Developing on Laser Cut Puzzles

Our Posters

After the voting process in class with Group A, B and C there to show their opinions of our ideas we found that the public liked our laser cut puzzles a lot more then the fortune wheel. 
We then worked out how to improve and develop on this idea as a group in class.

The first issue we noticed with the idea is that animals and puzzles are very child orientated, while our target market is students. At first we decided we could make 3 different products and have only one being an animal so we brainstormed possibilities for other products, these being:

• speakers
• wallet/purse
• key rings
• ruler
• laser cut quotes on wood/ mdf
• phone cases
• boxes/ storage for art supplies
• book dividers
• book marks
• a desktop organiser/ pencil holder/ iphone holder
• pot plant 

Realising that the phone speakers was the strongest idea that we had gotten from pervious idea generation we decided to work on developing on that alone instead of trying to make 3 different objects which may have been too much to handle and lessened our brand image.

Idea generation on the phone speakers was excellent as we were starting to settle on an actual idea rather then vague smaller ideas. We came up with many ideas while keeping in mind that a lot of these would be changing as we developed further and actually started making the product. We wanted the speakers to be made out of MDF or cardboard as we wanted to continue with the theme of using recycled goods. The pros/ cons of MDF being:

• its more expensive
• lasts longer
• easier to create slots and grooves with laser cutter

Cardboard being

• wont last as long
• cheaper 
• can make folds
• may not keep shape as easy?
• looks nicer aesthetically 
• can make both slots and tabs

This however needs to be tested to see if the music amplifies obviously better in one material then the other.

We also discussed making a couple of different sizes for different needs. All speakers were going to be portable as you can put them up and fold them down again whenever need be but some people may not want that. There is also the issue or Samsung vs Iphone and how the speakers are in different locations so we need to make speakers that cater for both.

Development/discussion notes of the two ideas

Idea number 1: An interaction experience

We decided that the best way to create interaction with the audience was through a game that people would take part in and take away the enjoyment of the experience rather than anything physical. Here are the ideas we came up with: 

• carnival games
• old fashioned and refurbished - so it takes you back to another era and creates an even more memorable experience
• risk spinner
• darts

• bucket ball
• air rifle
• Whack a mole (or other hammer game)
• guess whats in the box
• fortune wheel

We were all really interested in the fortune wheel and decided to take this idea further to see how we could create a game around it. These are our ideas:

• It could tell you something to do with your day - comparing social media, gaming, internet, movies with physical activities and interactions with other people.  
• future or something to make them THINK - you leave with a thought in the back of your head (may be positive or negative)
• made out of MDF or wood - this would be cheap/free to source and a good solid material
• There could be toys or lollies as a reward but this is not as important - could just be a prize on the side but what they really take away is the thoughts
• To create curiousness in people that would draw them to our stall we could have visual and audio elements
• Really big wheel that people can see from a distance/over other stalls
• sound coming from our stall - excitement, draws people over
• music - circus music, ice cream truck music
• cheering from on-lookers or participators in game
• wheel makes clicking noise 

Idea number 2: Something to take away

We thought that if something was to be taken away from the stall that it should be an item of value to the person. People like to keep things they make themselves so we came up with the idea that we could make small cut out templates for people to make a toy/ornament out of and then take home.

Ideas:

• fridge magnets/ key rings 
• simple 3D puzzle - they get given a 2D template which has shapes cut out, which they then make into some 3D form
• 3 different types - different people will want different things
• still carnival themed e.g. car, elephant
• little cars that are usable where the wheels turn?
• definitely want animals - everybody loves animal toys
• deer - we all agreed that a deer would be a good choice of animal
• recycled materials - people may be more interested in an item that is being recycled rather than using new resources.
• mdf (cheaper) 
• cardboard?
• found plastic/acrylic
• have to think about the construction to make toy, it becomes sentimental to the owner because they made it so they want to keep.
• We can make quite basic patterns that people can easily figure out themselves but are also challenging enough that it is still interesting/creates a sense of value
• station, creation station lol - somewhere at our stall where people can sit down and make the toy on the spot and receive help from us if they need it
• punching into card to get out pieces - we decided that we would leave the cut out pieces still attached in the template/cut-out people will enjoy popping out the shapes themselves rather than having it already done for them. It is an extra bit of fun.
• We could do something with extra cardboard, coasters, clock, dividers. Or leave instructions in packaging with suggestions of how people can use it. - this fits in with our theme of recycling and reusing.
• toys size to be hand held
• packaging?
• wax stamp - our logo or another image that gives it more value
• brown envelope, brown paper bag - all part of the experience - like opening a present or letter.

Initial group brainstorm

The first lesson as a group, we began brainstorming ideas for things that we could make. We found that we had all had a common interest in refurbishing and recycling materials. We also all agreed that we wanted to create something that was more than just an item, and something that people would still love after they took it home.

Notes from group discussion:

We really liked the idea of using MDF as a material, little lazer-cut 3D puzzles sold as flat packs seemed to be the most popular idea, along with a iPhone speaker acoustic amplifier, and some sort of carnival style game.

Idea Generation

Iphone amplifier/ speaker. 
Homemade
Make it yourself on the spot
Sustainable (made out of simple/ recycled goods like paper or cardboard) 

Carnival Games

carnival games