INgenio mail and newspaper holder. See gallery at the bottom of the page for more images.
1. DESCRIPTION & FEATURES
(including Aesthetic Points and their Functions)
2. NAMING
3. BACKGROUND - THE DESIGN PROCESS: THE GAP, USER NEEDS, ITERATION, PROTOTYPING
4. Next steps
5. Other info
6. Image gallery
1. DESCRIPTION & FEATURES
The INgenio mail and newspaper holder has been designed to receive mail as well as hold the daily newspapers for a 2-storey building with four apartments. It has the following important features:
- User operated door that unfolds as a sorting table for mail!
- Two-tier shelf to separate old mail from new!
- Newspaper saddle to hold the daily newspapers as well!
- Spacious opening to receive magazines, etc. without folding and crumpling!
- Compact, simple to use and easy to maintain!
Other features include:
- The opening is designed to ensure mail cannot be pulled out through the opening once posted.
- The dimensions of the mail-box ensures that bigger mail (such as magazines) do not get stuck inside nor block other mail.
- The two-tier divider is removable and gives users the option to make the mailbox even more spacious without it, in the event of more mail.
- The clear and appealing graphic depicting 'Mail' along with the address of the building makes its purpose amply clear for the postman coming to deliver mail.
- An option to have individual apartment addresses on the box. (It has not been exercised here due to user-demand for anonymity as the mailbox is partly visible publicly to passers-by.)
- The newspaper holder integrated into the mailbox makes it a one-stop checkpoint for users, and the location of the mailbox makes it visible and accessible for the newspaper-boy.
- The newspaper holder is made of light but durable material so as to reduce the weight of the device when hung from hooks on the wall.
- Material used: This model (beta prototype) has been built entirely from hard cardboard, paper and paint due to certain material limitations. It has proved to be a versatile and inexpensive material whose durability will be tested in the coming weeks of use.
- Dimensions (cm): box: 29 x 26 x 42, mail-in slit: 19 x 3, newspaper saddle: 22 x 8 x 22
Aesthetic points & their functions:
- The box has been painted YELLOW to make it visible and attractive.
- LOGO DESIGN: The RED and WHITE envelope logo signals the purpose of the device. From the concept idea of a simple envelope graphic, it has evolved into a more dynamic one, suggesting movement of mail (suggesting 'slide in' or 'incoming'). This is achieved by tilting the envelope motif diagonally and letting a corner of it disappear out of the frame. The opposite side leaves white trail lines -- zooop! You've got mail!
- A clear address card in bold black & white carries the building address. (So no more wrongly delivered mail let's hope!)
- The newspaper saddle has been covered with a collage of daily newspaper mastheads, particularly using the BLUE colored mastheads in a prominent way so as to contrast pleasantly with the YELLOW of the box. This clearly and in a fun way signals that the saddle is meant for newspapers.
2. NAMING
After several iterations of the naming process, and trying out various combinations, both entirely invented and combinations of real words, the name INgenio was arrived at. Another name, GetMAIL, scored a point higher on the name selection matrix. However, when the meaning of the term 'ingenio' was checked on dictionaries online, it was found that that it carried a very appropriate set of meanings in Spanish:
English Translation of INGENIO 1 : ingenuity 2 chispa : wit, wits 3 : device, apparatus
(Source: Merriam-Webster/ Spanish Central: http://www.spanishcentral.com/translate/ingenio)
Therefore, the ideas of 'ingenuity' combined with 'device', plus another connotation I had in mind while originally using the prefix 'IN-', namely that of 'In-' as used in 'In-box', together sealed the case in favour of 'INgenio'. I continue to stress the IN aspect by writing it in uppercase.
3. BACKGROUND
The gap to be addressed was:
In what way might I devise a mechanism to ensure that mail is accurately and securely delivered in my building to be accessed by residents in an unobtrusive, safe and convenient way?
After talking to the users in my building (and some in neighbouring buildings), a list of nearly 40 detailed user needs was arrived at. Of these the following were considered primary user needs:
The mail-receiving solution:
1. has the right location and size
2. holds mail securely
3. is Postman-friendly
4. has the right-sized opening
5. is safe to use
6. sorts/segregates mail
7. is durable
8. looks good
9. is easy to maintain
These features were mostly incorporated in the sorting table concept chosen through the selection matrix for prototyping over the first few weeks.
In the 5th week, it was decided to further incorporate a separator for old and new mail -- a feature from one of the older rejected concepts. Moreover, based on user feedback, it was decided to locate the box inside the lobby and so the need for a rain-roof and water -resistance was done away with.
Finally, in the 6th week, while the alpha prototype was at work, I observed that while mail was delivered correctly, the daily newspaper was left strewn near the doorway. Sensing a new LATENT NEED here, I have integrated a newspaper holding saddle to the mail-box.
4. NEXT STEPS (points needing refinement/ improvement)
Seeing how the beta has been working, the following refinements are needed:
- The biggest drawback, of course, has been my inability to procure suitable wood or aluminium to construct the box. It would have been far more solid and secure that way. A suitable mechanical lock can only be introduced then.
- A rain-roof to try the device out in the open.
- The door locking system needs improvement, and the mailbox can be made really secure only after it is reconstructed in wood or aluminium.
- A glass panel or window to check for new mail without opening the box.
5. OTHER INFO
- While building the cardboard model, I found it useful to cellotape all edges. This made them solid and untearable and also, in the case of interacting surfaces like the door and the frame, smoother.
- Building such a simple thing as a mail box was quite a lesson in how much thought can go into it, improving it in small, thoughtful ways that can surprise and delight the users who otherwise take such a device for granted.
