Our Model

Hello Team 10! It's a pleasure to collaborate with all of you! Below is our model.  The above images allow you to better see the detailed parts of the model we made, including the zipper, handle, and pocket details. The pockets and zipper have been stitched with threads to make them more stable and durable; the inner, outer, and base fabrics are bonded using a hot glue gun. The entire model took five hours to complete. Regarding the choice of material colors, we apologize that we were unable to make the model match the render you sent us last. We had already purchased the materials needed for production before receiving that render, as we were concerned about not being able to finish the model on time (since you know it takes three to four days for these materials to arrive via online shopping delivery). However, we hope the final presentation meets your expected design! Finally, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to every team member once again! Your professional knowledge, timely contributions, and proactive communication have ensured the smooth progress of our project. We are sincerely pleased and satisfied with the achievements we have made together, and we look forward to continuing our cooperation in future projects. If you need any assistance, please feel free to contact us — we are more than happy to provide support at any time. Thank you again for your dedication and team spirit. We wish everyone all the best!

Continue ReadingOur Model

Customer Feedback Board

Hello Team 10! It's a pleasure to collaborate with all of you! Below is our feedback board. feedbackDownload As we approach the completion of this phase of our international cooperation, we'd like to express our sincere gratitude to every team member! Your professional expertise, timely contributions, and proactive communication have enabled the smooth progress of our project. We are truly delighted and satisfied with the achievements we've accomplished together, and we look forward to continuing our partnership in future projects. Please feel free to reach out if you need any assistance—we are more than happy to help anytime. Thank you again for your dedication and team spirit. Wishing you all the best! Here are some additional details about our interactions. Our meeting preparations Team 10 introduced Turkish cuisine to us. We shared photos of kittens with each other. (Hi,guys.My name is Bulut.Burcu is my good friend.Hope seeing my photo makes you happy and lucky!)

Continue ReadingCustomer Feedback Board

Design Revisions: Handle & Storyboard

Thank you very much for your valuable feedback. Your suggestions regarding the ergonomic needs of elderly users gave us a great perspective to refine our design further. Based on your comments, we have updated the design and created a usage scenario: Ergonomic Handle Optimization: To prevent hand fatigue and improve grip comfort for elderly users, we have revised the handle design. Wider Strap Distribution: We increased the strap width at the connection points to better distribute the weight. Soft & Rolled Grip: For the holding area, we applied a "rolled handle" technique with soft internal padding (approx. 3 cm diameter). This ensures a secure grip without cutting into the hand, even during long walks. Center of Gravity: The optimized drop height ensures the bag stays closer to the body, making it safer for users to walk and maintain balance, especially on stairs. Storyboard & User Journey: Attached, you will find the requested storyboard illustrating the complete user journey. We focused on a narrative that highlights both safety and emotional satisfaction: Safety: Descending stairs securely using the handrail while carrying the bag. Function: Easy access to tools and the "zipper expansion" feature for the harvest. Happiness: The final scene emphasizes the joy of sharing the produce with a neighbor, conveying the product's social benefit. We believe these updates make the product much more user-friendly and aligned with your vision. We look forward to hearing your thoughts. Best regards, Paragraf metniniz (7)Download

