Umbrella Rental System - A Tokyo-based umbrella rental system meant to encourage shared use while demonstrating a strategic approach towards sustainable design.
Umbrella Rental System - Life Cycle Analysis: a thorough 6-week phase was undertaken to completely understand the life of a typical umbrella. For this particular project, I focused on a high density populated area - Tokyo. LCA showed several eye-opening areas of potential improvement for umbrella use and design.
Umbrella Rental System - Business Plan: Tokyo Rentals
Business Plan: Vending + Deposits
Umbrella Rental System - Business Plan: Return & Reuse & Promote
Umbrella Rental System - Ideation Phase: early research showed that the umbrella with its numerous components (65-100) and permanent fabrication did not allow for effective recycling, disassembly, or maintenance. Thus from inception it was of high priority to develop a concept that focused on reducing the complexity of the structure yet was still able to perform on par.
Umbrella Rental System - Ideation Phase: as a compliment to the simplified structure, the umbrella with its one-material design (recycled plastic) was developed with "easy assembly" features. As non-permanent fasteners with high-pressure snaps, the umbrella can be taken apart for any necessary repairs or modifications.
Umbrella Rental System - Mock-up Phase: nearly 7 weeks were spent building over 8 fully functional umbrella concepts. Through this prototyping phase, it was discovered that through use of live hinges and structural, thin plastic a minimal, yet fully functional umbrella was possible.
Umbrella Rental System
Umbrella Rental System
Umbrella Rental System
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