Initial Research

To ensure our project was truly human-centered, each team member performed in-person observations, interviews, and sent out surveys to gain insight into the many different problems people of various ages and backgrounds encounter. After accumulating more than 100 perceived problems, we used three different elimination matrices with weighted criteria to narrow down our problem spaces to our final two options.

Weighing Our Options

Before we settled on addressing homelessness, one potential option was improving the takeout experience, as all students needed to take out meals on campus due to COVID. Takeout was a project that we would easily have access to users for, while homelessness would present many more barriers to access users. However, the challenge that addressing homelessness presented, along with the great possibility for social impact, seemed far more important to address than looking at takeout solutions. While we knew that we would not be able to accomplish systematic change in a quarter, we hoped to design a product that would provide comfort and allow users to safely secure their belongings, which would promote independence. This would hopefully allow those experiencing homelessness to be able to leave the cycle of homelessness more easily.

Defining the Problem

There are many different problems that those experiencing homelessness face, so we first determined which aspects our prototype would prioritize. We found that people experiencing homelessness struggle to find comfort and safely secure their belongings. We also saw a whitespace in shelter solutions that were highly mobile and promoted independence for the user. This led us to want to create a comfortable shelter solution that filled this white space, while also offering some kind of secure storage solution.

Using those criteria as guidelines, we brainstormed different solutions. The most promising idea was my following sketch, which was a backpack that could be used for storage and expand into a shelter. Many of those we interviewed used backpacks to transport their belongings and the concept could meet all of the requirements we set.

Initial Concept Validation

To validate this idea, we used the sketch above and took to the streets to ask people what they thought of our concept. While the feedback for the sentiment was positive in that they believed we were focusing on the right things, everyone we interviewed mentioned the same thing- that there would be a security issue. All interviewees said that they had had their belongings stolen at one point, some even with backpacks that had “slash-proof” material.

Going Back to the Drawing Board

With this new information, we knew it was impractical to continue with the backpack concept. However, we liked a lot of aspects of the original design and thought that the accordion-style expanding motion provided many opportunities. We knew that we needed to have a different base storage method. After a long design brainstorming session, we realized that a suitcase would be a great solution due to its portability, large storage capacity, and ability to be made from more durable materials to prevent theft. This was validated by the fact that a couple of interviewees used suitcases as their chosen method of storage and transportation for their belongings.

Designing ShelterCase

Once we decided on the suitcase format, we needed to figure out how all aspects of the ideas we had could be incorporated into the design. The main problem was how to expand the suitcase into the bed. We started with bed slats that would come out from the interior of the suitcase and could stretch out to form a platform. Elevating the bed into a platform was something that would set our design apart from sleeping bags and tents as the additional space would better protect against the weather. However, bed slats can be hard to manufacture, and so many moving parts meant that it was hard to support and could be unwieldy for users to take out of the box and manipulate. This led us to look at putting the bed slats outside of the suitcase, and finally to our final design of having the platform be a solid tri-fold base, which was much easier both to manufacture and for users to manipulate. This idea was validated through patent research using Derwent Innovate.

Making ShelterCase

Once we had this core concept, we turned to Solidworks to figure out the details of the design. We brought the functional, detailed CAD model renderings to the Evanston Hospitality Center to get feedback from users. Those at the shelter stated that they much preferred the suitcase design over the backpack idea and that the locking mechanism along with the ability to transform and be portable were the aspects they thought were most important.

Creating a Physical Prototype

After receiving positive feedback, we moved forward with creating our physical prototype. While we ran into a couple of manufacturing issues, like not accounting for the size of the hinge in how the trifold would operate and lay and how welding would warp the steel legs, we could use the vast majority of our CAD design for exact measurements, directions and placement due to our care and due diligence in the earlier stages of the design process.

Prototype Validation

After creating our prototype, we wanted to validate our concept with users, as we wanted the ShelterCase to be a product that those experiencing homelessness would use. I brought our physical prototype to the Evanston Hospitality Center. We were able to show our prototype to both those experiencing homelessness and those who work at the shelter. The physical prototype was slightly awkward, hard to maneuver, and not balanced well. Despite these and many other flaws, we were able to communicate the main aspects of the project and showcase all the desired functionality of our product. The feedback we received was extremely positive with one potential user stating that he could see himself using our prototype now even with all of the current flaws.

Confidence in Leadership

For this project, I was the only senior amongst a group of juniors. My additional year plus the experience that I had and was concurrently getting in my capstone project allowed me a greater amount of insight into the design process. As an outsider, I was initially worried about dominating the project. However, when it came to going through the design process I knew from previous experiences some new techniques could be very beneficial. As I introduced these different techniques to the group, I was able to act as a mentor figure to my team members and help guide them, and I gained confidence in my knowledge and leadership abilities.

Importance of Human-Centered Design

Though all Northwestern projects follow the “human-centered design” process, before this project I was simply going through the motions. The ease of the pandemic allowed us to interact safely with users in person and I was able to see the importance this project had to users. Previous projects were always for a client, so I could see the impact it made on them but never for the actual end-user. Seeing those experiencing homelessness react to our product truly put into perspective the significance of good design in user’s lives, and how meeting the true needs of the user is the most important goal of all.