Discovery #MindBlown Microscope Lab — 2023
Partnering with the MerchSource Design Team, we created a microscope set for budding scientists for the Discovery #Mindblown line of STEM toys. Though adapted for inquisitive youngsters, the design is feature-rich and highly capable. We began by analyzing critical functions and mechanisms in professional scientific microscopes. With our audience in mind, we made considered design choices for each area of interaction. We reduced dexterity demands and provided clear affordance signaling with large contrasting features. Keeping in mind the average size of our user, we set the height of the lens lower than typical and ensured an adequate range of motion for the sample tray. These decisions of architecture also had to incorporate aesthetic and manufacturing concerns.
Generally speaking in product development, the industrial design intent doesn’t always translate through to the final product. Many decisions regarding cost and manufacturing strategy can affect the outcome after a project has left the design team’s hands. Project schedules don’t always allow for continued design guidance all the way to a product hitting the shelf. Our design team always works with manufacturability in mind, and we often create final tooling CAD that is used by the manufacturers. For this Microscope Set, further development by the manufacturer was expected, however we had a vision for part breakup and assembly that would optimally preserve the designs aesthetics. We developed the strategy and preliminary part design that kept all assembly screws to a minimum and in hidden locations. No deep garish screw bosses blemish the large rounded forms of the design, yet it is functional, rigid, and robust.
