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Contents 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Research and Observations 2.1 Anthropological Study Observations 2.2 Use Study Observation 2.3 Expert Interview 2.4 Product Review 3 Sketches and Descriptions of Design Concepts 4 Comparison with Competitor Products 4.1 Pugh Chart 5 Gantt Chart for Team Plan 6 Summary 6.1 Team Member Roles 7 Appendix 7.1 100 Brainstorming Ideas 8 References

Executive Summary

Market Research and Observations

For this stage of our design project, we conducted four different types of market research and observations including Anthropological Study Observation, Use Study Observation, Expert Interview, and Product Review. Besides, we also posted an Online Survey which served as a back up market research study. The major observations, inspections and conclusions from each study are listed by section below.

Anthropological Study Observations

For this approach of market research, we observed faculties, staffs and students around campus (academic buildings and student housings) to make coffee with coffeemakers located in public kitchens or snack bars. In particular, we did a 2-hour observation around noon and a 2-hour in the afternoon on the sixth floor in the Gates and Hillman Center. In addition, we did a 1-hour observation at the Stever House during an early morning. The key observations are listed underneath.

(1) People (mostly students and professors) are easily distracted when using the coffeemaker. They are likely to talk to someone other the phone or around, reading and playing with tablets which could possibly cause safety issues.

(2) Oftentimes when there might be a problem with the coffeemaker (or there might not be, like slower dripping of coffee), people tend to just punch around the body of the coffeemaker. This could be harmful for both the users and the coffeemaker.

(3) There were a few instances when people are in a hurry of doing something else, they tend to forget to put the coffee container back into place and leave the coffeemaker on which could result in overheating problem or damage to the heater.

(4) A coffeemaker placed in a public kitchen could have a shorter lifetime due to lack of cleaning and proper maintenance.

(5) It is sometimes the case that a full container of coffee would be wasted as the user might want to remake some hot coffee and dump the cold one made by the previous user. This could be a majority factor of wasting all types of resources.

(6) Another minor observation concerned with coffee heating is that some people might want to reheat their coffee with their own coffee mug instead of making a new set of coffee all over again. Oftentime they would just use the microwave. Things could be done on the coffeemaker so that it could possess a feature of reheating a small cup of coffee.

Use Study Observation

Expert Interview

Product Review

Sketches and Descriptions of Design Concepts

Comparison with Competitor Products

Pugh Chart

Gantt Chart for Team Plan

Summary

Team Member Roles

Lucas Neffa -

Andrew Vickory -

Nick Ciesielski -

Yang Wen -

Kaifu Wang -

Appendix

100 Brainstorming Ideas

References

1. Dieter, George E., and Linda C. Schmidt. Engineering Design. 5th Edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2012. Print.

2. Hamilton Beach 12-Cup Coffee Maker, n.d. photograph, viewed 28 January 2014, <http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002EJF8TI/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1>