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Umbrella Inside Out

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Quick Shift







The design of 'Quick Shift' aims to assist people to overcome the whimsical weather change (Particularly in Australia). People tends not to bring an umbrella every time they go out, however they are not likely willing to be wet on the street.

Design intent is to give an innovative sustainable solution against traditional umbrella and suggest new way of lifestyle that affects people in rainy weather. Its intended use will be on rainy circumstances when you need instant shelter for a short moment, when getting on and off from the transportation on any open area, for example. Whenever in rainy condition, its users can quickly bring it out from their bag and unlock, then it forms itself the roof shape.

As its name stands for, it is simple and effortless to unroll and roll the screen back. It is also straightforward to button up derived by snap fit system. People will never be confused to using it because its form itself tells people how to deal with it.

Its convex profile provides temporary shelter in any environment whenever there is sudden and unexpected raining. The target market will be a group of people who just would like to keep their face and hair clear from the rain for a short period of time.

The Quick Shift is a innovative green product satisfying what people really wants and suggests a new way of dealing with whimsical whether condition. Its design, incorporated with sustainable strategies, contributes to give the positive effects on our environment.

*Sustainable strategies incorporated with designing umbrella

1. Design for Recyclability
1-1. Ease of disassembly : Quick Shift can be disassembled easily since all components are joined by snap fit machnism. The product consists of only 4 parts of moulding plastic. All components will be recycled and reused at the end of its life.

1-2. Use of recyclable material : Polyethylene(PE) and polypropylene(PP) are used for producing Quick Shift. They are readily recyclable and energy-efficient material and have less impact on the environment compared to other polymers.

2. Reduction on the number of components, materials used
It reduced over 90% of materials of what traditional umbrella needs for manufacturing. The design of Quick Shift eliminates many traditional components such as shaft, ribs, stretchers and metal components. The Minimum number of material types are specified; PE(flexible screen) and PP(Handle).

3. Lightweight

Having no metal components contributes product being light. It saves a lot of energy required for transportation.

PROS

- No sharp end point which can cause injury
- Quick transition (unroll & roll back)
- Simplistic structure - eliminates all the complex mechanical structure
- No structural failure (use of flexible material)
- Quick and easy to get rid of water contained on surface after use /
- Easy access to each component (due to simple profile)
- Fast dry (least surface area & having hole to hang up letting it dry)
- Various colours available (Transparent PE is available for the better visibility)

CONS

- Spatial limit that canopy can cover up (due to the design intent)
- Still need of one hand to hold
- Absence of cover

20060831-3265-6197

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Comments

I'm a bit confused as to how this can roll closed but also remain taut when open.

I like the idea of a minimal product, but I would encourage you to think of how a minimal product could take over a maximal role. If this object is only intended for use from bus to building, why not just run? Similarly, couldn't this design, with minor changes, take the place of more umbrella-usage?

Like:
-trying to focus on a specific use-case (not sure if this beats a newspaper/hat/bag or jacket pulled up over head though)
-nice presentation and design
Unsure:
-seems like not enough coverage yet not small enough to make it worthwhile to carry around. really it´s a hair protector as your shoulders, shirt, pants would get wet. might be better if it had another function e.g. bag, binder etc..
-simple design might have been able to make entirely monomaterial therefore no disassembly required
-agree with noah, i can see how it closes but not how it stays open