Step 5 – Materials

I was not sure if this was an area of the project development that was necessary or required for the competition brief. The competition was directed toward ideas and solutions rather than technical development, such as the materials used within the product.

However I felt it would be a useful section of research and would show Samsonite the competition organisers that I had designed the concept with potential materials for manufacture in mind.

I spent time trying to find a research source that would help me understand what kind of materials I could use for each section of the design. I found this difficult, as I was not quite sure where to look and what look for. However after much searching I came across a website called ‘Global Sources’. http://www.globalsources.com

 

This website displayed all kinds of materials and the suppliers that could supply them. This type of website could be used by manufacturing companies to buy materials to make their products.

With this in mind I used this website to help me work out what kind of materials each section would require i.e.

The bed side structure could be made of Aluminium or Titanium.

Web source: http://www.globalsources.com/gsol/I/Canopy-tent/p/sm/1001485788.htm

The protective cover for the baby bed could be made of PVC.

Web source: http://www.globalsources.com/gsol/I/Wheel-cover/p/sm/1006962362.htm

More of the potential material I have decided on for each section can be seen on final design sheet 2.

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