Design IA Problem & Brief:
For my design IA, I focused on assisting beginners in cooking, particularly when frying food, to minimize the risk of painful oil spills or splatters on the user’s hand. My main goal involved making the frying process safer and more convenient. To address this issue, I designed and innovated multi-functional kitchenware that allows users to place all the desired food fried into a deep-fry basket at once. Not to mention, I developed a tool called the “frydock” which enables users to lift the basket upwards after frying and securely hang the handles onto the open side spaces, shaped like an “E”. This design enables leftover oil to drain back to the pan, reducing spills and preventing oil from dripping onto surfaces, which is often caused by transferring food piece by piece.
Aside from frying, this kitchenware can boil instant noodles without leaving any leftovers in the water and for steaming vegetables, enhancing its versatility in the kitchen. Other features of the kitchenware include a kitchen thermometer to ensure that users are aware of food temperature, to prevent overheating and splatters when it gets too hot, and a timer. The handle can also be manually detached for user comfort in cleaning and while the kitchenware does not look common, and some might consider it strange, it is unique in its way.
Reflection:
While this design IA has allowed me to develop and grow by increasing my knowledge of different types of drawings such as isometric and orthographic, along with skills to create CAD models in Fusion 360, if I had the chance to turn back time and change my IA topic, I would. This is because there were multiple times when I couldn’t keep up with the deadlines for each criterion. After all, I had spent too much time working on my CAD model and also creating the prototype. Also, I don’t think my product would be popular in the market for kitchenware, especially because the kitchenware itself looks strange and its functionality may not be as efficient or helpful for beginners in solving the main problem, in reality. I do think this project allowed me to use the concepts I’ve learned in the design technology course such as batch production for manufacturing methods, materials that are taught in topic 2, and others. Although my actual prototype and project turned out to be not perfectly the way I wanted as I have yet to find the perfect mechanism and kitchenware look to make my idea a reality, I’m still proud of my results because I worked hard so that the other criteria and drawings are up to par. I spent hours and days able to turn my original drawing that was in hand to digital, to convey the features of my ideas better, and learned from Mr.Steven certain buttons to create texture or modify the material for the component on the Fusion360.
In this opportunity, my strength in the IA involved being able to develop a strong criterion A document explaining my idea problem, and a design brief, also including charts and graphs from potential user responses to support my explanation. I also added detailed annotations on the user, task, and environment context involving my design (the kitchenware). Halfway through the project, when I reached grade 12 specifically, despite realizing I had chosen a difficult topic and did believe I wasn’t going to be able to create a realistic and successful product, I still committed to finishing the prototype and making it work as best as possible. I may not have made the attachable frydock on top of the pan myself but I had the opportunity to create the wooden handle for both the lid and the pan using Meranti wood in the makerspace, exploring the different tools such as hand drill, table, and vertical saw, hammer, and others. I also learned a few basic skills in soldering the software or mechanisms of the board together in the handle. The final result for my prototype pan handle is my second trial after I had failed to grind and cut the inside of the first handle due to not being able to control or hold the tool well which broke the sides of the handle at the same time.
On the other hand, my weaknesses during the IA revolved around not being able to submit the criteria and drafts on time which caused my first draft to be scored a 3. Due to the topic that I eventually regretted choosing midway through the project, I was less motivated to finish the IA quickly compared to if I had chosen a topic that I liked. For that reason, I was very late with my progress when it came to providing evidence to the criteria up until For the last HL one.
Aside from the IA project itself to combat the fact my kitchenware doesn’t look like the common kitchenware you’d find in the store or the general marketplace, I had to commit 100% towards my display to make it look as aesthetically pleasing and as informative as great as possible to leave the impression for the audience/readers that my display looks great rather than my product looks weird. I stayed up from Saturday at 10 am to work on my display boards until Sunday at midnight which follows a scrapbooking kind of concept, and includes the highlights from Criterion A to Criterion F. I strategically placed Criterion B and E which had physical drawings on paper and a CAD model on the white display board that I designed to flip like an iPad for comfortability in carrying. This is done to appear more visible to the audience passing through. I included pictures of user trials and drawings for the idea to inform the audience about my product. Additionally, I also designed a standing space or box to place my Mock-ups and provide my display space with a more aesthetically pleasing look. Fortunately, in the end, my results did not betray my efforts because I managed to attract lots of people to my display and product even without me being present. I’d also say that I confidently and informatively communicated the purpose of my prototype although it’s not completely 100% successful or user-friendly. Overall the journey to creating the design IA report for the exhibition has challenged my commitment and pushed me to work my hardest even when I don’t like it, and to take responsibility and consequences for the decisions I make (referring to the kitchenware as the prototype). This allowed me to finish a well-structured IA report and an aesthetically pleasing display area, attracting teachers, students, and even parents.
Princess Alyssa Budianto – Grade 12 DP
