The wooden floor fan TRÄ

Concept created by Isabelle Kjellström. A collaborative research and evaluation study conducted by Isabelle Kjellström, Alexandra Rosén, Lucas Tengvall & Bin Gao.

In this project, four M.Sc. Industrial Design Engineering students at Chalmers University of Technology individually developed their own fan concepts aimed for use in a household. During the design process, each designer worked with their own visions in mind. The aim of this study was to explore how a fan can be developed by working with form syntax theories. Further, the aim was to analyze if the designer's vision matches the target group’s perceived image of each concept.

For a Concept overview and a list of the Methods, tools & PC programs used, please scroll down.

Concept overview

When entering the design process, the chosen vision statement was to

“Offer a product that provides soothness, space and silence to an active mind”

With the target audience in mind, Scandinavian millennials in their 30’s, the product was especially targeted towards those living in urban areas who value simplicity in an otherwise busy and potentially stressful environment. Since the product was aimed towards the Scandinavian market, an analysis of the Scandinavian interior trends was performed. This showed that Scandinavian interior style trends tend to go towards minimalism, natural materials, muted colors, and a lot of light filling the space.  This style acted as a source of inspiration. 

In order to spark creativity, a number of keywords were used in the design process: simplicity, harmony, silence, timelessness, and nature. The product would also express exclusivity signalizing good quality craftsmanship but still remain anonymous in the room. In other words, the product would stay silent and calm without screaming for attention. It would also aim for being sustainable and timeless by the use of natural materials and a simplistic design.

With the vision in mind, this led up to the final concept TRÄ, a floor fan made out of white stained oak.

Methods, tools & PC programs

This project was partly collaborative and partly individual. Each individual designed their own fan concept, while the market analysis and concept evaluation was performed together. The following methods, tools, and PC programs were used in this project:

• Market analysis

• Form grammar syntax studies

  • Aesthetics experience

  • Aesthetics properties

  • Design elements

  • Order & hierarchy

  • CRBP (Contrast, Rhythm, Balance, Proportions)

• Spatial features

  • Semantics

  • Ordering (topological & typological)

• Material studies

  • Literature studies

  • Granta EduPack (PC program)

• Concept visualization

  • Physical prototyping

  • Sketching and marker rendering

  • Autodesk Fusion (PC program)

• Concept evaluation

  • Repertory grid technique

  • Semantic scales

  • Perceptual mapping