Brief
Brief
The Arc project stemmed from my dissatisfaction with current e-readers. As an avid reader and product designer, I found most devices, including the Amazon Kindle, to be ergonomically inflexible and aesthetically unappealing due to their conventional slate-like design.
Motivated to fill this gap, I embarked on creating an e-reader that not only enhances the reading experience but also feels more natural and book-like.
The Arc project stemmed from my dissatisfaction with current e-readers. As an avid reader and product designer, I found most devices, including the Amazon Kindle, to be ergonomically inflexible and aesthetically unappealing due to their conventional slate-like design.
Motivated to fill this gap, I embarked on creating an e-reader that not only enhances the reading experience but also feels more natural and book-like.
Duration
6 Months
Duration
6 Months
Team
Solo
Team
Solo
Skills
Prototyping, 3D Modeling
Skills
Prototyping, 3D Modeling
Tools
Fusion 360, Blender, 3D Printer
Tools
Fusion 360, Blender, 3D Printer
Objective
Objective
Objective
The primary aim was to design a foldable E-reader that simulates the feel of reading a traditional book while incorporating the advantages of digital technology. Key objectives included:
Developing a comfortable and intuitive form factor.
Ensuring durability and ease of use through multiple folding cycles.
Preserving the essential qualities of an E-reader, such as battery life and readability.
The primary aim was to design a foldable E-reader that simulates the feel of reading a traditional book while incorporating the advantages of digital technology. Key objectives included:
Developing a comfortable and intuitive form factor.
Ensuring durability and ease of use through multiple folding cycles.
Preserving the essential qualities of an E-reader, such as battery life and readability.
Exploration
Exploration
Exploration
The project commenced with a teardown of an existing Amazon Kindle to analyze its components and identify design constraints.
Concurrently, I investigated various materials and form factors to enhance the user experience, focusing on ergonomics and satisfaction. This exploratory phase proved crucial in laying the foundation and establishing the parameters for the foldable design.
The project commenced with a teardown of an existing Amazon Kindle to analyze its components and identify design constraints.
Concurrently, I investigated various materials and form factors to enhance the user experience, focusing on ergonomics and satisfaction. This exploratory phase proved crucial in laying the foundation and establishing the parameters for the foldable design.
Getting the hands dirty
Getting the hands dirty
Getting the hands dirty
Understanding Through Cardboard:
I brought my design idea to life by quickly crafting a cardboard model that mirrored my vision.
Understanding Through Cardboard:
I brought my design idea to life by quickly crafting a cardboard model that mirrored my vision.
Prototyping for Improvement:
After creating a digital model in Fusion 360 for visualization, I 3D printed the hinges and E-reader body to test their fit and identify areas for improvement. This process revealed the need for minor hinge adjustments and highlighted the importance of material selection, as the initial prototype deformed due to heat.
Prototyping for Improvement:
After creating a digital model in Fusion 360 for visualization, I 3D printed the hinges and E-reader body to test their fit and identify areas for improvement. This process revealed the need for minor hinge adjustments and highlighted the importance of material selection, as the initial prototype deformed due to heat.
Refining the Prototype:
A second cardboard prototype helped explore the final product's desired thickness, highlighting the need for a sturdier design and possibly a sliding mechanism to accommodate the screen's folding radius.
Refining the Prototype:
A second cardboard prototype helped explore the final product's desired thickness, highlighting the need for a sturdier design and possibly a sliding mechanism to accommodate the screen's folding radius.
Learning from Prototypes:
The final design incorporated a fully dimensioned body panel and reflected the insights gleaned from my prototypes.
Learning from Prototypes:
The final design incorporated a fully dimensioned body panel and reflected the insights gleaned from my prototypes.
Final Design: Success & Setback
Final Design: Success & Setback
Final Design: Success & Setback
My original hinge and sliding mechanism worked perfectly in testing, and the device felt balanced and well-designed. Unfortunately, repeated folding cracked the E-ink screen, highlighting my underestimation of its bending radius and durability.
My original hinge and sliding mechanism worked perfectly in testing, and the device felt balanced and well-designed. Unfortunately, repeated folding cracked the E-ink screen, highlighting my underestimation of its bending radius and durability.
Front View:
Here's a look at the E-reader from the front.
Front View:
Here's a look at the E-reader from the front.
Close-up of the Slider:
To enable the E-reader's folding functionality, I designed a unique sliding mechanism. This slider adjusts to accommodate the screen's length reduction caused by its bending radius around the hinges.
Close-up of the Slider:
To enable the E-reader's folding functionality, I designed a unique sliding mechanism. This slider adjusts to accommodate the screen's length reduction caused by its bending radius around the hinges.
Ergonomic Design:
For comfortable one-handed use when folded, I designed one side of the E-reader to be smaller than the other.
Ergonomic Design:
For comfortable one-handed use when folded, I designed one side of the E-reader to be smaller than the other.
Strategic Placement:
The E-reader's body was designed to house the battery in the smaller panel and the PCB (printed circuit board) in the larger panel for optimal weight distribution.
Strategic Placement:
The E-reader's body was designed to house the battery in the smaller panel and the PCB (printed circuit board) in the larger panel for optimal weight distribution.
Room for Growth
Room for Growth
Room for Growth
Reflecting on the design process, I see the value in deeper hardware analysis and the potential to enhance the current design's aesthetics. I'm keen to expand my design/rendering software skills and tackle the e-reader's UI for a cohesive user experience.
Reflecting on the design process, I see the value in deeper hardware analysis and the potential to enhance the current design's aesthetics. I'm keen to expand my design/rendering software skills and tackle the e-reader's UI for a cohesive user experience.
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