Final Design Vision
Ideation
A product that retains its functional root while containing contradicting elements is an example of a design oxymoron.
Tripods are useful for supporting a camera, enabling the user to capture a range of moving imagery that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. But by replacing certain elements in the tripod’s components or user experience, how might a tripod open up possibilities for more dynamic imagery while supporting a camera?
Iteration
The exploration started with researching the history and context of tripods to derive the product’s functional root. Over time, the focus transitioned from exploring problem-solving ideas for a tripod’s stability to non-problem-solving ideas exploring how deviating from stability could produce novel and dynamic imagery.
Implementation
With the focus of the design oxymoron being a tripod without legs that captures a range of moving imagery in dynamic ways, I explored different mechanisms and eventually shortlisted the one-way retracting reel commonly found in measuring tapes as the main component in the product.
The final presentation video involved showing the evolution of the tripod and how it works, which included real-life footage of the functional prototype and an animated visualization of the aspirational design.
