Role: Industrial Design, Crafting Samples, Packaging Design, Graphic Design
Collection Release: May 2021
Tools: Blender, Illustrator, Photoshop
Context
Smarts & Crafts was developed as a 75+ piece collection of craft kits, art supplies, and home goods to be released at Walmart. Concepts were guided by the principles of gender neutrality, minimizing plastic use, and being educational while meeting the target price points.
As one of two industrial designers on the team I was responsible for product ideation (particularly of 3D components and kits), creating renders to prove concepts, and working with overseas manufacturers to refine products during the production process.
As one of two industrial designers on the team I was responsible for product ideation (particularly of 3D components and kits), creating renders to prove concepts, and working with overseas manufacturers to refine products during the production process.
Concept Renders vs. Final Products
Rainbow Smush Crayon
Concept Development Process Snapshot
Concept Development Process Snapshot
Assignment: Design a novel and functional rainbow-themed specialty crayon.
Goals:
1) Balance “oversized and eye catching” with comfortable to use and functional.
2) Create a shape that encourages a variety of mark making.
3) Embrace the rainbow with bright and bold colors that could create a brilliant background for other art projects
Previously Produced Crayons
Rainbow Smush Crayon concept sketches
Rainbow Smush Crayon form development
Development
Honing in on our rainbow design came down to a balance of manufacturing and visual needs. I chose a smush crayon manufacturing technique (dropping lots of crayon bits into a mold and melting them together) over creating layers of color (by pouring one color, letting it dry, and adding another layer). This is much more cost efficient and, with an arch shape, would give artists access to more colors at all times rather than making interior layers hard to access when drawing.
Honing in on our rainbow design came down to a balance of manufacturing and visual needs. I chose a smush crayon manufacturing technique (dropping lots of crayon bits into a mold and melting them together) over creating layers of color (by pouring one color, letting it dry, and adding another layer). This is much more cost efficient and, with an arch shape, would give artists access to more colors at all times rather than making interior layers hard to access when drawing.
With a smush crayon technique I decided that a classic rainbow arch would most clearly communicate a rainbow design concept (vs. a water droplet, cloud, etc.). From there I iterated on how much "rainbow" was needed to communicate a rainbow. Was just an arch enough? Are R.G.BIV. stripes necessary? Do clouds add or take away? Once these decisions were made it was on to testing.
During COVID lockdown I had to get creative with usability testing, creating quick prototypes that were scaled to make me experience the product like I was the size of an average five year old. The rainbow crayon sizing was intentionally very oversized to accommodate for lower mobility and low fine motor skills.
Interior packaging renders
Final Product
Results:
- I am so excited by the variety of mark-making that is able to be accomplished with this crayon. Adding wide, flat edges allowed for a unique and fun “ribbon candy” mark in addition to classic thin lines you'd expect from a typical crayon.
- An unexpected result was the bold and graphic rainbow shape makes this crayon a great desk ornament. I love that it is something you want to show off and leave out in addition to being functional art supply.
- Packaging and product successfully aligns with S&C environmentally and socially conscious viewpoint by being plastic free and gender-neutral.
- If we developed this product further, I would want to address reviews that some young children found it difficult to color with because of the pressure needed to make bright marks. Adjusting the wax formula to be a bit softer would balance the chunky crayon to make it a more comfortable drawing experience.
