PAPER
PAPER
CLIP
CLIP
YOUNG DESIGNERS
DESIGNERS
YOUNG
TOOL KIT
KIT
TOOL
8+
BesidesPaperclips,
paper clips,can
canyou
youthink
thinkofofother
other
Besides
ways
to
hold
paper
together?
ways to hold paper together?
A paper clip is used to
A paper clip is used to
hold
sheets of paper
hold sheets of paper
together;
usually
together; ititisisusually
made
ofsteel
steelwire.
wire.
made of
Therewere
weremany
manytypes
typesof
ofpaperclip
paper clipinvented,
invented,
There
but
getting
the
design
right
was
a
challenge!
but getting the design right was a challenge!
Owl 1908
Ideal 1902
Ezeon 1092
Common
Sense 1904
Wels Clip
1904
Gem 1892
Philadelphia
1867
Rinklip 1905
Niagara Clip
1897
Kurly Klip 1936
DIDYOU
YOU KNOW?
KNOW?
DID
The
paper
clipworks
workslike
likeaasimple
simplespring,
spring,
The paperclip
it
can
be
bent
to
open
then
closes
tightly
it can be bent to open then closes tightly
tokeep
keepthe
thepaper
papertogether.
together.
to
TASK
TASK
Tightlywind
windaapiece
pieceof
ofwire
wirearound
aroundyour
your
Tightly
pencil.
Now
you
have
a
spring.
pencil. Now you have a spring.
Which designs might catch the paper?
– Circle
the
designs
which
may together?
tear the paper
Might
any
not
grip many
sheets
– Cross
designs
a lot of wire
Do
any ofout
thethe
designs
usethat
a lotuse
of wire?
they would be more expensive to make!
They would be more expensive to make!
DESIGN
DESIGN
Sketchaadesign
designfor
foryour
yourown
ownpaperclip
paper clipand
andmodel
modelititwith
withwire.
wire.
Sketch
TIP:
Part
of
the
clip
has
to
go
in
front
and
part
behind
to
hold
thepaper.
paper.
TIP: Part of the clip has to go in front and part behind to hold the
LATER
LATER
Paper clips can
Paperclips
canbe
used
in other
ways –
be
used
in other
from a bookmark to
ways
– from a
a hook or even as a
bookmark
money clip. to a
hook or even as a
money clip.
Can you think of 30 uses for
Can
you think
of 30
uses for
a paper
clip? Be
imaginative!
a paperclip? Be imaginative!
irishdesign2015.ie/design-hub
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BEVERAGE
PAPER
CARTON
CLIP
YOUNG DESIGNERS
DESIGNERS
YOUNG
TOOL KIT
KIT
TOOL
Beverage cartons are used
Aevery
paper
is used
day.clip
Before
their
to
invention it was difficult
hold
sheets
offresh
paper
to keep
liquids
and
to transport
over
together;
it them
is usually
long distances.
made
of steel wire.
DIDYOU
YOU KNOW?
KNOW?
DID
Cartons
start
as a flat
piece
of card;
The paperclip works
like
a simple
spring,
they
are
cut
out
in
a
pattern
called
a net.
it can be bent to open then closes tightly
to
keepthe
thenet
paper
together.
When
is folded
together and glued it
creates
a
solid
3D
shape.
TASK
8+
Tightly
a piece or
of net
wirefor
around
yourcube:
Here iswind
the pattern
a simple
pencil. Now you have a spring.
Net
Cartons
and
packaging
hold
food and
lots
There
were
many
types of
paperclip
invented,
of
other
things
that
we
use
every
day.
but getting the design right was a challenge!
Think about the cartons you use,
which is your favourite?
What do you like about it?
Flat Cube
Folding Up
Which
designs
catch the paper?
SKETCH
THEmight
DESIGN
Might any not grip many sheets together?
Do any of the designs use a lot of wire?
They would be more expensive to make!
TASK
– Open up an empty carton.
