Design Project 1

Rationale

This redesign utility knife is a retractable blade knife with replaceable utility blade. In this redesign knife, I changed the normal shape which is straight and flat to a round solid shape. In this way, I tried to redesign a modern knife with comfortable handle and extreme appearance. Utility knife is a hand tool commonly used in workshops and construct conditions. People like professional workers and designers who always use knife for cutting cardboard or other packing materials could feel hurt after long time holding. Thus, I decide to design a shape of knife that can fit hand quite well and feel easier to handle and use. For the shape of this knife, there is a horn head than can form a triangle shape with the blade, and the top line follows the line of blade. Therefore, it is clear for users to know which the sharp side of the blade is. For the handle part of this knife, the shape is designed ergonomically. The curve follows the hand shape when holding it. The round tail is exactly filling the palm so that the users could feel pleasure holding it. Furthermore, the incurvature part in the middle allows users to put their thumbs or middle fingers on in order to use human mechanics reasonably. Refer to the appearance; it might be the most character factor in this design. The knife looks like a bird when the blade push out. The whole view of this knife might be glossy formation of smooth and evasive. However, there are four cut lines on the back surface. The combination of smooth and sharp makes it modern and special so that it can attract consumer and may be more pleasure for them to buy one. In addition, there is a blank space inside the knife for keeping extra blades. The replicable of blades and the way of store the blade would be another pleasure reason for this knife. Comparing this knife to the normal one, it is easier and more comfortable to handle and cut. And the particular appearance is more modern and fashion. Nowadays, consumers are not only satisfied with the function but also individuality. This new knife satisfies the need of modern designers or young people who require personal character and be differ from others. If this product put into market, it would be made of die-cast aluminum. It will be firm and light. And there could be series of metallic colors like silver, metallic green, purple and blue so that consumers could choose their preferred color and show their own characters.