Continue ReadingDesign Revisions: Handle & Storyboard

Design Plan Feedback

Hey Team 10, Hello everyone! After carefully reviewing your revised design plan, our entire team is particularly surprised and moved—we can clearly feel that you not only fully addressed our feedback, but also integrated deep care for elderly users into the details. Every adjustment is solid and thoughtful. The deformable cylindrical storage bag you designed is so ingenious: in compact mode, it can stably store tools, and when the zipper is opened, it can be transformed into a shopping bag, perfectly connecting the two scenarios of "tool storage" and "harvest carrying". The reinforced "sandwich-style" bottom structure solves the problem of the bag tipping over on uneven ground. These details show your ultimate pursuit of user experience. The material selection in the materialization part is also very professional. The function of each material matches the user's needs, and we can feel that you have spent a lot of effort on practicality and durability. To make this already excellent design more suitable for the usage habits of elderly users, we have two small suggestions to discuss with you: Can some ergonomic optimization tests be done on the handle part? For example, adjust the width, thickness or holding force angle of the handle so that elderly users will not feel tired when holding it for a long time. At the same time, optimize the weight distribution of the bag to make the center of gravity closer to the body and reduce the burden when walking. It would be better to have a set of storyboards. For example, showing the elderly users taking this bag to take care of the garden, store tools, then unzip it to hold fresh vegetables and fruits to go to the market, or share the flowers and plants they grow with neighbors. This can more vividly convey the convenience and happiness that the product brings to users. Your design is already very excellent. These small suggestions are just to help it better reach the real feelings of users. We look forward to seeing the final implementation of this design! Thank you again for your hard work, and we look forward to continuing to polish this excellent plan with you. Best regards!

Continue ReadingDesign Plan Feedback

REVISED DESIGN

Hello Team 01,We are excited to present our revised design proposal. We have carefully integrated your feedback, specifically focusing on three key areas:Portability: ensuring ease of transport for elderly users in buildings without elevators.Organization: creating specified storage zones for efficient tool use.Safety: eliminating the risk of tools falling or shaking during transport.Our solution is a transformable organizer designed to adapt to the user's preference. The design features a cylindrical body with a vertical zipper expansion system. In its compact mode, it functions as a stable tool carrier. Once the gardening is done, the user simply unzips the gusset to expand the circumference, transforming it into a spacious bag suitable for carrying the harvest or going to the market.Regarding your feedback on tool stability: We have redesigned the external pockets. Instead of a loose fit, each pocket is dimensioned to fit specific tools (shovels, rakes, shears). To ensure maximum safety for elderly users on stairs, we added an adjustable shock cord retention system. This secures the tool handles tightly against the bag, preventing any wobbling or accidental drops.Finally, to address stability on the ground: To prevent the bag from tipping over on uneven soil, we implemented a reinforced "sandwich" base construction. A rigid board is inserted between the inner and outer layers, creating a flat, waterproof, and impact-resistant foundation. Materialization EXTERIOR SHELL (The Gray Outer Panels & Bottom Circle)Material: 600D Polyester laminated with 3mm EVA Foam.Function: The polyester provides abrasion resistance for garden use, while the EVA foam lamination gives the bag its semi-rigid, self-standing structure (as seen in the folded view) and protects the contents from impact.INNER LINING (The Gray Inner Panels & Top Circle)Material: 210D Nylon Oxford with PU (Polyurethane) Coating.Function: A lightweight, waterproof, and wipeable interior layer. This ensures that dirt from tools or harvest can be easily cleaned and protects the EVA foam core from moisture inside the bag.RIGID BASE INSERT (The Red Circle)Material: 1.5mm High-Density Polyethylene (PE) Board.Function: This rigid plastic sheet is inserted between the Exterior bottom circle and the Inner Lining bottom circle (the "sandwiched" red layer in the assembly view). It provides a perfectly flat, waterproof foundation that will not warp like cardboard.POCKETS & DETAILSPocket Body: Same material as the Exterior Shell (600D Poly + EVA) for durability.Pocket Top Edge (Gray rectangles in drawing): Heavy-Duty Woven Elastic Band is sewn into the top hem to grip tools securely, preventing them from shaking.HANDLESMaterial: Nylon Seatbelt Webbing (38mm width).Function: High-tensile strength strapping attached with reinforced stitching to support heavy loads.We believe this proposal effectively addresses the unique needs of elderly gardeners while staying within the target budget. We would be delighted to answer any questions you may have regarding the design details or manufacturing process.

Continue ReadingREVISED DESIGN

Hello,Team 10

If you have reviewed the feedback, please select appropriate solutions for further development. Additionally, provide information regarding dimensions, materials, and functional zoning to assist us in creating the model—this will facilitate our video shooting later on. Perhaps we can also set a specific timeline to help us better plan our work.