– Examine what it looks like folded out flat.
– Draw around the edges of the net to see
the pattern.
LATER
LATER
Design a newcan
fruitbe
juice
carton
to
Paperclips
used
in other
appeal–to
children
age 8-12.to a
ways
from
a bookmark
When designing think about:
hook
or even as a money clip.
– fruit themes
– colour
– other juice carton designs that you like
– the net design
Addyou
notes
to your
to explain all the
Can
think
of 30sketch
uses for
of yourBe
design.
aparts
paperclip?
imaginative!
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LIGHT
PAPER
BULB
CLIP
YOUNG DESIGNERS
DESIGNERS
YOUNG
TOOL KIT
KIT
TOOL
light bulb
AA paper
clipproduces
is usedlight
from electricity to brighten
to
a dark space or to tell us
hold
sheets of paper
when electronic things are
together;
turned on.it is usually
DID
YOU KNOW?
TASK
The
paperclip
a simple
spring, –
A light bulb isworks
madelike
up of
parts including
itthe
canglass
be bent
to
open
then
closes
bulb, the filament, and tightly
the metal
toconnecting
keep the paper
base.together.
Can you match them up?
10+
TASK
Tightly wind a piece of wire around your
pencil. Now you have a spring.
DID YOU
KNOW? can you think of other
Besides
Paperclips,
ways
to
hold
papercurrent
together?
When an electric
passes through the wire
inside the bulb, called a filament, it lights brightly.
When
youKNOW?
switch the kettle on a light will tell you
DID
YOU
that
it
is
boiling
the water.
The paperclip works
like a simple spring,
itCan
canyou
be bent
to
open
closes
think of morethen
objects
thattightly
contain a light?
to
keep
the
paper
together.
– Kettle, TV, phone, night light…
TASK
Tightly wind a piece of wire around your
pencil. Now you have a spring.
LATER
LATER
This simple electronic
circuit
Paperclips
can be used
inhas
other
a
battery,
a
bulb
and
a
switch.
To
ways – from a bookmark to a
make the circuit, they are connected
hook
or even as a money clip.
together with metal wires.
Battery
DESIGN
There
were many types of paperclip invented,
but
getting
the design
right was alight
challenge!
Sketch
a design
for a night-time
for a
child’s bedroom.
When designing think about the colour, size,
shape and how to make it safe for the child.
Can you think of 30 uses for
a paperclip? Be imaginative!
Add notes to your sketch to explain your design.
Switch Off
Which designs might catch the paper?
Might any not grip many sheets together?
Do any of the designs use a lot of wire?
They would be more expensive to make!
Bulb
When the switch is closed, the battery pushes the
current around the circuit and the bulb lights up.
If there were any breaks in the circuit, the electric
current could not flow.
Explore your home and count the objects you use
that work using a circuit and switch.
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COAT
PAPER
HANGER
CLIP
areclip
many
AThere
paper
is types
used to
of
hangers,
each
are
hold sheets of paper
designed to hold
together;
it is usually
different clothes.
YOUNG DESIGNERS
DESIGNERS
YOUNG
TOOL KIT
KIT
TOOL
8+
DIDYOU
YOU KNOW?
KNOW?
DID
Designers
often
make
small
versions
of their
The paperclip
works
like
a simple
spring,
product
to
test
how
it
works
and
to
see
it can be bent to open then closes tightlyhow it looks.
This
is called
a scale
model or prototype.
to
keep
the paper
together.
TASK
Tightly
TASK wind a piece of wire around your
pencil.
youthat
haveyou
a spring.
Draw aNow
hanger
have seen, then use wire or
pipe cleaners to make a scale model of your hanger.
Can you
match
hanger
with
There
were
manythe
types
of paperclip
invented,
the
items
it
was
designed
to
hold?
but getting the design right was
a challenge!
A dress?
A skirt?
Which designs might catch the paper?
Might
any not grip many sheets together?
A jacket
and
trousers?
