Introduction: A Crafty Cruiser ~ The Papermaking Cart
The Envision Unlimited Rose Center in Chicago organizes a papermaking activity at least once a month. Papermaking uses a large quantity of water, and by the nature of the activity a sizable portion of that water ends up spilling onto the ground.
This water can cause damage to the tiles on the floor of the Rose Center. Currently, a tarp prevents the water from making contact with the ground and buckets are placed under the table where the paper is being made; however that does not fully mitigate the issue. Water is spilled during two main intervals:
- The first interval occurs when sodden towels must be carried across a walkway and water spills onto the ground. Wet towels are stored away from where the paper is mainly made; they need to be placed as a first layer on top of the plexiglass where the paper will dry. Unfortunately the towels are across a walkway as they do not fit on the same table as everything else.
- The second interval is while the paper is drying, water drips out of it continuously. The way paper is dried is a multi step process.
- A wet towel is placed on a plexiglass sheet.
- Then a felt sheet is placed on top of that. The wet towel keeps the paper from cracking or coming out ripped and the felt keeps the paper from being stuck.
- Pulp rectangles are placed onto the felt, and another felt sheet is placed on top of that.
- There are alternating layers of felt and pulp until another towel is put on top.
- another plexiglass sheet is placed on the stack.
- A weight is put onto the whole thing.
- The water is left to squeeze out for a day. During this time water continuously drips from the sides of the layers, much of it landing on the ground.
In this report a new solution will be recommended to help prevent the spillage of water onto tiles; the Crafty Cruiser. It is a cart that can roll in any direction it is pulled in, to transport sodden towels across a walkway. The grated top on the cart catches water that spills onto it. It has a filtration system inside it to clean the caught water for reuse.
The report will also discuss who is benefiting from this new solution, the design itself, how the project could develop further, and finally it will elaborate on just how this solution will work.
Who are the users?
Papermakers
One of the main users of the cart would be the people making paper at the Rose Center.
The Craft Cruiser should be easy to use and accessible for all members of Envision Unlimited. The cart should move in all directions so that no matter who is pulling the cart, and no matter which direction that person is standing relative to the cart, it should move easily.
Anna, papermaking leader
The cart should also be able to fit under tables when multiple people are making paper at the same time. So while Anna is teaching others how to make the paper, the cart will not be in her way.
Raul Barrera and other Employees at the Rose Center
When the cart is not in use for papermaking, it can be used by employees for storage or tablespace. It should also be easily storable, as there is not that much room in the art space to begin with.
Requirements
Accessibility
The Crafty Cruiser is designed to be both accessible and safe for all of its users. Accessibility features attached to the cart make it easier to move and use. The wheels of the cart are able to go in any direction and lock, while maintaining the cart’s stability and safety. This stability helps users mental and physical wellbeing. (See Appendix F for more information.)
Utility
An important design requirement for the cart is that it actually solves the problem it was constructed to help with. Its ability to move helps it prevent spillage during the movements of towels across a walkway. Being able to collect spilled water during the drying process also helps in keeping water off the floor.
Sustainability
Cleaning out water for reuse in other ways makes the cart more sustainable, as it saves water from being poured down the drain or wasted.
Fun
The Crafty Cruiser is fun and interesting ways that add more to the space than just its utility. Various design elements make it more interesting. Not only should the outside be visually pleasing, but the inside can include elements that make all aspects of this cart fun to use.
Eda DTC Portfolio, work in progress 