I chose plastic for the material because I think it’s the most efficient way in regards to waste and recycling. The key is to use all plastic in the every aspect of the umbrellas design therefore when the umbrellas are not usable any longer, we just simply put it in a recycle bin.

1. We already have the technology and place to recycle plastic.

2. Plastic is very flexible but also sturdy and it last a long time.

I also want to try putting the glow in the dark effect for the skirt. I think it would help driver notice the pedestrian walking in the dark with an umbrella because very often the umbrella is black, and when it is raining at night, both the pedestrian and the driver have difficulties seeing clearly.

There are two designs which I will refer to as design 1 and design 2

Design 1 (image dsgn1cU.gif) is a simple almost square umbrella ( looking from top – dsgn1aU.gif). I find the round shape of the umbrella too plain/boring, but my design looks neat and not to feminine which should apply to a more general consumer. The size is similar to a regular medium size umbrella (about 35 inch height), but the size is also adjustable. It’s a folding umbrella ( dsgn1bU.gif ). Since all the material will be made of plastic, I use the screw/unscrew method to separate the cane in to three parts (image dsgn1bU.gif). Although I state that the whole part should be made of plastic, I am tempted to install a flash light in the bottom part where the handle is which would be completely separable from the umbrella to ensure the recyclable nature of the product. Instead of the small band sewn on the side of the umbrella, there will be an elastic band stored neatly on the top of the umbrella to tie it when it is folded. It also comes with a carrying pouch. The pattern for the skirt is native Sumatran (image dsgn1c2U.gif), it looks great with a glow in the dark effect.

Design 2 is a more complex design, but I think will be stronger and last longer.

It has 20 wire fingers. The shape is also square like but with a lot of curves accent.

The handle is shaped artistically but has a comfortable grip element too. This is not a folding umbrella. It shuts but stay the same length. I use this mechanism because I think an umbrella with this mechanism last longer and people don’t forget them as much as they forget the small folding umbrella. For the skirt, I use a leafy pattern (image dsgn2dU shows the ¼ skirt pattern) and once more am still into using the glow in the dark effect with 3 colors only ( including the base color). ( Related image dsgn2aU.gif, dsgn2bU.gif, dsgn2cU.gif)

20060901-3979-8239