Pink Team!
Sketch Models!
View the 4 Presentation Slides (.pdf)
Presentation Video
Concepts
Sea Turtle Incubator
A cooling jacket that can be inserted around sea turtle nests to rectify the gender ratio imbalance caused by rising global temperatures.
Reviewer Feedback
Ana Lo
Product Opportunity
The problem was presented clearly and I think there is a clear need. I recommend contacting more users early in the design process. They may have different insights that influence the direction of the design.
Product Embodiment
Yes, I think you are definitely on the right track! I am curious how would power something like this. You don't want to have a large impact on the environment (ideally no long cables to an outlet). Are there ways to power it using things in the environment (ie solar, tides/hydro)?
Model Learnings
This was a valuable question to answer--I think the next big question is to figure out how you would install something like this without disrupting the eggs.
Model Execution
Great job! You posed a clear question and ended with a clear answer.
Atissa Banuazizi
Product Opportunity
No doubt that this is a huge and real need for the sea turtle population (and those trying to save them). [Small note: you mostly correctly referred to *sex* ratios/determination, but one slide title used the phrase "gender ratios" -- not really the right language in the context of turtles.]
Product Embodiment
I was really glad to see you showing more context on how this would be used! I think the question of installation is a real concern, though: how easy is it to dig around the nest? Or do you dig out the eggs, then replace them (and if so, is it that much better than the current method of moving the eggs)?
Model Learnings
It was certainly useful to know that you can cool sand to about the right temperature in the lab. Will the amount of energy needed for cooling vary with the time of day/weather? That is, on very hot days in warm climates, will the amount of energy expended still be reasonable?
Model Execution
I was very happy to see your model onstage, and I think you did a good job of presenting your results.
Chuck Xia
Product Opportunity
Sea turtle incubator - the problem is compelling. Are the user and the purchaser same group? Working with closely marine biologist is critical for the product development. Does the installation disturb the nest? How long is a hatching cycle?
Product Embodiment
Exploring a combination of passive cooling method in addition to active method. Passive cooling method (shade, evaporative, phase change cooling, etc) could reduce power/size/labor of the active cooling method. Active cooling also generate heats somewhere else.
Model Learnings
Good start, thinking about the power needed to reach ideal temperature. I am curious what is the temperature gradient between edge and the center of the shell. How uniform and steady does the temperature needs to be?
Model Execution
I would have love to see a live demo of the model. To test and validate your model, make sure to also pay equal attention on temperature measurement.
Rich Wiesman
Product Opportunity
The product opportunity is clear and the need has been described. You also described other teams that are working on this issue and attempting fixes with less than great results.
Product Embodiment
While your test for cooling requirements for a volume of sand was straightforward and effective, I'm concerned that this approach may not be practical or even possible in actual field use. The two cubic foot nest volume that is an "arms length deep" is relatively small in diameter and deep. I'm assuming that the eggs and nest will be present when one is attempting to install the cooler and that seems to present a very difficult task. Unless the eggs are tough and easily removed, I find it hard to imagine how one could install the cooling lines you've shown without damaging the nest and the eggs. While you've demonstrated that you can cool the sand with a heat exchanger type tube buried around the nest volume, the installation of the tubing seems nearly impossible. You might consider adopting the method that you described others using -- that is, can you simply flood the nest area with cooled water to reduce the sand temperature by the needed 4 degrees? It's not clear how deep the water will go and how effective this will be, but it will not risk damage to the eggs and the nest.
Model Learnings
You did an effective measurement of the cooling requirements for a volume of sand surrounded by a heat exchanger-like tube bundle. The test was good for this configuration, but as described above, I have serious concerns that the configuration is not practical for the problem. The cooling requirements be similar or much higher for another method, like dumping chilled water onto the nest area. I think you need to determine what approaches will work with actual eggs in a nest and then determine the power needs and the overall safety and effectiveness.
Model Execution
The model was well executed for what it showed, but I suspect that the approach shown will not be suitable for actual eggs in a nest.
Rebecca Thorndike-Breeze
Product Opportunity
Sea Turtle Incubator: This is a very strong user need, which is illustrated by your thorough presentation of the various teams who are working on this problem.
Product Embodiment
The vision for the final product is still murky to me, though I appreciate the contextual information about how and where turtles build their nests. I would have liked to see an illustration of the concept in its intended context.
