Over the last four years, there has been a twofold rise in the documented cases of road rage-related gun deaths in the United States, and the disturbing pattern seems to be persisting, as per a gun violence registry. The incidence of fatal shootings related to road rage has increased by 100% within a year, with over 550 individuals being shot in such incidents across the U.S in 2022. This translates to an average of one person being fatally injured in a road rage incident every 16 hours. Notably, children bear a disproportionate brunt of gun violence.
The escalating reports of these tragedies demand our immediate attention and action. With a particular focus on protecting our children, I aim to utilize my design knowledge to take proactive measures to prevent further loss of innocent lives and to ensure the safety and well-being of our communities to prevent further tragedies.
Project Duration
2 Weeks
Tools
Midjourney
Adobe Suite
C4D
Rhino
Process
User Research & Synthesize
Ideation
Sketch
Design & Prototype
Designer
Vivien Kong
Sunny Huang
Project Overview
The objective of this project is to design a ballistic baby car seat that provides superior protection for infants and toddlers in the event of a shooting or other violent incident. The car seat should be designed to meet or exceed the highest safety standards while also being practical, comfortable, and easy to use for parents and caregivers.
Key Requirements
The car seat should (be)...
• constructed using ballistic materials to provide protection against bullets and other projectiles
• meet or exceed all applicable safety standards for car seats
• designed to be lightweight, easy to install, and easy to use for parents and caregivers
• suitable for use with infants and toddlers up to a certain age or weight limit, with adjustable features to accommodate growth and development
• compatible with a wide range of vehicles and should be easy to transfer between cars
• include additional safety features such as a five-point harness, side impact protection, and adjustable headrest and shoulder straps
Design Challenges
· Prioritize safety and protection without sacrificing comfort or practicality
· The use of durable and lightweight materials to reduce weight and improve portability
· The use of advanced materials and manufacturing techniques to achieve the desired level of ballistic protection while maintaining a reasonable price point
· The design should be modular and adaptable to accommodate changing safety requirements or emerging technologies
1. Research & Synthesize
To design a ballistic baby car seat that meets the highest safety standards while also being practical and easy to use, we conducted extensive research on the current market for car seats, safety standards and regulations, ballistic materials and technologies, and the needs and preferences of parents and caregivers.
Market Research
Our market research found that the demand for car seats has been steadily increasing in recent years, with safety and convenience being the top factors driving purchase decisions. The market is highly competitive, with a wide range of car seat brands and models available at varying price points.
Safety Standards and Regulations
We reviewed safety standards and regulations for car seats, including those established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). These standards cover everything from crash testing to labeling and instructions for use. We found that meeting or exceeding these standards would be critical to ensuring the safety and effectiveness of our product's design.
Ballistic Materials and Technologies
Needs and Preferences of Parents and Caregivers
To better understand the needs and preferences of parents and caregivers, we conducted surveys and focus groups with a diverse group of participants. We found that parents and caregivers prioritize safety and protection above all else when choosing a car seat, but also value comfort, ease of use, and portability.
Synthesis
Based on our research, we have identified several key design considerations for our ballistic baby car seat:
· exceed all applicable safety standards and regulations, including crash testing and labeling requirements
· be constructed using the most effective and practical ballistic materials and technologies to provide superior protection against bullets and other projectiles
· lightweight, easy to install, and easy to use for parents and caregivers, with adjustable features to accommodate growth and development
· compatible with a wide range of vehicles and should be easy to transfer between cars
· designed to be comfortable and practical for infants and toddlers, with features such as removable padding and washable covers
Overall, our research has helped us to identify the most critical factors that will guide the design of our ballistic baby car seat, and ensure that it meets the needs and preferences of parents and caregivers while also providing superior protection for infants and toddlers.
2. Ideation
User Stories
User stories allow me to build a common language and a mental model of what this project is. User stories help me empathize more with the target groups. With the user stories, I then started working on the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) by sorting the stories from highest to lowest priority to create fundamental values for users.
High Priority - Must Have
· Meet or exceed all applicable safety standards for car seats (including additional safety features such as a five-point harness, side impact protection, and adjustable headrest and shoulder straps)
· Constructed using ballistic materials to provide protection against bullets and other projectiles
Medium Priority - Nice to Have
· Lightweight: easy to install, and easy to use for parents and caregiver
· Convertible: suitable for use with infants and toddlers up to a certain age or weight limit, with adjustable features to accommodate growth and development
· Compatible with a wide range of vehicles and should be easy to transfer between cars
Low Priority - OK to Have
· Safety alarm to ensure security
· 360° Rotational
3. Sketches
I after conceptualizing and "communicating" with the most up-to-date generative artificial intelligence tool Midjourney, I generated design sketches to conduct the most suitable design for the car seat.
4. Design & Prototype
