Wooden Mousepad
The Multifunctional Playful Mousepad
Problem Statement
Mousepads are designed to overlook aesthetics and focus on its functionality instead. Conventional mousepads are dull and bland without any specific features to entice varying target markets. It is important to remember that aesthetics should be as important as the function, since the design is what customers use to create a first impression.
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Offices are often cluttered with stationary supplies, taking up a great amount of personal space. Studies have shown that employees in messier environments found it much harder to work efficiently on a particular task and are often overwhelmed by “task-irrelevant objects”.
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On the other hand, a tidier environment achieved through an innovative, multi-functional mouse pad which will increase task productivity for the target market, and encourage higher levels of concentration. The target market will be office workers with unorganized desks and minimal productivity, frequently using the computer mouse for prolonged hours.
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Ideation
The stationary compartment must have a large surface area, but occupy minimal space in the desk. PUPA makeup products have foldable and sliding compartments to allow a variety of materials enter kit, becoming a great source of inspiration.
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It is necessary for the mousepad to have a cup holder to prevent spilling of the liquid onto the desk and provide a stationary position for the cup. Research concluded that office workers use different sized cups.
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Layered structure with different size diameters (like the inverted collapsible dog bowl) allows the bowl to be folded flat. Various sizes of cups correspond to each fold in the bowl.
Final Design
The final design includes a cup holder, pencil holder, and stationary compartment. CNC routing, laser cutting, and acrylics were involved in the process of making the prototype.
