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Industrial Design

When you spend most of your time imagining and tinkering to make products and experiences better, it becomes second nature. We couldn’t turn it off if we wanted to, so sometimes we just lean into it. &nbsp; &nbsp; Last week, the strategists, designers, and engineers at Delve got together and nominated 15 products that could use a redesign. From frustrating design near-misses to full-blown dumpster fires, here are our picks, plus some unsolicited advice on the design tweaks that need to happen.&nbsp;
And hey, if any manufacturers out there need help making these redesigns happen—call us, we’re here for you. <a href="https://www.delve.com/services">See our service offerings</a>.

Which product redesign 1 apple mouse

<h2>The Apple Magic Mouse</h2>
Sometimes even Apple makes design choices that have us scratching our heads. Like when they slapped the 
charging port on the bottom of the Magic Mouse back in 2015, rendering it unusable while charging. We’ve seen the <a href="https://www.sohrabosati.com/blog/the-apple-magic-mouse-design-is-intentional-and-brilliant/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">speculation</a> that this apparent error is intentional, aimed at transforming the user’s relationship with the device. But whatever the rationale, we’re not convinced it outweighs the loss in functionality for the user. Time to rethink this call. 

Nominated by Chris True, Principal Interaction Designer

Which product redesign 2 toothpaste

<h2>Toothpaste Tubes </h2>
 Since the first collapsible toothpaste tube was designed in 1892, consumers have struggled to squeeze that last bit of toothpaste out of the tube. Worse, toothpaste tubes are typically made of both aluminum and plastic. While recyclable on their own, in combination these materials are difficult to recycle. 

There’s hope on the horizon. Colgate released a low-waste <a href="https://www.core77.com/posts/108971/Toothpaste-Tube-Design-Improvements-Get-the-Last-Drop-Improve-Recyclability" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new design</a> in 2021 that uses a friction-free coating inside the tube to ensure that every drop of toothpaste slides out easily.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Even better, both <a href="https://www.unilever.com/news/press-and-media/press-releases/2021/unilever-to-introduce-recyclable-toothpaste-tubes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Unilever</a> and <a href="https://www.colgatepalmolive.com/en-us/who-we-are/stories/recyclable-toothpaste-tube-recycle-me-packaging-us" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colgate</a> have now designed recyclable toothpaste tubes made from High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), the same plastic used for milk bottles. Colgate is sharing their technology with competitors to encourage an industry-wide transition to recyclable tubes. 


~ Nominated by Lisa Johnson, HR Recruiter

Which product redesign 3 toothbrush

<h2>Toothbrushes</h2>
While we’re on the subject of dental hygiene, there’s always room for a better toothbrush design. What if manual toothbrushes had replaceable heads, and the handles were made with durable non-plastic materials, to reduce waste? What if toothbrush heads were shaped with three sides instead of one, so that you could clean all surfaces of your teeth at once? 
~ Nominated by Ava Black, Mechanical Engineering Co-op

Which product redesign 4 shark vacuum

<h2>The Shark Cordless Mini-Vacuum </h2>
Sometimes, the difference between a design win and a near-miss is a single detail. The popular Shark mini-vacuum delivers powerful performance in compact, portable form. It deserves its generally positive reviews. We do have one nit to pick with the Shark’s designers, however. 
Why put a screw of contrasting color and similar size to the power port right near the power port? This just about guarantees that users will try to plug the power cord into the screw hole before they realize they’ve got it wrong.
 This one is an easy fix and worth getting right in the next round. 
Related: We once&nbsp;took apart a Roomba. Read&nbsp;"<a href="https://www.delve.com/insights/why-is-the-roomba-so-expensive-why-are-the-knock-offs-so-cheap">Why is the Roomba so expensive? Why are the knock-offs so cheap?</a>"
~ Nominated by Sharon West, Manager, Mechanical Engineering

Which product redesign 5 GPS

<h2>GPS</h2>
Your GPS instructs you to stay in the left lane. Then, moments before you arrive at an exit, it tells you to make a right—a move impossible to execute since your exit lane is now a full three lanes of heavy traffic to your right. Why are buggy navigation apps still a thing in 2023? Distance to exit should always pinpoint accurate. Route recommendations should always account for traffic congestion, accidents, and streets under construction. And, spoken directions should always account for a vehicle’s driving speed and distance from the marker in question. 

Stressed-out commuters deserve better performance from map apps. Let’s work on this. 

