COFFEE MUG DESIGN FOR ONE-FINGER DISABLED INDIVIDUALS
Design Project #1:
Coffee Mug Design for One-Finger Disabled Individuals
Team #2:
Tristan D. Brosious
Katie L. Corridoni
Jessie M. Durso
Jacob P. Lapiana
Pennsylvania State University
1
COFFEE MUG DESIGN FOR ONE-FINGER DISABLED INDIVIDUALS
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Abstract
Currently, there is an extremely small market for coffee mugs that can accommodate the
needs of a one-finger disabled individual. As engineers, we hope to resolve this issue and design
a coffee mug to make the lives of these individuals more convenient. After compiling general
research about our task at hand, we began by compiling customer needs and ranking them using
the Analytical Hierarchy Process. From these customer needs, we began to create concepts that
we could possibly incorporate into our design. These concepts were combined into twenty-five
general designs, and were screened via concept screening. After obtaining our top ten concepts,
we used concept scoring to pick a concept combination that we would go on to prototype.
Overall, we believe that our design process was successful and that we obtained an optimal
product to fit these needs.
Key Words: Disability, Convenience, Daily Living, Market Expansion
COFFEE MUG DESIGN FOR ONE-FINGER DISABLED INDIVIDUALS
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Unfortunately, many who are disabled are unable to enjoy small conveniences in their
daily routine. Oftentimes, individuals who are one-finger disabled find that holding a beverage in
a coffee-mug can be difficult task. Everyone deserves to enjoy their coffee, and we as engineers
hope to work through this issue to provide disabled consumers with an optimal product. Our
mission throughout this project is to design a coffee mug that can accommodate the needs of a
one-finger disabled individual. Though our primary market encompasses those who are disabled,
many non-disabled individuals may find that our product is easier to use and fits nicely into their
daily lifestyles. At the beginning of the design process, we have a few main goals that we would
like to accomplish. We would like our mug to be able to hold hot and cold liquids, and will
provide comfort for the consumer using it.
We asked our friends to imagine that they were disabled and unable to properly hold a
typical coffee cup. We asked them about the most important attributes that their ideal coffee cup
would have. They agreed that the cup should be lightweight and easy to hold, perhaps with
padding to cushion their finger. One friend suggested that the cup should have some kind of a
lid, as spilling may occur when adjusting to using the product. They also suggested that the hot
liquid may be an issue, and there should be an insulation or heat barrier to keep the heat away
from the consumer. A fun selection of colors and designs were also suggested to make the coffee
cup be fun and eccentric like other coffee cups. When asked what they would pay for such a
product, our friends said $15-$20 because they have not seen a product like this on the market
before.
COFFEE MUG DESIGN FOR ONE-FINGER DISABLED INDIVIDUALS
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We began researching the market for this type of product. To our surprise, there is
currently not a large market for a product like this, perhaps not one at all. Many of the products
we found were designed for individuals with arthritis, or elderly individuals with limited
gripping ability. The "Hand-To-Hand Mug" was a lightweight, plastic mug that had a grooved
outer surface to aid in gripping (Coffee Mugs to Steady the Hand, 2015). We also found mugs
that had large handles to accommodate full palms on each side for stability, and some mugs even
had thumb rests (RehabMart, 2015). Although most of these mugs were made using plastic or
other lightweight materials, they retailed from $25-$40. Throughout our design process, we will
make it a goal to produce our mug with a durable materials that are still economical to the
consumer.
Our team analyzed our suggestions and our research findings and compiled a list of some
of the most important attributes for our product. We organized these attributes using the
Analytical Hierarchy Process, creating five first layer and a number of second layer attributes for
our product. Our five, first layer attributes were characteristics of utmost importance to
incorporate into our design process. These attributes were: Portable, User Friendly, Efficient,
Affordable, and Environmentally friendly. We complimented these attributes with numerous
second layer attributes.
When using the Analytical Hierarchy Process, we found that User Friendly was our most
prioritized first layer attribute, followed by Efficient and Affordable. Among the second layer
attributes, we found that Easy to hold, Reliable, and Low Production Cost were the most in our
design process. Using the A.H.P. helped us to identify which characteristics and consumer needs
COFFEE MUG DESIGN FOR ONE-FINGER DISABLED INDIVIDUALS
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were the most important in our design process. These top rated attributes would eventually help
us to create our design concepts for the mug. The full ranking process can be found on pages 5-7.
Summary: Attributes and Ranking Using the Analytical Hierarchy Process
1.
Portable(0.107735)
1.1 Lightweight (0.026622, 0.247104)
1.2 Durable (0.049916, 0.463322)
1.3 Compact (0.011231, 0.104247)
1.4 Versatile (0.019966, 0.185328)
2.
