• Who is our client? Describe them.

• Who is the target audience/ consumer/ market? Describe them.

What is the nature of the problem?

• What problem are we solving as designers (i.e. with design skills)?

Why should this problem be solved?

• Sell this idea to your design boss think about the market and competition, is there a gap in the market or are we pushing through to an existing one

How will you solve this problem?

• What will your solution do?

• What might your solution look like?

• Does the project have any requirements and constraints (from your boss or the client?) Think about what we discussed

Surveys and interviews are the best way of answering these questions for most of the headings above.

Questions could be for example

Many university students have small bedrooms or live in shared spaces, thereby favoring furniture and decor that accommodates that limited space.

• They tend to have lower budgets for furniture and decor in order to prioritize other living necessities

• However, they also enjoy personalizing their space, adding unique elements that showcases their individuality.

What:

• Students have limited spaces, making it essential to choose furniture and decor that is specially efficient.

• However they often have lower budgets, which limits their options for high-quality or designer furniture and decor.

  • This makes it harder to afford items that are both functional and stylish.

• Despite these limitations, students should still be able to express their individuality through their living spaces, which requires creative solutions that are affordable and space-efficient.

This creates a dilemma where students need to find cost-effective, space-saving furniture and decor that also allows them to personalize their environment.

Why:

The current market for student furniture and decor are big-box retailers like IKEA and Amazon, dominating the low-cost segment. However, these options often sacrifice style for functionality, leaving a gap for products that cater to both aesthetic appeal and practical needs within a student’s budget.

Why This Matters:

• The global student population is expanding, particularly in urban areas where space is difficult to find.

• According to a report by the National Center for Education Statistics, a significant portion of students receive financial aid, and many struggle to afford basic living costs. This makes affordable, high-quality furniture a necessity​.

• Research indicates that a well-organized, personalized living space can enhance mental health, reduce stress, and improve academic performance​

  
  

Market Gap:

• While there are numerous options for cheap furniture, the intersection of affordability, space efficiency, and style is under-served.

• Students often have to compromise on one of these aspects.

• An opportunity lies in filling this gap by offering a product line that is specifically tailored to student needs—compact, multifunctional, and stylish furniture and decor at a price point they can afford.

By tapping into this under-served niche, a new product that meet these elements can capture a significant share of the student market whilst meeting a genuine need.

How:

The solution for this problem can be a customizable lamp that is small in size. It would be made up of relatively cheap materials and would be able to function as a lamp and a small storage space to optimize available room on a desk. Some requirements for this lamp is:

• The lamp must be smaller than 20x20x40cm

• The lamp should allow the user to customize the appearance of the design

• The lamp must have a storage space for small items, or be multi-functional

Some constraints for this project may be the skillset and knowledge I have with the materials and knowing which one is the best option for balancing quality with cost, as well as not having much experience working with them.

Sallee, Mark Ryan. “Ikea: A Tale of Too Shitty - Mark Ryan Sallee - Medium.” Medium, 14 Dec. 2021, medium.com/@mrsallee/ikea-a-tale-of-too-shitty-fddf339003bb.

The traditional art style, while appealing to some, might not fit well in modern or minimalist interiors, limiting its versatility in different decor schemes and in some spaces, especially those that are already heavily decorated, the traditional design might add visual clutter rather than enhancing the overall aesthetic. However, because of its sleek shape, this lamp can easily be placed in various settings—on a side table, console, or mantle—adding a sense of tradition and culture to a room. So although not suitable for modern or minimalistic interiors, its traditional design might work well in a variety of interior styles, particularly in classic, vintage, or transitional spaces.

Cost: $31.43

Although the lamp is fairly affordable, consumers might expect better quality even at this price point. The discrepancy between the look and feel with the actual material quality could lead to disappointment for the customers. For those who notice the lower quality materials (such as the fabric), the lamp might not provide the sense of luxury or refinement that one might expect from a traditional art style piece.

Size: 125x125x290mm 
Due to its smaller size, its compact and sleek design is suitable for minimalist or modern interiors that complements a variety of decor styles. Moreover, it can easily fit into tight spaces, making it versatile in terms of placement. Additionally, it is ideal for customers with limited space, such as those living in apartments or dorms, and especially university students, as it appeals to people looking for subtle, space-saving lighting solutions. Lastly, it is easy to move and reposition, which is great for people who frequently rearrange their spaces. 

Materials:

The lamp seems to be made up of fabric, a material that is less sturdy than most material options for lamps. The lower quality materials makes it more susceptible to damage from cleaning or handling, requiring careful maintenance to preserve the lamp’s appearance. Over time, the fabric may show signs of wear, such as fading, peeling, or discoloration, which could detract from the lamp’s aesthetic appeal. However, the wood does seem quite sturdy and the fabric can be easily replaced if needed, providing customers the option of giving the product some maintenance to fix it instead of having to buy an entirely new lamp.

