After deciding to base my product on a web-based streaming site associated with iTunes, it was important that the design of the USB reflected this. Throughout my design development I tried to make sure it was clear that the product was advertising Apple and iTunes, which is why I decided on the iPod design. This was an obvious choice that clearly promoted the company and the brand, fulfilling its purpose. As the shape of the design was based on an Apple product I didn’t feel there needed to be writing or logos on it, instead I chose to use the logo on the packaging. I designed a simple box that replicated a normal iPod or iPhone box, making the product look like a mini version of the real product. The box worked well to promote clearly the USB and the new iTunes Streaming I created. If I was to reproduce the box I might use different coloured card so that the smudging, from where the laser cutter has etched the Apple logo, wasn’t visible. This would make it look much neater and more aesthetically pleasing.
Aesthetically I decided that because this was a prototype it would be produced in white. If it was going to be produced in large volumes then it would be done in a range of colours, just like iPods are available. Looking at the finished product I think I would have been able to get a more interesting finish if I had used colour. I don’t think the USB isn’t aesthetically pleasing in white, but it would be more attractive to potential users of the site if it was bright, colourful and stand-out.
As stated in the brief and in my specification, it was important that more than one CAD/CAM process was used to make the USB. I 3D printed the whole model of the USB and then went on to silicon mould and cast the USB lid. Although the 3D print worked well overall it struggled to print some of the text I had put on the iPod wheel. At the time this seemed to be an issue however it actually improved the aesthetics of my product. If I had kept the extruded buttons on the wheel I would have struggled to get a reasonable finish on them, but because they didn’t work well I had to explore other options. Fortunately I was able to incorporate vinyl engraving which resulted in a really interesting feature for my design. I definitely think it works much better like this and was a positive development for my product.
It was important that the finish of the product was done to a high standard but I found that I also had problems with the silicon moulding of my lid. Unfortunately, both times I made the lid it didn’t work well. The first attempt had some air bubbles in and a lip on the bottom which prevented it from sitting flat on the bottom of the casing. After re-doing the lid I still had the same problem with the air bubbles but this time there wasn’t a lip. I’m not happy with the finish of the lid but I didn’t have time to produce another. To get it right and produce the lid to a higher finish I think it would be a case of trial and error and if I had managed my time better I would’ve been able to produce the lid again, hopefully to a higher standard. Also, I found that the colour of the lid wasn’t the same as the white I had sprayed the bottom. Now I know that the colours might come out slightly different I would spend more time to ensure that they were as similar as I could get them.
Although the USB does fulfil it purpose as it protects the electronics of the USB, I think the sizing I used for the internals need to be reduced. This would have ensured a tighter more secure fit for the circuit board, which would have led to a smaller, more compact and safer product.
Throughout this project I’ve felt that my biggest problem was my time management. A lot of the issues I have raised above could have been rectified had I produced the parts earlier and given myself more time to re-produce or find solutions. I found that I spent a lot of time initially trying to develop the headphone idea, which didn’t work out. If I had come to the conclusion sooner that the design wasn’t going to be suitable I could have moved on to the iPod design much sooner, leaving me longer for production, resulting in a higher quality finished product.
Overall, I think I could’ve produced the product to a higher standard had I planned and carried out the manufacturing better but the USB does fulfil its purpose of advertising and promoting the new iTunes streaming site.
