Des Inv 15 Project - Improved Design of Earplugs for Hearing Protection
Phase 1: Ideation
Problem Statement:
Today there’s a social stigma surrounding hearing protection, especially at music festivals and sporting events. Young people, such as college students, are particularly at risk of hearing loss due to prolonged and overexposure to loud sounds. Our goal is to create a discreet and noise deadening ear plug that offers people the opportunity to comfortably enjoy loud atmospheres without risking permanent hearing loss. We’ve developed a market research plan that will guide the development of our product.
POG: How might we design earplugs for attendees of large events such as concerts and festivals who want to protect their hearing, while also remaining visually discrete?
In order to generate our POG statement we conducted a series of votes and discussed what aligned with our values. We found that many of the statements had similar qualities that we desired in the POG statement. We ended up at 12 after our first removal of different groups that we made. The next step we did to get to four was that we ranked the POGs that we each personally thought were interesting and feasible. Once we got to our final statement we received some feedback that it is too long and broad so we discussed as group to narrow down our statement. In the end we decided on a statement that described the audience and their needs.
We then used Figma to create a FigJam Board to help brainstorm ideas for our final POG. Initially, every team member wrote 5 POG statements ranging from broad to narrow ideas and target audiences. In order to minimize POGs, we began to group similarities based on everyone’s responses.
Some grouping similarity titles consisted of increasing awareness of hearing safety, sound quality, discrete designs, comfort, reusability, and decreasing the stigma of wearing earplugs at events. These groups were formed into circles and at the center of our diagram, we put what we valued most, which was protecting hearing and making them hidden and comfortable. It was hard to reject our other POGs since we all valued and cared for every aspect of hearing protection, but we had to see what we can actually complete throughout this course in a semester so we decided to focus on hearing protection and discreteness.
SET Factors:
The following our the social, economic and technological factors that we identified as we assessed available market data.
Social:
- Decreasing social stigma around the use of earplugs
- Increasing enjoyability amongst loud music events
Economic:
- Cost of producing earplugs
- Cost of medical procedures for ear/hearing damage
Technological:
Loud music is damaging to hearing
Current earplugs affect sound quality, some individuals may refuse to use the earplugs because of this.
Stakeholders:
Regarding the stakeholders, we have a stakeholder map ranging from high to low interest on the y-axis and high to low influence on the x-axis.
For low influence and low interest, we put people who are not audiophiles - these individuals are uninterested in clubbing, partying, or loud music. Because of this, they would not be interested in investing in our earplugs.
For low influence and high interest, we put current ear plug companies. These current ear plug companies make chunky and clunky earplugs already, which means that they are quite interested in earplug products in general. However, because they would not be interested in our products as a source of competition, they would have low influence.
For low influence and high interest, we put frequent ear plug users who are not ravers, clubbers, or concert-goers. This group includes construction workers or those who suffer from sleep disorders. The reason why these individuals are low influence is that they will not be affected by the stigma aspect - there is no stigma associated with construction workers wearing earplugs for their work responsibilities.
For high influence and high interest, we put individuals who are exposed to large audio frequencies. This group includes ravers, clubbers, and concert-lovers. They are affected by the stigma aspect - which is why our product must be visually discrete.
Phase 2: Researching
Phase 2 was where we divided into competitive analysis and user research.
User Research:
Here are some of the examples of responses we pulled from interviews.
Major takeaways are that users offered stylish alternatives to earplugs, such ear muffs. Some users don’t wear earplugs because they fall out of their ears and they “can’t hear the music”. We found that sound level is subjective and what is a loud environment to some may not be to others.
Users mentioned forgetting to bring earplugs and that they generally were not accessible. We also were able to understand which qualities we should pay attention to most because users typically valued comfort, utility, and then aesthetics, in that order. This later effected how we chose to prototype.
User Persona:
We created a user persona from our user research that encompassed the types of people who we were targetting to use as a base for our VOA chart and product requirements. Meet Sophie Jennings, an avid raver who aims to protect her hearing while being descreet doing so.
Competitors & VOA:
Main competitors included foam earplugs, invisible earplugs, and shoot ear protection earmuffs. Their corresponding VOA charts are shown below.
