Question

Design Aptitude [50 Marks]
A visit to a museum or a zoo is always something we look forward to with much excitement. But such visits are very tiring too; after about an hour or so we look for a place to sit - a chair or bench, that is never nearby. What if we could carry our own chair everywhere?
Design a portable seating device that you could carry in your backpack or hand bag. It should be light enough to carry around, small enough to fit into your bag, easy to use, and good to look at.
Show the seating device when:
1) it has just been taken out of the bag and
2) it is ready to sit on.
Note:
• Make pencil sketches only
• Do not use colour
• Explain your design only through visuals and short labels.
• Do not write separate explanations.
Evaluation Criteria:
• Suitability of the design for the given context
• Ease of carrying and use
• Uniqueness of design
• Attention to detail
• Explanation of features through visuals only
• Clarity of the sketch and quality of presentation

Hint:

Focus on clear communication over artistic perfection. Your sketches should be easy to understand. Use arrows and simple diagrams to explain functionality without words. Annotate materials (e.g., "Carbon Fiber," "Recycled Canvas") to suggest quality and lightness. Adding a small human figure for scale is a highly effective way to communicate the product's size and use context instantly.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Design Problem
The objective is to design a portable seating device. The key requirements are derived from the context (museum/zoo visit):
• Portability: Must fit in a backpack or handbag, implying it should be compact and lightweight.
• Ease of Use: Quick to deploy and pack away.
• Ergonomics & Stability: Should be reasonably comfortable and stable for short rests.
• Aesthetics: Must be "good to look at".
• Presentation: Two specific sketches are required - one showing the device in its folded/compact state, and another in its unfolded/usable state, explained only with visuals and short labels.
Step 2: Ideation and Concept Selection
Brainstorm different mechanisms for portability:
1. Folding: Like a traditional folding stool, but optimized for size.
2. Telescoping: Legs that collapse into each other to save space.
3. Inflatable: A structure that can be inflated for use, but this may be slow to deploy.
4. Modular/Assembly: Pieces that click together. Might be cumbersome.
A good concept to develop would be a Telescopic Tripod Stool. It combines stability (tripod base) with excellent compactness (telescoping legs).
Step 3: Detailed Explanation of the Visual Presentation
The solution requires two clear drawings. Here's how to structure them:
Drawing 1: Compact State ("Just taken out of the bag")

• Draw the device as a single, sleek cylinder or a compact bundle. This represents the three telescopic legs collapsed and held together.
• The fabric seat should be shown neatly wrapped around the collapsed legs or stored inside one of the tubes.
• Use short labels and callouts to identify key parts.
- Point an arrow to the main body and label it: "Lightweight Aluminum Casing".
- Indicate a button or clip and label it: "Quick-Release Lock".
- Show a small strap and label it: "Integrated Carry Loop".
- Add a label indicating dimensions: e.g., "25 cm length, 5 cm diameter".
• The drawing should be clean and clearly communicate its small size and portability.
Drawing 2: Deployed State ("Ready to sit on")
• Draw the stool in its open, usable form. This will be a tripod structure.
• Show the three legs fully extended. Use dotted lines or a simple sequence diagram to suggest the telescopic extension motion.
• The fabric seat (e.g., triangular shape made of durable canvas or nylon) should be stretched taut between the top of the three legs.
• Again, use visuals and labels for explanation.
- Label the legs: "Telescopic Legs (3-section, lockable)".
- Label the seat: "Durable Ripstop Nylon Seat".
- Point to the feet of the legs: "Anti-Slip Rubber Feet".
- Use arrows to show the direction of setup: An arrow pointing downwards from the legs labelled "Pull to Extend", and an arrow showing the seat unfolding labelled "Unfurl & Secure Seat".
• To provide a sense of scale, you can draw a simple silhouette of a person sitting on it or standing next to it.
Step 4: Meeting the Evaluation Criteria through the Design
• Suitability & Ease of Use: The telescopic design is perfect for quick deployment. Pull, lock, and sit. It's ideal for the context.
• Uniqueness: While tripod stools exist, you can make your design unique through a sleek, minimalist aesthetic, an innovative locking mechanism, or the use of modern, ultra-light materials.
• Attention to Detail: Show the texture of the fabric, the grip on the rubber feet, and the seamless construction of the telescopic sections.
• Clarity and Presentation: Use confident, clear lines. The two drawings should be placed side-by-side with annotations that are easy to read and understand, fulfilling the "visuals only" requirement.