Model Learnings
No feedback provided
Model Execution
No feedback provided
Lauren Futami
Product Opportunity
No feedback provided
Product Embodiment
I was curious how this would be installed in the sand - would existing nests be found first and then the cooling mechanism installed, or would there be existing nests with this cooling mechanism already embedded? If the parent turtle doesn't supervise the nest, can the eggs be taken from the nest and put into a separate incubating container? Do the eggs need to remain in the sand while they are maturing?
Model Learnings
This looked like it helped answer the important question of whether or not it's realistically feasible to pursue this option. How long does the environment need to remain cooled for the turtle eggs to become female? Are there additional passive ways to do this like placing a sun umbrella over the nest?
Model Execution
Good initial models!
Dave Custer
Product Opportunity
All in for helping save turtles.
Product Embodiment
Is there a simpler way? Shade? Whatever passive refrigeration system keeps the Alaska pipeline from sinking into permafrost? Water sounds problematic; would it cause the eggs to rot?
Model Learnings
No feedback provided
Model Execution
No feedback provided
Expandable Shoe
An expandable baby shoe targeting ages 1-5 that grows in size to conform to the child’s foot.
Reviewer Feedback
Ana Lo
Product Opportunity
Good job articulating the need. I can see the intended market for these shoes. At this point, it's really important to get feedback from the potential buyers (parents of lower income families). Often, people have their own work-arounds and may not want/need a different solution.
Product Embodiment
I think it's on the right track. The folding mechanism you developed to adjust the sole size is very cool! I am eager to see how it integrates into a shoe.
Model Learnings
I think you identified the key question. I would like to have seen more iterations/designs (even just sketches and pictures of rough prototypes) to show other ideas you ruled out.
Model Execution
You identified two potential solutions to your question. I would caution against getting attached to these two solutions. Make sure you stay open to new ideas and mechanisms through out the design process!!
n/a
Product Opportunity
No feedback provided
Product Embodiment
No feedback provided
Model Learnings
No feedback provided
Model Execution
just stumbled onto these, just a data point for any further exploration https://catalystpdg.com/project/because-international-the-shoe-that-grows/
Atissa Banuazizi
Product Opportunity
No question that children's feet grow quickly and that the cost of replacing shoes adds up.
Product Embodiment
I do think you might be better served by narrowing the age range of your prospective user -- there's a big difference, developmentally, between the foot of a 1-year-old and of a 5-year-old. I am not a podiatrist (you should look for one!!!), but: typically, 1-2 year-olds are very much still developing walkers, and require thin, flexible soles on their shoes, whereas preschoolers and kindergartners need a lot more structure and support. Thus, your product may be better suited to the younger age range -- which, happily for you, is also the range in which feet grow most rapidly. I think if you marketed these shoes as "buy one pair for the whole year, instead of having to replace every few months," that would still be very attractive to parents and caregivers of toddlers!
Model Learnings
It seemed like your goal was just to see whether you *could* model an expanding sole: I really liked seeing the creativity of your two models, but I wasn't sure how you evaluated them or what you learned from the comparison, nor was it clear how each sole would fit into the shoe structure as a whole.
Model Execution
see above
Chuck Xia
Product Opportunity
Expandable Shoe - baby shoes are so cute, but I see the need for parents to investing in more long lasting shoes. Save money and material.
Product Embodiment
The origami-like expansion with adjustable strap seems to be on the right track. Study baby's feet, which part of the feet changes the most from age 1-5? The width? length? Big toe? Then focus the expansion on the part that changes the most? Which part wears away the fastest? Maybe make that replaceable. In addition, need to add design customization. Your product would be fighting against a shelf full of adorable miniature baby shoes ($20-$40). The design of the shoe need stand up against the baby shoes.
Model Learnings
The expansion mechanism is a critical question. Get baby feet models of all sizes for future testing.
Model Execution
The demo works well. Curious about other design you tried.
Rich Wiesman
Product Opportunity
This is an interesting idea and one that may be practical for the user group that you've defined. My first reaction to the product idea was one of doubt, but after you defined a user from age 1 to 5, I felt that your product concept might be OK.
