Final Project Design Report

Patrick CondonJarrett KunzePaula Lobaccaro

Prof. Dean NieusmaTA Denver TangPDI Studio 3

2

Contents I. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 3

II. Concept .............................................................................................................. 3

Problem .............................................................................................................. 3

User .................................................................................................................... 4

User Needs .......................................................................................................... 5

III. Specs ................................................................................................................. 5

Aesthetics/Usability ............................................................................................ 5

Mechanics ........................................................................................................... 8

Materials ............................................................................................................ 9

Environmental Impact ....................................................................................... 10

IV. Competition .................................................................................................... 12

Market Potential ............................................................................................... 15

V. Overview ......................................................................................................... 16

VII. References ..................................................................................................... 20

3

I. Introduction For the final project, our group

wanted to tackle issues surrounding the

laundry process. As weekly users of the

laundry system, we felt there was room for

design improvement in terms of its usability

and aesthetics. We wanted to address

problems related to time and convenience

and have this in mind before we constructed a product solution. During the idea formulation process,

we found inspiration through some websites, particularly Yanko Design’s webpage that featured a

washer dryer combo model. After looking at these different designs, we saw many flaws that we wanted

to fix, and were able to come up with some different ideas for our product vision that drove it to the

next level. We felt that the user demographic should be a group that we were familiar with, thus it was

decided that college students would be the targeted user group. With the user and their needs in mind,

the concept of our product would involve a portable basket that could be implemented inside a washer

dryer combination machine. All of the different design ideas we had came together to create Oasis, the

all in one washer and dryer that makes doing laundry much less of a hassle.

II. Concept

Problem

The laundry process can be quite a hassle, especially for busy college students; it is a time

consuming routine that must be forced into a weekly schedule. Typically, a student must make three

trips to a community laundry room: the first involves bringing the dirty clothes to be washed, the second

4

involves switching the wet clothes from the washer to the dryer, and the third involves extracting the

dried clothes from the dryer. Although the community aspect of a college laundry room allows for

positive social interaction, items of clothing can be lost or stolen and handled carelessly by other

students impatiently waiting for their turn. Often, students will place already washed or dried loads on

the tops of the machines or other surfaces in the laundry room to make room for their own loads. This

poses the problem of an unhealthy setting, because other people are handling your clothing, and clean

clothes are often dropped on the dirty floor. Thus, we decided that the laundry process could be altered

to benefit the needs of the user more effectively.

User

A washing machine and a dryer are two machines that are integral to the clothes cleaning process.

Not all living areas have the space for modern machines which are fairly large, such as small apartments

and college dorms, and thus community laundry centers must be utilized. Landromats and campus

laundry rooms are examples of these centers. Our group decided to focus on college laundry rooms

because community centers, like a Landromat, are exploited by a larger user demographic with more

specific and complex needs. Therefore, it was decided that on-campus college students, aged 18-22,

would be the targeted user. As college students, we are subject to the laundry process on a weekly

basis; we have endured the hassles that come with the college laundry experience. We are experts on

understanding the user’s struggles and therefore can create a product solution that meets the user

needs.

Although college students are the targeted user demographic, this product would be advertised

towards those who are actually purchasing the product: colleges and universities. The name, cost, and

durability of this product were thought out with the consumers in mind, while the usability and

5

aesthetics of this product will be designed with the user in mind.

User Needs

A more time efficient laundry process to benefit busy schedules

A faster washing and drying time period

Eliminate some of the trips to and back from the laundry room

o a way to keep clothing from being dropped on the floor between cycles

Quick detergent measuring and application process

A simple and easy-to-understand user interface

o Ability to customize wash and dry cycle

A convenient laundry bag to carry clothes to and from laundry room

Appropriate spacing and arrangements of machines; there is a comfortable amount of space for

the user and it still promotes social interaction

Laundry room designed to handle chaos of crowded periods

III. Specs

Aesthetics/Usability

From a usability standpoint, the Oasis has many functions that directly assist the user in using

the machine. The washer/dryer will be mounted on the walls about three feet above ground level, a

height that is most convenient for people of all heights. This reduces the difficulty of putting the basket

into the washer by mounting at the average height that someone would carry a basket full of clothes. A

colorful stripe on the basket clearly shows the user which side should be facing outward when inserting

6

it into the machine. When the basket engages with the back blade, it

triggers a release of two retractable blades, which tumble the clothes in

the wash and dry cycles. The handles allow for easy carrying of the basket

for any position that the user finds comfortable. The handle on the

machine is a concave addition to the front that will fit any hand size, and

lifting the door open is made easier with a weighted back that will pull it

open after being raised to a certain point. The screen allows the user to

customize the wash and dry cycle combination, or to simply choose a

standard wash/dry cycle. The platform of the touch screen is at a 45

degree angle so it can be easily read and a selection can be made from any level. All of these functions

were designed with the user in mind, and make doing laundry a much more tolerable chore.

