Easy-grip Zipper Ring
Design Journey
-
Initial Design: Metal Rings
The design journey began with metal rings as the initial zipper pulls. These metal rings were robust and durable, but they came with a set of drawbacks. Through product demonstrations and user feedback, several key issues were identified:
- Noise: The metal rings made a jingling sound, which could be quite bothersome, especially if the zipper pull was close to the ears.
- Temperature Sensitivity: Metal can become very hot or very cold, depending on the environment, making it uncomfortable to touch in extreme weather conditions.
Given these concerns, exploring alternative materials became necessary.
-
Exploration of Rubber Pull Tabs
The next consideration was rubber pull tabs, similar to those found on standard zippers. These had their own pros and cons:
- Pros: Rubber pull tabs were silent and unaffected by temperature changes, offering a more comfortable user experience.
- Cons: They were not rings, which made them difficult to grasp for people with limited mobility. The absence of a ring shape reduced their accessibility.
To address these issues, the goal was to create a hybrid zipper pull that combined the best features of both materials. The challenge was to maintain the durability and strength of metal while incorporating the comfort and accessibility of rubber.
Here’s how this was approached:
- Design: A rubber ring was designed to encase a metal inlay. This structure provided the necessary strength and durability while ensuring the zipper pull remained a ring for easy gripping.
- Material Testing: Rubber alone was not durable enough in a ring shape, often breaking over time. By embedding a metal structure within the rubber, strength and longevity were significantly improved.
-
Feeldom Signature Design
These were the first plastic rings created. They were durable and offered a sleek, modern look. However, they had a significant drawback in terms of visibility.
-
Final touch
The white rings were then designed to aid users with low vision. The high contrast between the zipper pull and the fabric of bags or clothing items made them significantly easier to find and use.
By evolving from metal rings to rubber tabs and finally to plastic molded rings with a metal inlay, we developed a zipper pull that is strong, accessible, and user-friendly.
This journey showcases our commitment to addressing user feedback and enhancing product design for all users.