From here, we created our target VOA chart for our competitor and user reaserch. Aesthetic and quality were rated very highly due to those being mentioned the most frequently during our ideation. Additionally, under social context impact is rated high due to the motion to destigmatize ear protection. Emotions such as security and confidence are rated high as they allow the users not feel judged in party, rave, or club environments for wearing earplugs. Identity of the earplugs is rated high to make the user feel like the earplugs belong in loud environments while not clashing with the users’ clothing or appearance. Core Tech is very high in reliability since we want users to be able to reuse the earplugs while enabling sound quality. Ergonomics also contains high ratings due to the need to prioritize users being comfortable while wearing earplugs and having a sense of safety. Below is our target VOA.
Product Requirements:
The final step within this phase was identifying key requirements for our product that were pulled from user research and competitor analysis. We needed to prioritize a human-centered design for this product. Therefore, we wanted to make our design catered to the user by being customizable, both in shape of the cuff and the size of the ear plug. We also decided it must be clear or skin-toned. It must be comfortable for the user and stable in an environment prone to sweat and movement. We prioritized aesthetics over the sound as we realized through our research that the solund quality is not why people don't use earplugs - it was the comfortability and aesthetic.
Phase 3: Concept Generation
Phase 3 is where we narrowed down our concepts from 50 to 2.
Concept Narrowing:
The process for generating concepts began with created 10 potential concepts each. We used the half sheets provided by the class to assist us in ideating multiple concepts individually to not have certain biases and conform with other team members' ideas. When returning to our process selection, we went around the circle where every team member was able to share their drawings, concept titles, description, features & attributes, and the design methods used if any. Our team had multiple overlapping concepts that showed the about important aspects that we can incorporate. After sharing our ideas, we created an Excel sheet to document all of our concepts and how we were going to begin filtering.
Following this, we revisited the Concept Cluster (shown below) where we found that most of our team members had similar ideas to highlight each of our unique features and attributes. We used this to enhance the ability to showcase our product requirements for the final selection of the product.
The Borda Count Voting diagram we conducted involved three concepts, and each member of our team voted for their top three picks. The highest-ranked concept was awarded three points, the second-highest received two points, and the third-highest was given one point. After tallying the results, we found that the sport mode earplug concept received the highest total score of 13 points, indicating that it was the most favored among us. The earplug with elastic string came in second place with a total of nine points, while the headphones were the least popular, receiving a total of eight points. This voting method provided us with an objective way to assess the concepts' popularity among us, allowing us to make an informed decision about which concept to choose for the final prototype.
We examined the types of concepts we created and looked at the sketches as well as the explanations to find similarities. From this point, we grouped all of our ideas and narrowed each category into 1 or 2 products that encompassed the category and summed up the design direction. This ended up being approximately 15 concepts. This process flowed similarly to how we narrowed down our POG statement, starting with clustering and then narrowing it down. Once we did this we chose the six different concepts that demonstrated the different attributes and product requirements to tackle the problem: Sport mode earplug/cuff, Mold earplug, Lightweight earmuffs, Earbud goggles, Cartilage piercing/jewelry earplug, Imitation ear piercing/earring, and Clip-on earplugs.
From this point we had a discussion about the feasibility of our prototypes and we discussed which ones were the ones we thought were best representative of our user research. For example, we chose the sport mode earplug/cuff because it provides the stability that users were looking for and also the customizability that users described would be beneficial. We also modified the clip-on earplugs to become an elastic band attached to the earplug itself and wrapped around the ear with an adjustable bead to also provide the stability and size customizability that users wanted.
Prototyping Activities:
Our two prototypes are represented by the drawings below, showing the sport mode earplug and the earplug with elastic. In our prototyping canvas discussion for the sport mode earplug, we proposed different materials the wraparound adjustable cuff could be made out of, including moldable clay or rubber coated wire. Our prototyping approaches include experience prototyping, role playing, and repurposing existing products as we are planning on testing out the earplugs ourselves and attaching the cuff onto an existing pair of earplugs.
For our earplug with elastic prototype, we proposed that the entire earplug would be translucent and the elastic would serve as a cord with some kind of bead/clamp that would make the elastic adjustable for any ear size and secure the earplug to the ear. Our prototyping approaches include experience prototyping, role playing, and repurposing existing products as we are planning on testing out the earplugs ourselves and attaching the elastic onto an existing pair of earplugs.
Phase 4: Realize
Phase 4 was where we brought our final selected concept to life!
Testing Plan:
Our final product concept is the sports-mode earplug (an earplug with a cuff). Our prototype design will feature an earplug with multiple size tips to ensure different ranges of comfortability and fitting. The description of “sports mode” refers to the wrap around cuff of the earplug which will ensure that it will not fall off the users’ ears after undergoing long lengths of strenuous and high-energy physical activity. Regarding color, the earplugs will be clear. This transparency enables a camouflaging of the earplug.
