AKH SPORTS, INC.
Raleigh, NC
SPORTING GOODS PRODUCT
Pitchers, catchers, and coaches don't know how far apart to stand when practicing or warming up off the infield. If a pitcher has movement on their pitch, they need to be able to judge the accuracy of their throw. The height of the strike zone changes with the height of each batter and cannot be otherwise simulated. But the width of the strike zone is a constant determined by the 17-inch width of the home plate, which, if present during practice or warm-up, provides very important visual indication of the succes of the pitcher's effort.
The MEASURING PLATE is made of blow molded polyethelene resulting in a dimensionally accurate, hollow, lightweight form factor. It includes a 60-foot, 6-inch rugged fiberglass measrung tape. This award-winning design comes packaged in a pizza-type box and shipped to distributors in overpacks containing six MEASURING PLATES. MADE IN USA. Dishwasher safe.
BEST IN SHOW NEW PRODUCT "THE AMERICAN BASEBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION" 2007
Manufacturing Process: Blow Molding Material: Polyethelene
Design Tool: Pro Engineer (PTC) Solid Modeling
THE MEASURING PLATE
Even award-winning products need asdvetising. The following graphic works were designed using ADOBE CREATIE SUIITE tools and were intended for consumption on the Internet, sporting goods publications and collateral materials at trade shows. It's true about Industrial Designers that we never design the same thing twice, That requires that we are flexible and willing to do whatever it takes to get our products in the user's hands.
In the case of the MEASURING PLATE, this designer did it all, including putting the product in the the hands of the prospective users, locating and negoitating with distribution networks, taking the product to retailers and selling the product direct to the consumer. That required graphic design and using every skillset available.
Manufacturing Process: Laser and Offset Printing
Design Tool: Adobe Creative Suite
TRADE SHOW DISCOUNT COUPON
APEX SAFETY PRODUCTS
Sanford, NC
DESIGN INTENT: Design a one-size-fits-all, gender-neutral, stylized safety goggles for three types of protection: chemical (no ventilation), splash (covered ventilation), and normal use with industry standard ventilation (unrestricted air flow). This was a major Human Factors research undertaking. If you didn't know what physical anthropologists did before you started, you soon found out. There are of course liits to what any Industrial Designer get know. How do you know how to measure a human face. Who does that and were are they? Design research requires relentless persuite of information. You start with a strategic plan and hit the road, And when certain information uspets your plan, you rethink it and adjust as required. But you don't quit because you know the answer is waiting to be found.
QUESTIONS:
1. What facial dimensions need consideration for a unisex, one-size-fits-all product?
2. What are the most common emergency room eye injury traumas?
3. What products does our competition have, and how well do they perform?
4. Research the dangerous and corrosive byproducts from the injection molding of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
SOLUTIONS:
A. Locate the most prominent physical anthropologists in the U.S. and pay them each a visit.
B. Locate a design team that has already successfully addressed this problem.
C. Once the dimensions have been determined, construct a headform based upon the findings for use in designing the optimal fit.
D. Collect data on the ventilation characteristics of competitor products without an air tunnel.
E. Find an outside vendor who currently injection molds PVC.
Manufacturing Process: Machining & Fabrication Material: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Design Tool: Vellum & 2H Graphite
Wind tunnel simulation using a 2-axis motion generator and baffled muffin fan to approximate user head motion for testing the ventilation of competitive goggles.
NORTH AMERICAN FIBERGLASS CORPORATION
Greenville, NC
23-FOOT WORK BOAT CONVERSION
DESIGN INTENT: Turn exisitng work boat hull into a rugged and aesthetically pleasing sport fishing boat. Generate the design of the component parts and build the fiberglass/wood production molds.
Manufacturing Process: Fiberglass molding Material: Glass Reinforced Polyester
Design Tool: Vellum & 2H Graphite
Magazine add produced by outside firm
RADARWORKS, INC & MONITECH CORPORATION
Research Triangle Park, NC
DESIGN INTENT: Design various plastic components using solid model software
Manufacturing Process: Injection Molding Material: ABS Plastic
Design Tool: Aries, Pro Engineer & Soldidworks
ITT TELECOMMUNICATIONS / MACKAY MARINE
Raleigh, NC
DESIGN INTENT: Design sheet metal enclosures to house various electronics.
Manufacturing Process: Sheet Metal Fabrication Material: 5052-T4 Aluminum
Design Tool: Vellum & 2h Graphite
ITT TELECOMMUNICATIONS / MACKAY MARINE
Raleigh, NC
DESIGN INTENT: Design a portable enclosure for telephone office test equipment.
Manufacturing Process: Vacuum Forming Material: ABS Plastics
Design Tool: Vellum & 2h Graphite
BROADBAND HOME TECHNOLOGIES
Research Triangle Park, NC
DESING INTENT: Design injection molded enclosure for in-home cable television componets.
Manufacturing Process: Injection Molding Material: ABS Plastic
Design Tool: AutoCAD & AutoCAD - Mechanical Desktop
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