IntroductIon
Project Brief: For this project, my task was to design a portable electric vacuum cleaner with an integrated charging station and wall mount for convenient storage. The vacuum cleaner needed to prioritize user-friendly features, efficient cleaning capabilities, and a sleek, modern design.
The DesIgn
"The main design challenge I decided to tackle was physical size. Portable vacuum cleaners are usually too bulky to be hidden away, this not only disturbs the eye but also makes using vacuums harder than it needs to be. With a modular design, I wanted to create a vacuum cleaner that would clean easily, no matter the type of spillage or dirt. Also to keep the vacuum as efficient as possible I redesigned the interior drive mechanism along with the shell."
DesIgn Process
After deciding upon the product architecture in my initial 1:1 sketches. I used the same drive configuration (a custom-designed belt-driven vacuum fan) across several forms and decided on two concepts I thought were feasible.
Prototypes
As a first prototype I carved, one of my forms from XPS, doing this before CAD modeling helped me in surface construction later on. The looks model also made it possible for me to test for various ergonomic expectations such as height, the angle for the handle, and ease of control.
After the XPS model, I refined the model in CAD. I also redesigned the power nozzle. The addition of buttons, vents, handles, and a dust compartment release latch were some final touches for this design.
