SMALL GAMES ORGANIZER
The task for this five-week studio project was to conduct a real-life personal clutter analysis and design an organizer to address a specific issue. The product was to be made using flat-stock materials to facilitate the possibility of mass production later in the design process.
Several different clutter issues were explored, but the most notable was the issue of small games storage. It was found that large board games were easy enough to store as they can fit onto a shelf or sit on a surface. Smaller card games and other game components were much less tidy on their own. This project aimed to deal with this more awkward storage of these small games.
The analysis included what could be, and what needed to be organized in a better way. Since many small games have unique components, only the most universal could be included in this organization solution. The objects were determined to be card games, loose tokens, dice, and a sand timer.
The first concept was simple, but had drawbacks that could be improved on. The token containers were too small to hold different varieties of tokens. The card games slot was too shallow to support the boxes when it was not full, and the design did not reflect the playfulness of the games it stored.
The next concept was more playful: it featured a deeper rectangular container with an angled slice off the top. The token bin could be removed, and the card boxes were better supported. Also, a feature was added were the users could keep score of their games with a pull-out chalkboard drawer. Details were worked out by testing this prototype with users, such as the angle of the dice slot.
The modelmaking process was a challenge as the top piece required many complex cut angles. The product came together over the span of a few days. It was made using a bandsaw, table saw, drill press, milling machine, and several hand tools and sanders.
The final product is an organizer for card games, dice, tokens, and a sand timer. The pull-out chalkboard was increased to the full width of the organizer, and provides a more functional space for players to keep score The token box is angled to match the angle of the top of the box, which also serves as an affordance to guide the user towards pouring out the tokens. This organizer is designed such that it can be stored easily in a cupboard or shelf as well as placed on display in a common space.
