2013 | Exploration | Product Design |

    LIMEN, PRINTER

    Overview
    THE DUMB OBJECT
    The form of home printers’ has remained largely unchanged since their invention. The big and bulky appearance occupies what limited space remains in a busy home office. While some try to hide their printers by placing it on the floor or beside their desks, many still have to put it on their office desk, taking up valuable work space.
    Design Goal
    A SECOND SURFACE OF YOUR DESK
    This design is centered on changing the aesthetic perception of the printer – from a bulky eyesore, to an elegant piece of the desk. This was achieved by giving it an additional useful purpose – a dedicated space to place key items. The ‘second surface’ is formed by adding a gentle dip into the surface of the printer, giving it an aesthetically appealing appearance while acting as an intuitive place to put items.
    2013 | Exploration | Product Design |

    LIMEN, PRINTER

    Overview
    THE DUMB OBJECT
    The form of home printers’ has remained largely unchanged since their invention. The big and bulky appearance occupies what limited space remains in a busy home office. While some try to hide their printers by placing it on the floor or beside their desks, many still have to put it on their office desk, taking up valuable work space.
    Design Goal
    A SECOND SURFACE OF YOUR DESK
    This design is centered on changing the aesthetic perception of the printer – from a bulky eyesore, to an elegant piece of the desk. This was achieved by giving it an additional useful purpose – a dedicated space to place key items. The ‘second surface’ is formed by adding a gentle dip into the surface of the printer, giving it an aesthetically appealing appearance while acting as an intuitive place to put items.
    The forever big dumb object

    Project Brief & Exploration

    The design has become more responsive to consumerism and hyper- consumption by focusing on making products as distinct and noticeable as possible. Nowhere is this trend more apparent than in electronic devices and computers.
    This project seeks to address whether design retains its power to strip an object back to its essential elements and create a crucial balance of the functional and aesthetic without superfluous features.

    How people respond to these emotionless designs

    I chose a laser printer to be redesigned because many people are dissatisfied with the size and styling of them.
    The internal mechanism/hardware of a laser printer occupies a certain amount of space; hence the bulky/ boxy appearance has become the norm.

    Hide your printer

    People are dissatisfied with the size and styling of today’s laser printers because of their already limited space at home.

    As a result, people perceive a printer as a secondary product and choose to keep them ‘hidden’ when possible.

    Essential elements of an object

    Product Design

    To encourage people to bring the laser printers back on the desk, I have relocated the placement of plugs, the on-off switch and redesigned the cover as an accessories tray to serve as an additional function.

    User scenario 1: A recessed surface to carry your key items
    The top surface is a subtle rubbery tray-ideally shaped for placing keys, mobile devices, and other small pieces that would otherwise get in the way of work.

    Step 1: The personal gadgets and everyday items that people have on them.
    Step 2: The rubberized recessed surface acts as a placeholder for all your small items when back at home on your desk.

    User scenario 2: Another way to refill your toner
    The design had to incorporate a new way to change the toner without lifting or moving the top of the unit, (as this would require the tray to be cleared). Therefore the internal hardware was rearranged to ensure the toner could be changed from the side, leaving the tray area undisturbed.

    Step 1: Switch the power off.
    Step 2: Open the lid where the right side of the printer and simply pull out the toner and refill with a new one.

    User scenario 3: A neutral shape to fit in every corner
    Another practical concern is the plug placement. Many printers cannot be set flush against a back or side surface because one or more of the power cables extend out from the device inconveniently.
    The vertical port design with a slot at the bottom of the printer allows the cord to extend from the user’s choice of sides, encouraging a pleasing and convenient placement for most desk/home office environments.

    Step 1: Plug in the power cord.
    Step 2: Pull the cord down through the gap either left or right.
    Step 3: Plug into the socket and turn on the switch.
    Remark: The flexible cable channel allows the printer to be placed in every corner of the desk/ room.

    User Scenario 4: A step-by-step design
    Many laser printers seem to malfunction when the output tray is not opened / extended before attempting to print, frustrating users and providing a 
 sub-optimal experience.
    In this design, the power button cannot be reached without first opening the output tray, ensuring fewer ‘printer error’ messages and a smoother operation.

    Step 1: Open the output tray for the control panel, press the ON/OFF button and double check the status light
    Step 2: Pull out the output tray extender
    Step 3: Insert paper into the paper tray and adjust the paper size guide
    Remark: The control panel was designed behind the output tray in order to make sure the output tray is ready while it’s needed