Function:

The lamp's only function is providing light and acting as a decorative piece, meaning it lacks many modern conveniences like dimming capabilities, adjustable arms, or smart technology, which may limit its appeal for those seeking more versatile lighting options. Moreover, the light output may be limited due to the thickness of the fabric, making it more suitable as ambient lighting rather than task lighting, which could restrict its use to decorative purposes only.

The lamp's sleek form keeps it from appearing bulky, resulting in a clean and elegant appeal that works well in modern interiors. It provides soft light to create a welcome and friendly atmosphere, making it ideal for living rooms, bedrooms, or any location where relaxing is the primary priority. Furthermore, it enhances the appearance of the traditional artwork by complementing its colors and textures, resulting in an ideal fit for traditional interior designs. This use of traditional artwork also makes the lamp a timeless piece that appeals to individuals who prefer classic or more vintage styles, and traditional artwork gives cultural importance or personal meaning to the lamp, elevating it from a practical object to a work of art.

Cost: $23.49

At $23, this lamp is a bit more pricey but is still accessible to a wide range of customers, making it a great option for those looking to enhance their space without too spending much. So for those on a budget, this lamp might offer a cost-effective way to achieve a stylish look.

Size: 100x100x290.
Similar to the first, because of its small dimensions, its compact form is appropriate for minimalist or modern rooms and matches a range of décor types. It fits well into tiny places, making it adaptable in terms of positioning, and it is great for clients with limited room, since it appeals to those searching for modest, space-saving lighting options. Finally, it is easy to reposition, which is ideal for persons who frequently rearrange their space.

Materials:

The lamp may have been made from lower-quality materials like paper or fabric, which can affect durability and longevity, however, this allows for the lamp's cost to be low.

Function:

Due to its minimalistic design and low price, it lacks additional features like dimming options, adjustable arms, or smart home integration. Furthermore, it does not include extra functionalities like USB ports, wireless charging, or multiple light settings, which are increasingly common in lamps that are of the same price range. Not to mention, the lamp might offers limited brightness making it less effective in larger rooms or for tasks requiring strong illumination, which limits its versatility.

The extremely simple design appeals to those who favor minimalist aesthetics, and can fit seamlessly into various interior styles without overpowering other decor elements. The lack of decorative elements allows the customer to be creative, offering a blank canvas for customization to suit individual tastes. Moreover, customers can easily personalize the lamp with different lightbulbs by simply printing or drawing their own picture on a piece of paper, making it extremely convenient for when the user wants a change of theme.

Cost: $8.98

At just $8.98, the lamp is very budget-friendly, making it accessible to a wide range of customers, including students, or simply those looking for affordable lighting options. This also makes the lamp ideal for buying in bulk for multiple rooms, making it a more profitable product in general.

Size: 120x120x220

The lamp's small size makes it ideal for tight spaces, such as bedside tables, desks, or small shelves, where larger lamps might be overwhelming, and its lightweight design makes it easy to move around or reposition as needed, offering flexibility in its use.

Materials: Stainless steel, Basic Lightbulb

The use of stainless steel and a basic lightbulb might result in a lamp that feels somewhat cheap or flimsy, potentially affecting its perceived value. And while stainless steel is durable, it may not appeal to everyone, particularly those who prefer warmer or more textured materials like wood or fabric. On the other hand, stainless steel is known for its durability and resistance to rust and corrosion, meaning the lamp could withstand regular use without easily showing wear and tear. Lastly, the material gives the lamp a sleek, modern appearance that complements its minimalist design.

Function:

Even with its great aesthetic qualities and price, the lamp’s functionality is limited to only providing light, with no additional features such as dimming, adjustability, or smart capabilities which could be a drawback for those seeking more versatile lighting solutions. Additionally, the simplicity of the design restricts its use to very basic lighting, making it less suitable for tasks that require adjustable or more directed light. However, it could be argued that as a basic lamp, it does exactly what it’s supposed to—provide light—without any unnecessary or complicated features. And with no additional features, the lamp is straightforward and user-friendly, requiring no special instructions or setup.

mr dt - tools and materials + joining techniques

technology students - wood joints, housing joints, fixing materials (stay on resistant materials subtitle)

Based on the analysis I did with the 3 designs, this design is the most user friendly, and is the most intuitive out of the two. Furthermore, its simplicity allows it to be created in a relatively long, but not too long of time that it risks not being completed in the set deadline.

Furthermore, the tools needed to make this lamp are significantly easier to use, for example, it won't require as much laser cutting, meaning that the lamp can be made with close to, if not completely, with student effort, which is why this design will be chosen.