To test our this prototype, we have decided to create a simulation where users would be exposed to loud environments. One of our main settings includes an indoor simulation room with all windows closed and 2 loudspeakers. Another simulation setting for user testing involves outdoor venues where speakers are blasting loud music and noise. We want to demonstrate how users can use our prototype in any setting by still having fun and decreasing the stigma of wearing earplugs to promote hearing safety.
Along with this environment, we will be reaching out to frequent party goers and those who host events. Specifically, we tested the earplugs at Sigma Pi Fraternity at one of their parties. We asked people at the event what they think about the problem and solution to write down observations. We also conducted a simulation in the same location but outdoors and while dancing/moving around to test stability. Because of the nature of the events it was crowded and hot, making it a perfect environment to test the stability and durability of the product.
Making our Prototype:
For our final prototype, we ended up making both a 3D model in SolidWorks as well as a physical prototype.
Grace is currently taking a 3D modelling and design class (Engin 26) so she worked on creating our earplugs with CAD. Below is a picture of the final prototype result.
The 3D model prototype created is a transparent set of earplugs designed for both hearing protection and aesthetic purposes. The design is likely to be visually appealing due to its transparent nature, and it is expected to effectively reduce noise levels for the wearer. For the material, we chose plastic because plastic can be rigid enough to ensure durability but easy to clean and light to wear. The overall volume for both was just 3.94 in^3 (which ensured ease of wear).
Grace experimented with different colors for the earplugs before settling on transparency. The black earplug ensured a professional look, the green (any bright color) could be used as a fashion accessory especially in a creative fashion space of a festival, and the skin-tone color ensured camouflaging with the user's skin tone.
Grace also experimented with different materials for the earplug. The materials from left to right are ABS Plastic, Nylon (Plastic), and Polyurethane (Rubber).
We realized that rubber can be a bad choice for earplugs used at raves and festivals because it can cause discomfort, irritation, and even allergic reactions in some people. Rubber is also not as comfortable to wear for long periods of time, especially in hot and humid environments. Additionally, rubber can be difficult to clean and can harbor bacteria if not properly cared for, which can lead to ear infections. Therefore, many manufacturers of earplugs for music events use alternative materials such as silicone or foam, which are more comfortable, easier to clean, and less likely to cause irritation or allergic reactions.
Ultimately, we went with plastic. Plastic can be a good choice for earplugs used at raves and festivals because it is lightweight, durable, and can be easily molded into various shapes and sizes to fit different ear canals. It can also be made to be hypoallergenic, which is important for people with sensitive skin. Additionally, plastic earplugs can be designed to have specific features, such as filters or multiple flanges, to improve noise reduction and comfort. Finally, plastic is a relatively inexpensive material, which can help keep the cost of earplugs affordable for consumers.
Meanwhile, Jeankarlo focused on making the physical prototype. Using pipe cleaners and foam earplugs from the Jacobs machine shop downstairs, he fashioned a pair of earplugs for us.
Logo:
Rhyu was the designer of our team's logo: Aud-Protec (shown below). It was designed using Adobe Illustrator. They added a background to showcase audio levels to highlight the purpose of our design. The "D" is designed to resemble our product. Additionally, they created our tag-line "Ear plugs for stylish, comfortable hearing protection suitable for live events and festivals".
Summary:
Our team's design innovation project was successful - we successfully created a prototype of an earplug for use at raves and festivals (one physical and one through 3D modelling software SolidWorks). We learned about various design methodologies, such as 77 principles, attribute listing, and SCAMPER, and applied them to our project. We also learned about important concepts such as POG (product opportunity gap), stakeholders, VOAs (Voice of the Customer), and more.
Through user interviews and testing, we identified the need for a more secure earplug that wouldn't fall out during physical activity. We explored different materials for the earplug, ultimately deciding on plastic as the best option.
We also experimented with different colors and aesthetics, including clear and skin-tone options. To test our prototype, you created simulations of loud environments and tested the earplugs at a fraternity party.
However, there are some limitations to our project. First of all, we did not have enough time to 3D print out our CAD model - this could potentially be the next step in the project. Additionally, still need to test this product (once brought to life) in a rave or concert setting to determine whether it works maintaining sound quality but reducing the noise level.
Overall, we all gained valuable experience in the design innovation process and successfully created a product that addresses a specific user need.
