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Peak Press
This studio project began with user and market research and ended with a developed concept
Project Completed November 2022
introduction
"After a long a long day of hiking and a night slept under the stars, it only makes sense to wake up with a cup of coffee"
Through insights from user and market research, problems with the current methods of making coffee on the trail were identified. A French press backpacking coffee maker could be design to solve these problems. After rounds of ideation and iteration, we land at a solution that is the Peak Press.
On the trail
Limitations and Considerations
Every ounce of space must be considered when packing for a trek
According to leave no trace principles, all things brought in must be carried out
In most cases, coffee quality on the trail is poor unless prepared before a trek
Users commonly use instant coffee but at a sacrifice for taste
The French Press
The plunger pot was invented in the 1800s in France and has gone by many names such as the melior, coffee machine piston, the press pot, and the French press. This coffee maker is traditionally made up of four simple parts, the beaker, the base, the nadle, and the plunger. One of the great things about the French press is that there are no need for paper coffee filters. This method of brewing is considered immersion brewing. This this mind, it is important to clean the press regularly.
user research
user types
The purpose of user types is to investigate a wide variety of potential users. In the case of backpackers, there is a clear spread of those who practice backpacking as a lifestyle, those who have carefully planned out trips, those who spend days if not weeks on the trail, and many more. These biaxial maps compare traits and create different types of users.
user personas
market research
product benchmarking - the French Press
benchmarking is done in order to investigate the existing product market. Evaluating your competition allows for the discovery of opportunity gaps, or blue oceans. For this table, specifically French presses are being compared and analyzed. Choosing qualities such as durability, cleanability, and volume are all in the consideration of how that would effect the backpacking experience.
product benchmarking - camping coffee makers
After making discoveries about the market for French presses, it is important to also seek out the market for other methods of coffee making for backpacking, hiking and camping. The criteria to be considered here will be even more tailored to the backpacking experience. Portability, weight, and size will betaken into account in this benchmarking process.
research insights
insights
criteria
After user and market research, certain criteria stands out as most significant to consider for the backpacking coffee maker. These criteria will be used interchangeably to create design statements that frame the problem needing to be solved.
how might we...
...create a French press backpacking coffee maker that is portable, easy to clean, and lightweight?
...create a French press backpacking coffee maker that has a mid ranged price point, is portable, and has storage for spent grounds?
...create a French press backpacking coffee maker that guarentees a smooth brew, has storage for spent grounds, and is portable?
ideation
mood board
design language table
specification benchmarking
sketch developments
refined concept
bill of materials / cmf
storyboard
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