6. IMAGE GALLERY: INgenio - Mail & Newspaper holder
(including Aesthetic Points and their Functions)
2. NAMING
3. BACKGROUND - THE DESIGN PROCESS: THE GAP, USER NEEDS, ITERATION, PROTOTYPING
4. Next steps
5. Other info
6. Image gallery
1. DESCRIPTION & FEATURES
The INgenio mail and newspaper holder has been designed to receive mail as well as hold the daily newspapers for a 2-storey building with four apartments. It has the following important features:
- User operated door that unfolds as a sorting table for mail!
- Two-tier shelf to separate old mail from new!
- Newspaper saddle to hold the daily newspapers as well!
- Spacious opening to receive magazines, etc. without folding and crumpling!
- Compact, simple to use and easy to maintain!
Other features include:
- The opening is designed to ensure mail cannot be pulled out through the opening once posted.
- The dimensions of the mail-box ensures that bigger mail (such as magazines) do not get stuck inside nor block other mail.
- The two-tier divider is removable and gives users the option to make the mailbox even more spacious without it, in the event of more mail.
- The clear and appealing graphic depicting 'Mail' along with the address of the building makes its purpose amply clear for the postman coming to deliver mail.
- An option to have individual apartment addresses on the box. (It has not been exercised here due to user-demand for anonymity as the mailbox is partly visible publicly to passers-by.)
- The newspaper holder integrated into the mailbox makes it a one-stop checkpoint for users, and the location of the mailbox makes it visible and accessible for the newspaper-boy.
- The newspaper holder is made of light but durable material so as to reduce the weight of the device when hung from hooks on the wall.
- Material used: This model (beta prototype) has been built entirely from hard cardboard, paper and paint due to certain material limitations. It has proved to be a versatile and inexpensive material whose durability will be tested in the coming weeks of use.
- Dimensions (cm): box: 29 x 26 x 42, mail-in slit: 19 x 3, newspaper saddle: 22 x 8 x 22
Aesthetic points & their functions:
- The box has been painted YELLOW to make it visible and attractive.
- LOGO DESIGN: The RED and WHITE envelope logo signals the purpose of the device. From the concept idea of a simple envelope graphic, it has evolved into a more dynamic one, suggesting movement of mail (suggesting 'slide in' or 'incoming'). This is achieved by tilting the envelope motif diagonally and letting a corner of it disappear out of the frame. The opposite side leaves white trail lines -- zooop! You've got mail!
- A clear address card in bold black & white carries the building address. (So no more wrongly delivered mail let's hope!)
- The newspaper saddle has been covered with a collage of daily newspaper mastheads, particularly using the BLUE colored mastheads in a prominent way so as to contrast pleasantly with the YELLOW of the box. This clearly and in a fun way signals that the saddle is meant for newspapers.
2. NAMING
After several iterations of the naming process, and trying out various combinations, both entirely invented and combinations of real words, the name INgenio was arrived at. Another name, GetMAIL, scored a point higher on the name selection matrix. However, when the meaning of the term 'ingenio' was checked on dictionaries online, it was found that that it carried a very appropriate set of meanings in Spanish:
English Translation of INGENIO 1 : ingenuity 2 chispa : wit, wits 3 : device, apparatus
(Source: Merriam-Webster/ Spanish Central: http://www.spanishcentral.com/translate/ingenio)
Therefore, the ideas of 'ingenuity' combined with 'device', plus another connotation I had in mind while originally using the prefix 'IN-', namely that of 'In-' as used in 'In-box', together sealed the case in favour of 'INgenio'. I continue to stress the IN aspect by writing it in uppercase.
3. BACKGROUND
The gap to be addressed was:
In what way might I devise a mechanism to ensure that mail is accurately and securely delivered in my building to be accessed by residents in an unobtrusive, safe and convenient way?
After talking to the users in my building (and some in neighbouring buildings), a list of nearly 40 detailed user needs was arrived at. Of these the following were considered primary user needs:
The mail-receiving solution:
1. has the right location and size
2. holds mail securely
3. is Postman-friendly
4. has the right-sized opening
5. is safe to use
6. sorts/segregates mail
7. is durable
8. looks good
9. is easy to maintain
These features were mostly incorporated in the sorting table concept chosen through the selection matrix for prototyping over the first few weeks.
In the 5th week, it was decided to further incorporate a separator for old and new mail -- a feature from one of the older rejected concepts. Moreover, based on user feedback, it was decided to locate the box inside the lobby and so the need for a rain-roof and water -resistance was done away with.
Finally, in the 6th week, while the alpha prototype was at work, I observed that while mail was delivered correctly, the daily newspaper was left strewn near the doorway. Sensing a new LATENT NEED here, I have integrated a newspaper holding saddle to the mail-box.
4. NEXT STEPS (points needing refinement/ improvement)
Seeing how the beta has been working, the following refinements are needed:
- The biggest drawback, of course, has been my inability to procure suitable wood or aluminium to construct the box. It would have been far more solid and secure that way. A suitable mechanical lock can only be introduced then.
- A rain-roof to try the device out in the open.
- The door locking system needs improvement, and the mailbox can be made really secure only after it is reconstructed in wood or aluminium.
- A glass panel or window to check for new mail without opening the box.
5. OTHER INFO
- While building the cardboard model, I found it useful to cellotape all edges. This made them solid and untearable and also, in the case of interacting surfaces like the door and the frame, smoother.
- Building such a simple thing as a mail box was quite a lesson in how much thought can go into it, improving it in small, thoughtful ways that can surprise and delight the users who otherwise take such a device for granted.
6. IMAGE GALLERY: INgenio - Mail & Newspaper holder
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