Liquid Vessel Project
Project Brief
About the Liquid Vessel Project
The objective of the project was to design and fabricate a personal Mobile Liquid Vessel tailored to a unique user and case. The vessel should include a container, cap, and a purposeful dispensing method, with a form and function that reflects how it will be used, stored, cleaned, filled, and dispensed. The design should create a seamless interaction between the user and the vessel, blending form and function into a cohesive story.
My goal with Shine is creating toothpaste dispenser that is designed to make the toothbrushing experience for children more enjoyable and playful. This toothpaste dispenser not only encourages children to brush their teeth through a fun oral care routine but also addresses sustainability issues within the dental care industry by offering refillable toothpaste bags as an alternative packaging method and a reusable toothpaste dispenser.
Tools & Techniques
User-centered research; Autodesk Fusion 360; Keyshot rendering; Adobe Illustrator; Prototyping; 3D printing; Forming a looks-like model
Role
User Research & Testing and Branding
Timeline
September 2022 - November 2022
01 User Research
Defining "liquid vessels" & targeting a user.
The project required to design for a unique user group which prompt me to choose a unique liquid for my vessel. I started with mind maps and research of objects containing liquids to find my unique target user.
Mindmapping
Target User
Children ages 4-7
Persona
Who is this for?
Elliot
4 years old
Elliot is a clever boy who loves coloring, playing baseball with his dad, and spending time with his family and dog, Susie. But, Elliot HATES "teeth time". He would rather keep playing with his toys or watch Bluey on TV. He is smart enough to know that "teeth time" at night is code for bed time. Elliot wishes brushing his teeth could be as enjoyable as his other activities, but he finds regular toothbrushes boring and unappealing.
Needs:
To feel entertained during "teeth time"
Cindy
33 years old
Cindy has been a long time sustainability and climate activist in her 20s until she became a mother to Elliot. He became her whole world, but she is currently struggling with her son's tantrums over brushing his teeth. Despite her best efforts to remind him of the dentist’s advice and his previous dislike of the visit, Elliot still resists, leaving Cindy feeling frustrated and defeated.
Needs:
To teach her son about healthy oral routines to prevent cavities
General Research
Let's dig into the dental care industry and see what parents think.
10 million tons of toothpaste per year go into landfill which can take centuries to decompose.
88% of parents feel responsible for teaching their children healthy, sustainable habits.
61% of adults are interested in oral care products made from eco-friendly materials.
66% of adults are interested in products with sustainable packaging.
The dental care market creates tons of waste yearly & people are interested in reducing their negative impact on the earth.
Market Research
So, I did some market research on current sustainable toothpastes, I made a few conclusions as to why "sustainable toothpastes" aren't a popular alternative for many people and their kids:
There is a lack of trust with more sustainable toothpastes brands as most don't properly brush your teeth and are not usually dentist approved.
Many sustainable toothpastes are in the form of tablets and become chocking hazards for children.
What usually makes sustainable toothpaste sustainable is the packaging: it's not in a a tube.
The dental care market has an opportunity to create safe, fun and sustainable options for kids.
Criteria
01 Fun and Eye-catching for Children
Fun toy-like shape that is physically interactive.
02 Minimizes Landfill Waste
The packaging for the toothpaste is compostable and replaces the original tube packaging; the vessel is made from recycled plastics and is reusable.
03 Dental Care Approved by Dentists
To alleviate parent's dental care worry when using sustainable alternatives, Shine's can contain dentist approved toothpaste, it's just in another kind of container.
Objective
Design and fabricate a children’s toothpaste dispenser that promotes a fun tooth brushing experience and minimizes landfill waste through refillable toothpaste packaging that is safe for children and by offering a dispenser that can continuously be reused.
02 Design Journey
How did the product come to life?
To start designing, I put myself in a child's mindset and brainstormed products they would find enjoyable. I examined existing "fun" toothpaste bottles, which often featured a popular children's character merely attached to the bottle. I wondered, why not make the entire bottle the character itself?
Ideation Sketches
The ideation sketches give an insight to an amusing design theme for children beginning their independent journey to a healthy oral care routine.
Autodesk Fusion
To model my tooth, I used the form function on Autodesk to create a ergonomic form that would fit into the small palm of a child's hand comfortably.
Mechanism
How to use
Shine is simple. It a 4 part product (the lid, the bottom, the nozzle and the tongue) that parents can easily put together and take apart to refill and to clean. To brush their teeth, all children have to do is push the lid down to dispense the toothpaste on their brush. It's physically interactive and meant to be more inviting for children doing an activity they particularly don't find as important as their parents do.
Fun and Eye-catching for Children
Sustainability & Dental Care
Prioritizing Kids' Dental Health with Sustainable Practices
At Shine, the child's experience and dental care come first. That's why Shine exclusively supplies toothpaste recommended by dentists.
While the sustainable dental industry is on the rise, many options still fall short in terms of proven safety and effectiveness for oral hygiene, often lacking key ingredients needed for proper dental protection. Shine bridges this gap by ensuring our toothpaste meets rigorous standards for children's dental care, while also caring for the planet.
To reduce landfill waste, the toothpaste is thoughtfully packaged in simple, compostable plastic bags—offering a more sustainable solution than the popular toothpaste tube without compromising on quality or safety.
Minimizes Landfill Waste
Dental Care Approved by Dentists
High Fidelity Model
To showcase the Shine product as it would appear in real life, I created an exact replica with a focus on achieving a polished, plastic, and shiny finish. The steps involved in this meticulous process were:
3D printing the model
Spackling
Sanding with low to high grit Sandpaper
Applying automotive primer
More sanding & spackling
Final spray paint color
Storyboard
Development Sketches
I chose the tooth idea to develop further due to its playful shape and reference to teeth brushing.
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