Product Embodiment
You only addressed the sole design for changing length and for that you showed two potential approaches. I found the second approach, the expanding sole grid, to be somewhat easier to imagine in use. The roll-up just seemed too bulky and not providing a good fit. I have at least three concerns: 1. You only addressed the length of the sole and not the changing width of a growing foot. This is a problem. 2. The upper of the shoe needs to expand with the growing foot and the sole size and that seems like a much greater challenge than the sole. 3. You need to be sure that a changing size shoe of the type you are describing does not cause any sort or medical issues for the user. This will require some real medical consults (not just opinions of parents or other potential customers).
Model Learnings
You set out to look at viable ways to expand the sole of a child's shoe and you did demonstrate two approaches. I like the models you created, but I'm not sure about the value of these models without integrated width adjustability and integrated expanding shoe uppers.
Model Execution
OK for what was shown, but was was shown is not valuable without width and shoe uppers.
Rebecca Thorndike-Breeze
Product Opportunity
Expandable Shoe (Sprout): The quotation about 24 pairs of shoes really helped show the user need, well done.
Product Embodiment
The vision for the product is unclear -- we see various components for your sketch models illustrated on the Design Idea slide, but it is unclear how your perceive them to all come together. I am particularly unclear about how the cinching draw string is intended to work.
Model Learnings
The critical question was implied, never explicitly stated, so unclear what was learned from this model.
Model Execution
No feedback provided
Lauren Futami
Product Opportunity
Considering the rate in which babies grow and subsequently outgrow their clothing/shoes, this looks like a good idea for parents to save money.
Product Embodiment
Does the expandable part of the shoe need to remain permanently on the shoe? Is it worthwhile to look into ways to have the extra material for the shoe be detached and stored and then when the shoe needs to expand, the user can attach the extra material? Can the shoe form factor shift to something more sandal-like or use softer materials like slippers/boots? The foldable material looks really promising!
Model Learnings
The strength of the foldable material was really well presented, it looks like a promising way to move forward with the sole of the shoe.
Model Execution
No feedback provided
Dave Custer
Product Opportunity
Will the shoes wear out faster than the child grows?
Product Embodiment
very compelling options to make this work
Model Learnings
No feedback provided
Model Execution
But can it be done? How can you model/test this?
Beach Cleaner
A manually pushed device that removes small hard to remove litter from beaches such as cigarette butts.
Reviewer Feedback
Ana Lo
Product Opportunity
The user need is clear.
Product Embodiment
I'm not sure. There was mention of a mesh membrane and vibrating sifter, but I don't have a good understand of the product vision. The mechanism for collecting trash needs to be developed more before the product vision is clear.
Model Learnings
The question was not clear to me. Initially I thought the question was 'can you pick up small trash' but the prototypes were trying to answer 'can you scoop up sand'. The former question is critical. However it was not answered in this model.
Model Execution
No feedback provided
Atissa Banuazizi
Product Opportunity
Beach litter is incontrovertibly a huge problem with a major environmental impact!
Product Embodiment
It took me a while to grasp the product vision. It wasn't until you presented Nikki that I truly understood the scale of the product embodiment; I think this information might usefully have moved up in the presentation, since it would have dovetailed really neatly and not taken up much time (note that you could easily have cut down the info about her on the slide, though, since the audience wasn't able to take it all in during the time it was projected). Important question not explicitly answered: Why do your competitors (the smaller ones) miss the smaller pieces of trash, and what leads you to think you can do better?
Model Learnings
You stated that you were looking at whether it was "feasible to push something large enough that you would be able to pick up small pieces of trash," but I didn't see exactly how size played into your investigation.
Model Execution
Your honesty about the results was absolutely commendable (and earned you instant sympathy and trust!) but really, it's not obvious to me that your sketch model gave the question a fair shake. I would not have supposed that a cardboard model would ever work particularly well to scoop sand.
Chuck Xia
Product Opportunity
Beach Cleaner - Not convinced the lack of a medium size manual beach cleaner is the barrier for people to clean the beach. Or is the problem that current manual beach cleaner isn't effective in picking up small litter? What about beach with seaweed, shell, or pebbles larger than cigarette butts?
Product Embodiment
The product vision is a bit lost. Is the key feature medium size, manual push or filtering? The value proposition isn't clear.
Model Learnings
The more interesting question might have been how to filter out small litter from the sand, pebble, or other large organic matters on the beach.
Model Execution
Would be more helpful to use an existing wheel with traction on the sand.