User Friendly (0.370195)
2.1 Adjustable (0.026567, 0.071766)
2.2 Comfortable (0.100225, 0.370195)
2.3 Easy to Hold (0.133633, 0.360980)
2.4 Customizable (0.028636, 0.077353)
2.5 Safe for Consumer (0.081134, 0.219166)
3.
Efficient (0.227812)
3.1 Insulated (0.044031, 0.193277)
3.2 Easy to Clean (0.028716, 0.126050)
3.3 Reliable (0.112059, 0.403361)
3.4 Sturdy (0.063175, 0.277311)
4.
Affordable (.208828)
4.1 Easy to Purchase (0.061420, 0.294118)
4.2 Low Production Cost (0.110556, 0.59412)
4.3 Low Consumer Cost (0.036852, 0.176471)
5.
Environmentally Friendly (0.08543)
5.1 Safe Chemicals (0.034172, 0.400000)
5.2 Recyclable (0.017086, 0.200000)
5.3 Manufactured with a small Carbon Footprint (0.034172, 0.400000)
Table 1: Analytical Hierarchy Process for First Layer Attributes
First Layer
Portable
User Friendly
Efficient
Affordable
Environmentally
Friendly
Total
Environmentally
Portable User Friendly Efficient
Affordable
Friendly
Total
1
0.20
0.25
0.33
2.00
3.78
5
1
2
3.00
2
13.00
4.00
0.50
1
0.5
2
8.00
3.00
0.33
1.00
1
2.00
7.33
0.5
0.50
0.50
0.50
1
3.00
35.12
Weight
0.107735
0.370195
0.227812
0.208828
0.08543
COFFEE MUG DESIGN FOR ONE-FINGER DISABLED INDIVIDUALS
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Table 2: AHP. for Second Layer Attributes under "Portable"
Second Layer Lightweight Durable
Compact Versatile Total
Weight
-1
Lightweight
1.00
0.33
2
2
5.33 0.247104
Durable
3
1
4
2
10 0.46332
Compact
0.50
0.25
1
0.5
2.25 0.104247
Versatile
0.5
0.5
2
1
4 0.185328
Total
21.58
Table 3: A.H.P. for Second Layer Attributes under "User Friendly"
Second Layer
-2
Adjustable
Comfortable
Easy to Hold
Customizable
Safe for
Consumer
Total
Adjustable Comfortable Easy to
Customizable Safe for
Total
Weight
Hold
Consumer
1
0.20
0.25
1
0.33 2.783333 0.071766
5
1
1
3
0.50
10.5 0.270735
4
1
1
6
2
14 0.36098
1
0.33
0.17
1
0.50
3 0.077353
3
2
0.50
2
1
8.5 0.219166
38.78333
Table 4: A.H.P. for Second Layer Attributes under "Efficient"
Second Layer - 3
Insulated
Easy to Clean
Reliable
Sturdy
Total
Insulated Easy to Clean Reliable
Sturdy
Total
1
2
0.33
0.50 3.833333333
0.50
1
0.50
0.5
2.5
3
2
1
2
8
2
2
0.50
1
5.5
19.83333333
Weight
0.193277
0.12605
0.403361
0.277311
Table 5: A.H.P for Second Layer Attributes under " Affordable"
Second Layer - 4
Easy to Purchase
Low Production
Cost
Low Consumer
Cost
Total
Easy to Purchase Low Production Cost Low Consumer Cost
Total
1
0.33
2
3
1
2
0.50
0.50
1
Weight
3.33 0.294117647
6 0.529411765
2
11.333
0.176470588
COFFEE MUG DESIGN FOR ONE-FINGER DISABLED INDIVIDUALS
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Table 6: A.H.P for Second Layer Attributes under "Environmentally Friendly"
Second Layer - 5
Safe Chemicals
Recyclable
Small Carbon Footprint
Total
Safe Chemicals Recyclable Small Carbon Footprint Total Weight
1
2
1
4
0.4
0.50
1
0.50
2
0.2
1
2
1
4
0.4
10
After identifying some of our most important customer needs, we began to create design
concepts for our future product. We worked with the attributes: Easy to Hold, Comfortable, and
Reliable, and brainstormed design ideas that would fulfill these customer needs.
Figure 1: Design Concepts
Our design concepts are outlined in Figure 1.
To make our product easy to hold, we had
ideas for a wider shape, two handles, a hand
cavity, and a finger/thumb rest. To make our
product comfortable, we had ideas to add
removable cushioning, round contouring,
lightweight materials, and a large cavity for
different hand sizes. To make our product
reliable, we had ideas to add a sliding lid,
insulating materials, a non-conductive outer material, and a capacity to hold at least 8 oz. of
fluid. After creating unique concepts, we used concept screening to identify our best concept
combinations for our design. All of our concept combinations can be found in Figure 2.