~ Nominated by Nidia Robles, Payroll Tax Specialist

Which product redesign 7 electric car battery

<h2>Batteries for Electric Cars</h2>
The good news: Electric car emissions are 60-68% lower than emissions from gasoline-powered cars. The bad news: electric car batteries are far from perfect. Manufacturing them is <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2022/09/08/electric-vehicle-battery-production-may-lead-to-coal-countrys-return/?sh=7662ddfe6cb0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">environmentally costly</a>, charging them can be <a href="https://www.slashgear.com/824186/the-15-most-fuel-efficient-cars-you-can-buy-in-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">problematic</a>, materials to produce them are <a href="https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/electric-vehicle-users-should-demand-ethical-sourcing-of-battery-materials-says-industry-analyst/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">not always ethically sourced</a>, and recycling them is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/21/business/energy-environment/battery-recycling-electric-vehicles.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nearly impossible.</a> Electric vehicles are the future, but we need to solve the battery problem. Let’s make sustainable, ethically sourced, and recyclable batteries for electric cars a reality sooner rather than later.
~ Nominated by Cole Bardin, Electrical Engineering Co-op

Which product redesign 8 restroom stall

<h2>The Gap in Restroom Stall Doors </h2>
We've heard this ubiquitous door gap was deliberately designed to discourage illegal or unsafe activities in public restrooms. There has to be a better way. 

~ Nominated by Simon Hersey, Systems Administrator

Which product redesign 9 smoke detector

<h2>Smoke detectors </h2>
Easily the most obnoxious yet essential household device. Smoke detectors punish every smoky kitchen mishap with banshee shrieking that we’re not allowed to turn off. Then there’s that relentless “low battery” beep. Not everyone can immediately drop whatever they’re doing to replace a smoke detector battery. Why torture us instead of providing a remote “snooze” function? 

Plus sometimes they malfunction. Imagine all your interconnected smoke detectors going off at once, at full alarm volume, at 3 am—because of a single low battery.
A light sensor and timer could address this last issue. A detector should never go into alarm mode for a low battery unless it has seen light (daylight or otherwise) continuously for an hour. It could override if it hasn't seen light for a couple of days, such as in a closed room. 
As for the original issue, all smoke detectors should have a remote silencing or snooze button. For interconnected smoke detector systems, the remote could allow the user to silence rest of the fleet so that the initiator of the alarm is standing alone for identification. Press the button again and that detector could be silenced as well. Remotes could also be used to initiate tests.

Which product redesign 10 plumbing

<h2>Plumbing </h2>
Plumbing as a whole, from pipes to fixtures, is awful. It’s inaccessible, needlessly complex, prone to breakage, difficult to fix, and wasteful. We dream of a general Renaissance in plumbing systems. 
The Internet of Things offers a few helpful (if piecemeal) solutions: a <a href="https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-a-smart-toilet-4628135" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">smart toilet</a> that conserves water; pipes that detect and <a href="http://21stcircuitry.com/the-revolutionary-brain-pipes-technology-for-plumbing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a> their own leaks; and <a href="https://www.saftbatteries.com/energizing-iot/smart-water-management-5-innovative-solutions-water-scarcity-offered-iot" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">smart water meters</a> that enable consumers to monitor, control, and reduce their own consumption. 
~ Nominated by Rahul Kamath, Design Strategist

Which product redesign 11 ktichen appliance connector

<h2>Kitchen Appliance Connectors</h2>
One day, while outfitting his new kitchen, a Delve engineer attempted to connect the drain hose from the diswasher to the mating connection on the garbage disposal. He failed: the stock hose did not fit the connector on the disposal. 

The engineer did some research and discovered that dishwashers made by different manufacturers have the same connectors, and disposals made by different manufacturers have the same connectors—but none of the dishwasher and disposal connectors fit each other. 

No matter which appliances he chose for his new kitchen, he would need to buy an adapter. “It’s as if manufacturers and designers had no interest in creating an efficient and positive experience for the user.” 

Say it isn’t so, manufacturers. This one is a must-fix.

Which product redesign 12 i Phone

<h2>The iPhone</h2>
The groundbreaking Samsung Galaxy Fold released in 2019 wasn’t perfect, but its arrival meant foldable touchscreen phones were no longer a fantasy. Fast forward a few years, and foldable phones are now a legit trend, at least in the Android universe. Android users can choose between the <a href="https://www.samsung.com/levant/smartphones/galaxy-fold/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Samsung Galaxy Fold</a>, the <a href="https://www.androidpolice.com/oppo-find-n2-flip-first-international-foldable/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oppo Find N2,</a> and the <a href="https://www.hihonor.com/global/phones/honor-magic-v/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Honor Magic V</a>. A <a href="https://www.androidpolice.com/google-pixel-foldable/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">foldable Google Pixel</a> may launch later in 2023. 
iPhone users are still waiting. We get it: Unlike some of its competitors, Apple likes to perfect new product designs before release. So, when Apple finally releases a foldable iPhone, it probably won’t have the cracked screen or crease issues that plagued the first Samsung Galaxy Fold. 