Rich Wiesman
Product Opportunity
The problem of plastics and micro plastics in the oceans are well known. You said that most of the trash on beaches is toxic to the marine life that lives there and to humans that eat that marine life -- is this really true? Is beach trash a problem to most life that lives on beaches -- I don't know, but I'd like some references that back this up. What marine life on beaches do people eat? Crabs, clams, snails? Do the beach plastics and other trash affect these shell fish? Do they get passed along to humans in a toxic form? I don't know, but I was left wondering if this was exaggerated. Is it even clear if plastics consumed by fish (non-beach creatures) are a human health hazard? The speaker may have been completely accurate, but a few references would be helpful to support this.
Product Embodiment
The product vision was not clear. The problem of separating small trash particles from sand was not really addressed. The model showed two notional approaches to picking up sand and loading it into a bucket or container. Neither model was terribly unique or well suited to the problem described.
Model Learnings
I don't believe the models shown were particularly valuable for helping to address critical needs of the beach trash pickup.
Model Execution
These were cardboard models and the effectiveness of either model for even just picking up the sand was very questionable. In fact, I suspect that properly sized and using better materials might let the rotary pickup model be quite effective. Of course, these models still do not address the real problem of effective trash separation.
Rebecca Thorndike-Breeze
Product Opportunity
Beach Cleaner: This is a perennial problem, so a very clear need. In fact, it’s such a big and obvious problem, less time could have been spent characterizing the problem.
Product Embodiment
There was no illustration of your vision for the product, so I was left to interpret what it might be from the sketch model and the images of your competitors.
Model Learnings
Not quite sure what your critical question was -- at first it seemed like you wanted to know if you could sift small pieces of garbage, but the demo indicated that you were trying to figure out which form factor was most feasible for gathering sand. This was a great thing to learn, but the phrasing of the question still leaves me wondering if you found an answer.
Model Execution
No feedback provided
Lauren Futami
Product Opportunity
I might have missed this, but would this be human operated or would the goal be to be autonomous? Is it used to help beach cleaning organizations?
Product Embodiment
This reminded me of the tennis ball return mechanisms: https://www.playmatetennis.com/ball-mower/ It looked like the current methods the team was testing would quickly clog once a few pieces of trash were collected (unable to pass sand through the mass of trash).
Model Learnings
Are there other mechanisms other than pushing/rolling that could be used? I imagined something like a rake with thinly spaced teeth could also be a different form factor.
Model Execution
It looked like the models helped show the difficulties of working with sand.
Dave Custer
Product Opportunity
No feedback provided
Product Embodiment
I feel there are many challenges that are not addressed.
Model Learnings
No feedback provided
Model Execution
How many beaches have homogenous enough sand to make this work?
Home Recycler
A small scale recycler that takes LDPE plastic bags and films and converts them to useful household products.
Reviewer Feedback
Ana Lo
Product Opportunity
Recycling is a very real problem. However, I am unsure if this product is addressing that need.
Product Embodiment
The product vision was unclear. By having recycled products (like 3d printer filament) magically appear ignored the really big issue of how to turn used plastic into usable materials.
Model Learnings
I don't think the key questions were addressed. Grinding plastic isn't a new technology.
Model Execution
No feedback provided
n/a
Product Opportunity
Perhaps investigate plastic compatibilities - Thermosets and thermoforms have very different characteristics in terms of re-use
Product Embodiment
No feedback provided
Model Learnings
No feedback provided
Model Execution
No feedback provided
Atissa Banuazizi
Product Opportunity
Clearly it's important to deal with the larger issue of LDPE waste (and nice transition from previous presentation!!!), but obviously that problem is broader than can usefully be addressed on the scale of your product, so it's important to explicitly narrow down the specific need that you CAN address. (This could even be as simple as "on the household level, there exists no practical recycling outlet for LPDE waste" or "customers want to make recycling fun!")
Product Embodiment
There are two distinct value propositions here for your target user: that you can recycle all the film plastic that you're not supposed to put in the bin (help the environment!) and that you can make fun/useful stuff. I'm really curious which would drive them more, and that will really determine how you can envision and develop this product.
Model Learnings
I wasn't totally clear from your presentation what you used the physical sketch model for -- did you really show it to the users as part of the survey? There are so many unknowns that I'm not sure it would have produced very useful data. It was great to ask them what kind of plastic products they would want to make, though! As far as the shredding goes, wouldn't the starting point be to ask how this kind of plastic is broken down in your competitor products? Is there a specific reason you would need to do it differently?