COFFEE MUG DESIGN FOR ONE-FINGER DISABLED INDIVIDUALS
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Figure 2: Concept Combinations
Figure 2 shows the twenty-five
concept combinations that were
obtained from the original design
concepts in Figure 1. We used
Concept Screening to narrow in
on our top ten design
combinations. We chose
"A1B1C1" (highlighted in red) as
our screening standard, a
combination that includes a wide
base, a cushioned handle, and
sliding lid. Our selection criteria
were our five first layer attributes. A summary of our concept screening process can be found on
page 9. Through our screening, we decided to keep the following 10 concepts, which were the
highest rated:










A4B3C4 - Finger Cavity, Lightweight Material, 8oz. Capacity
A2B2C2 - Two Handles, Round Cavity, Insulating Materials
A2B3C4 - Two Handles, Lightweight Material, 8oz. Capacity
A1B4C3 - Wide, Large Handle, Non-Conductive Materials
A3B2C4 - Hand Cavity, Round Cavity, 8oz. Capacity
A4B3C1 - Finger Cavity, Lightweight Material, Slide Lid
A2B1C4 - Two handles, Cushioning, 8oz. Capacity
A2B4C1 - Two Handles, Large Handle, Slide Lid
A4B2C3 - Finger Cavity, Round Cavity, Non-Conductive Materials
A1B3C2 - Wide, Lightweight Material, Insulating Materials
COFFEE MUG DESIGN FOR ONE-FINGER DISABLED INDIVIDUALS
Selection Criteria
Easy to Hold
Reliable
Low Production Cost
Comfortable
Durable
Sum +'s
A1B4C2
+
0
0
1
A2B1C3
+
+
0
0
2
Sum 0's
2
2
2
Sum -'s
2
1
Net Score
Rank
-1
6
1
4
Continue?
No
No
CA3B4C3 A4B3C4
+
0
+
0
+
+
+
0
2
3
9
A2B2C1
+
+
0
0
2
A3B3C3
+
0
0
1
A2B2C2
+
+
0
0
0
2
A1B1C1
0
0
0
0
0
0
A4B4C4
+
+
0
+
3
1
2
2
3
5
1
1
1
1
2
0
0
1
1
4
2
3
1
4
-1
6
2
3
0
5
2
3
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
A4B3C2
0
+
0
0
+
2
3
0
2
3
A2B3C4
+
+
0
+
0
3
2
0
3
2
A1B2C4
0
+
0
+
2
2
1
1
4
A1B4C3
+
0
+
0
+
3
2
0
3
2
A2B2C4
+
+
0
+
3
1
1
2
3
A3B2C4
0
+
0
0
+
2
3
0
2
3
A4B3C1
+
+
0
0
+
3
2
0
3
2
A2B1C4
+
+
0
0
2
2
1
1
4
A3B3C2
0
+
0
0
1
3
1
0
5
No
A4B1C4
+
+
0
0
2
2
1
1
4
No
Yes
A3B2C2
+
+
0
0
2
2
1
1
4
No
No
A2B1C4
+
+
0
0
+
3
2
0
3
2
Yes
Yes
A2B4C1
+
+
0
+
+
4
1
0
4
1
Yes
No
A4B2C3
0
+
0
0
+
2
3
0
2
3
Yes
Yes
A3B4C1
+
+
0
0
2
2
1
1
4
No
Yes
A1B3C2
+
+
+
+
4
0
1
3
2
Yes
No
No
COFFEE MUG DESIGN FOR ONE-FINGER DISABLED INDIVIDUALS
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After finding our top ten concept combinations, we chose A4B4C4 (highlighted in green) as our
scoring standard. Through concept scoring, we were able to pinpoint our highest rated concept
combination that will be showcasing in our design. This scoring process is summarized below:
Selection Criteria
Easy to Hold
Reliable
Low Production Cost
Comfortable
Durable
Total Score
Rank
Continue?
