Experience Enrichment: The Hex Dron Tape Dispenser

My target market is 25 to 35 year old male and female corporate worker, who are single or not married and have no kids, have a high position at work, lives a simple stylish life, and likes to socialise whenever they have the time.
I chose to design the tape dispenser for the office, for the intended target market, who obviously have more money for themselves, they have more time to spend, all they have at the moment is to just think about themselves. They work hard so they can enjoy life without any financial hassles.


Doing some research into what was missing, or needed a comeback on an office desk, I found that the tape dispenser was a pretty regular, boring item. In some way I had to revive the tape dispenser as that tape was the least used stationary. Even though it was hardly used, it was still useful to an office worker who use it to tape up a ripped document, to help them hold together a long report they are still editing, or to even tape up notes if they have no post-it’s.

So the tape dispenser is still very useful, it just needed to be reinvented. Therefore the way I designer the Hex Dron Tape Dispenser, (or also know has the HD Tape Dispenser). Because the tape was only used occasionally, the tape needed to be in a closure state when not in use as on a regular tape dispenser the tape is exposed and therefore attracts dust. So the HD tape dispenser is in the form of a truncated rhombic dodecahedron, where the tape sits on the inside of the polyhedron and two of the sides open and closes to access the tape.


Because to average tape dispenser only had one function, to revive it, I added in more features to the tape dispenser.  The HD tape dispenser is also magnetic on one of its side to hold odd paper and bulldog clips that may have been lying around on the desk. Because it will be made out of metal or stone, preferably steel, the tape dispenser could be use as a paperweight, so the user can sort out his or her desk when overloaded with paperwork.


The HD tape dispenser is small enough to fit any adult size hand, with indents on the sides for fingers to rest in easily. The tape is easily removed to its magnetic hold, it’s as easy as just slipping in the tape in and out, instantly the rod is connected to the magnet inside where it will rest easily in the circle fitting on the magnet.  As to changing the tape, the HD tape dispenser will open up wider to an easier access, as another side will open up.


The material used for the HD tape dispenser is steel, heavy enough to act as a paperweight, and its magnetic on some sides. I decided to use metal, and not just a cheap looking metal such a aluminium, because the product is intended for middle to high class citizens. I wanted to create that elegant, expensive look, for an executive office desk. When a corporate worker uses it, they’ll feel more engaged in their work, with using this ornamental piece. The form and shape and the colour is such an interesting mix for such function that someone could buy for themselves or buy it as a gift for someone. The owner of the HD tape dispenser will feel so much worthy in their workplace, with such a sleek ornamental but very functional piece on their desk.


Peer Comments:
  1. Monica Lu
  2. Andrea Krakovska
  3. Stephanie Hutcherson
  4. Frankie Ho
  5. Huan (Harry) Xie

8 comments:

Melinda at: September 22, 2010 at 9:51 AM said...

I think that you have done really well with this project. I think that the tape dispenser is something that really could be made a lot more useful, because as you siad it is not actually used very much. I think it is a good idea that it can sort of be folded away and used for other things like a paper weight and paper clip holder. I also think that it is quite suited to the target market becuase it can sort of be a sculpture sitting on the desk aswell, not just a tape despenser. I can't really think of any improvements, so I guess that's a good thing!

Krista at: September 23, 2010 at 8:07 PM said...

The idea of the tape dispenser being multifunctional is a great idea! It would keep office desks tidy from paperclips everywhere and holding papers down. As for changes there isnt many i would make although you could make the tape dispensing area a bit bigger from the photos i just find it may be a bit awkward changing the tape but is a great design!

patrick luwia at: September 23, 2010 at 9:07 PM said...

First of all, good job on the tape dispenser! I like the shape of it, and the sleek metal finish really fits in an office environment.

However, some things that you'd like to consider.. I think you should include some semantics in it. When its closed, nothing tells me that you are able to open this thing.. perhaps a finger indent (it really depends on how you're planning to make the opening mechanism)? Same thing about the magnetic side.

Giving the tape dispenser the ability to close is great. It'll be more space saving when its not in use, and somehow it looks like a sculpture by itself. Good job!

Monica at: September 24, 2010 at 11:15 PM said...

I would love to have one of these on my desk, the shape and colour exudes a sense of sophistication. I see you have come very far from your initial idea of a spherical tape dispenser. i love how the property of the geometric shape enhances the functionality of the tape dispenser, what i mean is the flat face becomes the base and "stand", and also the part that opens can be closed seamlesly back into its Hex Dron shape.

and i love the tongue in cheek name you gave it, your product completely meets your target market, i am sure any office worker would love to get one. who wouldn't want a HD.... ;)

the one thing i would have liked to know more about is the mechanism of changing the tape...

Debbie T at: September 25, 2010 at 1:14 PM said...

I love how you've allowed the tape dispenser to fold up as it transforms your design into a sort of small, sophisticated sculpture that would add elegance to the office desk of a corporate worker. It fits your target market really well as it is multifunctional and could help organize the often cluttered desks of office workers.
To improve it i think you could somehow make the lid lock in place when opened to prevent it from moving around when tape is being pulled out and cut, as it is a huge nuisance when tape messes up at this stage.
Overall i think this is a great design as it is both beautiful and functional, good job :D

Anonymous at: September 28, 2010 at 7:30 AM said...

I really like this concept. On first glance there is no real indication of what your object does, but I think this can be used as a positive; a tool of intrigue and persuasion. Further, you've added something exciting to a task as mundane and unnoticed as dispensing tape. It is a striking shape, and you have successfully manipulated the predefined geometry of the geodesic form.

Jock at: October 5, 2010 at 11:20 AM said...

I really like the multiple uses of this product as it shows you really thought about what you could do to make this a product that people would really see a need for. The fact that it can be closed up and left to stand alone on a desk means that this object can serve as an ornamental piece as well as being useful. I could also see this product as something that could be used by a group of people at the same time, being tossed from one to another as they needed it. Well done.

jock

ImaTiger (chia-jung jennifer ku) at: December 16, 2010 at 2:58 AM said...

hi sarita =D
i love your multipurpose tape dispenser and i think it will look great on a desk as it also performs like a sculpture.
i think its great that you took a simple geometrical shape and somehow make it look amazing with a purpose.
good job!

Post a Comment