Model Execution
I know that the output reveal was just meant to be humorous, but as a presentation strategy, I didn't think it was really in the spirit of the investigation -- it really just kind of emphasized how far away you were from addressing that particular question!
Chuck Xia
Product Opportunity
Home Recycler - improving recycle is a good problem. I don't see it being use at home. I could see it being use at supermarket (for examplehttps://www.cleenland.com/), and make recycle bottle to support the refill home good store.
Product Embodiment
The table top size is limiting the product vision. I don't see any critical reason why the device has to be table top size. It could be the size of a laundry machine. Consider the function before designing the form.
Model Learnings
Shredding plastic bag is hard, but do you need to shred it in its thin sheet tangly form? Why not heat & compress then shred.
Model Execution
the model is a starting attempt on the shredder, would love to see what else you considered.
Rich Wiesman
Product Opportunity
I believe that the general need for better ways to recycle plastic films is very great. Plastic films have always been problems for material recycling operations, and most collection facilities ask that films be separated from single stream operations or simply set into trash areas. This seems to be a clear problem and you've posed an interesting idea to see if you can persuade people to recycle plastic films by creating new and useful items right at home. Interesting idea!
Product Embodiment
Is the vision on the right track? Well, sort of. You have described shredding the incoming films and then molding them into some desirable items. In its simplest form the vision is OK. The problem is all the details that need to be solved. The incoming plastics may need to be somewhat clean to be effectively mixed and molded into new material and items. Do colors need to be separated to control the color of the output? How big will the overall system need to be? Will the size be acceptable to your customers? How much power and energy will be needed to melt and mold the materials? Will there still be some waste materials? These are all questions that need to be addressed by a more complete and realistic vision.
Model Learnings
I'm not sure there was much learned from the model. The size that was shown and described was not really based on a realistic process so how much could be learned? Could you show a group of potential consumers a number of different sized mockups of a product an ask them which sizes might be acceptable to them (if the product worked well)? This might have been a better way to get potential consumers to tell you what sizes would be just too big no matter what. As for the cutters that were mentioned, I couldn't really see anything. There are well know industrial approaches to cutting and shredding plastics, including films. Unless these usual techniques are unacceptable to some aspects of your product, you might want to stick with commercial off the shelf (COTS) approaches for cutting and shredding. You might also want to confine your product to just processing plastic films if these are the items that are hardest to recycle through regular means.
Model Execution
The execution seemed weak. As mentioned above, if you wanted to test consumers' reactions to size then I would suggest showing a series of mockups of differently sized appliances and see what a group of potential users say might be acceptable.
Rebecca Thorndike-Breeze
Product Opportunity
Home Recycler: Plastic waste is a huge problem, so this is a compelling area. But this is a huge problem for the world, not so much for your every-day consumer. So I don’t see that the problem has been appropriately scoped from user needs. Since there is so much single-use plastic in seemingly every facet of life, would this device make life easier for users because they wouldn’t need to work so hard to avoid single-use plastics?
Product Embodiment
Between the diagram on the slides and the looks-like model, I do get some sense of the product vision. But I don’t have a sense where the product would be used, and this affects key aspects of its embodiment. If it’s intended to be used in a kitchen, then keeping the size as small as possible is really important, as you note when you point out your sketch model is about the size of a trash can. Would this be kept in a cabinet, like trash and recycling bins? Would it need to take up floor space? Or counter space? Should it be kept in the garage? In that case, it probably shouldn’t be much bigger than an air compressor, so it could be stowed against a wall and still allow for cars to be parked, etc.
Model Learnings
These were important questions to ask -- what would make a user want to use this? And how would you shred the plastic. It’s valuable to note the limitations re shredding cellophane.
Model Execution
No feedback provided
Lauren Futami
Product Opportunity
No feedback provided
Product Embodiment
This seems like a very idealistic vision for recycling, but am still skeptical of the feasibility of breaking down plastics and reforming them into usable items.
Model Learnings
I might have missed it, but this looked more like a looks-like model rather than a works-like model, and there are a few key questions left to answer.
Model Execution
No feedback provided
Dave Custer
Product Opportunity
I don't see the value proposition yet. In some world, maybe it would be worth it for individuals to make plastic bricks for resale.
Product Embodiment
No feedback provided
Model Learnings
No feedback provided
Model Execution
No feedback provided