The Oasis will be modeled after classic washing machines in terms of materials. We need our

product to be as durable as a standard washing or drying machine in order to be a strong competitor.

There are many different kinds of laundry machines, including combination machines, which are

currently used mostly in Europe and Asia. LG Electronics, Whirlpool, Kenmore, Maytag and GE are all

large name brands of appliances that make competitive grade washing machines and dryers. In the US,

the current trend in washers and dryers are front loaders, which are more efficient and energy saving

when compared to top loaders: top loading washers use three times as much water as front loading

machines. In Europe front loading and washer/dryer combination machines are largely used; top loaders

7

have been almost completely phased out. According to Bryce Wells of Fisher & Paykel, front loaders are

popular in Europe because it is a more utilitarian model; they are frequently located in the kitchen and

used as a counter top, whereas in the US, laundry machines are generally located in the basement due

to ventilation needs. Our washer/dryer combo will utilize a vent-less drying system, so it will not be

necessary to have the machine condemned to the basement any longer, but instead will allow for

customization of location based on personal needs.

Laundry detergent is a fairly complex part of the process, and there are different kinds of

detergent for front loaders and top loaders. But there is a recent development called 3-in-1 Laundry

Sheets which have the detergent, softener and anti-static sheet all in one convenient sheet that you

place in the washer and then into the dryer. This product would perfectly accompany the Oasis machine.

The Oasis’s design is very aesthetically driven while keeping the user in mind. The very sleek

shape with the cylinder fitting into a boxy shell suggests a very clean look. Washing machines are

generally white or black, because those colors evoke a clean image. The Oasis is completely white with

accents of blue in the handle and touch screen platform. Sharp angles with a curved front are very

aesthetically pleasing, and the touch screen adds to the “technologically advanced” appearance. The

basket itself also has the fresh image, completely black with white stripes.

8

Mechanics

Put very simply, a combination washer dryer system works by first introducing water and soap

to the laundry load like a normal washer. The clothes are washed and tumbled in a horizontal drum for

a specific time depending on the wash setting that was previously selected. This process is made up of

many different spin speeds and additions of water to rinse out the soap. The metal drum that the

clothes are in is then heated, and the hot air takes up moisture from the wet clothes, which is circulated

through the machine and leaves through the water drainage tube in the form of water. Having a

washer/dryer is a huge space saver, as well as a time saver.

Another mechanical aspect of the Oasis is the door system. Because the basket is loaded

through the side of the drum, there are two water tight doors to open. The inner door slides similar to

the way a garage door opens using a

track system. The outside door is

fixed on an axis, and opens like a grill.

When the Oasis is not running, the

doors lock to each other and lift

together with one simple motion.

9

Once the door is closed and the wash/dry cycle is selected, the inside drum separates and spins freely,

leaving the outside door to lock and protect the user from contact with any moving parts.

Materials

As seen in the pictures and text description, there are many aspects to the Oasis. The outer

casing of our machine will be made of a thin polypropylene plastic sheet which encases all of the

mechanics as well as the spinning drum. Inside of the rectangular body seen there are four sections: the

part that encases the mechanics, the outer waterproof shell of the drum, the drum itself which spins,

and the laundry basket inside, connected to the drum during the washing and drying cycles. The outer

layer is what catches the water as it comes out of the main spinning drum. It will be injection molded

polypropylene plastic parts. This layer will also contain the outer layer of the door, so it will have a

watertight latch that will engage when the wash cycle begins. This latch will then disengage at the end

of the cycle and the door will align with the inner, spinning, cylinder so that the two doors open

together wide enough for the basket to be removed, as described earlier.

The next layer down is the drum of the machine. It is the part of the machine that spins in order

to tumble the clothing and allow the water and soap to circulate throughout all of the clothing. The

cylindrical layer is made out of sheet stainless steel, as it needs to be durable yet light enough to be

mounted on the wall and completely watertight. This type of material can be purchased for around $30

per drum made. This drum needs to be metal in order to allow assistance in the drying process because

the clothing dries partially due to touching the hot surface of the spinning metal. The steel will be

coated in zinc to improve rust resistance; this is a common process with modern washing machines. The

drum will be machined with a press; it will be pressed between two halves of a mold to form the

appropriate diameter drum. The washer blades that reside on the inside of the drum will be made from

polypropylene plastic, as they do not need to be metal since they are only tossing the wet clothing

10

around inside the metal drum. Each blade will be made of two slabs of this plastic as they need to be

able to lay flat and then bend up into a triangle, because two of the blades retract when the washing

and drying cycles end.