Continue ReadingHello,Team 10

Our Feedbacks on Team-10’s Initial Ideas

Hi,Team 10,How have you been lately? Our team has reviewed your proposal. We apologize for the delay in providing feedback, as we have been quite busy over the past few days. Below are some of our thoughts and comments. First of all, our target users are elderly people living in old residential communities who engage in gardening both on their balconies and in the flower beds downstairs in the community. The problem we need to solve is: for residential buildings without elevators (only with stairs), how to enable these elderly individuals to better store the gardening tools used on the balcony and then carry them downstairs for outdoor gardening activities. It should be noted that gardening tools pose a certain degree of danger, so an additional consideration is how to better secure sharp tools to prevent them from falling during transportation, while also ensuring that the tools do not restrict or hinder the elderly's movement when they go downstairs. In summary, the core challenge lies in figuring out how to properly store these tools and then carry them downstairs for outdoor planting tasks. We have selected some suitable solutions from them and marked them with red boxes. These solutions can be further optimized. (1-1) The Nostalgic Case The Nostalgic Case provides excellent protection for tools, preventing them from falling out, and also allows for easy access. However, if the storage case adopts the same material, size, and weight as a vintage suitcase, the total weight—when combined with the weight of the tools themselves—may be too heavy and inconvenient to carry for the elderly, who need to hold onto handrails while going up or down stairs. (1-2) The Economic Fabric Bag The Economic Fabric Bag seems to be the most suitable option. It is easy to carry, keeps tools from falling out, and enables convenient tool access. Nevertheless, there are two aspects that can be optimized: first, the fabric is not waterproof; second, it lacks auxiliary carrying designs. (1-3) The Washable Caddy The Washable Caddy can also meet the needs of carrying and accessing tools. However, I am concerned that an imbalance in the weight of the tools inside may cause it to be heavier on one side, which could affect the elderly when they go up or down stairs. (2-1) The Belt Supported with Suspenders The belt supported with suspenders frees up the hands and allows for extremely convenient tool access! Wearing it on the body makes carrying easy and labor-saving. However, it has obvious shortcomings: its capacity is relatively small, and there is no protection for the tools—they are likely to fall out when the user bends over. Additionally, a single shoulder strap may cause pressure on the shoulders. It is recommended that the belt be designed with an adjustable length to better fit the elderly of different body types. Can improvements be made to address these issues? (2-2) The Plastic Carrying Bag The plastic carrying bag has an interesting and innovative appearance, and your design is undoubtedly creative.…

Continue ReadingOur Feedbacks on Team-10’s Initial Ideas

Initial Design Ideas – Nisa

a small, foldable wortbenchDownload Firstly, in all my design concepts, I included the step of harvesting mature produce and created a dedicated space for users to place these items. I allocated an area for this purpose in every product. My first design idea is a wheeled gardening cart. The main section features a wide space where users can place pots and large watering cans. I also allocated a small, foldable working surface. Furthermore, I created separate pockets for each tool, and these pockets feature illustrations of the respective tools on their surface. In the front section of the cart, there is a pocket designated for the user to place their harvests. My second design idea is an organizer with a central area that I designated for harvests. This central area can be expanded or contracted thanks to the zippers located on the sides. Around the bag, I placed special, separate pockets for each tool. Again, these pockets feature illustrations of the objects on them. My third design idea is a wearable tool organizer. With this, I aimed for the user to have easier access to their tools and to be able to move more independently and freely. Similarly, this design idea also features a small compartment at the bottom of the organizer where the user can place their harvests, just like the others. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or require further information; I am always available. All the best!

