Team 152A
Chloe Neuvirth Spencer Berends Mike Casper Nate Johnson Gabriel Carlson Jeni Lesser
Empathy
In order to further investigate our problem, we asked people to draw straight lines with a ruler to discover what the issues are. This showed us that most people made straight lines on the first try, but some people ended up having a problem with the ruler and it resulted in a crooked line. The person who uses a ruler often strives to make a perfect drawing. After hours of straining oneself to create perfection, the probability for a slip up with a ruler is very high. Our product will decrease the probability for the chance of error, relieving the stress of the user. We are here to create a product that will make the life of a sketcher easier.
The only tool we found that could compare to our product was a SAFE-T Bullseye Compass. The description of the SAFE-T Bullseye Compass is:
This 4-in-1 drawing tool can be used as a compass, a ruler in inches, a ruler in centimeters and a protractor. The opening in the Direct View ™ compass point provides the easiest, most accurate location for all circle constructions. Quick-Set ™ radius indicator allows for immediate comparison of inches and cm. Built-in protractor measures and constructs angles. Made of SAFE-T ® Plastic ® for a safer, longer lasting tool. Circles can be drawn with diameters from 1” to 9 3/8”.
This 4-in-1 drawing tool can be used as a compass, a ruler in inches, a ruler in centimeters and a protractor. The opening in the Direct View ™ compass point provides the easiest, most accurate location for all circle constructions. Quick-Set ™ radius indicator allows for immediate comparison of inches and cm. Built-in protractor measures and constructs angles. Made of SAFE-T ® Plastic ® for a safer, longer lasting tool. Circles can be drawn with diameters from 1” to 9 3/8”.
This tool has all the components of our product; however, the product is extremely flawed. The design is too small to be useful, the compass is does not actually provide a reliable way to create circles, and the device is very childlike and is made out of cheap plastic. Our product solves each of these problems. Our product is also easier to use, is a full length ruler, and is more accurate. Our ruler has a slider feature, the lines and numbers are bigger, making it easier to see where you are marking, and our version is more versatile and durable that anyone can use, not just kids.
Define
Our first POV statement was "The Modern Artist needs a utensil that allows him or her to draw straight lines more efficiently and precisely in order to prevent costly mistakes that would require a complete renovation of various projects." At first, we defined our user as the modern artist. We realized that this was not entirely correct, because it was too narrow of a user group. Many people use rulers who aren't artists. Next, we noticed that if you had technology at hand, and you knew how to use it, some users would pick technology over a ruler. Although some would choose technology first, others value the originality of a ruler and hand made drawings. If rulers weren't needed, they wouldn't be on the market. We redefined our POV statement to mention that, when technology is not at hand or desired, the everyday sketcher needs an efficient way to draw a straight line.
POV Statement:
The common sketcher needs a more efficient way to draw a straight line when perfection is needed and technology is not available or desired.
Ideate
To start our brainstorming process we began by looking at a scrapbook cutter. We observed how there was a ruler that folded down on the piece of paper and had a sliding cutter that made perfectly straight lines. From this, we were intrigued to see how we could use the idea of a guided cutter in the form of a pencil and a ruler. We started our hybridizing stage by making a space within the ruler for a pencil guide.
Prototype
Mike's prototype shows the slit in the middle of the ruler and the sliders.
Spencer's prototype shows another idea we had for how we could guide a pencil along a ruler. There is a slit down the middle of each level which the pencil ran through to draw the line.
Gabriel used spay adhesive rubber on the back of a ruler to see if it would solve the problem of the original ruler's slippery backside.
On our final prototype, we have two sliders, and one of the sliders has an insert for a writing utensil, such as a drafting pencil. On the right side of the ruler, there is a slot for any pen or pencil. Having this space reduces the chance of the ruler to slip, because the pressure is pushing down on the surface rather than a pencil pushing towards the ruler. Our product has a 16 inch measuring stick on the left hand side, and has millimeters on the right hand side, so you can have a more precise length. On the bottom left hand side of the ruler, there is a protractor that is marked at every 15 degrees. This provides the user to draw a perfect angle right away, because the straight edge is attached to the protractor. We have a circular hole in the bottom of the ruler, which allows a compass usage. This ruler, overall, allows more efficient, speedy drafting.
Test
Our goals were to solve the problems of wasted time and paper, moving ruler, and crooked lines. After testing our prototypes, some prototypes failed, but as we worked out the kinks in the project, we finally made a guided ruler that worked efficiently. We met our goals through our prototyping stage. Below is our final product, incorperating two sliders, a stopper, and a guide for the writing utensil.
After finalizing our design, we asked fellow students to try out our prototype and tell us the honest truth. Our responses varied.
"I found the ruler easy to use, and it was nice that it didn't slip as easily as normal ones. I'm in a lot of math classes and it sucks having to redo a graph. I could definitely see myself using this. The most I would spend for it would probably be 8 dollars since it helps so much." --Derek Lux, Nutrition Health and Exercise Science
"This is pretty cool! I don't use rulers a lot, but in some of my art classes my professors are picky about straight lines. This would get rid of my anxiety for sure! I like the way I can have a stopper, showing where I need to end my line. That's going to help out a lot. " --Krista Thomas, Psychology, minor in Art
"I don't know If I would use it. I don't use rulers much. Like, if I was drawing a lot I totally would use it. I can see how it would help an art major or something. But with my major I don't see the use. It's pretty cool though." Matt Riley, Fisheries and Wildlife
Collaboration
TEAM CONTRACT
This is the video that played in the background of our presentation.
By using the top strengths of the members of our group, we were able to empathize with common sketchers and solve the problem of unnecessary mistakes in drawings through ideation and strenuous prototyping and come to a solution we feel makes an impact in the lives of daily sketchers, not having to worry about any errors in his or her drawings. We came together as a group, and used our strengths to their fullest potentials. It has been such a rewarding experience.