The transmission is usually made out of cast aluminum which starts as 20 pound slabs and is

then formed in die cast machines. The rough mold is then shaped by various machines that smooth it

out and shave off excess metal. These parts are then assembled manually and the machine is put

together.

The innermost level of our system is the laundry bag. It is made of polyester so as to be durable

yet flexible and breathable. It is important that the basket be breathable because clothing needs to be

able to air itself out while waiting to be washed. If it were trapped under layers in a non-breathable

material, the clothing could possibly become mildew covered. The basket contains three inlets where

the blades of the machine will match up and hook up to the basket. This way the inner drum of the

machine will have a tight fit to the basket and the basket will spin with the drum. Also, the mesh

polyester will align with the drum so that the heat from the drum can still be felt through the material. A

fourth striped section is located on the basket to allow the user to know which way to insert the basket

into the machine: stripe side out. The basket has support that keeps it upright but still pliable to allow

easy insertion into the machine by the user.

Environmental Impact

Electric washers and dryers can consume as much as 25% of the electricity used at home,

including hot water for the wash. As much as 90% of the energy consumed by washing machines heats

the water; reducing the water temperature reduces energy consumption. With these facts in mind,

there is definitely room for improvement. Over the past ten years, washer and dryer manufacturers

have made huge efficiency strides in reducing water consumption, energy required, and even detergent

11

needed to launder a clean load of wash. The front loading feature of our product with a horizontal drum

typically uses less water, heat, and detergent than that of a vertical drum; the horizontal drum spins out

most excess water, so that significantly less time is required in the drying cycle.

In terms of materials, the stainless steel of our product is environmentally friendly as this

material is 100% recyclable. Old re-melted steel scrap creates new stainless steel in the full life cycle.

The polypropylene plastic of the outer casing is one of the mostly environmentally friendly plastics to

choose from. Plastic is generally not recognized as an environmentally friendly material. It is important

to choose a plastic that is safe for both humans and the environment when deciding what material to

use to manufacture a new product. Polypropylene plastic is acknowledged by the Society of Plastics

Industry as one of the safer plastics. This plastic does release some harmful toxins, including BHT,

Chimassorb 81, Irganox PS 800, Irganix 1076, and Irganox 1010, but these toxins are far less severe than

those of most plastics. Polypropylene is a #5 plastic, which is recyclable. The waste produced from the

process of making the machine itself will be easily recycled and reused. The left over sheet metal can be

sold and used for a different manufacturing project. Thus manufacturing of this machine will not have a

huge environmental impact.

The mesh polyester of the laundry basket is considered to be detrimental to the environment.

Polyester, which is the most widely used manufactured fiber, is made from petroleum. The manufacture

of polyester and other synthetic fabrics is an energy-intensive process requiring large amounts of crude

oil and releasing emissions including volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, and acid gases such

as hydrogen chloride, all of which can cause or aggravate respiratory disease. Volatile monomers,

solvents, and other by-products of polyester production are emitted in the waste water from polyester

manufacturing plants. Many polyester manufacturing facilities are considered to be hazardous waste

generators. With this said, future iterations would call for a different material to be used for the basket,

12

but at this stage of our product, we found polyester to be the material best suited for the problem.

IV. Competition For a while now, the necessity to wash and dry clothing has been almost as basic as the need for

clothing itself. Washing machines have been in existence since the early 1800s, during the industrial

revolution, and the dryer came soon after. Overtime, the washer and dryer have become integral

components of the family household. Washer dryer combo machines, on the other hand, did not appear

on the market until the latter half of the twentieth century. Today, washer dryer combos are far more

popular in Europe and some countries in the East; in the U.S., these units are slowing gaining more

popularity as a practical and functional laundry solution. Combos are popular in smaller urban living

areas since these machines only need half the amount of space usually required for a separate washer

and dryer and they do not require an external air vent. This space-saving feature would be convenient

for the college laundry rooms, as it would allow room for more machines. The combos also allow clothes

to be washed and dried “in one go” saving time and effort for the user; this feature would be especially

beneficial for the user. While combo washer dryers are not as effective and efficient as some full-sized,

fully functional, separate washer and dryer machines, the combos provide a viable option for those who

can benefit from having a compact machine that is able to wash and dry clothes and gets the job done in

a shorter amount of time than the two separate machines. With that said, the washer dryer combo

machines serve to meet the needs of the user and the standards of the consumers.