Continue ReadingInitial Design Ideas – Nisa

Initial Design Ideas-Burcu

Hey everyone! These are my initial design ideas. First of all this is my best friend's cat Bulut (Cloud) helping me with my ideas :D I know that our design brief says that a carrying unit should be designed. However, this small idea, I'd like to implement in my design process. 1-A belt supported with suspenders. 2-A plastics carrying bag, each compartment specially designed for the products. 3-a minimalized single shoulderbag. if you have any questions please dont hesitate to ask!! Thank you

Continue ReadingInitial Design Ideas-Burcu

INITIAL IDEAS -FILIZ *Hey Team 1, I’m really looking forward to your feedback

Here are my initial concepts for consideration: Concept 1: The Nostalgic Case My first idea is a rectangular carrying case, complete with a handle and a lock, designed to resemble a nostalgic suitcase. When opened, one of the interior surfaces—to which the tools are affixed—can be propped up at an angle, resting against the other side of the case. This allows all the tools to be displayed neatly and remain clearly visible on a single plane. Concept 2: The Economic Fabric Bag My second concept is a fabric bag that incorporates non-rigid (flexible) compartments. This design ensures that tools can be transported without mixing together. This solution also represents the most economical approach I have been able to find for the current problem. Concept 3: The Washable Caddy The third design is an open-top product made of plastic. It is constructed from a combination of cylindrical compartments, which effectively keep the tools separate during transport. This solution is ideal for extended use in earthy, wet, or dirty environments, as its plastic material allows it to be washed easily with water.

Continue ReadingINITIAL IDEAS -FILIZ *Hey Team 1, I’m really looking forward to your feedback

Our meeting!

We held an online meeting with Team 10 on Zoom at 6:00 p.m. Beijing Time (1:00 p.m. Turkish Time) on November 8th. What preparations did we make for this meeting? Burcu connected with members of our group on WeChat using the contact information provided in our briefing document. She also thoughtfully created a dedicated WeChat group to streamline communication between both parties. Additionally, she inquired about our availability for an online meeting—intended to review the briefing document and enable a brief introductory check-in. As we had classes scheduled on Thursday and Friday, we coordinated via email, WeChat, and Instagram to finalize the meeting details, confirming an online session for Saturday afternoon. During the meeting, we greeted each other warmly, raised questions regarding both parties' briefing documents, and the most interesting part was that Burcu and Nisa showed us Lahmacun—a traditional Turkish delicacy. Since I didn’t get a screenshot of it, I found a picture of Lahmacun online instead. Does it look a bit like pizza? I thought so at first too, but it isn’t. Filiz explained that Lahmacun has a distinct flavor from pizza. Unlike pizza, which is topped with a variety of ingredients such as mushrooms, olives, and sausages, Lahmacun consists of minced meat mixed with chili peppers, tomato sauce, and onions, all spread over a thin piece of bread. It is then wrapped with fresh tomatoes, onions, and parsley and eaten as a roll—and it sounds absolutely delicious Regarding the questions about our design project, due to our limited English proficiency, we had a brief discussion about the missing information that each party needs in our respective briefing documents, and decided to supplement this information on the blog. We were truly delighted to connect with Team 10 through this opportunity—their warmth and enthusiasm were tangible, even across the screen. It was also a wonderful surprise to learn about Turkish cuisine, which added such a lovely touch to our conversation. Though we hail from different corners of the world, there’s something truly special about building connections in this way; it feels like a small but precious bridge between our cultures.That said, we do feel a gentle regret that our limited English kept us from diving deeper into more conversations—there was so much we wanted to share and ask. Even so, we’re eager to keep nurturing this connection through our design projects moving forward. Meeting all of you has been such a joy, and we hope every day brings you the same brightness and energy you brought to our video call. Wishing you lots of happiness in your days ahead, and we’re already looking forward to our next chance to connect. The above content is provided by Team 1.

Continue ReadingOur meeting!

Hi,Team 10,This covers some revisions and detailed points regarding the briefing.

