GRID
Product Design / System Design
14 weeks
Fall 2019
The brief in the class is to search for a new solution for the Winsor & Newton Watercolor to expand their current market of art supplies. I took the approach of. bringing watercolor into planning and journaling people's daily lives.
Grid is an analog system to visualize your daily productivity and shorten the distance to your goal by utilizing a planner with watercolor highlighters for daily planning and journaling.
![Grid Web Template [Recovered]-01.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/78bbc0_ed35e20b8d64440fa01939d84e5ecd84~mv2_d_8000_4501_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_983,h_553,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/Grid%20Web%20Template%20%5BRecovered%5D-01.jpg)
“Writing and drawing on paper allows the brain to draw deeper connections and allows the information to be more easily remembered. ”
—— Pam A. Mueller of Princeton and Daniel M. Oppenheimer, University of California, Los Angeles
![Grid Web Template [Recovered]-05.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/78bbc0_79b44cb23986468e84bbcbb66539b9bd~mv2_d_8000_2355_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1046,h_308,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/Grid%20Web%20Template%20%5BRecovered%5D-05.jpg)
Tool Ideation
I explored multiple designs of tools that can both write and draw, are easy to carry and shift color easily.
Dual-tip pen for both drawing and writing
Brush highlighter allows users to adjust weight and transparency
Angled watercolor marker with 2 widths
Refillable bullet markerthat can attach to the main pen
I developed the system based on clear visualization and introduce the vellum layer for a coherent aesthetics and function of editing.
System Development
Using color to visualize the schedule
Markers and notebook system
Translucent layer for review and editing
Refinement
-Recovered.jpg)
Layout Development
![Grid Web Template [Recovered]-07.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/78bbc0_e6e30b0fb33a467a98703bf0c63b4e6f~mv2_d_8000_4501_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_981,h_552,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/Grid%20Web%20Template%20%5BRecovered%5D-07.jpg)
User Testing
Insights: She was adding extra tracing paper for an overall plan before she can plan to each day.
Design Refinement: A spread of vellum paper to each page
Insights: She was confused by the instructions on the paper and needed more help with setting up the journal.
Design: Design the app as a guide to use the notebook
Insights: The opacity of the paper affects reading legibility.
Design: I compared different types of vellum paper and find the one with the most optimal degree of translucency.
Final Layout
With its designed layout, Grid provides a clearer, more visualized system
with step-by-step instructions for setting up plans.
Grid comes with a writing pen, a bullet marker set and a notebook. The simple and compact system makes it easy to use and transport. The elastic strap on the back of the box can hold it to the book when carried.
The bullet highlighter can draw in 2 widths. A click-in mechanism on the pen allows for switching between different colors. Simply click to connect the writing pen with a bullet highlighter.
Each bullet highlighter is magnetically connected to the box, and the writing pen slides underneath the box.
Mobile App
![Grid Web Template [Recovered]-03.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/78bbc0_2e55a01fa8fb412a943fe31440bd1d17~mv2_d_8000_4501_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_963,h_542,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/Grid%20Web%20Template%20%5BRecovered%5D-03.jpg)
The Grid mobile app helps the user to set up plans based on their goals. It collects users' info into a database and generates a recommended schedule. Users can set up reminders, timers, and linked related apps. At the end of the day, it reminds people to write down their daily journal for future reflection.
Grid mobile app is an add-on experience to the notebook. Whether a user chooses to use it or not, they can still enjoy the experience of using Grid.