Weight
30%
20%
10%
30%
10%
A1B4C3
Weighted Score
1.5
0.8
0.2
1.5
0.4
4.4
1
Yes
Highest Rated Concept
Rating
5
4
2
5
4
Rating
5
4
3
4
3
A2B4C1
Weighted Score
1.5
0.8
0.3
1.2
0.3
4.1
2
No
Rating
3
3
3
3
3
Rating
4
3
3
4
2
Rating
3
3
3
4
4
A4B3C4
Weighted Score
0.9
0.6
0.3
0.9
0.3
3
7
No
A3B2C4
Weighted Score
1.2
0.6
0.3
1.2
0.2
3.5
3
No
A4B2C3
Weighted Score
0.9
0.6
0.3
1.2
0.4
3.4
4
No
Rating
2
4
2
3
2
Rating
3
4
3
3
4
Rating
4
2
3
3
2
A2B2C2
Weighted Score
0.6
0.8
0.2
0.9
0.6
3.1
6
No
A4B3C1
Weighted Score
0.9
0.8
0.3
0.9
0.4
3.3
5
No
A1B3C2
Weighted Score
1.2
0.4
0.3
0.9
0.2
3
7
No
Rating
5
4
3
4
3
Rating
4
4
3
5
2
A2B3C4
Weighted Score
1.5
0.8
0.3
1.2
0.3
4.1
2
No
A2B1C4
Weighted Score
1.2
0.8
0.3
1.5
0.2
4.1
2
No
COFFEE MUG DESIGN FOR ONE-FINGER DISABLED INDIVIDUALS
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Through concept scoring, we had pinpointed our highest rated concept combination, A1B4C3.
This design incorporated a wide base, large handle, and non-conductive materials into the mug's
design. Nonetheless, we realized that we had to focus our efforts on designing a optimal handle
for our mug.
Our mug features a large, rounded cavity that is meant to accommodate a palm of any
size comfortably. The cavity's opening is larger at one end, and smaller at the other for a finger to
come out of (if necessary). This is to prevent the finger from supporting the weight of the mug
completely, leaving some of the weight on the consumer's palm. We also included a small thumb
rest for added support to the consumer if necessary. Oftentimes, thermos' made of stainless steel
are lightweight and generally non-conductive if insulated properly. Therefore, our mug will be
designed from stainless steel, which is on the market for $1,560 / ton ( $0.78 / pound) (Industrial
Metal Prices and Charts, 2015). This is a economically efficient for our product. The mug will
retail for $20, and ideally, we would sell our mug with removable cushioning for the handle. The
figures below show a general design of our mug , generated on SolidWorks.
Figures 3-7: SolidWorks Generated Coffee Mug Design
COFFEE MUG DESIGN FOR ONE-FINGER DISABLED INDIVIDUALS
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We found that prototyping our mug with clay was the hardest part of our design process.
Overall, we believe that our mug is ideal for a person with a one-finger disability. Our mug is
able to house 8oz. of fluid as we had hoped, and we fulfilled our concept combination of having
a wide base and a large handle. Analyzing the mug through the first layer attributes, our mug
relatively portable: it is lightweight and durable, versatile to accommodate differences in the
disability, and generally compact. Our mug is also user friendly, being comfortable, easy to hold,
and safe to the consumer. We could make our mug customizable by providing numerous color
and design options for the consumers. Though our mug is not necessarily adjustable, it is
versatile to allow the consumer to adjust their grip based on their disability. Our mug is also
efficient, being insulated, easy to clean, reliable, and sturdy. Priced at $20, our mug is affordable
to the consumer, and using stainless steel is also affordable to us as producers. When marketing
our product, we would be sure to offer our product both online and in stores to make sure that it
is easy to find and purchase. In terms of our environmental footprint, stainless steel is relatively
sustainable compared to other materials. It can be recycled, but does leave a small carbon
footprint when produced (Why is Stainless Sustainable?, 2015).
COFFEE MUG DESIGN FOR ONE-FINGER DISABLED INDIVIDUALS
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To make our product better in the future, we would be sure to incorporate a lid into our
design to prevent spilling and add to the mug's traveling capabilities. In addition, we would
design two handles that would allow our mug to be compatible with the left hand as well. For
additional comfort and stability, we could try to incorporate finger grooves, similar to the ones
exhibited on the arthritis-friendly mugs we had found after researching. Overall, we believe that
we have designed a successful product and fulfilled our goal outlined in the beginning of the
semester. We hope that the market for these kind of mugs will increase to make the lives easier
for those who are one-finger disabled.
COFFEE MUG DESIGN FOR ONE-FINGER DISABLED INDIVIDUALS
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Works Cited
Coffee Mugs to Steady the Hand. (2015, February & March). Retrieved from The Wright Stuff:
http://www.thewright-stuff.com/coffee-mugs-to-steady-the-hand-provide-gripping-ability/
Industrial Metal Prices and Charts. (2015, February & March). Retrieved from Quandl:
https://www.quandl.com/c/markets/industrial-metals
RehabMart. (2015, February & March). Retrieved from RehabMart:
http://www.rehabmart.com/category/Cups,_Mugs_and_Accessories.htm
Why is Stainless Sustainable? (2015, February & March). Retrieved from Sustainable Stainless:
http://www.sustainablestainless.org/why-stainless