Question

Industrial Design: During the monsoon season, drying of washed clothes at home takes a long time. The interior of the house is usually very damp. It is observed that people tend to spread the wet clothes on a chair or other furniture below a ceiling fan, to dry them. Such temporary arrangements help them cope with the problem. A leading fan manufacturing company sees a business opportunity. The company approaches you to design a product for drying clothes. The manufacturer proposes to sell this product (which is to be used during monsoons) along with a fan. The manufacturer wants the following objectives to be met in the design: a) The product uses a fan for drying clothes. b) The fan must be integrated with the product during its use in rainy season and must be usable as a "normal fan" during other seasons. c) The product should be foldable and compact for storage. Design the product as per the objectives listed above.

Hint:

When approaching an industrial design problem, always start by clearly listing the constraints and objectives from the brief. This creates a checklist to evaluate your creative ideas against, ensuring your final concept is relevant and practical.

Answer 1

Step 1: Deconstructing the Design Brief: 
The core requirements for the product are: 
Primary Function: Drying clothes using a fan. 
Integration: Must work with a fan (specifically, a ceiling fan is a common context). 
Dual Use: The fan must function normally when the drying feature is not in use. 
Storage: The product must be foldable and compact. 

Step 2: Core Design Principles & Strategy: 
The design strategy will focus on creating a product that is safe, efficient, and aesthetically unobtrusive. Key principles are: 
Safety First: The design must not unbalance the fan, pose an electrical hazard, or have a low weight capacity. 
Space Efficiency: The product should not consume floor space and should be discreet when not in use. 
Material Selection: Materials must be lightweight, strong, and rust-proof (e.g., aluminum, stainless steel, durable polymers). 

Step 3: Detailed Concept Descriptions: 
1. Present three ideas of design alternatives through rough sketches. (Textual Description) 
\(\textit{As an AI, I cannot provide visual sketches. The following are detailed descriptions of what the sketches would show.} \)
Concept A - The "Aero-Chandelier": A sketch showing a collapsible, multi-armed rack attached to the central downrod of a ceiling fan. One sketch would show it in its folded state, with the arms pointing up and flush against the fan motor, resembling a sleek chandelier. A second sketch would show it deployed, with the arms locked horizontally, extending outwards like spokes, with small clothes hanging from clips. 
Concept B - The "Pedestal Tower": A sketch of a pedestal fan with a lightweight, cylindrical fabric tower attached to its grille. The sketch would show clothes laid on internal mesh layers. An "exploded view" would detail how the fabric tower collapses into a small, flat disc for storage. 
Concept C - The "Convertible Box Fan": A sketch of a modern box fan with a detachable, X-frame rack mounted on top. An inset sketch would show the rack folded completely flat. The main sketch would highlight a simple toggle switch on the fan labeled "Air Circulator" and "Warm Air Dryer". 

2. List ten critical factors (key words only) you will consider for designing. 
Safety 
Stability 
Efficiency 
Material 
Compactness 
Usability 
Aesthetics 
Versatility 
Maintenance 
Capacity 
3. Select one of your ideas and develop it into a final product. Make a neat sketch of the same. Indicate all the parts, material and features on this sketch. (Textual Description of Final Sketch) 
\(\textit{Developing Concept A: The "Aero-Chandelier"} \)
Overall View Sketch: A perspective sketch of a modern ceiling fan. Attached to the rod just above the motor is the "Aero-Chandelier" unit. The sketch shows its six arms deployed horizontally. Each arm has clothes hanging from it. Callout arrows point to different parts with labels. 
Parts and Materials Labels: 
Mounting Collar: Labeled as "Injection-Molded ABS Polymer with Rubberized Grip". Shown as a two-part collar that screws together around the fan's downrod. 
Hinge Mechanism: Labeled as "Spring-Loaded Steel Locking Hinge". A detailed inset sketch shows a push-button on the hinge to release the lock and allow the arm to fold. 
Telescopic Arms: Labeled as "Anodized Aluminum Arms". An arrow indicates that the arms can slide to extend their length. 
Garment Clips: Labeled as "UV-Stabilized Polypropylene Clips". Shown as small, integrated clips that can slide along the underside of the arms. 

Features Indicated: 
An arrow labeled "Fold-Up Action" shows one arm in a semi-folded position, moving upwards. 
A dimension line labeled "Adjustable Length (40cm to 60cm)" is shown on one of the telescopic arms. 
A note says: "Symmetrical design ensures fan balance. Max load per arm: 0.5 kg. Total load: 3 kg." 

Usability Issues Addressed on Sketch: 
A small icon of a person easily pushing the fold button is shown with the text "One-Touch Folding". 
A note points to the mounting collar: "Universal fit for standard ceiling fan rods."