(Larger quality version of the Business Model: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/niyd6ejybtr2pk8/AADtWj7M9qfqA4DK_8t7HqDfa?dl=0)
Product Description:
The chalkboard-turned-clothing rack (pictured above on the right) is an example of the kind of products students might create in the pre-orientation program. We strove to achieve three things with our product design: usability, sustainability, and feasibility.
In terms of usability, we knew from our own experiences (and our friends’ experiences) that a huge problem a lot of college students face is a lack of storage space, for clothing and shoes in particular. Many people we know have purchased clothing racks or shoe racks due to these storage and space constraints. Thus, we converted the top into a clothing rack and the bottom into a shoe rack/cubby/shelf space. A second issue for some students is that they share a room with someone else, or live in the common room, so we thought the product could also function as a room divider that could simultaneously increase storage space.
In terms of sustainability, we wanted to make sure that all of the materials we used were found in the Harvard Recycling Center. For example, the frame was an old chalkboard frame (there were at least three others there, and probably lots more at this institution), and the bottom shelves and metal rings in the clothing rack both came from deconstructed binders (the Recycling Center allegedly receives many old binders). We didn’t need to purchase a single material!
Finally, in terms of feasibility, this product was fairly straightforward and easy to make. First, we sanded down the chalkboard frame and added a fresh coat of black paint. Next, we deconstructed the binders, separating rings from plastic panels. Then, we attached the panels to form three-sided shelves, and glued those together with a hot glue gun. Then, we attached the rings to the top of the frame and used them to hold a dowel.
In Process Photos:
