The Harmony Basket
Elevating everyday storage.
THE CHALLENGE: CREATE A MOLDED STORAGE BIN THAT DID NOT RELY ON A GENERIC PERFORATION PATTERN OR HANDLE. THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO MAKE A BIN THAT WAS LIGHTER, CLEANER AND MORE CONTEMPORARY, WHILE REMAINING DURABLE, STACKABLE AND COST-EFFICIENT FOR PRODUCTION.
THE APPROACH: I FOCUSED ON CREATING A UNIQUE PERFORATION PATTERN FOR AIRFLOW, REDUCED VISUAL WEIGHT AND AN IMPROVED PRESENCE. I INTRODUCED A CONTRASTING HANDLE DETAIL TO ADD WARMTH AND TACTILE APPEAL, WHILE ALSO OPTIMIZING DIMENSIONS FOR EFFICIENT PALLETIZATION AND SHIPPING.
MANUFACTURING STRATEGY: THE NEW PERFORATION PATTERN HAD TO DELIVER AN APPEALING YET SUBTLE THREE-DIMENSIONAL SURFACE WHILE ALSO SATISFYING STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND TOOLING FEASIBILITY. WHILE THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT EMPLOYED REAL WOOD INSERTS FOR MATERIAL CONTRAST, THE FINAL DEVELOPMENT TRANSITIONED TO MOLDED PLASTIC INSERTS USING A HYDRO-DIPPED WOODGRAIN FINISH TO IMPROVE SCALABILITY AND PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY.
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT: PRELIMINARY RENDERINGS EXPLORED FORMS AND SEVERAL NEW PERFORATION PATTERNS. I NARROWED THE POSSIBILITIES TO 4 PATTERNS, CREATED CAD FILES,THEN 3-D PRINTED SWATCHES FOR A HANDS-ON REVIEW. THE CHOSEN PATTERN WAS APPLIED AND A FULL-SIZE PRINTED BASKET WAS PRESENTED. WORKING ALONG WITH THE FACTORY, MY CAD FILES WERE USED TO ESTIMATE COSTS AND AS A GUIDE FOR MOLD DESIGNS.
ASIDE FROM THE PERFORATIONS AND THE BASKET’S FORM, I WANTED THE HANDLE TO HAVE AN UNEXPECTED QUALITY. I BELIEVE CERTAIN DETAILS OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEPARATE A PRODUCT IN THE MARKETPLACE. THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT BEGAN WITH A NATURAL MATERIAL INSERT AND EVENTUALLY BECAME A MORE PRODUCTION FRIENDLY SOLUTION WHILE STILL HAVING A UNIQUE QUALITY.
RETAIL STRATEGY: DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR HIGH-VOLUME CLUB STORE DISTRIBUTION THAT CONSIDERS EFFICIENT NESTING AND SHIPPING. A STORAGE SOLUTION THAT CAN PRESENT MULTI-COLOR RETAIL PROGRAMS, EXPANDABLE TO
INCLUDE ADDITIONAL SKU’S SUCH AS A ROLLING CART WITH MOLDED DRAWERS. A DESIGN THAT OFFERS BROAD USE THROUGHOUT THE HOME, FROM CLOSET TO OPEN SHELVING STORAGE.
CURRENT STATUS: CONCEPT IS UNDER REVIEW FOR RETAIL DISTRIBUTION.
KEY TAKEAWAY: THOUGHTFUL REFINEMENT OF PROPORTION, PATTERN, AND MATERIAL CAN TRANSFORM A HIGHLY FAMILIAR STORAGE PRODUCT INTO SOMETHING MORE VISUALLY ENGAGING AND COMMERCIALLY DISTINCTIVE.