Industrial - Bachelors

Stara Umbrella Design

This project aimed to use the needs of the users and gaps in the industry to inform a new bespoke umbrella design. The project was broken down into three steps: Research, Ideation, and Finalisation. From these steps, the newest standard umbrella design has been created for the company MakMax Australia.

Rachael MacArthur

Background

In 1984 MakMax Australia entered the tensile membrane industry under the name Shade Structures Pacific. They became the pioneer of innovative shade structures in Australia. With their presence in Australia recognised and after japan based global tensile membrane company Taiyo Kogyo group taking over as a parent company, MakMax Australia has continued to provide worldwide shade solutions for the last 40 years. To continue MakMax’s work with the Olympics, this project had some intention of being used in the context of crowd shades for waiting and resting areas outside and around key areas for the Brisbane 2032 olympics.

Despite the diversity in how they can be used today, shade structures are built with one main purpose: to provide a space sheltered from the environmental factors. This can include wind and rain, however the sun is considered the main factor that shade structures are sheltering users from.

Research

To provide MakMax a new umbrella design the first step was a research report to understand what improvement opportunities existed. It covered a ground level understanding of key standards of shade structures in the industry, as well as the first hand research done via User Surveys and Industry Interviews. This information was then analyzed to understand what could be applied to the project and what options there were for improvement. The final points included: Adjustability, Product indivuduality, End of life process, and Aesthetics.

View Report

Ideation

At the end of the research stage, three concepts were created with varying solutions to the design problems. The ideation around these began with playing with creating a visual niche for the structure, and then considering how shade adjustability and End of Life processes could be added later.

These three were chosen for their shade variations. From these, the Star concept was chosen to continue, however with the leva column type. This was continued due to its simplicity for fabrication, ease of standardisation and niche design. This design met the needs that were highlighted in the research phase.

Final Design

Adjustability was achieved in two functions, the tilt and the rotation. These pieces are designed specifically for this structure and they allow for the user to grab the handle at the end of the longer side of the membrane frame and adjust the shade to provide a bigger and more optimized shade given factors like time of day.

For standard product ranges, it can be important to provide the client with small variations that can encourage them to consider what would be best in their context, including providing their own input for options. The standard colour ranges are chosen to match both with the brand colours and also to match the olympic colours. The olympic context is also references in the specific footing detail, with comes with 4 coloured seats for the users. All of these variations should entice the user as well as provide informtaiton for their own niche ideas

The end of life process is becoming increasingly important to consider in the building of a design. For this design, makmax would provide not only an install process, but when the user is finished with the product it will be collected, disassembled and recycled. Due to the way this product has been built, it can be broken down into three main materials: PVC fabric, Concrete, Stainless Steel. All three of these can be recycled and up to 100% reused.

Finally, the standard product aesthetics were used to create a simple but intriguing design. Elements such and balance, alignment, mirroring and shape were all used to inform this design and it creates a product that will fit well into the standard product roster.

Rachael MacArthur

Rachael has spent the last four years completing a degree in Industrial Design, as well as training as a Cadet Draftsperson. She has a large range of skills that she has honed within the industry Mechanical and Civil engineering industry. Cad drawing and animating are her strength