La Cargosian

In our last unit of Design and Engineering, we studied the benefits of using a bicycle. It saves fare or gas money, whizzes past busy traffic, and does not create pollution. We used new Calculus skills to determine the measurements, velocity, acceleration, and distance covered by a bike. We also talked to a representative from Divvy, a bike company in Chicago that rents out bikes. It was awesome to see where the Divvy stations are placed in the city and how the design of their bikes is fit for the average commuter. I never used a Divvy bike before, but after hearing the benefits of using one, I may use one when the weather gets nicer.

For our Action Project, my partner and I designed a bicycle for a certain persona. There are many components when it comes to designing a bicycle. First, we had to research different bicycle designs to see what was out there. Then, we thought about the consumer and what needs they have on the go. After knowing what elements the bike will have, we built a prototype and worked until the final product came along.
I learned that inspiration to design comes from researching existing bikes, but not to let it stop me from expanding those ideas to greater ones.

I interviewed Brent, a teacher at my school. He rides his bike from home to school for ten miles a day. He said…

“It has aluminum frame, which transmits a lot of bumps to my body. So any bumps I go over, I feel more than other people with bikes do.”

This inspired my design because I do not want my user to feel bumps easily, especially since she will be traveling on a trail and the street a lot. I researched different materials for the bike frame so it will be the smoothest ride for Malia.

JMP, Bike Route, (2018)

Our user is Malia, a fifteen year old girl that lives in Logan Square. She goes to school, works at the library, and buys groceries often. She will use the elevated , hilly 606 bike trail and ride on a bike lane to get to her destinations. She will try her best to be careful riding along intersections with a lot of potholes and debris. She rides home in the dark because of her busy schedule. It will take her about 27 minutes to get to school on her route.

JMP, La Cargasion, (2018)

Our new bike design is called “The Cargasion”. Since she will be carrying her schoolbooks and groceries a lot, there is a built in cargo pack in the middle of the bike. The middle of the bike is just empty space on past bikes we have researched, so we wanted to put this space to good use. It is made of a wire net to hold the bags in place, and has a secure cover lock that wraps around, so no one tries to steal her belongings. The saddle is a women's specific saddle so it fits just right. There is a built in metal U-Lock, so she can easily lock the bike securely. It has a foam grip, drop handlebar for 2 sets of brakes and faster speeds since Malia will be leaning forward. The foam grip will keep her sweaty hands stable. The steering will be sensitive so Malia can maneuver on the street. It has 3 sets of gears, since she will be going on some hills. The bike frame is made of titanium, which is a very strong material. The saddle is made to last for comfortable long rides. Malia won’t need to dangerously swerve from potholes and debris, because the tires will be airless- meaning that they never go flat to keep a smooth ride.

I have done the research, measurements, and talked to real bike sellers to make sure I can make the best bike for my person. I made sure that these new implements on the bike make sense and benefit the rider's needs.

I am proud that I learned this designing technique and went hands-on to create what my imagination desired. Having empathy and really wanting the best for the consumer is important. I think that this project taught me some life skills, such as planning before acting, thinking outside the box, and connecting my passion of design to the real world.