Embedded Files
Our project aims to consider the social impacts of our device while providing an upscale, comfortable experience in an affordable and sustainable package. Factors like sustainability, ergonomics, and user friendliness were all integrated into our initial design process. Our device can impact many factors of the social and human experience. For example, using our product could affect our user’s mental health because we aim to create a relaxing, massaging and comfortable experience that could help release stress for the user and in turn, help their mental health. It could also be used to help introduce easy self care practices into someone’s life.
Different communities of people can also be impacted by our device. For people with hair textures and lengths that are traditionally not designed for, this product could both increase and decrease accessibility to hair oiling. Depending on how the testing for our device goes we might find that our design allows use for all or most hair textures or that it does not and we reduce the amount of people that have access to this device. This device could be manipulated to help dispense cleaning products for baths and conserve water. Hair oiling is also traditionally done by moms in the family. By taking away the mom’s involvement in this process, it allows for her to spend more time focusing on herself and her needs. In addition, there are a lot of men who deal with hair loss issues. Our device can help prevent or lessen the effects of hair loss and thereby increase someone’s appearance or confidence. This product could also bring together groups of people who are interested in haircare or selfcare. Hair oiling is an act that many south asian families take part in. By making the experience more modernized and westernized it allows younger generations of south asians living in the diaspora to feel more inclined to take part in their culture without feeling judgment.
Lastly, we think that small business hair salons could integrate our product into their stores to help increase sales. We could also partner with businesses that work to develop hair oils and serums.
How we aim to achieve social impact through design decisions:
Materials and Sustainability - Our product is designed to be reusable and have a lifetime equivalent to that of the material involved in manufacturing. We are also factoring in the use of sustainable materials during mass manufacturing such as recycled plastics for the hard components of the device. We also plan on creating guides on how to fix or easily replace and properly recycle, recyclable parts to hopefully minimize the ecological impact any waste might cause.
Affordability - Our design will be simple and easy to manufacture, consisting of silicone and recycled plastic moldings and stainless steel bearings. This will allow us to minimize manufacturing costs and pass on the best value possible to the customer.
Ergonomics - Our design aims to be comfortably usable by most of the general population, maximizing the magic reaching the people. We plan on achieving this by designing an ergonomically friendly product body that makes it easy to reach every corner of your scalp while feeling natural to hold. We also aim to make the experience as similar to a hand massage as possible, while eliminating the messiness. This is achieved by our roller-ball mechanism which allows for a controlled flow of hair product while maintaining a massaging pressure on the scalp that isn't uncomfortable.
Ease of cleaning - Our design is easy to pull apart and clean, requiring only warm water and an old toothbrush.
Aesthetics - We have designed our product to be visually appealing, intuitive to use, and with a minimalistic design philosophy, providing a premium experience to the user that reduces hassle and allows the user to make some more time for the things that matter to them and look good doing it. Our focus on aesthetics also makes the product more accessible to groups who may be nervous about purchasing it. By staying away from traditionally male or female focused colors features we open up the market to anyone who would benefit from the use of our product.
Accessibility - Our design has been adjusted to take into consideration application on different types of hair structures. One way to approach this would be to create different silicon reservoirs that have varying bristle length and ball bearing diameter. We could do tests to figure out what lengths and diameters work well for 1- 4, a-b hair type charts and then develop 4 different reservoirs that would work averagely well for the different hair types.
While achieving these goals, our team will also follow the relevant local & global regulations while conducting business and fulfilling all its legal obligations, and engage in fair and transparent dealings with our partners and customers around the world. We will ensure that we work closely with and protect the rights and welfare of vulnerable populations around the world and are actively involved in their economic development.
Apart from this, we will be actively investing in R&D to make our product even more effective and sustainable as we move forward. We will also be actively donating to further public health access and increase healthcare coverage in underserved populations. Apart from health, our company also aims to promote educational, arts, and cultural community events to build closer-knit communities around the world.
Page updated
Report abuse