concept of haptic touch in our Maker Lab class, our team drew inspiration from bamboo mats used in taxis, cars, beds and other items in Asia to build a cooling laptop mat/stand.
WHAT WE DID
Researched haptic points on the human body and products that were made for those areas. Then, we up-cycled bamboo placemats to make a new product. We addressed the overheating from laptops at your wrists when laying on either side of the touchpad.
RESULT
The team designed a planet-friendly laptop stand/cooling mat for your wrists that uses bamboo's natural cooling power to cool your body, caused by laptop overheating.
Ta-ke Cooling Mat
ROLE: Product Designer
INDUSTRY: Technology, Sustainable Design
INDUSTRY: Academia, Ecology, Conservation
TOOLS: Bamboo mat, paper, scissors, seam ripper
CLIENT
The William and Mary Institute for Integrative Conservation
INDUSTRY
Technology, Sustainable Design
TOOLS
Bamboo mat, paper, scissors, seam ripper
ROLE
Product Designer
Ta-ke Cooling Mat
In a class titled “Maker Lab,” we discuss topics from designing with purpose through haptic touch, somatic experiences, and different aspects of the Internet of Things (IoT).
Problem
My team attempted to design a product highlighting haptic touch. After brainstorming as a team, we decided to approach the problem of overheating laptops.
Approach
In doing some preliminary research, we found that pulse points are one of the most sensitive areas of your body. The wrists, the neck, behind the knee, and the inside of your elbow are just some examples of pulse points. By applying something cold to one of these areas, the whole body cools down. We chose to focus on the wrists, as it is the only pulse point that touches a laptop.
Process
Our team decided on using bamboo as the material of choice. Bamboo has natural moisture absorbing properties which allows sweat from our wrists to pass through the material and evaporate. This makes using bamboo fabric ideal for our design. Additionally, we also took inspiration from bamboo mats commonly used on car seats in many Asian countries to cool people down who live in hot climates.
Problem
My team attempted to design a product highlighting haptic touch. After brainstorming as a team, we decided to approach the problem of overheating laptops.
Approach
In doing some preliminary research, we found that pulse points are one of the most sensitive areas of your body. The wrists, the neck, behind the knee, and the inside of your elbow are just some examples of pulse points. By applying something cold to one of these areas, the whole body cools down. We chose to focus on the wrists, as it is the only pulse point that touches a laptop.
Process
Our team decided on using bamboo as the material of choice. Bamboo has natural moisture absorbing properties which allows sweat from our wrists to pass through the material and evaporate. This makes using bamboo fabric ideal for our design. Additionally, we also took inspiration from bamboo mats commonly used on car seats in many Asian countries to cool people down who live in hot climates.
Result
To build the product, we purchased a bamboo placemat and used seam rippers, scissors, and exact-o knives to deconstruct it. The bamboo fibres were tough to cut into, but we cut out an area for the trackpad and left either side of the trackpad covered with bamboo for the wrists to lay on. We also added a small stand in the back that can be used depending on the user.
Our product being sustainable was vital to its success. Although we have infinite ideas, the world has finite resources, and therefore, our product is 100% recyclable and fully biodegradable.
Let's Talk
SEEKING WHAT'S NEXT.
Next Steps
Instead of using new bamboo, the product can be made from recycled bamboo which would not contribute to excess waste. This would address the United Nations Sustainable Development goal of Responsible Consumption and Production.
Let's Talk
SEEKING WHAT'S NEXT.
Below, are sketches we drew before finalizing the design.