FlexHammock
a new way to be out of office
Stress is a fact of professional life, but extreme and unrelenting pressures can lead to the debilitating state we call burnout.
Being Burnt Out
What is Toxic Productivity?
During COVID-19 and the rise of remote working, the lines between home life and work/study became significantly more blurred.
Even as people return to the office or places of study, a potentially unhealthy need to be constantly productive and to ‘go the extra mile’, has become something of its own
epidemic.
Sometimes the most productive results don’t come from effectively managing a list of tasks – productivity is more concerned with the outcome.
The need to constantly be seen as busy only masks stress and anxiety. This can eventually lead to burnout.
What is Monotonous Work?
For some people, working from home is an ideal situation that allows them to thrive professionally while having more time to maintain a healthy personal life.
However, without the variety that a daily commute and in-person interactions with colleagues provide, remote work can start to feel monotonous.
When working remotely begins to negatively impact your mindset, it can also hinder your ability to innovate, make sound decisions and feel satisfied in your job.
Scientists have found that monotonous work can negatively impact mental health, cause major stress, and lead to burnout.
What are ways to improve workplace well-being to prevent the potential for burnout and increase productivity, engagement, and rentention?
Finding a balance
Mental Recharge
Labyrinths are used world-wide as a way to quiet the mind, calm anxieties, recover
balance in life, enhance creativity and
encourage meditation, insight,
self-reflection and stress reduction.
The practice of labyrinth walking integrates the body with the mind and spirit.
Inspired by labyrinths, my intentions for this project are to incorporate an activity to my product that promotes scheduling time for a mental recharge in your calendar.
Fresh Air and Sunlight
Changing Environments
New research from an interdisciplinary
Cornell team has found that:
It takes as few as 10 minutes in a natural
setting to feel happier and lessen the effects of stress both physically and mentally.
Being in a new space disrupts
monotony and allows workers to try
something new, meet new people, see new things, thus stimulating creativity inside them.
Design Goals
Lightweight
Compactible
UV Protection
Comfortable
Convenient
Sketch Phase: Ideation
Table Supported
A laptop case designed for outdoor working.
Self Supported
A desk that unpacks to provide an elevated workstation.
Tree Supported
A workstation that uses a tree as a foundation in the set up process.
For my ideation, I divided my concepts based on areas and means people work outdoors.
Sketch Phase: Ideation Refinement
Concept 1
A desk that straps to a tree.
Concept 2
A portable desk solution attached to a laptop protective case.
Concept 3
A hammock inspired desk solution.
Concept 3 Refinement
Concept 3a
- Desk focused -
Lightweight metal frame that collapses for travel
Concept 3b
- Seating focused -
Lightweight, solely fabric
Concept 3c
- Desk and seating -
Metal framed chair that collapses for storage
Concept 3b
- Seating focused -
Lightweight, solely fabric
Feedback
In a randomized survey, I asked about product purpose, location,
laptop usability, set up duration, and transportability.
- Survey Findings -
- Key Insights -
Final Concept
Project Pivot
My final design does not incorporate a desk.
I found in my research phase that surveyors communicated they weren’t interested in moving their desks with this product out of concern for productivity.
However, they were interested in something comfortable to enjoy the part of the day that is available to them.
Value Proposition
A low-cost, lightweight, packable hammock chair for the modern workforce who want a comfortable place to sit outdoors by suspending the user on three points of tension and utilizing only one tree unlike existing hammock products on market.
Why a Hammock?
The properties of hammocks match my design goals set based on my interviews.
Lightweight
Compactible
UV Protection
Comfortable
Convenient
Benchmarking
Stadium Swing Chair
$73.55
SET UP TIME: SHORT
MASS: LARGE
DESIGNED WITHOUT TREE
Branch Chair
$33.20
SET UP TIME: LONG
MASS: LARGE
INSTILLATION REQUIRED
Collapsible Seat
$94.99
SET UP TIME: SHORT
MASS: SMALL
DESIGNED WITHOUT TREE
Market Analysis
One Tree Needed
*OPPORTUNITY*
Short Set Up
Installation Required
Tree Unnecessary
Prototyping Research
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Ph.D Mathematics and Science Education
Physics Consultation
For this portion of the product, I was unsure how to progress into prototyping
confidently.
I reached out to known contacts that could help me understand the physics of this product better.
Candice *pictured on the left was kind enough to teach me about balancing forces and potential hardware solutions that could make this concept possible
Physics Notes
Normal Force
The normal force is the force that surfaces exert to prevent solid objects from passing through each other.
Angled Force
An angled force can be broken down to
horizontal and vertical components.
Net Force
The net force is the sum of forces acting on a particle or object.
In order to make this physically possible, I plan to design solutions to strengthen the points of connection at
T1 (Tree)
T2 and T3 (Ground Anchors)
Design Solution: T1
Fixed End
In order to prevent the tree strap from fall down the trunk, the strap must be placed on a fixed end.
This point will be holding majority of the weight of the user while T2 and T3 are
mainly balance the product.
Nylon Strap Support
In order to prevent the connect the fabric, the railings of this product are lined with a nylon strap that loops around the carabiner.
This keeps the seat from slipping down and connects the seat to the tree strap.
Design Solution: T2 & T3
Ground Anchor Design
To reinforce T2 and T3, I designed these stake to be screwed into the ground and share the weight of the user.
Dual handles allow the user to twist the anchor into the ground and connect carabiners through the hole at the head.
The stake’s screw portion is 9” long and must be screwed in fully to hold tension after the user’s weight is applied.
Design Solution: T2 & T3
*Functional prototype made of repurposed fabric from the
Set Up Time Research
After having select users try to set up and taking down this chair multiple times, I found that the set up time is between
2-3 minutes
Measurements
Front
Profile
Top
*Functional prototype measurements were altered to reflect human anthropometric measurements
78"
25"
22"
26"
10 - 12'
105°
0-5°
15"
14"
115"
26"
24"
35°
26"
22"
10"
Technical Design
Instructional
Construction
2 Ground Stakes
Stuff Sack
Out of Office Sticker
Instructional
