The QÜB designed for the Integrated Product Development (IPD) class in the fall of 2013 at the University of Michigan.
The design challenge was as follows: "Design dorm room furniture using local fabrication and customer assembly.Today most college campuses have access to “maker spaces” that house some sophisticated fabrication equipment and staff to operate it, making local manufacturing a reality. Teams this year were challenged to design dormitory furniture for college students, that can be easily assembled by the consumer from locally fabricated parts and standard catalog hardware."
The QÜB was designed for storage, seating, style, and surface. Based on our enthographic research from seven dormatories on the University of Michigan campus, we identified the need for more storage, more seating, and more surface space. The QÜB has various sized compartments, either a cushion or hard top surface, and a rotating base to address these needs. We desinged the QÜB to function in any small living space, not just dorms. The QÜB is manufactured from a single sheet of plywood on a CNC mill. The unit comes flat-packed, and is assembled using the instructions. The structure holds together with friction-fit joints. Each component feautures unique dot patterns that align with matching patterns on other components to assist the user with assmebly.
The QÜB came in first place at the physical trade show and second place in the web trade show, for an overall second place.
The QÜB was designed and developed in collaboration with Jose Solis, Holly Prouty, Jonathan Or, and Ross Mitchell in the fall of 2013.
Initial product rendering.
Concept sketches
An early prototype undergoing testing.
Prototype with closed sides.
Explaining assembly at the Tradeshow
