The Problem The Problem
Effective and Efficient School Supplies Organization
• Students today are expected to manage hundreds of papers and supplies for school
• However, they often struggle to effectively and efficiently organize these materials with the current products on the market
• Organizational supplies such as binders available prove inadequate
of students . find managing 55% /carrying their school supplies moderately or very difficult (out of 31 BSM Students)
• Students use a variety of different supplies to organize school materials
• Often students have to carry multiple different items at once to meet all of their storage and organizational needs
• This causes added stress and difficulty throughout the school day, especially when materials fall
• Binders are the most common material used to organize and hold materials
Binders Binders
• Basic 3-ring binders provide minimal storage
• Plastic side pockets are small, often flimsy, and easily broken
• Papers also sometimes fall out of binders due to the lack of anything golding them in from the top
• Binder rings often pop open on their own or don’t properly close, causing papers to fall out and become disorganized
have their binder side folders tear or break 80% have their binder rings pop open on their own every few weeks or every week 45% have their papers fall out of their binder every few weeks or every week 36%
use an accordian binder 26% use a fabric binder 21% use a 3-ring binder 58%
• Accordion binders are also minimal, as they only provide paper storage and cannot be used to write in
• Most binders ultimately tend to be inadequate, requiring students to carry additional supplies, notebooks, and books separately
• Fabric binders do provide more storage but are often clunky to unzip and take up excessive space
How might we... How might we...
effectively and efficiently store and organize all of students’ school supplies with one product?
The Journey The Journey
General Ideas General Ideas
Main Sketch:
Additional Tic-Tac-Toe Board Highlights
Overall Key Element Ideas:
• expandable book & notebook folder
• covers over rings
• handles/portability
• straps to hold things in place
• pencil space
Steps
Ideas Ideas
1st Prototype 1st Prototype
Securing Rings Securing Rings
1. Tried to rethink ring mechanism completely
- Realized it would’ve required too much engineering for the scope of this project
2. Thought of screw-on covers (like on carabiners)
- Ended up being too big for the rings
3. Tried using hot-glue to make moveable covers
- Also were too big and papers wouldn’t fit
4. Made similar covers with ducktape
- too much friction
5. Made same covers with smooth tape under ducktape
- made longer to fully prevent rings opening
- finally worked properly
Expandable Notebook Folder Expandable Notebook Folder
3. Final Prototype
- hinge made of a bend giant paperclip in cardboard - on the left side instead to not interfere with papers
- added elastic on top to secure supplies
- added side velcro to prevent supplies from falling into the rest of the binder
Additional Features Additional Features
1. Removed Top Cover Strap
- too bulky
- made obsolete by other features
final:
3. Re-enforced + Expanded Left Side Pocket
- allowed more space for papers without having to worry about the folder breaking
2. Added Center Pocket
- provided simple place to hold some pens & pencils or even a ruler
4. Added Elastic Straps
- secured papers and additional supplies from falling out
- made it possible to hold calculator too
- back strap is attached with buttons and completely removable
Logo Logo The NeoBinde
Final Product Final Product
Features:
Corner Elastic
- secures notebooks & additional supplies from falling out
- allows for calculator storage
Expandable
Notebook Folder
- provides additional storage for notebooks & books of many sized that otherwise would have to be carried serperately
Expandable Velcro
- prevents supplies in expandable from falling into the rest of the binder
Center Pocket
- provides simple place to hold some pens & pencils or even a ruler
Ring Covers
- prevent binder rings from opening unintentionally and causing papers to fall out or become disorganized
Handles
- allow for simple and efficient transportation with only one hand
Re-enforced Back Folder
- allows more space for papers without having to worry about the folder breaking
Detachable Back Elastic
- secures papers to prevent them from becoming disorganized or falling out
- buttons on back allow for partial or total detachment
Marketing Marketing
Target Market
- Middle School, High School, & Colledge Students
- anyone else that uses binders for work unique features Found in - Walmart & Target
- Michaels & Hobby Lobby
- other stores where binders are found Colors
1. Social Media
- most students are on social media - Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok, etc.
- ads - sponsorships
2. Billboards
- showing off the NeoBinder’s unique features
- located near stores where it would be purchasedsuch as Staples, Target, & Walmart
3. TV - adverts demonstrating the functionality of the NeoBinder’s unique features
4. Shark Tank
- during developing stages, could go on Shark Tank to get investment as well as promotion for the product
Next Steps Next Steps
1. Design Sleeker Ring Covers
- possibly 3D printed or some kind of thinner, plastic sover, would allow papers to move with more ease and not get stuck
2. Fabric Handles
- would be more confortable to hold and durable
3. More Durable Materials
- more durable replacements for duct tape pockets, cardboard folders, and paperclip hinge
4. Branding on Product
- NeoBinder Logo Sticker on Spine or in some corner
5. Assembly Line Production
- mass production of NeoBinders in a factory to maximize profit - eventually get NeoBinders in retail stores