Field Exercise #4 (Long Version)

For field exercise four, there were endless ideas from our group members about what the cup holder could be made out of. We had to keep in mind that our bike, like many other bikes on campus, has a large, metal basket attached to the front. The initial designs and prototypes did not fit, aesthetically or functionally, with the basket. More brainstorming resulted in the idea to work with and build off the basket. We fashioned pieces from shoeboxes together to fit right over the top of the basket. We tied the box to the basket with string, leaving the option to untie the front two bows to access the basket if needed. This top also prevents anything from flying out of the basket while going over bumps, curbs, etc. The top we made for the basket was pretty wide, so we decided to add room for a cell phone and ipod holder, along with a space to put a drink. This design is very practical and useful, which the testers supported. The cell phone and ipod holder make it safer for the biker to access as they are right in front of him/her, rather than him/her reaching into a pocket or bag. We tested the design over bumps and ditches, and found that nothing bounces out. It would be very time consuming for someone to try and steal our holder due to the fact that the backside of the holder is woven onto the basket. The cardboard surface remains sturdy during various usages, and is able to withstand current Arizona weather conditions. The recyclable materials we used are items that can be found in most households, which would make it easy to reconstruct if disaster strikes. Our design process, although rarely easy or similar between the projects, has seemed to become steady and ritual throughout the course. Our group was very excited about our final product because of the different uses the holder provides, and hopefully the lucky owner of this bike appreciates it as much as we do!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Field
• Exercise
• ala
• 100
• group
• 54
• long