Alin Yang
Projects
About
Product Design, Furniture, Cooperation, Concepts, Full scale
The Process:
MeoLamp
A floor lamp shared by humans and cats.Team: Individual Project
Timeline: 2019. Sep - 2020. March, 5 months
Scale: 56 x 72 x 112 cm/ 22 x 28.3 x 44.1 inches
Material: Plastic, Wood, Metal, Jute Ropes
Research
How human and cats could interact with the object
How the cats loves different height and warmth😻
To verify the hypothesis that "cats prefer to stay in high and warm places," I created several prototypes with varying heights and temperatures to test cats' reactions.
Additionally, I investigated the temperature changes brought about by commonly available light bulbs and cats' preferences for different dimensions.
This data provided valuable insights for future development of the lamp's design and bulb installation.
What cat owners care about ?
During visits to pet stores and through conversations with customers and staff, I gathered feedback on the concerns and considerations of cat owners when selecting furniture. I also distributed approximately 400 questionnaires to understand the importance cat owners place on various features.
Design Process
Different form and function
Based on the data obtained during prototyping, I created grid drawings proposing various shapes, proportions, and functionalities for the MeoLamp. Ultimately, I developed a design with an iron frame supporting the lamp.
In addition to sketches, I explored different design possibilities using scale models and full-scale prototypes.m.
Parting and structure
After finalizing the design, I used Creo PTC to create 3D component models and draw the internal structure.
Enhancing scratcher strength
While making prototypes, I found that jute ropes wrapped around three-dimensional objects tended to loosen. To address this, I used stitching to secure the rope to the plastic shell. I tested different stitching methods, thread colors, and the effects of replacing sisal rope with paper rope on the cat lamp.