Do any of the designs use a lot of wire?
They would be more expensive to make!
Now see if you can change or adapt your model
to do another job, such as; hanging a school bag,
a scarf or a tie.
RESEARCH
DESIGN
Irish
design
company
Gazel
designed
a new clothes
hanger,
Sketch
a design
for your
ownhave
paperclip
and model
it with wire.
which
is
easier
to
use.
Visit
the
Gazel
website
www.gazel.ie
TIP: Part of the clip has to go in front and part behind to hold the paper.
to find out more about how the gazel hanger works.
Why do you think this hanger is easier to use?
LATER
LATER
Explore how can
many
Paperclips
different
types
of
be
used in
other
hangers you have
ways
– from a
at home.
bookmark to a
Record the different
hook
or even as a
hangers by drawing
money
clip.
or photographing.
Can you think of 30 uses for
a paperclip? Be imaginative!
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EGG
PAPER
CARTON
CLIP
YOUNG DESIGNERS
DESIGNERS
YOUNG
TOOL KIT
KIT
TOOL
10+
DID YOU KNOW?
DID YOU KNOW?
The function of an object is the action that it is
The paperclip works like a simple spring,
designed to do. The function of an egg carton is to:
it can be bent to open then closes tightly
to keep the paper together.
A paper clip is used to
hold sheets of paper
An egg carton is a carton
together;
it is
usually
designed for
carrying
and
made
of
steel
wire.
transporting whole eggs.
TASK
Tightly wind a piece of wire around your
TASK
pencil. Now you have a spring.
What is the function of each part of the egg carton?
DID YOU
There
wereKNOW?
many types of paperclip invented,
Thegetting
egg carton
was designed
in athe
1930’s
but
the design
right was
challenge!
using a material called pulp fibre; it was the
first mouldable packaging material before plastic.
A
B
Pulp fibre is made of natural materials; recycled
paper and wood chips are soaked in water to
form a thick paste, when it dries it becomes hard.
Pulp fibre can be moulded into different
shapes, in 2009 Swedish architects created
the Paper Pulp Chair.
TASK
C
Can you think of other things that
could be made from Paper Pulp?
Which designs might catch the paper?
A
Might any not grip many sheets together?
B
Do any of the designs use a lot of wire?
C
They would be more expensive to make!
DESIGN
DESIGN
An object
can sometimes
work
even better
by adding
or subtracting
Sketch
a design
for your own
paperclip
and model
it with
wire.
parts
of
the
original
design.
Can
you
improve
the
egg
carton
bypaper.
adding
TIP: Part of the clip has to go in front and part behind to hold the
or subtracting a part?
LATER
LATER
Using the basic
Paperclips
can
design
of
the
egg
be used in other
carton, make a double
ways
– from a
decker egg carton to
bookmark
to a
carry 12 eggs.
hook
even
asthe
a
The egg or
carton
protects
fragile egg clip.
when carrying. Can
money
you think of another fragile
object or food that can be
difficult to carry?
+ Add one part
- Subtract one part
irishdesign2015.ie/design-hub
Sketch a design for carrying
Can you think of 30 uses for
your fragile object.
a paperclip? Be imaginative!
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LEGO
PAPER
CLIP
YOUNG DESIGNERS
DESIGNERS
YOUNG
TOOL KIT
KIT
TOOL
LEGO is one of the most popular
Atoys
paper
clip
is used
in the
world.
LEGOto
bricks
hold
paperinside
use asheets
system of
of tubes
together;
usually
and studs it
onistop
to make
them connect.
made
of steelLEGO
wire.is
designed to be easy to
use and needs almost no
instruction to understand.
TASK
DID
YOU KNOW?
Thepaperclip
LEGO brick
is anlike
adaptable
The
works
a simpledesign;
spring,it can be
combined
in
hundreds
of
different
patterns.
it can be bent to open then closes tightly
to
keep
paper
together.