Industry analysts predict we won’t see a foldable iPhone till 2024 or 2025. By then, folding Android phones will have had a healthy head start in the marketplace and plenty of time to iron out bugs. Apple better get their version right. 

~ Nominated by Jenny Westby, Senior Design Researcher

Which product redesign 13 electrical boxes

<h2>Electrical Boxes</h2>
Another beef we have is the design of electrical boxes for commercial and residential wiring. The exact issues vary depending on the style of box, but they all have problems that create a lot of extra work for a user just trying to connect wires to the outlet. For example, electrical boxes rarely anchor at the correct depth to match the wall surface. The box fasteners are usually redirected by wood grain, making the problem worse. Plastic and metal versions have a distinct problem gripping the wires as well.&nbsp; 
Electrical boxes need a redesign so that they quickly and consistently mount at the correct depth and angle despite framing misalignments and defects. While we’re at it, let’s make wire insertion and retention easier and more robust, and tweak the outlet design to prevent short circuits involving screws. 

~ Nominated by Jim Sack, Principal Mechanical Designer

Which product redesign 14 prosthetic limbs

<h2>Prosthetic Limbs</h2>
Approximately ten million people worldwide have lost a limb. They deserve prosthetics that look real and are comfortable and easy to adjust, so they can maintain a good fit throughout life’s changes: aging, weight gain or loss, muscle gain or loss, water retention, etc.  
2022 saw product advances in the right direction, with <a href="https://www.delve.com/insights/biggest-innovations-in-2022-that-influenced-product-design" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">one prosthetic hand that is touch-sensitive, and another that gets smarter over time</a>, but we still have a long way to go. 
~ Nominated by Allie Niemi, Payroll & Benefits Administrator

Which product redesign 15 seatbelts

<h2>Seatbelts</h2>
Women are <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-18/why-women-are-likelier-to-be-hurt-in-a-car-crash" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">73%</a> more likely to be injured in a car accidents. Meanwhile, most cars are still designed using car crash-test dummies based on the “average male.” Coincidence? We doubt it. 

Safety features such as seat belts and car seats need to be designed in a way that accounts for anatomical and physiological differences between the "average male” and people with smaller bodies, many of whom are women. Unfortunately, women still are largely <a href="https://www.minnpost.com/second-opinion/2019/07/women-more-likely-to-be-injured-in-front-end-car-crashes-study-finds/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">excluded</a> from safety data analysis. Some good news on this front: Volvo has 40+ years’ worth of real-world crash and injury data and is <a href="https://www.volvocars.com/intl/v/car-safety/eva-initiative-cars-equally-safe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sharing it publicly</a> with the goal of enabling all car manufacturers to make cars safer for everyone, not just the average male. 

~ Nominated by Jenn Knaus, Senior Project Manager

Best innovations 2022 hero

A coffee pod system without a plastic pod. Headphones that read your mind. A touch-sensitive prosthetic hand. Check out the biggest innovations to influence product design in 2022.

Which product redesign 16 healthcare

<h2>The US Healthcare System </h2>
The U.S. is a world leader in medical science and technology. Our medical centers provide some of the most advanced care in the world. But you don’t need a design degree or systems training to see that the U.S. healthcare system is broken. 
Too many Americans <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-our-healthcare-system-broken-202107132542" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lack affordable access</a> to healthcare and either go untreated or risk bankruptcy when they become ill. Even insured Americans <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/28/why-health-care-costs-are-rising-in-the-us-more-than-anywhere-else-.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pay dramatically more</a> per capita for healthcare than residents of other wealthy countries like Germany, the UK, and Japan. And still, Americans somehow <a href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2020/jan/us-health-care-global-perspective-2019?gclid=Cj0KCQjw7pKFBhDUARIsAFUoMDbVZBN2PrzOlYBZvEe8qGs1PvCiAAxHemHZb_FjjCnAbSdQ0LSPChYaAmLYEALw_wcB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">have worse health outcomes overall</a>. Fact is, we don't have a functional system for healthcare in the US. We have a clash of competing forces in which different stakeholders (patients, employers, healthcare providers, and insurers) distrust one another and compete in a zero-sum game. Result: A healthcare system that is unnecessarily complicated and expensive, and does not incentivize wellness. It’s time to take a systems approach to reimagining U.S. healthcare. 
~ Nominated by Aaron Parkov, Senior Director, Mechanical Engineering

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