Designing and Manufacturing a bottle opener.
In this unit, we will be going through the process of designing and planning to manufacture a bottle opener.
We will follow a traditional design process. Gathering inspiration with a concept board. Drawing our own designs. Creating a pre-production plan and then manufacturing. We will be making 3 bottle openers. Reflecting and adapting our design to suit our needs.
Concept boards
A concept board, also known as a presentation board, is a stimulus material or a starting point of a certain creative process. It is an arrangement of images, texts, textures, and colors which can help explore various styles. It can describe the direction of a project, be a guide tool for a designer, and communicate design ideas. For instance, in interior architecture, concept boards are used to graphically present inspirations for the project. This visual and/or verbal presentation can also resemble advertisements since they outline the attributes and benefits of a certain product.
For your bottle openers have a look online and seek inspiration from other existing products. What do you like about other designs? What do you dislike? Grab a set of unique designs. Amazon would be a great place to have a look at what’s currently on the market.
Designing your bottle opener
Aesthetic appeal: The design should be visually appealing and reflect the brand or style of the product it is intended for. The color, shape, and texture of the opener should be carefully considered to make it an attractive and desirable item.
Safety: The design should be safe to use, with no sharp edges or points that could cause injury. The opener should also be designed to prevent the bottle cap from flying off and causing injury or damage.
Branding: If the bottle opener is intended as a promotional item or for branding purposes, the design should incorporate the company's logo or branding in a subtle and tasteful way. The design should be distinctive and memorable, to increase the chances of the opener being used and shared.
Now that you have looked at other concepts and products. It’s time for you to put your ideas to paper. Hopefully, you’ll have some designs that you’d like to explore and bring to life. These drawings don’t need to be finished products. They should include rough dimensions and sizes.
When designing a bottle opener, there are several factors that you should consider, such as:
Ergonomics: The design should be comfortable to hold and use, with a shape that fits comfortably in the user's hand. The opener should also be easy to use, even for people with limited hand strength or dexterity.
Portability: Bottle openers are often used on-the-go, so a compact and lightweight design is desirable. The opener should be easy to store in a pocket or purse, and should not take up too much space.
Functionality: The primary purpose of a bottle opener is to open bottles, so the design should be functional and efficient. The opener should be able to easily and securely grip the bottle cap and remove it without damaging the bottle or the cap.
Pre-production Plans
Part of this module is to plan the manufacturing process. And this will be done in the form of a pre-production plan. In this, you’ll need to include all the tools you need and all the tools you will be using.
Alongside this, a step-by-step guide of how you will manufacture this will be key. You will be referencing this document later down the road