Two
2x2the
stud
LEGO
bricks can be combined in 9
different
ways.
Can
you find all 9?
TASK
8+
Tightly wind a piece of wire around your
pencil. Now you have a spring.
When one LEGO brick is kept still, another 2x4 stud
can be stacked on it in 24 different ways.
Describe why you think Lego is such a popular toy…
How many combinations can you get?
DID YOU
KNOW? can you think of other
Besides
Paperclips,
All
the
LEGO
brickstogether?
sold in a year placed side
ways to hold paper
by side would stretch around the world more
than 18 times.
DID YOU KNOW?
Three 2x4 bricks can be stacked in 1060
different ways.
LATER
LATER
LEGO brickscan
are often
usedininother ways – from a bookmark to a hook or
Paperclips
be used
ways other than as a toy,
even
as a money clip.
clever uses include LEGO men
holding cables or using LEGO
as a handy key-ring.
Can you think of other ways that LEGO
could be used in your house?
Can you think of 30 uses for
a paperclip? Be imaginative!
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BALLPOINT
PAPER
PEN
CLIP
A ballpoint pen is a pen
that spreads ink over a
tiny metal ball at its point.
It is clean, reliable and is
the world's most-used
writing instrument.
YOUNG DESIGNERS
DESIGNERS
YOUNG
TOOL KIT
KIT
TOOL
10+
DESIGN
DID
YOU KNOW?
Adapt
your pen,
using
blue-tac
orspring,
plasticine to
The paperclip
works
like
a simple
make
it
more
comfortable
to
use.
it can be bent to open then closes tightly
to
keep
thedesign
paper together.
Does
your
solution work?
TASK
Sketch your design and add notes to explain
Tightly
wind
a piece
why you
adapted
it. of wire around your
pencil. Now you have a spring.
When starting a project designers carry out a lot
of research. Designers examine how people use
similar products. From this research they learn
about the needs of the different people who will
use the design and try to create a solution that
suits everybody.
OBSERVE
Look around – do you notice that people hold pens differently when writing?
Choose four people and record how they hold their pen while writing.
Example
Left
handed
Right
handed
Sean
Ask them:
How do they find the pen?
The top of his finger can get sore after
writing for too long.
1
2
3
4
LATER
Copy the research table and include
four new people; try to include an
older person (perhaps a grandparent)
or a young child in your research.
Notice if they find the pen hard to grip.
Then make changes to the model to improve
your pen design even more.
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CLOTHES
PAPER
PEG
CLIP
YOUNG DESIGNERS
DESIGNERS
YOUNG
TOOL KIT
KIT
TOOL
There are many different
Clothes Peg designs
but they all perform the same
task or function: to hold
clothes on a washing line
while drying outdoors.
DESIGN
Can you adapt the clothes peg to help solve
these difficulties?
10+
When a designer wants to improve
a product, they start by looking at
how lots of different people use it
and take note of any difficulties
people may have.
Sketch your design
How does it work?
With lots of clothes
pegs on one hanger, it's
faster to bring lots of
socks inside when
it rains.
Smaller
clothes such as
socks can be
awkward and
need individual
clothes pegs to
secure them on
the clothes line.
Heavy clothes
can be difficult
to hang on the
washing line and
may need several
clothes peg.
Clothes peg can
leave a mark in
shirts or t-shirts
where they are
pinned.
DID YOU KNOW?
A group of designers decided
they wanted to solve
problems for others and
started adapting things to
make them easier to use.
Watch some videos about
how they fix things
on FIXPERTS.org
LATER
LATER
Someone with
limited
movement
in their
Paperclips
can
be used
in other
wayshands
–
can
find
a
clothes
peg
difficult
to
use.
from a bookmark to a hook or even as a
Adapt an existing clothes peg, can you make it easier to open
money
clip.your solution.
and grip? Model
TIP: Research some simple mechanisms which might help reduce the
force needed to open the clothes peg: a lever, a fulcrum, a spring.
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