Design Step 1
Project Description: At this first stage in our project, my group and I had the objective of identifying a problem and presenting a possible solution. My teammates and I all had an interest in addressing the issue of carbon emissions and climate change, through a product that would make an actual difference. Too often people point towards solar or wind energy as the answer, despite not realizing that at best these proposed solutions do nothing and at worst further contribute to environmental devastation. Our first idea, that we spent a lot of time on, was using the condensed CO2 from carbon capture plants to produce ethanol, which could be sold to gasoline companies. However, we realized quickly that we would not be able to create a physical model. As such, we eventually settled for a design that acts as a carbon scrubber on gasoline vehicles. In doing this, we made our proposal more tangible to the individual person and provided ourselves with the possibility of developing a prototype.
Brainstorming Process: At this point during our project, our team was attempting to piece together a topic to pursue. We knew that we wanted to focus on environmental issues but did not yet have a specific problem or solution in mind. The button below leads to a program called "Padlet", which we used to communicate and share potential ideas with one another.
Brainstorming Process: At this point during our project, our team was attempting to piece together a topic to pursue. We knew that we wanted to focus on environmental issues but did not yet have a specific problem or solution in mind. The button below leads to a program called "Padlet", which we used to communicate and share potential ideas with one another.
Logo Design: Continuing with the theme of environmental cleanliness, our team came up with this logo to represent our initiative. It is comprised of a carbon dioxide molecule encircled by the recycling symbol. We first sketched out concepts on paper and then finalized the design using a computer drawing program.
Demand and Wishlist: In an effort to bring our team closer to a final product design, we compiled research of the market surrounding climate solutions. We asked ourselves questions such as: what would others be willing to pay, what is already on the market, and who are our target consumers, among other things. By doing this, we narrowed our focus and provided ourselves with the necessary infrastructure to move forward with new design possibilities.
Marketing: Without proper knowledge of the economic factors at play while managing a company, any product we made (no matter how effective) would have zero impact. As such, it was incredibly important that we understand the consumer. We did this in several ways: 1) we did further research on google regarding available products and technologies 2) we surveyed our peers for feedback on their opinions of environmental issues and our products at the time and 3) we took a deeper look at the individual and what they truly want and even what they would be willing to sacrifice.
Final Project Proposal: Attached below is the final project proposal that my team submitted. It details our design for a new car exhaust attachment that muffles noise, captures particulates, and reduces CO2 emissions.
Concepts:
- Climate Change: the gradual and damaging effects of worsening weather patterns, caused by the expulsion of greenhouse gases and toxins, specifically carbon dioxide. This the main issue that our product seeks to combat.
- Carbon Capture: a system in which expelled CO2 is vacuumed out of the air and condensed into a supercritical state (semi-solid/semi-liquid) to be stored. Our initial project idea centered around this technology.
- Fossil Fuels: the remains of living organisms that have been exposed to high pressures for extremely long periods of times, burning these fuels releases energy. While fossil fuels are still in use, we hope to soften the impact they have on the environment.
- Investment: the process of providing capital to a firm in the hopes that they will become successful and deliver returns. Our first idea centered around selling ethanol produced from captured carbon, which is incredibly expensive, and would have required investments.
- Engineering Design Cycle: the process in which ideas are made into physical reality. We employed this strategy while developing our product.
- 3D Software: a means to create a model product in a virtual space. The difficulties of online learning have required that we use such methods to present our idea.