Experience Enrichment Rationale

My design was aimed at the needs of young adults who have recently moved out of the family home. The design attempts to charm my target market by appealing to their sense of independence and the freedom felt from living away from their guardians. The products that they purchase are familiar and reassuring while providing an occurrence of ownership. These products should be identifiable and nurturing to the needs of the target market.

For many of these people the task of washing the dishes can be uncommon, I wanted to establish a series of emotional response towards this particular washing up brush. The form is similar to that of a toothbrush, an everyday item that has a specific motion associated with its use. This provides a familiarity of use and understanding of the product enhancing the psychological pleasures. This idea of a “giant toothbrush” makes the product fun and inviting through novelty of use a common psycho-pleasure.

This product is designed to be inviting to the target market, through both the aesthetics and function. The large bulbous handle, bright colours and curved detailing are aesthetic styles used for younger children, approximately 5 years old. This was intentionally achieved to recall memories of childhood games and roll plays. It is this association that removes the notion of a chore and replaces it with a fond memory or game. The form reflects a basic human form allowing the user to feel as if they are interacting with someone. These themes of play and socialising are very significant to the lifestyles of this target market, stimulating both psychological and physical pleasurable experiences.

This washing up brush is to be constructed from a heat responsive material. A combination of two polymers can be used and rearranged at a molecular level altering the light reflecting properties of the material. This means the product changes colour when exposed a shift in temperature as hot water submersion or the users hand. This feature while appearing a novelty is actually informing the user to the task they are doing. The colour change encourages the user to use hot water for sanitation purposes. Holding this product will leave a lingering handprint acknowledging the ownership the user has over this product; a strong socio-pleasure important to those who are newly independent. It would appear that this product cares for its owner, a nurturing quality that may have been lost since leaving home.

Although this design could appeal to a variety of market groups, it specifically addresses the needs of young people who have recently left home. The product is inviting to use, evoking strong emotional connections from the user resulting both psycho and physio pleasurable experiences. It is this emotional recognition with the product that makes it attractive and impressive to own. This washing up brush facilitates accomplishments in both ownership of products and the success of completing a domestic task. These ideological pleasures are seen as an exhibition point to peers by means of socio-plea