Define the Problem
Design Brief:
Client: Fine Office Furniture, Inc. Target Consumer Age: High school
Designer: Rebecca Albers
Problem Statement: The company wants to reduce waste and make extra profit by using their scrap wood block material.
Design Statement: Use the raw material as desktop novelty items. Design, build test, document and present a three-dimensional puzzle.
Criteria: The puzzle must be made of 27 3/4 in. hardwood cubes. The puzzle must contain 5 parts. Each part should be made of 4-6 cubes that are attached to each other. No two parts can be the same. The five parts must assemble into a 2 1/4 in. cube. Some parts should interlock. The puzzle should take high school students an average of 5-10 mins to complete.
Client: Fine Office Furniture, Inc. Target Consumer Age: High school
Designer: Rebecca Albers
Problem Statement: The company wants to reduce waste and make extra profit by using their scrap wood block material.
Design Statement: Use the raw material as desktop novelty items. Design, build test, document and present a three-dimensional puzzle.
Criteria: The puzzle must be made of 27 3/4 in. hardwood cubes. The puzzle must contain 5 parts. Each part should be made of 4-6 cubes that are attached to each other. No two parts can be the same. The five parts must assemble into a 2 1/4 in. cube. Some parts should interlock. The puzzle should take high school students an average of 5-10 mins to complete.
Generate Concepts
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/0/1/45014017/_3296601.jpg)
This is my first puzzle cube design.
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/0/1/45014017/_5549241.jpg)
This is my second puzzle cube design
I chose to use design 2, because it scored higher on the decision matrix. Its a little easier to solve, and it looks a little better. They wer both interlocking, looked alright and were solvable, but the second was a little more interesting while still being not to hard.
Develop a Soulution
Build/Test Prototype
This is my wooden prototype the subjects did as a test.
This is my ten trial and the data gotten from those trials. The averages for all three trials were about the same. In the first trial, the was a large range of times. The median is a good time, in range with the mean. I think i had so many modes because I often had to round the times.
Evaluate Soulution
I think the problem was solved. All the criteria on the design brief was met. I liked the complexity of this design and how well it interlocked. If I had the time, I might change have made it a little harder, because it was a bit below the 5-10 minute standard. I would recommend this be sold to teachers, principals, or anyone who works with high school kids. Adults can solve the puzzle too quickly, so its not much use if they're doing it. But, teachers can give them to students to pass time after a test, or they can give them to visiting students. Or, principals can keep them on their desks to pass time while students wait for them. At, first, I had some trouble navigating inventor, but I eventually got a hang of it.