Thank you for Filiz's question. Regarding usage scenarios, we would like to add some supplementary details. In China, some elderly people often convert the yards of old-style houses into small vegetable gardens. For elderly residents living in new residential communities, due to the restriction that they cannot use the community spaces arbitrarily, they choose to grow plants on their balconies. Additionally, there is a group of elderly people living in old residential communities who not only grow plants on their balconies but also make use of the unused spaces or flower beds downstairs in the community for planting. Our target audience is exactly this last group of elderly people, and the problem we need to solve is how to transport tools when they need to take care of plants both upstairs (on the balcony) and downstairs (in the community spaces). The tools they commonly use for caring for both indoor and outdoor plants are all the tools in picture (5-1) except the dipper and the iron shovel. This is because all the other tools are needed for both indoor and outdoor planting.The key question is how to better store these tools after using them for balcony planting and then carry them downstairs for outdoor planting. Elderly people may have unsteady steps when going downstairs, and the old residential communities where they live often lack elevators, so they need to hold onto handrails to go down. On one hand, this tool storage bag should be easy to carry—for example, it could be a single-shoulder bag that can be slung over the shoulder while going downstairs. On the other hand, this hand-carried bag needs to secure the gardening tools properly, preventing sharp tools from falling due to the elderly’s unsteady steps and causing harm to them. For watering tools and large iron shovels, we don’t think you need to consider them as items for storage. Indoors, watering is usually done with water ladles or plastic bottles, while outdoors, water guns and iron shovels are used. Whether indoors or outdoors, these tools are not only different from each other but also difficult to store with lightweight storage tools. Wish you all the best.

Continue ReadingHi,Team 10,This covers some revisions and detailed points regarding the briefing.

Strays – Nisa Közleme

Hello, my name is Nisa. I am a 3rd-year Industrial Design student at METU (Middle East Technical University). I’m originally from Giresun, a beautiful, small city on the Black Sea coast where the green of the mountains meets the blue of the sea. I currently live in Ankara for my studies and am staying in a dormitory. I have a cat named Ciri who lives with my family back in Giresun, and I miss her very much. I always try to find joy in life's simple moments. I really love hiking in the forest, swimming, spending time with friends and family, and sitting quietly by nature or the seaside. I also enjoy traveling and try to explore new places whenever I can. To be honest, I don't feel like I have one specific hobby. I've tried many things but haven't found my perfect fit yet, and I'm still searching. Although this sometimes frustrates me, I try to stay present and simply enjoy life's experiences. It’s hard to choose a single favorite movie, but my favorite sitcom is definitely The Big Bang Theory! As for Industrial Design, I absolutely love my department. The courses are fascinating, and the satisfaction of being able to create a functional, working product is incredible. However, like many students, I'm quite confused about my future; it’s difficult to decide which specific field I want to specialize in after graduation. For now, I’m trying to take advantage of every opportunity to gain as much diverse experience as possible. E- mail: nisa.kozleme@metu.edu.tr Instagram: nnkozleme

Continue ReadingStrays – Nisa Közleme

Strays – Filiz Eraslan

Hello everyone, I’m Filiz Eraslan, an Industrial Design student from the Middle East Technical University. My roots are in Kocaeli, a beautiful city located right on the eastern edge of Istanbul. Kocaeli holds a special place in my heart, primarily because of its two distinct coastlines. I truly love the sea; there is a profound sense of peace and clarity I find in walking along the shore, watching the water, or simply enjoying a picnic by the coastline. While I currently reside in Ankara for my studies (an inland city) the lack of the sea often fuels my homesickness. Fortunately, the local lakes here offer a comforting, if imperfect, sense of calm that helps bridge the distance. When it comes to my creative outlets, my free time is often devoted to reading novels. I am fascinated by human psychology and experience; I see engaging with the lives of others, whether real or fictional, as a uniquely profitable way to gain "experience" and perspective without the cost of error. Furthermore, I find pure escapism in Turkish TV series from the 2000s and 2010s; these shows are my favorite way to detach from my daily responsibilities and briefly enter entirely different universes. Professionally, my primary focus in design is manufacturability. I firmly believe that the most brilliant product idea holds little value unless it is grounded in practical production viability. For me, the true challenge and success of design lie in bridging the gap between an inspired concept and a physically achievable, real-world product. Looking ahead, after graduation, my immediate aspiration is to work in the white goods sector. I am particularly drawn to this field because I believe it involves intense and crucial human-product interaction, offering significant opportunities to apply my knowledge and contribute meaningful, user-centered solutions. Beyond my professional practice, I am also committed to continuous learning and plan to pursue a master's degree to further deepen my academic and theoretical knowledge in my field.You can connect with me via LinkedIn ((8) Filiz Eraslan | LinkedIn) or send an email directly to filiz.eraslan@metu.edu.tr.

