DermaDose
The personalized skincare dispenser
Company/ Client
Advanced Product Development (ME292C) Prof. Ala Moradian
Role
Hardware Researcher R&D
Skills
3D Printing Product Assembly User Interviews
Tools
OnShape Silicone Molds
Duration
2024
Is there already a solution?
I researched our competitive landscape and narrowed the products into two categories. The first category included large volume liquid dispensers, like those used for soap. However, I found that these had a high cost per unit and a larger size, making them impractical for consumer use. The second category comprised small individual dispensers. These units were cost-effective and often clear, closely resembling the size of current skincare products, making them more suitable and appealing for personal skincare routines.
Outside of these two categories, I also discovered the Shiseido Optune, an IoT cosmetic dispenser. Initially, I was concerned it already addressed the niche we wanted to resolve with our product. However, further inspection revealed several issues: it was too expensive, too complicated, used proprietary products, and, most problematically, it wasn't available in the US market despite being invented over five years ago.
Who needs DermaDose?
To better understand the users, I speculated about their skincare habits and concerns based on literature reviews and preliminary interviews. These hypotheses helped generate interview questions, but I ensured they did not bias the insights by keeping questions open-ended and focusing on users' processes.
To gain a deeper understanding, I used personas to contextualize the research. By learning about their routines, ages, skin types, and interests in skincare, I gained valuable insights into their daily lives. For example, Skin Care Sally might find using 10 products time-consuming, so a solution that simplifies her routine would be beneficial, whereas Regular Raven might not prioritize skincare, requiring a different approach to provide value.
Insights from Interviews
User research, conducted through interviews and diary studies, revealed four key concerns that consumers have regarding a skincare dispensing product. The interviewees, aged 20-44, included both male and female-identifying individuals from various professions, such as students and finance professionals. They were chosen to represent a wide range of skincare users, as the product aims to simplify existing routines rather than convince non-users to start. The four key ideas expressed through the interviews were:
Routine Supportive: The product needs to store a variety of skincare products to simplify rigorous routines. Many interviewees highlighted the need for a product that supports their existing skincare habits.
Travel-friendly: The dispenser must compactly store various products for easier and more convenient travel. Users indicated that current packaging solutions are not compact enough, hindering their ability to maintain their routines while traveling or working.
Clutter-free: Users find that skincare products cause clutter in their bathrooms. They need a product that can hold a large quantity of skincare items and reduce clutter.
Eco-Friendly: Many interviewees expressed concerns about wasteful packaging. The solution needs to incorporate refillable cartridges and reduce plastic waste to address these environmental concerns.
Ideation - Clustering
Next, I generated concepts, focusing on creative and functional solutions that challenged the way we interact with skincare. I prioritized the design's complexity, cost, market potential, usability, and portability. After employing advanced brainstorming techniques such as biomimicry, competitive benchmarking, and analogous inspiration, I synthesized the ideas into five distinct clusters. These clusters were then evaluated using a Pugh matrix to determine which concept best met user needs. This structured approach ensured that the final design was both innovative and practical, addressing the key concerns identified in my user research.
Reverse Engineering
In the process of developing my skincare dispensing product, I employed reverse engineering to understand existing mechanisms better. I visited a local Walgreens to observe various beauty and skincare products and their dispensing methods. I noticed three main variants:
(a) twist-to-dispense
(b) squeeze-to-dispense
(c) click-to-dispense
The click to dispense mechanism was particularly appealing for this project application, as it is used for both liquid and solid products.
I took apart a "Flower Plump Up Gloss Stick" to study its click-to-dispense mechanism. I observed that this mechanism was guided by a threaded rectangular rod along which a collar with fins traveled. The fins on the collar interacted with fins on the casing, keeping the assembly axially aligned and holding a spring in place to produce the satisfying "click." This detailed understanding of the mechanism informed the design of my skincare product, ensuring it was both functional and user-friendly.
User Feedback Driven Design
With a click pump and multi-channel dispensing product in mind, I led the grip and casing design. For the casing, I researched grip designs across various industries, including umbrella handles, and canes, to determine the best solution for a countertop skincare product. To validate our design, I conducted user interviews and consulted a design specialist at Jacobs. The feedback revealed that while the interviewees held both models comfortably without instruction, they pointed out aspects I hadn't considered, such as the impracticality of the tool as an “everyday carry” item due to its length, adjustments for left/right-handed users, grip performance when exposed to water and slippery products, and cleanliness.
Ultimately, after a few prototypes, I settled on using a silicone shell with a slight taper. Silicone is soft to the touch, has a high coefficient of friction (high grip index), is easy to clean, and not absorbent to exposed to water and slippery products. These qualities made it the ideal material for our product, ensuring it met both user needs and practical design considerations.
