REFLECTION

The Learning Launch tool for a sunglasses project

Challenge

I am a young industrial designer and have been a big supporter of the 3D printer and,  consequently, of the learning launch tool as an essential design tool for about two years. A year ago, for example, I started a project of a sunglasses frame for teenagers. The goal I set  myself was to design a pair of glasses that could be used for one season and at the same time be  robust, inexpensive and easily recyclable. In addition, since it is considered as a clothing  accessory, my glasses had to look good and had to ﬁt a wide range of possible faces.

Selection

In this project more than in others, the learning launch tool was fundamental. Making an initial  rough prototype of the product quickly allows you to see the project live, but above all it allows  you to become familiar with the shapes and volumes. In this speciﬁc case, moreover, as well as  providing feedback to me as a designer, the prototype was essential for verifying the aesthetics of  the eyewear and its eﬀect on people, and therefore decisive in identifying the best shape to take  forward.

Application

After drawing 5 models on paper, I printed out the full-scale drawings and glued them onto a  piece of cardboard, and then cut out the drawing to make a ﬁrst rough model. With the 5  cardboard models I went to the front of my old high school and let 35 students try them out,  asking for their opinions and listening to their views.  Thanks to this initial feedback, I decided to go ahead with only 2 models, which I modiﬁed in  accordance with the suggestions I received and subsequently modelled and 3D printed. From the  analysis of these ﬁrst prototypes and the opinions of some friends, I continued to modify the  models, until I saved only one frame. At this point, I continued experimenting with the junction of  the front with the arms until I arrived at the deﬁnitive model.

Insight

The ﬁrst paper models were essential for choosing the shape and overall appearance of the  frames. Evaluating the drawings alone was in fact insuﬃcient and had not revealed any problems  related to the ergonomics of the product. From the study of the 3D printed models, however, it was possible to optimise the frames in more  detail. On the basis of the initial requirement to create a pair of glasses that could be easily  recycled, a number of interlocking systems for the temples on the front were studied and tested in  practice to assess strength and comfort.

Approach

As an industrial designer, I always apply all the principles of design thinking in order to identify the  needs of the users. In this speciﬁc case, after identifying what to do and how, it was necessary to  test the product to verify its reliability. Without the learning launch tool, the ﬁnal design would not have been as thorough and there  would have been a risk of sending a design into production that was wrong in shape and size.  Instead, rapid prototyping allowed continuous feedback with the target audience without huge  ﬁnancial outlay.

