Creating a wallet prototype for my partner following the stages of design thinking was interesting and allowed me to be creative. Throughout the designing process I used the logic presented in “The Design of Everyday Things” by Don Norman. Norman stated “The design of the door should indicate how to work it without any need for signs, certainly without any need for trial and error”. Though I am not designing a door I felt this logic should be included in most all designed objects.
As I learned more about my partner, Ian, I learned that he had recently lost his wallet and instead was loosely carrying around his cards and cash in his pocket. Ian intended to only replace his wallet with a similar simple bi-fold wallet. The issue with this solution is that Ian could easily lose his wallet again. I wanted to create a fun and easy to use wallet that Ian couldn’t lose. When we each drew out our creative-“out of the box” designs he really liked the dog idea and thought I should carry it through into a prototype. I didn’t intend for this idea to go far, but it was fun and interesting and it did fit Ian’s needs for a wallet. The dog also fit the logic within Don Normans quote, most everyone has interacted with a dog in their life and knows how to walk a dog and give it simple commands. The design was fairly simple, a dog is trained as a usual companion animal or even a service animal but the dog carries a wallet-like pocket on their collar so that the owner can always have their wallet with them without losing it. The dog is trained and therefor it wouldn’t lose the wallet or run away. The wallet dog would be registered as a service animal as well so they could follow their owner into public establishments. Ian suggested the dog have a basket that it carries around too so they can help carry things when the dog accompanies the owner shopping or getting food. The greatest part about the dog is it could easily accompany Ian’s needs as he suggested ideas. After I created the prototype he suggested the dog have a way to communicate in case he wanted to send the dog out to accomplish tasks while he stays home. Easily you could write a note and stick it on the dogs collar and send it to pick up food or groceries as long as someone could receive the note. Overall the creative process was fun to create new inventions and thoroughly design them based off needs and critiques.
While I created a wallet for Ian, he also created one for me. I showed Ian my current wallet which is a phone case with a sliding compartment where I fit my cards and some cash. I explained that I liked this wallet because it was convenient since I always have my phone on me, and it’s great for carrying around my cougar card which I need to get food and get into my dorm. I explained that it was somewhat small and I had little room for cash and I would like to be able to carry around more with the same convenience. Ian had carrying ideas ranging from a glove that held cards and cash to backpack. We landed on an app that could hold all the cards and cash and all you would have to do to pay is hold up your phone to the receiving device and done. This app could work with my cougar card and ID as well. It was interesting to see what he would come up with to fit my needs based of the short interview but in the end the app was a great idea. After he created the prototype I suggested that the app could be social and work with other users similar to venmo, so that all payments could be contained within one app. The great part about his app is it is very possible within the future as people become increasingly reliant on their phones and the paying process becomes more efficient.