Ergonomic handles for brass musical instruments
PRODUCT DESIGN – 3D PRINTING – 3D SCAN – UX – PROTOTYPING
CHALLENGE
Identify a problem that can be vastly improved by using 3D printing technology.
Conceptualize a product or range of products to address this problem.
Develop and manufacture the products using 3D printing technology.
COMPANY
Hewlett-Packard
ROLE
Internship project
YEAR
6 months ā 2022
SOFTWARE
IDENTIFY A PROBLEM
Investigating different aspects of my daily life, I’m on the lookout for a problem that I can tackle using 3D printing technology. I want to find a situation that can make the most out of the benefits provided by Additive Manufacturing.
PERMANENT INJURIES
Due to the instrument grip,
brass players develop permanent hand deformations.
3 INSTRUMENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCES
After conducting research and interviews with actual brass players, I identify three primary ergonomic issues prevalent in the trombone, euphonium, and trumpet.
I explore organic shapes that can be used as accessory handles to enhance the instruments’ ergonomics.
3 TYPES OF PERSONAS
DESIGN WORKFLOW:
FROM PROTOTYPING TO CAD
Manual workflow to transfer ergonomic data from handmade models to an editable mesh.
COMPUTATIONAL DESIGN
Generative tools for music visualization
I design and implement two Grasshopper algorithms to translate music waves to a unique and customizable hole pattern.
WHAT I LEARNED
Improved workflow: purely computational
3D PRINTING
Combination of ergonomic properties with a unique style.
TESTING
“This handle provides a very precise and comfortable grip; I would definitely recommend it to all my students.”
The range has been tested by real users. All of them have reported a better playing experience and even an improvement in performance.