Rationale: bioinspired design
Background:
“Biomimetic, biomimicry, bionics, biomorphism & bioinpiration are all terms referring to the mimicry of design models, forms from biological organisms & natural systems or a nonrepresentational form/pattern that resembles a living organism in shape or appearance that generates alternative solutions to design problems.”
For this assignment I decided to design a laundry basket for kids inspired by a sea bird—the pelican.
I searched for other designers for some inspiration in what they had designed that was inspired by pelicans. I found a French designer Marc Venot and his pelican bedside table. This is operated through a simple hand movement rotation of the container on a central axis which opens and closes the compartment and the fixed top acts as a table top. Having the base as a storage compartment is alike of a pelican’s bill.
Information on the pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)
I decided to do a laundry bag as the expandable bill resembles a bag/basket. The main feature is the elongated bill with its massive throat pouch. The Australian pelican's bill is the longest of any bird, ranging from 40 - 50 cm long. The biometrics behind this idea is that the bill-bag expands when more clothes are added until its maximum capacity; which is like a pelican being able to expand, holding up to 13Litres of water.
Pelicans plunge their bills into the water, using their pouches as nets and are referred to as ‘scoop net’ for catching. It also acts as a short-term collecting organ.
More so the light weight of the laundry bag is derived from the light skeleton frame of the bird, weighing less than 10% of their total body weight.
The main material chosen is nylon for the laundering basket (the shape of a bill) because nylon is a stretch fabric which is suited to the properties of the pelican’s bill.
properties of nylon are:
-High resistance to insects, fungi, animals, as well as molds, mildew, rot and many chemicals,
-High elongation
-Excellent abrasion resistance
-Highly resilient
-durability
other materials:
-polyester boning to support the rim of the basket (acts as a frame)
-1.5mm wire (supporting the rim-to keep it in shape)
-Polyester /satin white stuffing + sewn on plastic googly eyes (head of the pelican)
-cardboard backing to support the back of the bill, for a flat surface to be placed against the wall
qualities of the pelican laundry basket:
-floor space saver-> hang on a wall
-easy to fold and put away when not in use
-easy to clean/wash when needed, just need to remove the cardboard backing
- Colourful, Playful bright colours- ideal for kids
-Comfortable handle –easy to carry to the laundry room
In comparison with other laundry baskets that are already on market, they do not have the qualities of being biomorphic and biometric; it either has the function but does not look like any organisms. For example a laundry basket can look like a ladybug but it does not obtain any of its qualities –just the aesthetics to be suited for a children’s product. While other laundry storages are larger in size, thus taking up more space which is inconvenient if living in a small apartment.
other laundry baskets used for kids aren’t as playful and childlike which does not attract children into putting their dirty clothes in the basket for washing. So the idea of making the laundry storage look more like a pelican (biomorphic) would attract them into enjoy putting their clothes away thus helping their parents. This would also make the parents more likely to buy the product.
References:
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