Flipd
Flipd is a portable coffee device that allows the user to package, transport, and brew drip coffee on-the-go or after their commute. Often when commuting, the personal relationship between a person and their coffee is lost. Take-out coffee is an option, but coffee brewed by oneself provides an experience that instills control and prompts interaction from the user. This project aims to answer the question: “How can the ritual of coffee translate into a portable brewing device?”
How is it Done?
Water is placed in the bottom cup, with coffee grounds being put in the grip, and the entire device is flipped to allow the water to pass through the grounds and brew coffee using a form of the pour-over method. One flip of the device would lead to a lighter brew, and if you would like to further brew your coffee you can simply flip it again and the process repeats itself.
Problem Space
Research began with an exploration into existing means of brewing coffee, and modes of transportation and specifically how they afford transportation of coffee. By looking at personal methods of brewing, I was able to build an understanding of the existing paradigms and how they developed into the ritual of coffee consumption. This initial research also allowed for initial insights into what I may ask in my surveys.
Research Protocol
Once the general direction of my product development was defined, I listed the necessary components for my research. One component is the behavioral research survey that I distributed to record both quantitative and qualitative data about coffee drinkers’ habits. The other is the generative research that consists of drawing exercises to gather data regarding the components of an ideal device.
Behavioral Research
The location people get coffee most frequently is at their own homes, which infers they favor a drink where they have been a key part of the making process. This allows for customization of one’s drink.
Design Process
Design of the product followed a path that was initially defined by the compartmentalization of the ground coffee and the water. Forms followed guidelines based on existing liquid-carrying forms and those that afforded transportation in hand, in a backpack, and in a car.
Product System
Inside the device, we see that each half of the grip has a ceramic filter that is reusable and easily cleaned. It is held in place with a silicon gasket that provides stability during use but can be removed. We also see the cavity where the user’s choice of coffee grounds is placed. Each cup is made of double-walled polymer, and all components screw together for a secure fit.
Project Reflection
I learned a lot about how to balance my own design sensitivities with the driving market and user value behind a product over the course of this project. While this was not explicitly designed to be marketed, all design decisions were backed by user research and were made very intentionally to serve the stakeholders surrounding the problem space. I now feel as though I can respond to user needs through a successful product that communicates interaction and formal qualities