Research and Insights
Before designing our homegoods product, we swapped research (which could be about any given topic) with another team. We received research from a team composed of Easton Nyugen, and Maria Bowman. The main insights from this research are as follows:
1. Tea Has cultural ties that aren't shown in commercial tea wares
2. Commercial Tea is an accessory
3. Waiting brings additional value to certain activities
View the full presentation below.
Discover and Define
We begun to iterate with designs that are inspired by and/or represent the insights from the research
Round 1 Sketches: Exploration
Round 2 Sketches: Expanding on ideas
Fully Developing 2 Concepts With Evidence of Feasible Production
But first, we Need some context for the products...
What is a Tea Pet?
In many cultures worldwide, drinking tea alone is taboo. Developed in the 13th century during the Yuan Dynasty in China, tea pets serve as a drinking companion. The first sip of tea is dumped onto the tea pet before the user begins indulging in their tea.
These two concepts, both referencing tea pets, strive to bring cultural ties into an accessible tea product.
Our Two Concepts
Concept 1: Concrete Tea Pet Planter Buddy
Did you know Tea is good for your plants? Us neither! The tea pet planter
buddy , derived from the cultural phenomena of tea pets, serves as a companion for your plant. Pour tea over your tea pet to feed it before partaking in tea, while also giving your plant an extra treat!
buddy , derived from the cultural phenomena of tea pets, serves as a companion for your plant. Pour tea over your tea pet to feed it before partaking in tea, while also giving your plant an extra treat!
Finished FDM printed model that would serve as the mold subject.
Using A custom mold to prove a concrete
medium is feasible for production.
Concept 2: Tea Pet Inspired Honey Tea Stirrers
Tea pet honey stirrers provide a tasty treat to mix into your tea! After the
honey is gone, enjoy reusable tea stirrers made from real bamboo. Notches
included on the top and bottom to hold your tea bag!
honey is gone, enjoy reusable tea stirrers made from real bamboo. Notches
included on the top and bottom to hold your tea bag!
Producing Stirrer samples, and hardened honey on a stick
Full Pitch on Two Final Concepts
Here's the full presentation that was given to present the two ideas!
Production
After choosing the tea pet stirrers as our concept, and rebranding them under the name "Lollihops", we began the production process.
Repurposing and preparing bamboo cutting boards
Laser cutting the stirrers
designing custom mold for Honey/Chocolate ends
Cooking the hardened honey
Experimenting with a vacuum pot and pressure pot to extract
bubbles from the hardened honey.
bubbles from the hardened honey.
Pouring the mixtures into the molds...
Final Product
After developing our packaging, we were ready to sell. Here's all of our promo pics of the product:
Sale of Products: Winter Market
Along with the rest of our class who sold their products, we sold our products
in front of Hayes Hall from 10:00-12:00 a.m. on December 5th. We fully sold out of all 61 Lollihops in 20 minutes! Our price points were 3 for $10.00, and 1 for $5.00. Honey, Chocolate peppermint, and chocolate sea-salt variants were sold.
in front of Hayes Hall from 10:00-12:00 a.m. on December 5th. We fully sold out of all 61 Lollihops in 20 minutes! Our price points were 3 for $10.00, and 1 for $5.00. Honey, Chocolate peppermint, and chocolate sea-salt variants were sold.
Promo Video
