RouE
Portable Self-Care Storage
Timeline
6 weeks
Fall 2024
Software
Rhino
Keyshot
Skills
Sketching
Prototyping
Team
Erin Dong
No more overcrowded sinks or shelves
RouE is a portable storage caddy for young adults and students living in shared or small-space apartments, where bathroom storage is often limited
CONTEXT
Available Space Is Becoming Limited, Demand For Self Care Is Rising
BENCHMARKING
Oversaturated With Mediocre Solutions
The market is limited to variations of bins and shelves. These keep items contained and tucked away, but are inconvenient to take items out of.
USER RESEARCH
Task Analysis
Breaking down a routine in detail highlighted the frequent points of friction and need for fluidity and ease
User
Alyssa, 20, College Student
Shares a small apartment bathroom
Uses sliding stackable makeup bins
Key Issues
Inconvenient to store and take products out of
No additional organization for products, user has to dig
Takes up counter space, leaving little room to put things down
“ I’d probably want it to be organized, but I’m too lazy.”
USER RESEARCH
Interviews
Learning about 3 college students' differing storage systems and self-care routines revealed a contradiction between preferences and realistic behaviors
User Needs
Products are easy to grab
Products are hidden and protected when not in use
Space to place products down during routine
Mandy (she/her) | 21
Shares apartment bathroom
Struggles with lack of counter
space and storageAnnoyed with moving products around
Prefers having products hidden
Sarah (She/Her) | 19
Shares dorm bathroom
Struggles with limited counter space
Prefers products on the counter since it's easy to grab quickly
INSIGHTS
Common Troubles Among Different Spaces
Fluid Usage
It's a priority to have products quickly within reach for optimal routines
Convenient Clutter
Quickly shoving products out of sight is convenient even though its unorganized
A Balancing Act
The lack of counter space makes doing routines precarious and uncomfortable
BASED ON OUR INSIGHTS
How might we improve the bathroom ritual experience for young adults in shared or limited living spaces?
DESIGN CRITERIA
Prioritizing Ease of Use
Our design needs to bring peace to the user above all else and feel invisible in their routine.
Ready-To-Go
Display products in a manner that makes them easy to grab and use
Universal
Accommodates varying user habits, bathroom space, products, and organization preferences
Portable
Can be stored away quickly for mobility and flexibility of storage
RAPID SKETCHING
Exploring Various Mechanisms
LOW FIDELITY PROTOTYPING
Testing Out User Interaction
MOOD BOARD
Soothing, Soft, and Simple
REFINED SKETCHES
Creating Concepts & Cross Pollinating Features
FORM DEVELOPMENT
Improving Form & Function
INTRODUCING
RouE
OVERVIEW
Built for Shared Living
RouE is a portable caddy designed for young adults and students living in shared or small-space apartments, where bathroom storage is often limited. As these spaces become more common, traditional organization methods fall short—leaving products exposed, scattered, or painful to access. RouE offers a flexible storage solution that adapts to your space. It hangs or props open on the counter to reveal your products, ready to go. When you’re done, everything folds away quickly and neatly to be stored off the counter. No more overcrowded sinks or shelves—RouE keeps your essentials accessible to make the most of your space
FEATURES
Modular Bins
RouE subdivides products into groups rather than specific spots so users can still “shove” products away, but stay organized.
The slat wall leverages vertical storage and allows the user to organize based on size. Products of all shapes and sizes are accommodated and can be rearranged to match your needs. The bin has a cut-out on the front to make products easier to access.
FEATURES
Loop Organizer
Slimmer items can be organized in the bottom half, which features elastic loops to fit a variety of makeup products. Wider straps can be used to hold either additional slim items or larger palettes.
The organizer can be removed to create space to place products on when RouE is propped up.
Exploded View
CMF
PP
Stainless Steel
Nylon Fabric
Elastic
WALK-THROUGH DIAGRAM
From Storage To Usage
MEDIUM FIDELITY PROTOTYPE
Visualizing Physical Size
Thank You~
<— ALL WoRK
