Role: Lead Designer
Responsible for project management, ideation, prototyping, technical + texture specs, CAD reviews, test shot sample reviews, renderings, instructions
Software: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Fusion 360, Keyshot, Sketchbook
Team: Adiva Yang (Project Lead), Frank Yan (Engineer), Sidney Ngai (Director of Sourcing & Development), Brian Piper (Industrial Design Manager)
BRIEF
Design an entry level, affordable folio-style iPad 10.2" case that provides basic protection.
- Work with and without a folio cover (optional add-on)
- Complement Gumdrop's SlimTech laptop cases' form language
Target In-Warehouse Date: As early as possible in November 2020
Target Audience: Amazon customers, education/higher ed
IDEATION
CONSTRUCTION + FORM
Beefed up the corners to provide rugged protection in the areas that are more prone to take impact in the event of a drop.
OPTIONAL COVER ADD-ON
Attachment method: Design a secure way to attach the optional folio cover to the main TPU case. At the same time, design the main TPU case to look complete when the folio cover is not attached.
Cover design: I ideated ways to incorporate Gumdrop's signature tread pattern through scale, orientation and other tread patterns into the cover. We later decided to keep the cover simple and source cover materials with a similar HEX texture to align with SlimTech's design. The folds/creases in the cover dictate the behavior of the folio, thus affects how the closure will work.
CLOSURE
Design a secure and subtle folio cover closure that does not become an inconvenience to users who decide to not get the optional folio cover add-on.
ROUGH MOCKUP
Modified a generic iPad case to test the strength of the case with a large cutout window in the back, and kickstand and cover closure ideas. This kickstand idea requires 2 instead of 1 slits in the cover in order to fold up into the back slots of the case.
CONCEPT
Due to the cost of magnets, we had to explore an alternate way to way to keep the cover from sliding out from under the closure clips when the case is flipped over.
3D CAD
Worked with our overseas factory to create and refine CAD until we arrived at a good place to make a functional prototype. **Costing allowed the folio cover to be included, thus became permanently attached to the case.
PROTOTYPE
The factory helped create a higher fidelity prototype for us to test and finalize the folio cover closure system.
MATERIALS
Reviewed many variations on the cover texture, tested the mockup to fine-tune the cover materials (external and internal), for durability, reinforced stitching and the kickstand function.
STYLUS HOLDER
Due to cost, we prioritized keeping the clear sheet of PET between the case and iPad to protect asset tags/stickers, over an integrated stylus holder after discussing with leadership. The Apple Pencil is less commonly used in education. To accommodate customers who do use the Apple Pencil, we made the case compatible to our existing accessory add-on, Universal Stylus Holder.
TOOLING
