The Great Outdoors Project
During this project, we were tasked with creating an outdoor product to be tested by the class on a group camping trip. We began this design sprint by generating 200 concepts each to expand our imagination. My general focus during this sprint was improving the outdoor culinary experience, a growing market in recent years since the COVID-19 pandemic.
To begin this process, we had to complete 200 sketches in a single weekend to push the ideation phase to the limit. I focused mainly on improving the outdoor culinary experience.
After completing the 200 sketches, features from certain sketches were taken and combined into a final idea. This combined a raised platform for the firewood, a door to easily stoke the fire, and an integrated system to clean the wok.
A final concept was made by combining these sketches, but unfortunately, this was impossible to fabricate with the available facilities and materials.
As a result, the design was altered to a truncated pyramid. This allowed me to fabricate and test it within our in-house fabrication department.
FABRICATION
As a result, the design was altered to a truncated pyramid. This allowed me to fabricate and test it within our in-house fabrication department.
I made this model out of 18 gauge steel and, in the process, learned to cut plasma, use a grinder, and spot weld it to make this idea come to life.
The last step of the process was to coat the steel in a heat-resistant black semi-gloss coating to protect the metal from the heat of the fire.
OUTDOOR TESTING
As a class, we took a trip to Cheaha State Park in Alabama to test out each of our outdoor products. I had the opportunity to put my CampingWok to use to cook a hibachi dinner with fried rice and teriyaki chicken for my classmates right there at the campsite.
