Design Icons: Minor Design Project

Design Icons Reimagined: Crafting the Coffee Celebration Set

Great design begins with a question: how can we take something ordinary and make it extraordinary? For the students of the Minor Design Project, this question fueled an exploration of timeless design principles as they reimagined the coffee ritual. Their mission? To channel the ethos of legendary designers into the creation of a Coffee Celebration Set comprising a French Press and manual Coffee Grinder. The result is a celebration of form, function, and the user experience.

The Challenge

The Minor Design Project invited our final year PDI students to delve into the history of design icons like Michael Graves, Richard Sapper, and Marc Newson. The challenge was not just to design another coffee set but to craft a masterpiece that would embody the philosophy and innovation of these trailblazers. Every curve, material, and detail had to reflect the values of the chosen design icon while elevating the coffee-making experience.

The Process: From Inspiration to Prototypes

The project unfolded in carefully structured phases, encouraging a thoughtful and iterative approach:

1. Designer Selection: Students began by selecting a design icon and studying their principles, ethos, and contributions. This research became the foundation for their creative direction.

2. Inspiration Boards: A3 boards were meticulously crafted, showcasing the chosen designer’s biography, iconic works, and design principles. These boards served as touchstones throughout the design process.

3. Product Reverse Engineering: To truly understand the functional and mechanical requirements, students deconstructed and analyzed existing coffee products. This deep dive into engineering and usability informed their concepts.

4. Concept Ideation: Sketching, prototyping, and iterative development led to three distinct concepts. These concepts showcased form generation, material choices, manufacturing processes, and user interactions, with preliminary CAD models to support the designs.

5. Concept Freeze: One concept was selected to move forward, signaling the start of detailed development. Using tools like SolidWorks, students refined their designs, ensuring manufacturability and user-centric functionality.

6. High-Fidelity Prototypes: The journey culminated in "looks-like" models, where students applied their understanding of CMF (Colour, Material, Finish) to deliver prototypes ready for the exhibition.

   
   

The Deliverables

The Minor Design Project wasn’t just about the final product—it was about the journey. Deliverables included:

• Sketchbooks documenting every phase, from initial inspiration to detailed planning.

• High-fidelity prototypes that brought concepts to life.

• Technical data, including a Bill of Materials (BOM) and Design Decision Record (DDR), showcasing the thought process behind every design choice.

• Digital assets, such as SolidWorks files and a presentation deck, reflecting professional-level communication.

Designing with Purpose

What set this project apart was its focus on purpose. Students didn’t just design coffee sets; they designed experiences. They considered how materials like polycarbonate or stainless steel would feel in the user’s hand, how a satin or matte finish might enhance the product’s elegance, and how every component’s assembly would streamline the coffee-making process.

The Design Decision Record (DDR) proved invaluable in this process. By documenting key decisions—from altering spout angles to improve usability to selecting injection molding for efficiency—students demonstrated their ability to balance creativity with practicality.

A Celebration of Creativity

This project wasn’t just a test of design skills; it was a celebration of creativity and collaboration. Students learned to honor the past while innovating for the future, translating iconic principles into modern solutions. The result? A Coffee Celebration Set that doesn’t just make coffee—it makes moments.

Looking Ahead

The Minor Design Project has set the stage for these emerging designers to tackle even greater challenges. By integrating lessons learned into future projects, they’ll continue to push boundaries and create products that inspire. As David Kelley of IDEO states "Design is about creating impact." With this project, these students have taken their first steps toward leaving a lasting one.

Alain Ferrer Carrasco X Eileen Gray