Currently there is already the technology in place for a combination washer/dryer system,

however, our product will use this technology along with our new laundry basket design to break into a

new market niche. There are hundreds of washer dryer combo models made from numerous brands

including Whirlpool, Kenmore, Maytag, Frigidaire, Haire, Ariston, LG, and GE. The following models are

some of the more popular combos on the market:

13

Frigidaire GLEH1642FS

This model is considered a washer dryer combo, but it falls under the category of ‘stackables’: a dryer on

top of a washer. The washer is front-loading and has a capacity of 3.1 cubic feet. The dryer has a

moisture sensor, which can tell when clothes are dry so energy is not wasted. The fast drying times

would be beneficial for our user demographic; the compact size and energy efficiency would be

favorable to our consumers. However, the separation of the washer and dryer does not keep the user’s

need in mind.

Ariston AWD121NA

This model goes for a reasonable buy of an estimated $1000. This product is widely available in Europe,

but this company name is less well known in the U.S. It can wash thirteen pounds and dry nine pounds

of laundry per load, and if the user fills the washer up to capacity, they will have to remove some items

before drying. Other features include a delay start timer, electronic controls, nine wash cycles and a

one-year warranty. The difference in capacity between the washer and dryer are not very appealing for

the user, however the price may be favorable to the consumer.

14

Haier HWD1000

This model goes for a great buy of an estimated $700. It is one of the most inexpensive washer dryer

combos available and it is very compact. This product is very easy to use with a 1.7 cubic foot capacity,

even wash cycle, an electronic panel and a one year warranty. Although this product has many positive

features, it provides the user with damp and wrinkled laundry and leakage. These negatives would not

be beneficial for the both the user and consumer.

LGWM3431HW

This washer dryer combo product is one of the most highly reviewed products on the market. It goes for

an estimated $1,350; it is more expensive than the previous models, but it is worth the purchase. This

15

model is 24 inches wide with a 2.44-cubic-foot capacity, which is larger than most competing products.

It has nine wash/dry cycles, including a sanitary germ-killing cycle that heats water to 158 degrees

Fahrenheit, and a moisture sensor, which turns off the dryer automatically when laundry is dry. One of

the few negatives is that the drying process takes longer than most separate drying machines. The

features of this product would benefit the user, with an exception being the long drying time. The good

reputation of this model would be appealing to the consumer.

Market Potential

Our product, Oasis, is a good competitor in the market of all-in-one washing and drying

machines. The goal price is $1,100 per machine, and then each basket would be sold for $10, which is

around the same price as a current pop-up, stand alone laundry basket for a college dorm room. The

college would purchase as many machines as they would be able to fit in their current laundry facilities

(approximately twice as many washers as there are currently) and then sell a basket to each incoming

freshman. In this way, the institute will be able to regulate what kinds of baskets are placed into the

machines, and they can insure that it is only used appropriately. Additionally, the product works as a

normal washing machine if the basket is not purchased.

16

V. Overview The Oasis is a new way to do laundry without changing the habits which are already so ingrained

into our heads. College campuses have a community laundry facility that most students take advantage

of on a weekly basis, and our proposed solution is designed with the user in mind to reduce the chances

of other people handling clothing or dropping clothing in the process of washing. The sleek design

makes it aesthetically pleasing, and the mechanics of both the washer/dryer machine and the

interlocking doors allows our design to be above those that are already on the market in terms of

usability and satisfying user needs. The Oasis will constitute a complete overhaul of any community

laundry room on a college campus, but it will be in the college’s interest to switch over to our new

system as it will make the whole laundry process much easier for already stressed college students.

VI. Appendix: Iterations and Design Process

The following images display the initial sketches of our first iteration of the machine’s

appearance and mechanics:

17

The following images display the second set of iterations, as we are trying out new

mechanical methods and appearances for our product:

The next set of images shows the process behind our third and final iteration. They visually show the

thorough thought process behind the design of each product component:

18

20

VII. References

Additional Ideas to Further Iterations:

http://www.yankodesign.com/2010/07/19/washing-machine-goes-wall-mount/

http://www.yankodesign.com/2009/09/23/my-very-own-washing-drum/

Information about how washers work:

http://www.enotes.com/how-products-encyclopedia/washing-machine

http://home.howstuffworks.com/appliances/all-in-one-products/washer-dryer-combos.htm/printable

http://www.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=all-in-one-washer-

dryer.htm&url=http://www.creativelaundry.com/product_line/combination-washer-dryers.cfm

http://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/prod_development/revisions/downloads/clotheswash/Clothes

WasherStakeholderMeeting83104.pdf

Materials and Background:

http://www.creativelaundry.com/product_line/LG-WM3431HW-HS.pdf

http://www.speedymetals.com/ps-1917-148-24ga-0024-304-stainless-steel-sheet-2-

finish.aspxhttp://healthychild.org/5steps/5_steps_5/?gclid=CNC4hbWtzKQCFc9L5QodIlf7iw

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Plastics