Continue ReadingStrays – Filiz Eraslan

Strays-Burcu Öznergiz

Hey everyone! This is Burcu from Turkey. I'm studying industrial design at METU, currently third year student. I'm from Adana, a city located in south. It is really famous for being so hot, and its own famous food, kebap. A little more about me.......... I love learning new languages and cultures. I've been studying Japanese for almost 4 years. Actually this summer, I was a volunteer in Ibaraki(茨城県), Japan for 3 months. (And will be in Japan in this winter break too !!) During my time in Ibaraki, I had so many chances to make new friends all over the worlds who voluntereed with me at the same time. Ibaraki is rural area, since I like being in the nature, I had so much fun. Also, been to Tokyo multiple times, and stayed in Hachioji (八王子) for almost 3 weeks. I also started learning Korean, hopefully will get better in the future. After Japanese and Korean, my plan is to learn Chinese. I've been playing basketball for almost 15 years, and I love having an active lifestyle. I've been in school team for almost 4 years, although not playing professionally, just for fun:)I love animals, and have been a member of Animals Club of METU for 3 years. Since our campus is really big, and entangled with nature, we have so many animals living in our campus, such as dogs, cats, foxes, turtles and so on. We take care of them, feeding, neutering them. Most importantly, we give love to them! I've been a dogwalker and petsitter for 2 years, love to work with animals!I love listening to indie-rock, actually just whatever I like lol. My favourite artists/bands: Roth Bart Baron, Mono no Aware, King Gnu, Suchmos, Satoko Shibata, Kaho Nakamura, UA, and so on.. I'll add my spotify account if you want to check it out:D I used to play drums, guitar, but I think that is not my cup of tea. Here is my contact infos: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_curcu_na/https://www.instagram.com/burujju/ (my Japanese learning journey)mail: burcuoznergiz01@gmail.comLine: seftabarkSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/burcoznergiz?si=aced93533b14445bLooking forward to meeting you!!!

Continue ReadingStrays-Burcu Öznergiz

Task | Individual Designers Profiles

You will upload your profile onto your allocated Design Project site. Sharing your profile will enable other participating students and lecturers to find out about you. So, make it an interesting read… The other students might like to know where your hometown is, and what your hobbies are and your future plans after you will graduate. You may like to say something about your favourite design project you have done in the past and share a picture or two. What are your strong skills? Do you have a favourite book, movie or TV series? What is your favourite hiding place where your university is located? Please remember to include your contact details. It is essential that you list your email! However, it would be also useful to indicate what social media you are using such as WhatsApp, WeChat, Signal, Telegram, Line, Kakao Talk, Skype and so on. You can always update your profile post, so you do not need to have it perfect in the first go.

Continue ReadingTask | Individual Designers Profiles

Task | Designers’ Team Banner

Develop a banner for your Design Team. The banner will be used as a Heather for your Design Project Site. The dimensions can be vary from 340x125pixels or 1350 by 270px or 2000x400px The Designers’ Team Banner needs to include the following: design team’s logo design team’s name design team members’ photos and names Examples of the past designers banners are provided on the 2024 Project Master Page. If like you, you can always modify your banners later on.

Continue ReadingTask | Designers’ Team Banner

End of content

No more pages to load