DAY 1: June 6, 2010

Understand + Ideation

The goal of this collaboration is to help Small Bean further develop their solar powered system and to specifically help improve their ‘solar suitcase’. The workshop on June 6th was organized by Design Museum Boston’s directors, Sam Aquillano and Derek Cascio, as well as smallbean’s Executive Director Sean Hewens.

Our first design charrette was focused on understanding the important work that Smallbean does in the developing world. Smallbean’s Executive Director Sean Hewens started off by sharing a presentation about smallbean, describing their project in Tanzania, along with future projects and specific information regarding the ‘solar suitcase’. The first half of the workshop was used to to identify and understand all the issues. The team then organized the issues according to user touch points.

A visual map was created based on those user touch-points, it includes: factors to consider for each touch point and all the parts involved with the system. The map also identifies who the users are at each. After studying the visual map, the team jumped into ideation. The team brainstormed a multitude of concepts as potential solutions.

Our concepts explored unique ideas around storage, expandability, collapsibility, modular assembly, instructions, set-up, working-space, security, cable management, solar panel frame structure, portable battery housing and breakout charging. The concepts were then organized into four larger categories for further development before the next charrette:

• Stationary System: assembly of parts, storage, expandability
• Mobile system: modular assembly, hidden panel, schematic for set-up, workspace
• Solar Panel: frame structure, cord management
• Battery: Housing, charging

Thank you to everyone who participated! We look forward to our next design charrette scheduled for Sept 26th where we will focus on refining our concepts and begin prototyping a new solution.

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